South America Backpacking Route (3 months)
Welcome to our 3 month South America backpacking route.
It is no secret that South America boasts one of the world’s vastest continents, and in our opinion, is one of the best for any type of adventure travel.
Home to mysterious cultures and ruins, breathtaking landscapes as well as vibrant cultures, it truly is one of those regions that has it all. In this guide, we’ll take a look at our customized 3 months South America itinerary.
Having spent countless years here ourselves, we’ll give you deeper insights from our own experiences throughout this awesome continent.
South America backpacking Route
Whilst we would love to say that 3 months is enough to cover the continent, we cannot lie to you. You would need a minimum of 6 months, and even then that’s really pushing things.
However, 3 months is still good for exploring a good chunk of this region. In this itinerary, we’ll be starting off in Colombia, and then exploring Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.
Getting around South America
This continent is quite a big one, and as such distances can be somewhat intimidating, to say the least.
Buses are the most used method of transport by backpackers since they’re the cheapest (often with several different companies serving the same route).
In Ecuador, they can be quite short, usually between 3-6 hours. In larger countries like Chile, travel times by bus can often be as much as 20 hours!
The other alternative way of getting around South America is via flights. They’re usually more expensive, however, they cut travel distances into just a fraction (since you’ll be flying over difficult jungle and mountain terrains, rather than motoring through and around them).
We recommend flying around Chile, and also some parts of Peru too (we’ll mention where specifically below in the itinerary).
Things to know before traveling to South America
Before packing your bags and hopping on the next flight, it’s important to first cover some other important advice.
Not only will these tips help to keep you safe in South America, but you’ll also improve your overall experience whilst traveling.
- Aim for a Backpack of between 50-70L capacity.
- We recommend a daily budget of $20-30.
- Always use padlocks on bags when traveling between destinations.
- Pack your main backpack roughly 3/4 full.
- Avoid wearing Flashy Clothes and Accessories and carry an ultra safe money belt to avoid unnecessary displays of wealth.
- Check Visa requirements (they can vary per country and also where you’re from).
- Pick up some basic Spanish before you go.
- Be sure to research the differing Climates you’ll be facing (since there’s a huge variety in this massive continent).
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3 Months Backpacking South America Route
Now we’ve covered some important points to know before, it’s time to dive into our 3 month South America Backpacking Route!
Colombia (14 Days)
The first stop on our great tour, Colombia is as spicy as it gets in this continent. You can easily fly into Bogotá from most continents around the world, which is the best place to start things off.
The capital is great for historical sightseeing, and you’ll want to climb up the mountain of Monserrate for the best views. After a few days in the capital, you can then take a short flight to the Caribbean coast, with Santa Marta the best hub for a stay.
Here you’ll find palm-fringed beaches perfect for some tanning and good times. You can also head on a multi-day trek into the mysterious Lost City, as well as to the remote region of The Guajira. We recommend staying in the Masaya Hostel when in Santa Marta.
From here you can head to Medellin to get to know more about the (real) past of Colombia, where you can even tour the former mansion of Pablo Escobar.
We recommend heading on this awesome tour, which includes breakfast and all transport. Onwards from Medellin, we’ll head to Cali for a more authentic experience in this diverse country. If you’re a keen Salsa dancer, then you must head to La Topa Tolondra!
Colombia Route Summary:
- Bogotá (2 Days)
- Santa Marta (5 Days)
- Medellin (4 Days)
- Cali (3 Days)
Other Special Mentions (Visit if you have more time):
- Cartagena
- Isla San Andrés
- Salento
Ecuador (10 Days)
Ecuador is our next stop on our South American journey, and is the overall best all-rounder. Despite being one of the smallest, it’s home to pretty much everything you’d experience on your journeys in this continent.
We’ll first cross the border from Pasto, and then into the capital of Quito. This high altitude city is home to some really stunning architecture, and you can also hike the nearby volcano of Cotopaxi too.
From here we’ll then take a bus over to the town of Baños. A forever popular spot among backpackers, this town is great for adrenaline enthusiasts, where you can sit on a swing at “the end of the world”, and also visit the mesmerising waterfall of Pailón del Diablo.
After a few days of exploring this mountainous region, we’ll then head over to the buzzing beachside town of Montañita, which lies on Ecuador’s Pacific Coast.
This town is awesome for a more relaxed pace of life (where you must try surfing at least once), whilst at the same time being home to a truly incredible nightlife scene.
Whilst here you’ll want to visit the nearby towns of Ayampe and Puerto Lopez, the latter being the jumping off point to the Isla de la Plata (a national park home to rare birds and penguins). Our favourite hostel in Montañita has to be the infamous Selina, with this one located right on the beach.
Ecuador Route Summary:
- Quito (4 Days)
- Baños (3 Days)
- Montañita (3 Days)
Other Special Mentions (Visit if you have more time):
- Cuenca
- Loja
Peru (21 Days)
Now we head into the mysterious nation of Peru, home to many ancient ruins and also a variety of stunning landscapes. From Montañita we will head to nearby Guayaquil, and hop on a flight over to Lima (otherwise it’s 30 straight hours on a bus; George did this and doesn’t recommend it for those strict on time).
Lima is the cosmopolitan hub of Peru, and here you’ll find some really tasty dishes that are worth tucking into. You’ll want to explore the Costanera by bike, as well as visit Huaca Pucllana for your first taste of Inca ruins. From here we’ll fly over to Iquitos in the Amazon (there’s no other way we’re afraid!).
The most biodiverse region on the planet, Iquitos is a great jumping off point into the Amazon, where you can spot everything from pink dolphins to Jaguars along your jungle treks. We highly recommend this 3-Day Tour where you’ll explore the deep Amazon.
As well as swimming with Dolphins and fishing for Piranhas, you’ll also get to meet an indigenous tribe too After exploring Iquitos, we now head back to Lima, where we start heading south to the oasis haven of Huacachina. It’s the perfect place to go sandboarding, and we’ve found that two days is enough time here.
Our next stop is Arequipa, which is a beautiful city covered in white-washed buildings, with fiery volcanoes setting the backdrop. Whilst here you’ll want to explore the nearby Colca Canyon – which is the second deepest on earth!
After some off-road exploring, we now head to the legendary city of Cusco. We’ve planned 6 days here, given the sheer amount of things to and see.
These include visiting Machu Picchu (you can head here with this overnight tour), exploring the Sacred Valley, hiking Rainbow Mountain as well as exploring the pretty city of Cusco itself.
Kokopelli is the best hostel for a stay here, and we’ll keep coming back for sure!
Lastly on our trip through Peru, we’ll make a stop off at Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca for a day – where you can visit the seriously impressive floating Uros Islands before crossing over into Bolivia.
Peru Route Summary:
- Lima (3 Days)
- Iquitos (4 Days)
- Huacachina (2 Days)
- Arequipa (5 Days)
- Cusco (6 Days)
- Puno (1 Day)
Other Special Mentions (Visit if you have more time):
- Trujillo
- Huaráz
- Chachapoyas
Bolivia (16 Days)
Crossing Lake Titicaca over into Copacabana, we recommend making a stop over at Isla del Sol if it’s possible (there’s some really awesome views here).
You’ll also be able to enjoy the small city of Copacabana too, before making our way to La Paz. The Bolivian capital (well, one of them at least), La Paz is a thriving city perfect for a backpacker.
Here you’ll want to base yourself in the Wild Rover Hostel, which is conveniently located in the historic centre. As well as soaring the skies in La Paz’s very own “gondola metro” (as I like to call it), you can also visit the Witches Market as well as cycle down El Yungas (known as the world’s most dangerous road – not for the faint of heart).
If you want to cycle this route, then you’ll need to go with a reputable company. We recommend this highly-rated tour, which includes all equipment as well as a tasty lunch too.
From La Paz we then fly to Sucre – our next stop – given the bus takes quite a while. This city is similar to Arequipa, in that it’s full of beautiful white architecture and colonial buildings.
A must visit whilst here is a visit to the Parque Cretácico, which is home to various dinosaur footprints. After strolling around this friendly city, we’ll then head to Potosí, which is famous for its Cerro Rico mine. Unfortunately it has a more gruesome past, however you can tour these mines (ranked as one of the world’s most dangerous) whilst providing supplies to the workers inside.
Be sure to take your time, given Potosí is located at a dizzying altitude of 4090m. Finally we head to nearby Uyuni, and onto this legendary 3 day tour which takes us into Chile. Words really can’t do this region justice, and along the way you’ll see these incredible salt flats, as well as red lagoons, pink flamingos and some of the clearest skies in your life (perfect for stargazing).
Bolivia Route Summary:
- Copacabana (2 Days)
- La Paz (6 Days)
- Sucre (3 Days)
- Potosí (2 Days)
- Uyuni (3 Days)
Other Special Mentions (Visit if you have more time):
- Samaipata
- Rurrenabaque
Chile (14 Days)
Having arrived into Chile after an unforgettable (and pretty tiring) journey across the Altiplano, we’ll now stay in the small desert town of San Pedro de Atacama. Home to the driest desert on earth, there’s some tours here that are really worth doing, such as to the Geysers del Tatio as well as to the Valle de la Luna.
From San Pedro you’ll then head to nearby Calama to catch a flight over to Santiago, our next stop in Chile. The capital is full of history and sites, however the first thing you’ll want to do here is to head up to the Mirador on top of Cerro San Cristóbal for the best views.
Nearby Valparaíso is also worth a visit with its artsy streets and hills (usually we’d recommend staying there, but given our time we’ll only make a day trip there instead).
When in Santiago, we recommend staying in the Plaza de Armas Hostel in the historic centre, which is close to all of the top sights. Our next stop from here is Pucón, which is in Chile’s Lake District. The Villarrica volcano is a must see here, and for hikes you’re going to want to layer up (minus temperatures are for sure to be expected!).
Given Pucón is also situated on a lake, it’s a great place for water sports, and it even has a beach too. To round up our stint though Chile, we’ll then be heading to Torres del Paine, which is in the heart of Patagonia.
This ultimate region encompasses spiralling peaks and unforgettable hiking trails, and rightfully makes any South American bucket list. You’ll want to spend quite a few days here to really breathe it all in.
Those in nearby Calafate can head on this awesome day tour where you’ll explore the very best spots of this stunning national park
Chile Route Summary:
- San Pedro de Atacama (3 Days)
- Santiago (4 Days)
- Pucón (3 Days)
- Torres del Paine (5 Days)
Other Special Mentions (Visit if you have more time):
- Antofagasta
- La Serena
- Valparaíso (stay here rather than visit as a day trip).
Argentina (21 Days)
Now we head into our last country on this South America travel route. As you many know, Argentina is a fiercely proud nation, which given everything here – it’s not hard to see why. We’ll first touch down in Ushuaia – the most southern point in all of South America.
This city is a glacial lovers’ paradise, and here you’ll feel like you’re in an entirely different continent than from that we’ve already explored. A must-visit here is the Isla de Martillo, which is home to an absolute tonne of penguins.
After a few days here, we’ll catch a short flight over to El Calafate. This city is most known for its proximity to the Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the largest and last of its kind in the world. We recommend this highly-rated tour of Perito Moreno, where you’ll get up and close with the glacier as well as having a cruise included too. It’s also a fantastic place for mountain hiking, where the nearby Parque Nacional Los Glaciares has many scenic routes.
From El Calafate we continue north again, and this time to Bariloche, which is known as the gateway into Argentina’s very own Lake District. This town is well known for its epic skiing, with the Catedral Alta being one of the most popular resorts. Exploring the nearby lakes is a must, as well as spending some time in the Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi.
Now our time in Patagonia ends as we head north to Mendoza. This city is located right next to the Andes, and as a result of its unique conditions, produces some of the best wines in the world.
You’ll want to head to Maipu Valley to sample some of the very best, where you can join a bike tour to ride between them. You’ll also want to head to the Mirador of Aconcagua for views of the tallest peak in all of South America.
We recommend staying in the Panda Hostel, which is right in Mendoza’s centre. From here we’ll take one last flight over to Buenos Aires, which is our final destination. Known for its steak and football fanatics, the capital is also home to lots of interesting sites including La Recoleta, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes as well as the neighbourhood of La Boca.
You can also catch a Milonga in the streets too (which is a local, impromptu tango show). Quite a way to finish up our itinerary, for us Buenos Aires is a perfect ending to the whirlwind of a 3 months that we’ve just had!
Argentina Route Summary:
- Ushuaia (4 Days)
- El Calafate (5 Days)
- Bariloche (4 Days)
- Mendoza (4 Days)
- Buenos Aires (4 Days)
Other Special Mentions (Visit if you have more time):
- Salta
- Córdoba
South America Travel Route FAQs
Having covered the entire route, you’ll probably be more than convinced to go! However you may still have a few more questions, so below we’ll answer some of your most burning queries about this South American route.
South America Backpacking Route
And that’s all for our backpacking route through South America.
This incredible region is full of unforgettable experiences, which range from epic sceneries to mysterious cultures and beyond.
In this guide we’ve covered our 3 month route through South America, covering Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.
Along with our backpacking South America guide, bookmark this page before and during your travels, so you’ll always have a handy reference available.
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