Great South America Itineraries: How many days to spend?
How many days to spend in South America?
A continent as large as South America could take months to explore. However, if you only have a couple of weeks to spare, we suggest spending at least 2 weeks in South America. You’ll be able to check out at least three countries, whether it’s the Andean region of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador, the Southern Region of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay) or the Northern Region Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela. These are also often split by the Amazon, the Andes, the Atacama and the Pampas. With so much to explore, we recommend sticking to neighboring countries rather than flying from one corner of the continent to another.
If you don’t have weeks and are left wondering how many days you should spend in South America, it is possible to plan an itinerary of 7 to 10 days too. Continue reading for details on what durations are feasible and how many destinations can be covered during those periods.
From tracing Colombia’s fragrant coffee triangle to exclusive tours through Argentina and Brazil—where local lunches, tango lessons and chasing the pummeling 80-meter tall cascades of Iguazu Falls make up daily agendas—7 days in South America will leave your cup full. It’s an ideal duration to explore up to two countries like Peru and Ecuador, or even go island-hopping in the Galapagos.
Depending on your interest, you can opt for a cruise around Baltra Island, San Cristobal Island and Espanola Island, or uncover ancient civilizations of Machu Picchu and head into the Sacred Valley. Perhaps the best way to spend a week in the continent is to choose two neighboring countries and to adventure around their shared regions and popular destinations.
Go through our guide on spending 7 days in South America for more information. Alternatively easily book a one-week South America tour.
You can visit two to three countries if you have 10 days in South America. For example you can combine a tour of Peru and Bolivia. The former is renowned for its archaeological marvels like the ancient ruins of Cusco, unbelievable Rainbow Mountains and, of course, Machu Picchu, and the latter is known for the world’s largest salt plains, Salar de Uyuni, as well as chocolate. A small part of the Great Amazon, shared by the two countries, itself deserves 2 to 3 days of exploring. You can also add either Argentina, Brazil or Chile into the loop and explore bustling and dance fiestas, or go to Patagonia for glaciers, rugged landscapes and adventurous cruises. In 10 days you can explore South America based on interest, budget as well as region.
Get more ideas from our suggested South America 10-day itineraries. You can also make your pick from our list of 10-day South America tours.
Fourteen days in South America gives you enough time to immerse yourself in local culture, scenery, sites and its centuries-old history. Choose to center your vacation on something specific, like its hiking trails, the Andes mountains, the Amazon rainforest, surfing and outdoor sports, wine and food tasting experiences, or a combination of all of the above. While it might be possible to hop around up to six countries during a 2-week South America tour, we recommend taking it slow and soaking up just about three countries. Clock in La Paz in Bolivia for the most colorful scenes of street food, buildings and traditions; kayak across the “birthplace of the Incas” on Lake Titicaca, which flanks Peru and Bolivia; and explore the many natural wonders of Chile. Alternatively, you can move to the rhythm of tango and samba in two of the continent's biggest cities, Buenos Aires in Argentina and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
For inspiration, check out our guide on 2 weeks in South America. Alternatively browse through our collection of 2-week South America tours for easy booking.
Planning a trip to South America?
Now that you’ve got a few comparisons on how long to spend in South America, the next best thing to do is to start mapping out the itinerary. You can jump on group tours to South America, hiking expeditions, self-driven ventures or even join other solo travelers on packaged South America holidays. If you are looking for something more personalized, choose our tailormade South America packages that can be tweaked as per your preference.