Backpacking South America: Ultimate Route & Budget

Why Backpack South America?

South America is a continent of extremes. Snow-capped Andes peaks, the Amazon rainforest, Atacama Desert, Patagonian glaciers, Caribbean beaches, and some of the most vibrant cities on Earth. The backpacking infrastructure has improved enormously in recent years, and it remains one of the most affordable continents for long-term travel.

A 3-month route through South America will cost roughly $3,000–5,000 (excluding international flights), give you extraordinary experiences and change your perspective on the world.

The Classic 3-Month Route

Month 1: Colombia & Ecuador (Weeks 1-4)

Week 1-2: Colombia

• Bogota (3 days) — La Candelaria neighbourhood, Monserrate hill, Gold Museum, street food in Paloquemao market
• Salento & Valle de Cocora (2 days) — Coffee country, hike among the world's tallest palm trees
• Medellin (3 days) — Comuna 13, cable car rides, nightlife in El Poblado
• Cartagena (3 days) — Walled old town, Rosario Islands day trip, ceviche on the beach

Week 3-4: Ecuador

• Quito (2 days) — Colonial old town (UNESCO), teleferiqo cable car, ceviche lunch
• Banos (2 days) — Adventure sports capital: canyoning, bridge jumping, thermal baths
• Amazon Lodge (3 days) — Stay in a jungle lodge from Coca or Tena. See monkeys, caimans and parrots
• Cuenca (2 days) — Beautiful colonial city, Panama hat workshops

Month 2: Peru & Bolivia (Weeks 5-8)

Week 5-7: Peru

• Lima (2 days) — Miraflores boardwalk, ceviche at La Mar, Barranco nightlife
• Huacachina (1 day) — Desert oasis, sandboarding and dune buggy rides
• Arequipa (2 days) — White city, Colca Canyon condor viewpoint
• Cusco (3 days) — Acclimatise to altitude, San Pedro market, Sacsayhuaman ruins
• Machu Picchu (2 days) — The bucket list highlight. Book train or do the Inca Trail (4 days)
• Sacred Valley (2 days) — Ollantaytambo, Pisac market, Moray terraces

Week 8: Bolivia

• La Paz (2 days) — Death Road cycling, Witches Market, teleferico cable car system
• Uyuni Salt Flats (3 days) — The most surreal landscape on Earth. Take a 3-day jeep tour that includes coloured lagoons, geysers and flamingos
• Sucre (2 days) — Bolivia's white city, dinosaur footprints at Cal Orck'o

Month 3: Argentina & Chile (Weeks 9-12)

Week 9-10: Argentina

• Buenos Aires (3 days) — Tango in San Telmo, steak in Puerto Madero, La Boca neighbourhood
• Mendoza (2 days) — Wine region, bike between vineyards, Malbec tastings
• El Calafate (2 days) — Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the world's most impressive natural wonders
• El Chalten (3 days) — Hiking capital. Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre treks (free, no permits needed)

Week 11-12: Chile

• Torres del Paine (4 days) — W Trek or day hikes. Patagonia at its finest
• Valparaiso (2 days) — Colourful hillside city, street art, cerro rides
• Santiago (2 days) — Mercado Central seafood, Cerro San Cristobal, Bellavista nightlife
• Atacama Desert (3 days) — Valle de la Luna, geysers at dawn, stargazing (the clearest skies on Earth)

Budget Breakdown: 3 Months

| Category | Budget/Day | 90-Day Total | |----------|-----------|-------------| | Accommodation | $12–20 | $1,080–1,800 | | Food | $10–18 | $900–1,620 | | Transport | $8–15 | $720–1,350 | | Activities | $5–12 | $450–1,080 | | Total | $35–65 | $3,150–5,850 |

Country-by-Country Daily Costs

| Country | Budget/Day | Notes | |---------|-----------|-------| | Colombia | $25–40 | Very affordable, great hostels | | Ecuador | $25–40 | Slightly pricier than Colombia | | Peru | $25–45 | Machu Picchu is the big expense | | Bolivia | $20–35 | Cheapest country on the continent | | Argentina | $35–55 | Patagonia inflates the average | | Chile | $40–60 | Most expensive, especially Patagonia |

Accommodation

Budget Options

• Hostels — Dorm beds $4–12 depending on country. Private rooms $15–30 for couples
• Couchsurfing — Active community in major cities, especially Buenos Aires and Bogota
• Wild camping — Free in Patagonia (El Chalten, Torres del Paine) with proper gear
• Hospedajes — Local guesthouses in smaller towns, $5–10 per person

Booking Tips

1. Hostelworld for hostels with reviews
2. Booking.com for private rooms and guesthouses
3. Walk-in deals — In low season, walk-in prices are 10-30% cheaper than online
4. Negotiate — In Bolivia and Peru, always ask "hay descuento?" (is there a discount?)

Getting Around

Buses

Long-distance buses are the backbone of South American travel. They range from basic to luxurious:

• Semi-cama — Reclining seats (130 degrees), the budget option
• Cama — Fully reclining (160-180 degrees), worth the upgrade for overnight journeys
• Night buses — Save on accommodation. Buenos Aires to Mendoza: 14 hours, $25-35

Flights

Budget airlines make some long distances viable:

• JetSMART — Chile and Argentina, flights from $30
• Sky Airline — Chile and Peru
• Viva Air — Colombia
• Wingo — Colombia and Ecuador

Overland Border Crossings

All borders on this route are straightforward:

• Colombia to Ecuador — Ipiales/Tulcan border, safe and efficient
• Ecuador to Peru — Huaquillas/Tumbes or Macara/La Tina
• Peru to Bolivia — Puno/Copacabana (Lake Titicaca), a beautiful crossing
• Bolivia to Argentina — Villazon/La Quiaca, or fly La Paz to Buenos Aires
• Argentina to Chile — Bus from Mendoza to Santiago (7 hours, stunning Andes crossing)

Food on a Budget

South American food is cheap and delicious. Budget strategies:

• Set lunch menus (almuerzo/menu del dia) — A full meal for $1.50-4 in most countries
• Markets — Every city has a central market with cheap food stalls
• Cook in hostels — Supermarkets are affordable, cook dinner to save
• Street food — Empanadas ($0.30-1), anticuchos ($1-2), arepas ($0.50-1)

Must-Try Foods by Country

• Colombia — Bandeja paisa, arepas, buñuelos
• Ecuador — Ceviche de camaron, encebollado, llapingachos
• Peru — Ceviche, lomo saltado, causa, anticuchos
• Bolivia — Salteñas, pique macho, api con buñuelos
• Argentina — Asado, empanadas, choripan, alfajores
• Chile — Pastel de choclo, curanto, completo (loaded hot dog)

Essential Tips

Safety

• South America is generally safe for backpackers, but use common sense
• Avoid walking alone at night in unfamiliar areas
• Use official taxis or apps (Uber works in most major cities, InDrive is popular)
• Keep copies of your passport and store originals in your hostel safe
• Do not wear flashy jewellery or wave expensive phones around

Health

• Vaccinations — Yellow fever is required for the Amazon. Carry your certificate
• Altitude — Coca tea, slow acclimatisation, and drink 3+ litres of water daily
• Sun — The Andean and Atacama sun is brutal at altitude. SPF50, hat, sunglasses
• Water — Tap water is not safe to drink in most countries. Carry a reusable bottle with a filter

Money

• ATMs — Withdraw in cities, not small towns. Fees vary: $2-5 per withdrawal
• Cash is king — Especially in Bolivia and rural areas
• USD — Accepted in Ecuador (official currency) and useful as backup everywhere
• Haggling — Expected at markets and with taxis. Not appropriate in restaurants or shops

Language

• Spanish is essential. Unlike Southeast Asia, English is not widely spoken
• Learn basic phrases before you go. Even bad Spanish is appreciated
• Download Spanish on Google Translate for offline use
• Take a Spanish class in Bogota, Cusco or Buenos Aires ($5-10/hour for private lessons)

Packing List Essentials

• Lightweight backpack (40-50L is the sweet spot)
• Quick-dry clothing layers (temperatures vary from tropical to freezing)
• Waterproof jacket (essential for Patagonia and the Amazon)
• Warm fleece or down jacket (for altitude and Patagonia)
• Good hiking boots (broken in before the trip)
• Reusable water bottle with filter
• Head torch
• Padlocks for hostel lockers
• Universal adapter
• Dry bag for rainy boat trips and beach days

When to Go

• Colombia — Year-round, December-March driest
• Ecuador — Year-round, June-September driest in highlands
• Peru — May-September (dry season in the Andes). Avoid January-March for Inca Trail
• Bolivia — May-October (dry season). Salt flats mirror effect: February-April (wet)
• Argentina — October-April for Patagonia. Year-round for Buenos Aires
• Chile — October-April for Patagonia. Year-round for Atacama