When to Visit South America?
Since we will be traveling through 7 countries across the continent, we will be experiencing a variety of climates and environments that are best visited in certain seasons. So, it is essential that we pick the best time to begin our trip to align with the best seasons for our travel.
With a 6-month period, I have found that starting our journey in Colombia in August and finishing our trip in February in Brazil, we will be getting the best weather in all the countries we will be visiting.
Colombia in August is great, as the rainfall will most likely have already passed by the time you arrive, which should allow you to enjoy the outdoors a bit more. Expect a variety of weather in Colombia, as the places we will be visiting vary drastically in altitude and climate. Colombia can be tropical and humid near the coast, while cold and rainy near the Andes, so be sure to prepare for all kinds of weather here.
Ecuador in September is also great, as the area at sea level, like the Galapagos, is nice and warm with the water not too cold to swim in (still pretty cold for my warm Southeast Asian blood). Meanwhile, it is not too cold in the mountainous regions like Cotopaxi and Banos. Again, you will be experiencing a lot of different climates and temperatures in Ecuador, so prepare accordingly.
Peru in October will be dry and sunny, making it the perfect time to go hiking in places like Huaraz in the Andes region and see Machu Picchu at its best with low clouds and blue sky. The same goes for Peru, as you will require winter hiking gear if you plan to hike in Huaraz. Additionally, along the coast in places like Nazca and Ica, you will experience a desert climate, so be sure to prepare accordingly.
Bolivia in October, even though you won't get that beautiful reflection from the salt flat and water left during the rainy season in February, you will have a higher chance of having nice clear days during this month, which makes it a great time to visit Salar de Uyuni and Bolivia in general.
Chile and Argentina in November and December are the perfect times to go hiking in the Patagonia region. By the time we arrive at the end of the world, the summer weather should make it more fun for you to engage in outdoor activities, and there are a ton of things to do in the Patagonia region.
Brazil in January should be great for visiting cities along the eastern coast of the continent, as the weather should not be too hot to explore comfortably. If you stay a little longer into February, you will also get to experience the extravagant Carnival festival, which is a great way to end this trip of a lifetime.
How to Get to South America?
Since I recommend that you start your journey in Colombia, there are several airlines for you to choose from depending on your location. The best way to start this itinerary is to fly into Bogota, the capital city of Colombia. There are several flights from the US and Europe that go directly to Bogota. I would recommend browsing through Skyscanner or Expedia to find a cheap flight from your location to Bogota that best fits your itinerary.
From the US, you can fly directly to Bogota via Delta or Avianca Airlines, or you can choose a low-cost airline, Viva Air Colombia, which connects Miami with Bogota. You can find more information on Skyscanner or Expedia.
From Europe, you can fly directly with British Airways or KLM from London or Amsterdam to Bogota, respectively.
From Asia, there is no direct flight (except maybe through Japan), but you can fly through Europe (make sure to get a flight that doesn't go through more than one city in Europe; otherwise, you will need a Schengen visa for it) or through the US if you already have a valid US visa. AirFrance is a great airline to fly via Europe, or you can fly with United Airlines via the US to Bogota.
How to Get Around South America?
Since we will be traveling the length of a continent, we will be relying on several modes of transportation, from buses to airplanes. However, most of the time, we will save costs and go with the bus if the journey isn't too painful.
Getting Around South America by Bus
This will be our main mode of transportation in South America. Buses vary in size, price, and quality. Personally, I found buses in Peru, Chile, and Argentina extremely comfortable to travel in; some even come with food onboard. In contrast, bus service can be a bit lackluster in Colombia, Ecuador, and Bolivia. You can find most bus routes to book, as well as schedules, online via Busbud.com.
One thing to keep in mind for buses is that each country has its own bus systems. Some have their buses all congregated at the main bus station, while others have each bus company operating from its own bus stations that you have to get to in order to board the bus.
The countries where you can get buses at main bus stations are Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and most places in Colombia and Ecuador, while the countries that have bus companies operating their own bus terminals are Peru and a few places in Colombia and Ecuador.
Here are some recommended bus companies in South America, organized by country:
For Colombia, I do not have any favorite bus companies because the roads, especially in the South, were pretty bad to traverse in the first place, so I did not enjoy much of land travel in Colombia.
For Ecuador, although buses can be old, surprisingly, the road condition in Ecuador is excellent throughout the country. Again, I do not have any favorite bus company to recommend here, so you can pick whichever one is most convenient.
For Peru, Cruz del Sur and Oltursa are highly recommended for long-haul southern routes, Linea for northern routes, and any local bus companies are fine for short-haul trips.
For Chile, Turbus and Pullman provide a great range of buses that cover many popular locations.
For Argentina, Andesmar or ViaBariloche are great options for long-distance trips around the country.
When it comes to safety on buses, I have heard many reports from friends that they had their bags snatched on overnight buses while they were sleeping in Colombia and Ecuador. So, always have your belongings with you at all times. I'll be providing more tips on how to stay safe in South America under the Safety in South America section, so be sure to check that out.
Getting Around South America by Collectivo
Collectivo or shared vans are another way to get around Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, especially on a less traveled route. You can't book these vans online, so you will have to ask for the collectivo schedule at your hostel and get the ticket from the bus terminal on the spot. Usually, if you are traveling on popular routes, you should have no trouble finding one at the main bus station.
Getting Around South America by Flights
There are a lot of low-cost options if you want to reduce your travel time and do not mind spending more. We will also be utilizing domestic flights on a few routes to either reach some islands or avoid traversing the same route on our way back.
For Colombia, VivaColombia offers a cheap way for you to skip a 20-hour bus ride without breaking the bank, although they are often delayed and do not provide the best service.
For Ecuador, specifically, to travel to the Galapagos, you will have to get a domestic flight from Guayaquil to Isla Baltra via LATAM or TAM. A roundtrip ticket should be fixed at $351 USD from Guayaquil to Galapagos and back.
For Peru, you will be using land travel for the most part, as there are a lot of important stops along the way, so there is no need to fly here.
For Bolivia, again, you won't need to fly here as you will be spending your time traversing Salar de Uyuni to get to Chile, which will take 2-3 days.
For Chile, you can fly domestically with Sky Airline, which is cheap and has good coverage all over the country. For Easter Island, there is only one airline that connects the mainland to the remote island, which is LATAM, so be sure to check them out if you want to visit Easter Island.
For Argentina, Aerolineas Argentinas covers a wide range of popular destinations in Patagonia and around the country, and their prices are pretty affordable.
Getting Around Cities in South America
South American cities, especially the capital, aren't super well-known for being safe, so one of the best ways many locals recommend to me to get around big cities like Bogota, Santiago, and Buenos Aires is to get an Uber, which is convenient and will cost you less than a regular taxi.
Most capital cities also have a mass transit system that you can use, but be sure to keep track of your belongings at all times and avoid traveling at peak times where you will have to deal with crowds. I'll be illustrating more on safety in South America under the Safety in South America section.
How Much Money Do I Need For South America?
Since this is a 6-month itinerary, it will be very difficult to come up with an accurate budget for you, but I'll try my best to give you a ballpark figure so you can consider the budget for this trip in South America.
Accommodation: One month in Colombia costs 240 USD, one month in Ecuador costs 184 USD, one month in Peru costs 178 USD, one week in Bolivia costs 118 USD, 2 months in Chile and Argentina cost 570 USD and 258 USD respectively, and one month in Brazil costs 240 USD. Therefore, the total cost for 6 months of accommodation in South America is 1,788 USD.
Food: One month of food in Colombia is 450 USD, one month of food in Ecuador is 540 USD, one month of food in Peru is 450 USD, one week of food in Bolivia is 126 USD, 2 months of food in Chile and Argentina is 1260 USD, one month of food in Brazil is 495 USD, so in total, you will be paying 3,021 USD for 3 meals a day for 6 months in South America.
Transportation: This is very hard to calculate, so I'll focus more on long journeys from place to place instead of shorter trips, etc. For Colombia, it will be 155 USD; Ecuador will be 376 USD; Peru will be 102 USD; Chile and Argentina will be 1884 USD; Brazil will be 196 USD. So, in total, the transportation cost for 6 months in South America is 2,713 USD. Keep in mind that this includes flights to Galapagos and Easter Island, as well as other domestic flights that are required, hence why it looks so pricey.
Activities: This will depend entirely on what you want to do while you are traveling, but I'll try my best to calculate the big activities I recommend you do, like a cruise around the Galapagos, an Amazon trip, and a tour around Salar de Uyuni, etc. In total, you will be paying around 2090 USD for activities from the ones listed above, as well as a flight to see the Nazca Line, climb an active volcano in Pucon, the Lost City Trek, a train trip to Machu Picchu, and more.
Total Budget for 6 months in South America: $9,602 USD or around $50 USD per day.
Is South America Safe?
Safety in South America is a quite sensitive subject. On the one hand, there are people like me who did not experience anything bad during my entire time in South America, except maybe getting chased by angry dogs at Vilcabamba, Ecuador, and there are people who got their stuff stolen on buses or robbed at knifepoint in sketchy streets.
Don't walk alone at night: One thing I quickly learned in South America is that people don't usually walk alone at night on quiet streets.
You might find many in the party area, but you won't find them walking around in dark streets as you would see in Asia or Europe. And if the locals don't do it, you should not do it either. Just call an Uber if you need to get somewhere at night.
Don't Use Your Phones in Crowded Areas: Petty thefts are common in big cities around touristy areas, so be sure not to use your phone while walking around outside. Otherwise, you will just paint yourself as a target.
Always look like you know where you are going, and if you need to look at a map, just stop by, retreat to the side, and look or just go into a nearby shop, and check your phone there.
Keep your belongings with you at all times on public transportation: This includes both public transportation in cities as well as overnight buses. Be aware of your things when getting on or off a crowded bus or train because that is how pickpockets will steal your stuff.
Do not put your backpack under your seat on an overnight bus. Sleep on it if you must, but always keep your belongings with you at all times. It will be a little safer in countries like Chile and Argentina since they have a better luggage system there.
Use an ATM During the Day: I have heard stories about people getting robbed right at the ATM in Colombia, so what I often do is stick to the ATM in places like shopping malls where there are security personnel around, and where you will be surrounded by people. This way, there's no chance someone will rob you.
Other than these points, if you follow all of them, which I recommend you do not only in South America but anywhere you travel, then you should have no problem in South America. Again, if the locals don't do it, you shouldn't be doing it either.
Which tourist SIM card is best for South America?
WIFI is available in most places, but less so in remote areas like the Amazon, Salar de Uyuni, Galapagos, and Patagonia. However, if you want to stay connected during your trip, I highly recommend getting a local SIM card for countries where you will be staying longer than 2 weeks. For this itinerary, I recommend getting one for Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil.
For Colombia, I recommend you get a SIM card from Claro. For the 2 GB 30-day plan, it should cost you about 46,000 COP. The coverage was very good around the country, except maybe in San Agustin. All in all, I highly recommend Claro. For more information, visit the Colombia Prepaid Data Sim Card website.
For Ecuador, Claro is, again, a great place for you to get a local SIM card (You can't use the one from Colombia so you will need to get one in Quito). It worked well with good coverage, except on Galapagos and Mindo. It can be recharged via any shop that sports the Claro logo sign. For more information, visit Ecuador Prepaid Data Sim Card.
For Peru, Claro is widely available in Peru, and I found it to be more tourist-friendly than Movistar. They offer a 2GB data SIM card for only 30 SOL (8 USD). Refilling the SIM card is as easy as going to any shop with a Claro sign and asking them to refill the money for you, and you can reactivate any package you like. For more information, visit Peru Prepaid Data Sim Card.
For Bolivia, if you want to get a SIM card for Bolivia, Entel is a great option for you. You can get 3 GB for around 140 BOB, which is around 20 USD. However, do not expect any internet access while you are in the Salar de Uyuni salt flat throughout the whole 3 days. For more information, visit Bolivia Prepaid Data Sim Card.
For Chile, Entel SIM card is highly recommended. They have good coverage even on Easter Island, and their packages are quite affordable. For more information, visit Chile Prepaid Data SIM Card.
For Argentina, I have had quite a mixed bag of experiences with the SIM card provider here. Claro is good in big cities like Buenos Aires, but in Patagonia, it only worked 60% of the time. In El Chalten, I was unable to connect to the internet for 3 days due to poor Wi-Fi and no coverage in that area.
Even though the internet package from Claro has unlimited data, they cap the data each day at 50 MB, and you have to pay extra to get the speed back, with another 50 MB capped. That is bullsh*t if you ask me, but there are not many options available. For more information, visit Argentina Prepaid Data Sim Card.
For Brazil, Claro provides SIM cards for tourists with good rates that aren't available for locals, so it is recommended that you get one from Claro. Be sure to get it at a dedicated Claro shop so that they can help you out with the registrations. They will often ask for your passport, so be sure to have that on hand with you. For more information, visit Brazil Prepaid Data SIM Card.
Tips: To stay connected with your loved ones at home, make sure to have a VPN service like NordVPN installed before traveling. This way, you can bypass any local Internet censorship you might encounter while in South America.
What to Pack for South America?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to South America:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
