10 day South America itinerary

Welcome to our 10 day South America itinerary.

This extraordinary continent is a rite of passage for travelers, with many considering it the ultimate place to come for adventure and unforgettable memories.

Here you can find beautiful sceneries that range from alpine lakes and icy mountains to the hot desert and sweltering jungle.

There are also many mysterious cultures and tribes to be explored too, along with an impressive range of foods too!

10 Day South America Itinerary

We’ve written a lot on backpacking in South America but in this guide we’ll explore South America, the best things to see, as well as our very own 10 day Itinerary for those who are quickly stopping off in this awesome continent.

Given it’s such a short amount of time, this guide will only be focusing on the countries of Peru and Bolivia.

From exploring rare wildlife in the Amazon jungle to Sandboarding in the desert, let’s take a look at what awaits us on this 10 day itinerary.

Getting to South America

For this itinerary, we’ll first need to make our way to Lima. Thankfully the Peruvian capital is very well connected, where you can catch direct flights here from many parts of North America and Europe.

If traveling from elsewhere, it’s best to connect in either Mexico or Spain before coming over (for cheaper flights).

If you are already in South America, then other ways of getting to Lima would be flying from the main hubs of Bogotá, São Paulo or Santiago (if the latter, then it’s better to do this itinerary in reverse).

You can also cross the border from Ecuador in the north to our starting point, or take the more wild boat over from Brazil in the Amazon (which is followed by a flight from Iquitos to Lima).

Things to know before traveling to South America

When following our South America itinerary, we recommend a minimum daily budget of $25 per day. With this budget, you’ll stay in a nice dorm room, often within a lively hostel which is great for meeting other travelers along the way.

You’ll be able to eat in local restaurants too, which is ideal to keep costs low and to try more authentic foods. You’ll also have leftovers for either an inexpensive activity or for a taxi or two. Other costs such as international flights, travel insurance or long-distance buses are not included in this budget.

South America is very big, and of course, this route is no different. So be prepared for some pretty long journeys between destinations (most buses will be between 6-10 hours on this itinerary).

In some places using a plane will be a very good idea to save time, given you’ll want to make the absolute most of your 10 days here.

Safety will be one of your biggest priorities when exploring the lands of South America. Pickpocketing and assault are more common here, so it’s important to adapt and to not take any unneeded risks.

One good way of doing so is by investing in a secure Money Belt, which will keep your cash, cards and valuables safely hidden away.

South America Itinerary (10 Days)

Now, let’s explore our personalized 10 day itinerary for South America.

Here we’ll give you a full breakdown of how to arrange your days so you can get the very most out of a trip here.

Day 1: Huacachina

Arriving into Lima, we’ll immediately take the bus over to Huacachina. Be sure to take a taxi straight from the airport to the bus station, given Lima has some rougher areas near here that are best avoided.

After a 4 hour trip, we’ll arrive in the stunning oasis town of Huacachina. Located within the Ica desert, it’s just a short moto taxi ride from the city of Ica, and is small enough for you to enjoy the very best highlights within a day.

First you can climb the dunes overlooking Huacachina for some insane panoramic views, followed by a quick dip in the lake for a cool-down.

After this we recommend heading on this Sandboarding Tour, where you’ll ride down these giant dunes whilst also having a memorable sand buggy ride included too. Try and book the 4pm slot, as not only will you see the incredible sunset, you’ll also give yourself more time to relax on your first day too.

From Ica we’ll then take an overnight bus (or flight if you wish) to Arequipa.

Days 2-3: Arequipa

This city is the second biggest in Peru, and is easily the most stunning of all. Here you’ll find a sea of white-washed buildings and architecture, all made from volcanic rocks that come from the nearby region.

You can stay within the Plaza de Armas, which is close to some must-visits including the Cathedral as well as the Santa Catalina Monastery.

The Colca Canyon is also located close to here, which is the second deepest canyon on earth! You can head on a day trip to enjoy this expansive region, which includes seeing Condors as well as visiting indigenous towns such as Chivay.

Another option (or you could actually do both depending on how much energy you have) is to hike the El Misti Volcano. This towering beast looms over Arequipa and is a really fulfilling experience.

From Arequipa, we’ll now take the short bus over to Cusco (again overnights are best in order to save daylight). You can also fly from Arequipa to Cusco cheaply too.

Days 4-6: Cusco

Now we arrive at perhaps the best part of all on this itinerary through South America.

Cusco was once known as being the heart of the Inca Empire, and as such is full of incredible ancient ruins and historical sites. Machu Picchu is the very best of all, and we recommend this overnight experience tour which works well with this itinerary.

The Sacred Valley region is also known for its variety of awesome destinations too. Towns such as Pisac and Ollantaytambo are great for a more relaxed experience, whilst there are other incredible ruins to see too such as Moray and Sacsayhuamán.

Back within Cusco, you’ll also find many awesome things to see and do on your days-off trekking around. The Plaza de Armas is full of colonial beauties and gems, with the nearby Twelve-Angled Stone a must-see.

You’ll also want to explore the San Pedro Market too, which is home to many delicious Andean dishes and more! From Cusco, we’ll now take the short bus over to Puno, which lies on the shores of Lake Titicaca.

Day 7: Lake Titicaca

The highest altitude lake in the World, your time in Arequipa and Cusco will now pay off as you can explore with your body better adjusted to these more demanding altitudes.

We recommend starting early where you can explore the Uros islands on the Peruvian side, before crossing over to the Bolivian side. You could also visit the Isla del Sol, but remember we’ll be taking a night bus so you’ll need to be quick.

We recommend joining this tour, which is ideal since you’ll have a safe space to leave your belongings whilst exploring for the day (whilst also getting over to La Paz for the bus to our next destination).

From Copacabana, we’ll now take an overnight bus to reach Uyuni in Southern Bolivia.

Days 8-10: Uyuni Tour

Marking the end of our trip in style, we now arrive at the town of Uyuni. Whilst there’s little here by itself, this town however is the jumping-off point to perhaps the most breathtaking region in the whole continent.

I (George) recently went on this 3-Day tour of Uyuni, and it was by far one of my most memorable experiences I have had in Latin America.

With all food, accommodation and transport provided, you’ll explore the region on a 4×4. You’ll pass by bright red and green lakes, see pink flamingos, visit towering volcanoes and more.

Best of all, perhaps, is that you’ll explore the legendary Salar de Uyuni. And if heading during the months we recommended (November and December), you’ll be coming during the wet season where you can see an otherworldly reflection as far as the eye can see.

At the end of the tour, you can ask to get dropped back off at Uyuni, where you can then head to La Paz for your flight out. Alternatively, the tour can cross you over into Chile, where a short flight from Calama can have you ready for your departing flight from Santiago.

Best time to visit South America

For these regions of Peru and Bolivia, we’ve found that the months of November and December are the very best for a trip here.

These months mark the start of the wet season, however, don’t have too much rain which can otherwise complicate things. You’ll also find temperatures in the Andean regions much more bearable too, especially in Puno and Uyuni.

The Amazon jungle will be hot year-round, and there’s a betting man’s chance that there’ll be downpours too. So be sure to bring a High-Quality Poncho along with you.

Speaking of packing, for this South American itinerary it’s best to bring a range of clothes.

You’ll need lighter layers for areas like Huacachina and The Amazon that get really hot during the day, including swimming trunks and all. You’ll also need thick jumpers and a coat for the chilly Andes too.

South America Backpacking Tips

Below you can find a list of our top recommendations for South America:

10 Days in South America

South America really is an outstanding continent.

There’s a reason why we decided to make a travel blog all about it after all! Even on this itinerary of Peru and Bolivia you’ll have many memorable experiences and also see many epic landscapes along the way too.

In this itinerary-style guide, we’ve covered everything you need to know about this particular slice of South America. This includes the very best destinations to visit, our top recommendations as well as a customised 10 day itinerary when heading here.

Be sure to come back to this article whenever you need help planning, or even to suggest your own tips once you’ve completed the adventure yourself.

If you feel like you still need more time, try reading our 3-month South America route for ideas on all that you could see with more time on the continent.

👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.

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