I spent 10 months travelling around South and Central America, visiting 13 countries in the following order;

Brazil – Argentina – Uruguay – Chile – Bolivia – Peru – Ecuador – Colombia – Panama – Costa Rica – Nicaragua – Honduras – Mexico

If you have plenty of time, I recommend spending around 2-3 weeks in each country to fully explore and avoid feeling rushed. Keep in mind that some journeys may take a day or more to travel from one place to another. For smaller countries like Uruguay, you won’t need as much time.

It was one of my favourite travel experiences where I got to immerse myself in new cultures and take in the wonderful landscape and scenery across each country.

Here are some of my highlights: 

• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – You’re really spoiled for choice here. There’s so much to see and do in this fun & vibrant city:
  • Spend the day on Copacabana & Ipanema Beach, sipping a caprinha or coconut water
  • Take a ride up to Sugarloaf Mountain with panoramic views across the city
  • Visit Escadaria Selarón.
  • Enjoy an all-you-can eat Churrascaria

• Florinapoliis, Brazil – An island off the south coast of Brazil, famous for surfing and sand boarding (Joaquina Beach).

• Iguazu falls, Brazil & Argentina – Definitely go to see both sides of the waterfalls for the full experience. You can easily do this in two days as it’s located between the borders. The Brazilian side offers panoramic views of the waterfalls whereas the Argentinian side offers up close and personal views as well as an exhilarating boat ride underneath the waterfalls.

• Buenos Aires, Argentina – The heart of Argentina, don’t miss out on the following when you’re there: Go to a tango show, eat at one of the many steak restaurants (Parillas) in Palermo, snack on the tasty empanadas – the perfect Argentinian snack, stroll through La Boca with street art and colourful buildings, experience the nightlife and Latino clubs, visit Recoleta and see where Eva Perón (Evita) is buried, escape to the Japanese gardens, a peaceful green oasis in the middle of the city.

• Patagonia, Argentina – If you enjoy trekking and being surrounded by mountains and nature then this is the place for you. It’s a truly breathtaking place. I visited at the end of Autumn when the colours were a beautiful orange and brown, set against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains. If you’re planning a trip around the same time, be sure to go before April, as the area closes for winter.
  • El Calafate: Visit the Perito Moreno Glacier and walk along the boardwalks for incredible views of the glacier.
  • El Chalten: Treks in this area include Laguna de los Tres and Laguna Capri.
  • It’s really expensive to fly to this area so I ended up taking the bus from Bariloche to El Chalten which is around 30 hours. Yes, it’s a long journey but spectacular views along the way. 

• Bariloche, Argentina – This is a beautiful region and the gateway to Patagonia, offering an abundance of treks and scenic bike trails with endless views, lakes, mountains and stunning scenery. It also has lots of great restaurants (steak and malbec on tap).

• Córdoba, Argentina – Visit the home of Che Guevara and book a skydive (which is great value for money).

• Mendoza, Argentina – Argentina’s wine region. Definitely the place to visit for wine lovers. Here, you can indulge in wine tastings and cycle through numerous vineyards (be careful after a few glasses of vino 😉 ). You can also book a horse back ride and enjoy breathtaking views of the Andes Mountains.

• Santiago & Valparaiso, Chile: The place to try your first Pisco Sour – delicious. Valpraiso is famous for it’s colourful buildings and bohemian art influence.

• Atacama desert, Chile – An incredible place where you can watch the stars by night and explore the unique landscape by day, including a trip to Valle de la Luna and Valle de la Muerte.

• Bolivian Salt Flats, Bolivia –  An unforgettable 3-day tour through Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat. Make sure you acclimatise before this trip as you ascend pretty quickly. 

• La Paz, Bolivia – Cycle down death road in La Paz… one for the adrenaline junkies!

• Learn some Spanish in Sucre, Bolivia. A beautiful colonial city, known as the ‘White City’, because of it’s white-painted architecture. Make sure you sample the local coffee and chocolate.

• Potosi, Bolivia – Famous mining town where you can experience a mine tour deep underground and meet miners at work. Not for the faint hearted.

• Lake Titticaca, Bolivia – Nestled between the border of Peru and Bolivia is the largest lake in South America. Well worth a visit for scenic hikes, panoramic views and experiencing the indigenous culture. 

• Rurrenabaque, Bolivia – The gateway to the Amazon jungle. The pampas boat tour along the Yacuma river is a great opportunity to see lots of wildlife including monkeys, pink dolphins, alligators, native birds, and go fishing for piranhas.
  • I would recommend to fly here from La Paz as I heard the bus journey is meant to be treacherous. Flights are fairly cheap.

• Inca trail / Machu Pichu, Peru – One of my highlights! You need to book this at least 4 months in advance so plan ahead. The route has become very commercialised over the years with lots of companies offering the same tour, make sure to do your research to source a sustainable and ethical company who treat their porters well, I would recommend llama path – they were incredible. 

• Hike through the Colca Canyon in Arequipa, Peru. I really enjoyed my time in Arequipa, a charming city perfect for exploring over a few days. The Plaza de Armas and the Monasterio de Santa Catalina are both must-see attractions.

• Go sand boarding in Huacachina, Peru

• Máncora, Peru – Party beach town 

• Banos, Ecuador – Great place for outdoor adrenaline activities including canyoning, white water rafting and hiking. Make sure you get a photograph of yourself on the “Swing at the End of the World” overlooking the Tungurahua Volcano.

• Colombia – Colombia was my favourite country in South America! Make sure to spend plenty of time here, the locals are incredibly friendly. You’ll quickly fall in love with the culture and pick up some salsa dancing skills along the way. I’ve written a separate blog with more tips and recommendations for the best things to see and do in Colombia.

• Sail from Caratagena, Colombia to Panama City, Panama, visiting the idyllic San Blas islands… this was paradise! You set sail on a catamaran, island hop, snorkel, and paddleboard across these tropical islands for a few unforgettable days.

• Panama City – The Panama canal is well worth a visit. Especially if you get to see a boat going through the canal. I went to a trendy cosmopolitan roof top bar with amazing views of the city lit up at night.
  • I stayed at a jungle retreat hostel which was in the middle of nowhere. The accommodation is very simple but it’s quite cool if you like hiking and being in nature – https://www.thelostandfoundhostel.com/

• Bocas Del Toro, Panama – A Caribbean beach town with stunning white-sand beaches and fun nightlife 

• Mexico – Be sure to spend a few nights in Mexico City, where you’ll find a vibrant nightlife and a great selection of restaurants. Head to Oaxaca to try the local dish called ‘Mole,’ and consider taking a cooking class to learn how to make it yourself. Don’t miss the opportunity to taste Mezcal and visit Hierve el Agua, a stunning landscape featuring waterfalls and mountain views. I’ve also written a separate blog about the Quintana Roo area, covering Tulum, Cancun, and Playa del Carmen.

Transport around South America 

If you’re traveling for a while and are on a budget, consider taking buses as your primary mode of transportation. I mostly traveled between countries by bus, as it’s the most affordable option. Numerous companies offer luxury sleeper coaches, allowing you to rest comfortably on the road. For longer journeys, I recommend opting for first-class buses.

In Peru, Cruz del Sur is a well-known bus company. The bus services in Brazil and Argentina are generally quite reliable, while experiences in Bolivia can be inconsistent. Additionally, internal flights in Colombia are very affordable.

Accommodation around South America

As I was travelling for a long period of time (and a limited budget), I alternated between staying in hostel dorms, private rooms in hostels, and Airbnbs. There are countless excellent options available, offering great value for money.

Few of my favourite hostels included:

• Dreamer hostel, Palomino and Santa Marta, Colombia
• Wild Rover, Peru (various locations)
• Loki Hostels, Peru (various locations)
• Hostel Sucre, Sucre, Bolivia 
• Hostel Pioneros del Valle, El Chalten, Patagonia 
• Hostel do Morro, Florianópolis, Brazil
• Viajero Hostel Salento, Colombia
• Milhouse Hostel, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Party hostel) 
• Hola Ola Hostel, Nicaragua
• Lost & Found Hostel, Panama

There are so many amazing places to visit and cultures to experience but don’t worry about planning your entire itinerary in advance. Of course, book your flights and pre-book the Inca Trail if that’s on the agenda. But as soon as you start staying in hostels and chatting to fellow backpackers you will get so many hints and tips on places to go, things to see! Enjoy!