The Short Answer…
Six weeks is the minimum amount of time to see South America’s biggest highlights in one trip. It gives you just enough time to combine Machu Picchu, the Amazon, the Uyuni Salt Flats, the Atacama Desert, Patagonia and Iguazú Falls.
But only if the route is planned properly from the start.
- The Highlights Tour (Peru or Brazil start): Six major highlights in six weeks. Fast-paced, multiple internal flights, higher budget, high reward.
- One Region Done Properly: For example, Chile and Argentina. Slower pace, more depth, fewer flights. Best for travellers who want to go deeper rather than broader.
- Budget from £5,500 per person, excluding international flights
Skip The Overwhelm Of Planning
Are you looking to do an extended, multi-country trip across South America but lost in a planning hole?
I plan custom South America trips for independent travellers. Skip the overwhelm, get your evening and weekends back and travel with confidence knowing an expert has planned your trip:
This post will help you to start planning an epic six week adventure. But if you’d rather have someone else handle the logistics, that’s exactly what my South America trip planning service is built for.
What Can You Do With Six Weeks In South America?
Six weeks is a great amount of time for a first-time extended trip. It’s enough time to move through multiple countries without feeling like you’re permanently in transit.
As a travel planner, it’s the minimum I’d recommend if you want to combine the continent’s biggest highlights in one trip.
With six weeks you have two real options:
- The first is a fast-paced highlights tour covering five countries and the continent’s most iconic experiences.
- The second is a slower, deeper trip focused on one region or experience – Patagonia, the Lake Districts, or the Brazilian wildlife regions like the Pantanal. 2 weeks in three countries, or 3 weeks in just two.
Both are great trips.
The choice depends on your travel style, budget and preferences.
Still working out how long you need? My guide to how many days in South America covers exactly what’s achievable at each trip length.
Route 1: Six Week Highlights Tour
This is the most popular six week South America itinerary I plan.
It combines the continent’s six biggest highlights – Machu Picchu, the Amazon, the Uyuni Salt Flats, the Atacama Desert, Patagonia and Iguazú Falls – in one connected trip that flows well from one stop to the next.
You also get to visit great cities like Buenos Aires and Rio De Janeiro in the process – which many people consider highlights as well.
The route works well in both directions depending on when you travel. The stops are essentially the same either way.
The direction you travel depends entirely on the time of year and the seasons.
If this route looks a little too fast paced for you, then an additional week longer can make a big difference, my seven week South America itinerary gives you a bit more breathing room. With eight weeks you can add Colombia and the Galápagos too, which is what my 2 month South America itinerary does.
A) Six Week South America Itinerary Starting In Peru
Starting in Peru makes sense between mid to late October.
October is a shoulder season where the Andes are transitioning from dry season in to wet.
This means you hit Machu Picchu with fewer crowds and a lower chance of rain compared to visiting in the middle or end of wet season when rainfall is much higher.
Here’s what the route looks like:
After Peru and Bolivia , you are set up perfectly to work south into Patagonia as it transitions from spring into summer in November and December.
Mid November and early December are great times to visit Patagonia – still shoulder season, so fewer crowds and more affordable prices.
Peak season doesn’t begin until mid December when schools break up, domestic travellers hit the road and international visitors arrive for the good weather.
The route moves south through the continent in a logical sequence. No backtracking, no unnecessary journeys between regions.
Itinerary Summary and Map
- Best months: Mid to late October
- Route: Peru → Bolivia → Chile →Argentina → Brazil
- Highlights: Machu Picchu → Amazon → Uyuni Salt Flats → Atacama Desert → Patagonia → Iguazu Falls → Rio
- Pace: Fast paced – around 8 to 10 internal flights across six weeks
- Budget: From £5,500 per person, excluding international flights
- Best for: First-time visitors wanting to see the continent’s biggest highlights in one trip
Client Case Study
Every six week highlights trip looks slightly different depending on what you want to prioritise.
Morgan came to me from Australia wanting to include the Galápagos Islands – so she flew in to Santiago and then immediately up to Ecuador.
After seeing the islands, I planned her the same route heading south through Peru, Bolivia, Chile and down to Patagonia. Brazil came out to make room for the Galápagos, and she finished back in Santiago for her direct flight home to Australia
That’s the kind of trip-specific decision-making that makes the difference between a route that works and one that doesn’t.
Here’s what her six weeks looked like:
If you are looking to do an extended trip to South America, but struggling to put a route together, working with a specialist who has that on-the-ground knowledge can turn a messy plan into an unforgettable trip.
If that sounds like you, reach out: South America Trip Planning Service
B) Six Week South America Itinerary Starting In Brazil
Starting in Brazil makes sense between mid to late March.
Brazil is much cooler and less crowded compared to the summer months of January and February.
You then arrive in Patagonia in April after the peak crowds have left. It’s a little colder, but still a great time to visit.
By the time you reach Peru, it’s late April and the region is transitioning back into dry season. The chance of rain has dropped massively and you are more likely to get sunny days for Machu.
Itinerary Summary and Map
- Best months: Mid to late March into April
- Route: Brazil → Argentina → Chile → Bolivia → Peru
- Highlights: Rio → Iguazu Falls → Buenos Aires → Patagonia → Atacama Desert → Uyuni Salt Flats → Amazon → Machu Picchu
- Budget: From £5,500 per person, excluding international flights
- Best for: Travellers whose dates fall in the October or March windows, or if you are flying from the UK
Route 2: One Region Done Properly
Not every six week client I work with wants to move fast.
Some want fewer countries, more time in each place, and a trip that feels calm rather than rushed.
Or it can include a unique experience that requires additional days and transport – an Antarctica cruise, a trip to Brazil’s Pantanal, or Argentina’s Ibera Wetlands.
If you are that type of traveller, this option is for you.
Instead of covering five countries in six weeks, you pick one region and go deep.
The two most popular versions of this I plan:
- Chile and Argentina – Santiago, the Lake District, Patagonia, Buenos Aires. Self-drive sections, national parks, glaciers, wine regions. 3 weeks in each country to truly see every Patagonia has to offer. Perfect for trips from November to April. If Patagonia is the main draw, my Chile and Argentina itinerary has three route options worth comparing.
- Brazil and Northern Argentina – Iguazú Falls, the Ibera Wetlands, the Pantanal, Bonito, Rio, Ilha Grande. Wildlife lodges, river safaris, some of the most biodiverse landscapes on the planet. Best April to September. My one month Brazil itinerary covers this first leg in more depth.
- Peru, Bolivia and the northern parts of Chile and Argentina – spending longer in Peru and follow the Inca road from Bolivia in to northern Chile and then northern Argentina. Affordable and off the beaten track. If Peru and Bolivia are the heart of your trip, my one month Peru and Bolivia itinerary goes into far more day by day detail, and for Machu Picchu specifically, see my Cusco and Machu Picchu itinerary.
Each of these trips take six weeks to do properly. Neither involves rushing.
Which Six Week Route Is Right For You?
The honest answer comes down to two things: when you can travel, and what kind of experience you’re after.
If your dates fall in March to April or October to November, the highlights tour is the natural choice. These shoulder season windows are specifically when the route works best – Machu Picchu and Patagonia both in reasonable condition, without the peak season crowds or prices.
If your dates fall in June, July or August, the highlights tour becomes harder to time well. Patagonia is in winter and largely inaccessible. In that case, Route 2 – a deeper trip through the Andes or Brazil – is the better option.
If budget is a factor, Route 2 can be significantly cheaper. Fewer internal flights, lower cost countries, less pressure to move quickly. The highlights tour is the more expensive of the two by a considerable margin.
If this is your first extended South America trip, the highlights tour gives you the broadest possible introduction to the continent.
Route 2 gives you depth over breadth – better if you’ve been before, or if you have a specific experience in mind (Patagonia hiking, Amazon wildlife, Antarctic cruise).
Six weeks is a significant trip regardless of which route you choose. The difference is what kind of memories you come home with.
When Is The Best Time To Do A Six Week South America Trip?
March to April and October to November are the windows I recommend most often for the highlights tour.
They hit the shoulder seasons for both the Andes and Patagonia at the same time, making the overall trip more enjoyable.
If you’re window is March / April time:
If you have an October / November window, then:
But they’re not the only options.
A lot of clients I work with go from January to February which works for the Brazil-start direction.
You get the southern hemisphere summer, warm sunny days in Patagonia, and Rio and Buenos Aires at their most vibrant.
The trade-off is peak season crowds and higher prices in this region. And then arriving in Peru for rainy season.
But don’t let rainy season put you off – it means warm days with quick downpours, usually in the afternoons. Visiting Machu Picchu across two days means you have a better chance of getting a nice sunny day for it.
How Much Money Do You Need For Six Weeks In South America?
Six weeks across five countries is one of the more expensive trip combinations you can do in South America.
The distances are vast, the internal flights add up, and the highlights on this route – Machu Picchu, the Salt Flats, Patagonia, the Amazon – all cost money to do properly.
Here’s a rough estimate of what you should budget daily and weekly for the ‘highlights route’ outlined above:
| Week/Country | Daily Budget | Weekly Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 – Peru | £80 | £560 |
| Week 2 – Bolivia | £60 | £420 |
| Week 3 – Chile | £120 | £840 |
| Week 4 – Argentina | £130 | £910 |
| Week 5 – Argentina | £130 | £910 |
| Week 6 – Brazil | £120 | £840 |
| Total | £4,480 |
*This is just for accommodation, food, transport and activities – not internal flights
That puts the ground total at roughly £4,500 per person for six weeks.
On top of that, budget an additional £1,200 to £1,400 for internal flights – this route involves 8 to 10 flights between countries and regions.
Total budget: from £6,000 per person, excluding international flights to and from South America.
Add your international flights on top, and for six weeks in South America, you are looking at a total spend of around £7,500 per person.
If you want to reduce budget, cutting the weeks down is the best way, my five week South America itinerary covers a slightly tighter version of this route.
Six Week South America Itinerary FAQs
Yes – six weeks is the minimum I’d recommend for a proper highlights trip. It gives you enough time to combine Machu Picchu, the Uyuni Salt Flats, the Atacama Desert, Patagonia and Iguazú Falls in one connected route, but only if the itinerary is planned efficiently from the start. If six weeks doesn’t quite fit your dates, I’ve broken down how many days you actually need in South America depending on what you want to see.
Budget a minimum of £5,500 per person for six weeks, excluding international flights. That covers mid-range accommodation, food, local transport, activities and 8 to 10 internal flights between countries. If you are travelling as a couple, then accommodation costs are split between you, however, I would still aim to budget around £10,000 for a couple aiming to do six weeks. Always check the UK government’s travel advice for South America before you book anything, since entry requirements and safety guidance can change. If this budget is too high for your trip, my one month South America itinerary is a better starting point.
The most popular route I plan covers Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and Brazil in one trip, starting in Peru then working south through the Andes and down to Patagonia, and finishing in Brazil. The reverse direction (Brazil start) works equally well for October and late March departures. However, there are so many unique six week routes and trips I’ve helped plan. You can include Colombia and Ecuador and skip Brazil. Or you can do a deep dive into a region like Patagonia and spend the entire six weeks in Argentina and Chile.
Yes – six weeks is enough to see both properly. The key is timing: start in Peru in mid October and you hit Machu Picchu in shoulder season, then arrive in Patagonia for November as spring starts to transition in to summer. Alternatively, start in Brazil in late March and finish in Peru for mid April as the dry season begins. Machu Picchu tickets sell out fast in peak months, so it’s worth booking directly through the official Machu Picchu ticket site as soon as your dates are confirmed.
March to April and October to November are the best windows for the highlights tour. These shoulder seasons align well across both the Andes and Patagonia simultaneously. January to February also works for the Brazil start direction, though you’ll be in Patagonia’s peak season and Peru’s rainy season. Timing matters more than most people expect on a trip this length, so it’s worth reading my full guide to the best time to visit South America before you lock in dates.
It depends entirely on when you can travel. If you are aiming to do a trip in March or April, the I would recommend starting in Brazil and going south first. If you are starting in October or November, I would recommend starting in Peru first and then heading south from there.
Five countries is realistic for six weeks on the highlights route, covering Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and Brazil. Any more than that and you’re spending too much time and money on flights. Any fewer and you have room to slow down and go deeper in each country.
The highlights route requires 8 to 10 internal flights across six weeks. South America’s distances make flying between countries and regions unavoidable, especially in Chile, Argentina and Brazil. Overland alternatives exist for some legs but add significant transit days to the trip which means you spend more time on a bus rather than enjoying the trip.
You can plan it yourself, but a six week multi-country trip is one of the more complex itineraries to get right. Organising travel across five countries efficiently, timing the internal flights correctly, knowing which operators are worth using, these decisions take weeks to research and are easy to get wrong on a first trip. Most of my clients come to me after realising how much is involved. Reach out via my South America Trip Planning Service if you’d like support.
