How To Spend 10 Days In South America
Picking a ten day South America itinerary can be tricky.
I recommend sticking to areas close to the borders between countries, so you can easily fly or bus over and be in another great place without losing too much time on travel.
Each of these itineraries stick to two countries each. This gives you approximately 5 days in each country which is more than enough to see the best things in each place.
Here are all the different options I think fit well with 10 days in South America:
| 10-Day South America Itinerary | Countries | Perfect For... |
|---|---|---|
|
1. Patagonia |
Chile and Argentina |
Hike and nature ethusiasts |
|
2. Andes |
Peru and Bolivia |
Budget travellers |
|
3. Pacific Coast |
Ecuador and Peru |
Sun and surf lovers |
|
4. Atlantic Coast |
Brazil & Argentina |
City and culture |
|
5. Caribbean Coast |
Colombia |
Tropical vibes |
|
6. High Altitude Desert |
Bolivia and Chile |
Adventure lovers |
10-Day South America Itinerary: Patagonia
This is the perfect 10-day itinerary for hike enthusiasts and those that want to see the most pristine and untouched nature in all of South America.
Here is the complete 10-day South America itinerary that includes Chile & Argentinian Patagonia:
| Day | Location | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Santiago |
Walking Tour, San Cristobal Cable Car, Sky Costanera |
|
2-4 |
Torres Del Paine |
Grey Glacier, Mirador Las Torres |
|
5-6 |
El Calafate |
Perito Moreno Glacier |
|
7-8 |
El Chalten |
Laguna Del Los Tres |
|
9-10 |
Buenos Aires |
Palermo, Recoleta |
- Budget: $1500-2000
- Ideal Time: November-March
- You'll see highlights of Patagonia
- Long journeys between some destinations means lost time
Day 1 - Santiago
Wherever you’re flying in from, once you land in Santiago, you have one day to explore Chile’s capital.
The best thing to do is join a free walking tour. I’d recommend Strawberry Walking Tours. They take you to several places in the city including Santa Lucia Hill to discover where Santiago’s history began, and through the Plaza de Armas to enjoy cosmopolitan Santiago.
In the evening, head up to the top of the Sky Costerna, Santiago’s tallest building, to find the best views of the city.
Day 2-4 - Torres Del Paine National Park
- Flight: Santiago (SCL) to Puerto Natales (PNT) - 3h 45m
- Bus: Puerto Natales to Torres Del Paine - 1h 30m
Trekking in Torres Del Paine National Park is a hikers dream and there are so many single day hikes to choose from. As you only have a couple of days here, I would recommend the Lago Grey / Grey Glacier trek.
The trek takes its name the large glacial lake located at the southern end of the park. This is one of the best treks in South America due to the scenery on offer: on one side, the Patagonian mountains and on the other side, the bright blue Lake Gray.
You can spend one day trekking to the campsite at Grey Glacier, stay overnight and then trek back the next day before catching the bus back to Puerto Natales.
For a full list of the best single-day hikes in South America, head to the post below:
Day 5-6 - El Calafate (Argentinian Patagonia)
- Bus: Puerto Natales to El Calafate (5-6h including border crossing)
Time to cross the border into Argentina and to the town of El Calafate.
Take an early morning bus from Puerto Natales so you arrive early afternoon. From here you can visit Parque Nacional Los Glaciares and the epic Perito Moreno Glacier.
You can take in the views of this huge chunk of ice from the visitor center or take a boat to get a up close and personal. If you are lucky, you may catch a chunk of ice falling off and crashing into the water below.
If you have longer than 10 days, then head to the post below to see how to turn this itinerary into a full month of incredible travel:
Day 7-8 - El Chalten
- Bus: El Calafate to El Chalten - 3h
After a short stay in El Calafate, head north to the small hiking town of El Chatlten, known as the “Trekking Capital of Argentina”.
From here you can plan more epic hikes into the beautiful Patagonian wilderness and Glacier National Park.
From El Chalten, you have your pick of hikes take you to some of the best sights in Patagonia.
One of the most iconic single day hikes in Argentine Patagonia, is the Laguna de los Tres hike, popular for the sublime panoramic views it offers of Glaciar de Los Tres and Mount Fitz Roy.
If you are interested in spending more time in Chile and Argentina, check out the post below to turn this 10-day itinerary into a month:
Day 9-10 - Buenos Aires
- Bus: El Chalten to El Calafate (3h)
- Bus: Flight: El Calafate (FTE) to Buenos Aires (AEP) - 3h 30m
From El Chatlen, you will need to catch a flight up to Buenos Aires to enjoy a few city days before flying home and you are done – ten incredible days in Chile and Argentina complete.
For more information on Argentina and why you definitely need to spend some time in Buenos Aires, head to the post below:
“Joe turned our fragmented ideas into a seamless itinerary. His expert advice saved us time, money, and stress – making our 3-month trip feel easy.”
Sam & Amy – 3 Months In South America
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You don’t have to figure it out solo.
I help travellers like you plan custom South America trips that are efficient, affordable, and totally personalised.
10-Day South America Itinerary: Peru & Bolivia
This is the perfect itinerary travellers who want to see one of the best sights in all of South America – Machu Picchu.
You’ll also get a choice of a great tour at the end to finish it off – either visiting the Bolivian Amazon or seeing the Uyuni Salt Flats.
Here is the complete 10-day South America itinerary that includes Peru and Bolivia:
| Day | Location | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Lima |
Miraflores, Barranco |
|
2-5 |
Cusco |
Machu Picchu |
|
6-7 |
La Paz |
Death Road, Cable Car Tour |
|
8-10 |
Uyuni |
Salt Flats Tour |
- Budget: $1000-1200
- Ideal Time: May to October (dry season)
- You'll see highlights of both countries - Machu Picchu and the Salt Flats
- Difficulty getting back from Uyuni
Day 1 – Lima
Miraflores has an abundance of trendy cafes and great restaurants to check out. In the evening, walk along the seafront and enjoy the ocean views.
Just make sure you’re here at sunset as you are in for a treat. Grab a spot near the edge of the cliffs and watch the sun go down as paragliders circle above and surfers catch the last waves of the day.
I’d recommend one day here as the rest of Peru deserves more of your time.
If you need more information on why Cusco is better for backpackers than Lima, head to the post below:
Day 2 – Cusco
- Flight: Lima (LIM) to Cusco (CUZ) - 1h
Fly directly to Cusco in the morning and spend the day. I would recommend taking this day to adjust to the altitude as you are now at 3200m above sea level.
A free walking tour is always the best way to do this, and I would recommend Inkan Milkyway. They have the best walking tours that don’t take you to any tourist traps and focus only on the history of the city.
Day 3 – Aguas Calientes
- Train: Cusco to Aguas Calientes - 3h
Aguas Calientes is the town closest to Machu Picchu and the main hub for travellers before they start their trek up to the mountain.
On day 3, you have two options: taking the train or the bus to Aguas Calientes.
The train takes 3 hours from Cusco to Aguas Calientes and I would recommend this as you only have limited time. The bus takes 8 hours and will be better if you are on a budget, but this means the whole day will be spent on transport.
Once you are in Aguas Calientes you can explore the town a little, relax and have an early night.
For more information on booking the train, head to the post below for everything you need to know:
Day 4 - Machu Picchu
It’s finally time to climb the 1,600+ stairs up to Peru’s most popular tourist attraction.
When you need to leave depends on what time ticket you purchased. However, I would recommend trying to get a 6:00 AM ticket which is the earliest entry possible. Most people wake up around 4.30AM and wait outside the gates from 5:00 AM.
When the gates open you can start the hike up. The alternative is to wait and take the bus which will get you to the top quicker but I recommend the climb as it feels like more of an achievement.
Either way, you’ll be one of the first people into Machu Picchu, catching the sunrise and largely having the place to yourself (at least for half an hour, until it eventually becomes packed as more and more tour buses turn up).
Getting up early also means you will be able to make it back to Cusco on the same day. Once you’ve climbed back down the steps, head to the train station and take the train back to Cusco.
Day 5 – Cusco
- Train: Aguas Calientes to Cusco- 3h
For your final day in Cusco, I would recommend a massage to help those aching legs. Massages in Cusco are cheap, and you have several options from Swedish to deep tissue.
In the evening, you should make a reservation at Limbus Resto-bar which has one of the best views in the city. Try to get a booking around sunset and out on the terrace for incredible golden hour views of Cusco.
Head to the Cusco backpackers guide linked below for all the information you need:
Day 6-7 – La Paz
- Flight: Cusco (CUZ) to La Paz (LPB) - 1h
On the morning of Day 6, take a flight from Cusco to La Paz which takes just over an hour.
In La Paz, you have an endless list of things to choose from such as biking down Death Road, trekking in the Valley of the Moon, or climbing Huayna Potosi.
Aside from all the adventure activities, the city is also an incredible place to explore. When wandering around you will see the impressive cable cars and their lines stretching out to every corner of La Paz.
Some routes will go as high as 4,000m (13,000 ft) above sea level, and it’s a great see more of La Paz and get incredible views of the city.
2 days is a good amount of time to cover it all. I would recommend riding down Death Road one day and then using the others to explore in and outside of the city.
Day 8-10 – Amazon Or Uyuni
You have two options here that include two of the best tours in South America: visiting the Amazon or visiting the Uyuni Salt Flats.
Amazon
Visiting the Amazon in Bolivia is much cheaper and easier compared to other countries in South America. You can fly from La Paz to the town of Rurrenabaque, which is where most Amazon tours embark.
The Pampas tour is the most popular among backpackers as you see much more wildlife.
You will spend 2 days winding through the tributaries of the Amazon on a longboat searching for caimans, anacondas, and exotic birds. You can even go swimming with pink river dolphins!
This is one of the best tours in Bolivia and it costs a fraction of the price compared to countries like Brazil or Colombia. It was one of the best experiences I had whilst backpacking in South America, and I highly recommend it.
The complete guide to booking an amazon tour in Bolivia can be found here:
Uyuni
The 3-day Salar De Uyuni tour will take you from one unique landscape to the next, starting with the white expanse of the salt flat to the high-altitude desert of the Andes.
The first day of the tour is spent on the actual salt flat taking the popular perspective and reflection photos for the gram.
On the second day, the tour heads out across the high-altitude desert known as the Altiplano to see even wilder landscapes such as volcanoes, geysers, and lakes full of flamingos.
Your mind will be blow by all the incredible scenery and you will leave on a high – the perfect way to end these 10 days in South America!
The Uyuni guide linked below has all the information you need for planning this part of the journey:
“Joe turned our fragmented ideas into a seamless itinerary. His expert advice saved us time, money, and stress – making our 3-month trip feel easy.”
Sam & Amy – 3 Months In South America
Planning a trip to
Struggling with any of this?
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✔ Unsure how to pick the best route
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You don’t have to figure it out solo.
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10-Day South America Itinerary: Ecuador and Peru (Pacific Coast)
This is the perfect itinerary for travellers who love the beach and don’t want to do much else apart from surf and party.
Montanita and Mancora are two of the most popular party beaches in South America and they are only 10 hours apart.
Here is the complete 10-day South America itinerary that includes Ecuador and Peru:
| Day | Location | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Montanita |
Surf or Spanish school |
|
6 |
Travel Day |
– |
|
7-10 |
Mancora |
Surf and party |
- Budget: $800-1000
- Ideal Time: December to April (dry season)
- Great if you are on a budget
- Not much apart from beaches, surf and party
Day 1-5 – Montanita
This is a simple 10-day itinerary that only includes two places!
Make sure you book a flight directly to Guayaquil International Airport, and as soon as you land you can take a 4-hour bus to the beach town of Montanita.
It will be a long day of travel (depending on where you’ve flown from) but it will be worth it as tomorrow morning you can wake up and hit the beach.
Montanita is the surf and party capital of Ecuador. It draws in travellers and locals alike looking for good swells and beachside dance floors that stay open late into the night. It’s not all just surfing and boozing though, and the town has a lot more on offer from immersive language schools to tranquil yoga retreats.
Spend your 4 full days here learning to surf, learning some Spanish and partying the nights away!
Day 6 – Travel Day
To squeeze another country into this South America itinerary, you’ll need to spend a whole day travelling on day 6.
From Montanita, take the bus back to Guayaquil. And then from Guayauqil, you can take a 6 hour bus across the border to Peru to reach the beach town of Mancora.
The Ecuador to Peru border crossing at Aguas Verdes is one of the simplest in South America.
The great thing about this border crossing is that an international bus will take you directly from your starting point in Ecuador to the final destination in Mancora. The company to book with is Cruz Del Sur. You’ll have to get off once at the border to have your passport check and then you’ll be back on your way.
I used Bus Bud when travelling by bus in South America. It’s the best way to book bus tickets in advance and they have a loyalty programme so you get your 6th booking for free!
Day 7-10 – Mancora
If there is one word to describe Mancora it would be wild. This beach town is filled with locals, backpackers and other tourists wanting to do two simple things: surf and party.
The hottest places to let loose are the Loki and Wild Rover hostels, but to be honest any of the other backpacker hostels in town which double up as bars and clubs will lead to a wild night.
Once the party is over, it’s time to jump in the ocean and get rid of that hangover.
It’s is a great place for beginners who have never been on a board before, as well as intermediate and advanced surfers, and the continual waves, calm water and warm weather culminate in the perfect conditions for surfing.
For more on why Mancora is such a great place to visit, head to the post below:
10-Day South America Itinerary: Argentina and Brazil
This is the perfect itinerary with a balance of big cities and nature too. Buenos Aires To Iguazu and then on to Brazil is a popular route with many ways to customise it to fit your needs.
Here is the complete 10-day South America itinerary that includes Argentina and Brazil:
| Day | Location | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
|
1-3 |
Buenos Aires |
Tango Shows, Asado, Walking Tours |
|
4-5 |
Iguazu Falls |
Trail Walks, Boat Tour |
|
6-10 |
Rio |
Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain |
- Budget: $1000-1200
- Ideal Time: November to March (summer)
- You'll see two of South America's best cities - Buenos Aires and Rio
- Lacking in nature experiences aside from Iguazu Falls
Day 1-3 – Buenos Aires
Start this itinerary with 3 days in one of the best capitals on the continent. The capital city of Argentina is known as the “Paris of South America,” as it feels like visiting a European capital.
Here some great things to do whilst in BA:
- Tango – Visitors can also experience the city’s famous tango dancing and enjoy its delicious cuisine.
- Visit La Boca: This colourful neighbourhood is known for its vibrant street art, tango shows, and its famous soccer team, Boca Juniors. Visitors can explore the colourful streets, take pictures and enjoy traditional foods.
- San Telmo: spend a day antique shopping at this famous market
Day 4-5 – Iguazu Falls
- Flight: Buenos Aires (AEP) to Puerto Iguazu (IGR) - 2h
These breath-taking falls are made up of 275 individual cascades, which stretch over 2 miles and create a stunning natural barrier between Argentina and Brazil.
The most famous part of the falls is known as ‘The Devil’s Throat’, a U-shaped waterfall that is over 82 meters high and 150 meters wide. This massive waterfall is the largest and most powerful of the falls and is a must-see for any visitors.
Here’s one of the best tours that I recommend you do from the Argentinian side.
This full day tour includes round-trip transportation from your hotel, will take you to along the boardwalks, through the jungle via 4×4 and then via boat so you see the falls from every angle!
Day 6-10 – Rio
- Flight: Foz do Iguazu (IGU) to Rio (GIG) - 2h
From the Argentinian side of Iguazu, you can cross the border into Brazil.
You have several options here:
- To the north, Sao Paulo is a 1 hour 40-minute flight, or Rio is 2 hours.
- Or if you want some beach time, head east to the Atlantic coast to Florianopolis.
- If you’ve never been to Rio before then best to start here. 4 days in Brazil’s capital is more than enough to visit Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer and Copacabana beach.
If you want to see what a longer itinerary in Brazil looks like, check out this month long route:
“Joe saved us so many hours of research and planning. His expertise turned our stress into a clear, custom itinerary we could actually enjoy.”
Maeve & Martin – 6 Weeks In South America
Planning a trip to
Struggling with any of this?
✔ Don’t know where to start planning
✔ Unsure how to pick the best route
✔ Spending hours researching… and still feeling stuck
✔ Want freedom, not a rigid tour
✔ Don’t want to spend $5,000+ on a travel agent
You don’t have to figure it out solo.
I help travellers like you plan custom South America trips that are efficient, affordable, and totally personalised.
10-Day South America Itinerary: Caribbean Coast
This is the only single country itinerary on the list but it packs a lot in. We are off to Colombia to explore the Caribbean Coast!
Here’s the complete 10-day South America itinerary along Colombia’s Caribbean coast:
| Day | Location | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
|
1-3 |
Cartagena |
Play Blanca, Totumo Mud Volcano, Rosario Islands |
|
4-7 |
Santa Marta |
Tayrona National Park, Minca |
|
8-9 |
Palomino |
River Tubing |
|
10 |
Cartagena |
– |
- Budget: $800-1000
- Ideal Time: July to August or January to Feb
- Only one country so nice and simple
- Hot and humid temperatures might not be for everyone
Day 1-3 - Cartagena
Cartagena is a real highlight of any Colombia trip, so you’re going to start your adventure ins style. Turn up the heat and get ready for some serious Caribbean flavour.
Here are some of my favourite things to do here:
- Lounge on white sandy beaches, swim in crystal-clear waters, and maybe even indulge in a beachside massage or seafood lunch at Playa Blanca.
- Indulge in a peculiar mud bath and interesting mangrove tour at Totumo volcano
- Take a boat tour to the San Bernardo Islands
For even more Cartagena ideas on what to do whilst here, check out my Cartagena post.
Day 4-7 - Santa Marta
- Bus: Cartagena to Santa Marta (4h)
Santa Marta is great city for exploring more of the Caribbean coast.
I recommend:
- A short 30 mins drive from Santa Marta, Minca is a magical mountainous world of coffee plantations, waterfalls and eco-hostels. Spend a day here exploring to your heart’s content
- A trip to Santa Marta would not be complete without a stay at Dreamer Hostel. With air conditioned dorms and a DJ pool party once a week, it’s every backpacker’s dream stop…! Or if you want to be on the beach stay at La Brisa Tranquilla
- Go hiking in Tayrona National Park and sleep on the beach in a hammock! Speak to member of staff in your hostel who will help you arrange your overnight trip.
If you want to stay longer then check out the full itinerary post here.
Day 8-9 - Palomino
- Bus: Santa Mart to Palomino (2h)
Time to escape the big cities and get off the beaten track.
With white sand beaches, river tubing and the odd full moon party, you’ll have a great time in Palomino.
Here are some great things to do here:
- Learn to surf with Tide Escuela De Surf. The instructors are known for being professional, patient and passionate about what they do which always makes for the best learning conditions.
- Think lazy river, with booze…! That’s it: RIVER TUBING! This is one of the most fun things you can do in Palomino so don’t miss out! It costs around 45,000 COP and takes three hours
Read the full Palomino guide here.
Day 10 - Cartagena
- Bus: Palomino to Cartagena (6h)
You’ll need to return to Cartagena before you fly home.
It’s about a 4 hour bus back along the coast so you can either spend the morning on the beach in Palomino, or leave early and spend one more day exploring Cartagena.
Keep reading for my 10 top reasons why you can’t miss Cartagena:
“Joe saved us so many hours of research and planning. His expertise turned our stress into a clear, custom itinerary we could actually enjoy.”
Maeve & Martin – 6 Weeks In South America
Planning a trip to
Struggling with any of this?
✔ Don’t know where to start planning
✔ Unsure how to pick the best route
✔ Spending hours researching… and still feeling stuck
✔ Want freedom, not a rigid tour
✔ Don’t want to spend $5,000+ on a travel agent
You don’t have to figure it out solo.
I help travellers like you plan custom South America trips that are efficient, affordable, and totally personalised.
10-Day South America Itinerary: Bolivia And Chile
Another easy route that can be done in 10 days is travelling south through Bolivia and then into Chile.
Here’s the complete 10-day South America itinerary in Bolivia and Chile:
| Day | Location | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
|
1-2 |
La Paz |
Walking Tours, Death Road |
|
3-5 |
Uyuni |
Salt Flats Tour |
|
6-8 |
Atacama Desert |
Star Gazing Tours, Salt Lagoons, Valley of the Moon |
|
9-10 |
Santiago |
San Cristobal Cable Car, Sky Costanera |
- Budget: $800-1000
- Ideal Time: May to October (dry season)
- Uyuni and Atacama are two unique locations
- Bolivia is becoming difficult to fly in to
Day 1-2 - La Paz
In La Paz you have an endless list of things to choose from such as biking down Death Road, trekking in the Valley of the Moon, or climbing Huayna Potosi (known as the easiest 6000m mountain to climb in the world).
As you only have two days here, it’s best to try and see as much as possible.
I suggest one day in the city exploring and then the other day on a day trip.
If you want to see Lake Titicaca then it’s only a 4 hour bus ride from La Paz. That might seem like a long time, but with only 10 days in South America, you don’t have many options.
This tour will take you to Lake Titicaca and back in a day.
Day 3-5 - Uyuni Salt Flats
- Flight: La Paz (LPB) to Uyuni (UYU) - 1h
Your next stop is to the town of Uyuni, most famous for the beautiful Salt Flats.
You’ll need to leave one day for arrival and then the second two days will be spend on the tour.
As mentioned, I always recommend Salty Desert Adventures for their excellent guides and competitive prices.
For more on why the Uyuni Salt Flat is well worth your time, head to the post below:
Day 6-8 - Atacama Desert
- Flight: La Paz (LPB) to Uyuni (UYU) - 1h
One of the great things about a salt flat tour is that it also includes your transportation to Chile!
The tour ends on the morning of the third day and drops you at Chilean border which works perfectly for this 10-day itinerary.
From the border you can take a short 45-minute bus to the town of San Pedro De Atacama where your next adventure awaits. Easy!
When your settled in Atacama, I always recommend renting a 4×4 and going for an adventure in the desert.
It’s much more fun that booking yourself onto loads of different tours!
See how you can spend epic 3 days in Atacama with the post below:
Day 9-10 - Santiago
- Flight: Calama (CJC) to Santiago (SCL) - 2h
Santiago is a long drive from Atacama so best to take a short 1-hour flight down south instead.
Once in the capital you can start with the walking tour to get your bearings and then head to the top of the Sky Costerna building for the best views of the city.
For any extra days you wish to stay, you can take day trips outside of the city to Valparaiso, go trekking in the mountains or head to one of the many vineyards to try the best of Chilean wine.
For more South America backpacking itineraries to help inspire and plan your trip, check out some of our most popular posts:
How Much Money Do You Need For 10 days In South America?
A good rule of thumb for travelling South America is a budget of $50 a day.
So, for 10 days travelling around South America, I would start by budgeting a minimum of $500.
However, most of these ten day South America itineraries include two countries with:
- One flight or long bus ($100-150)
- Tours ($100-150)
These will cost extra and add to your budget so for 10 days in South America I would recommend budgeting $800.
Here’s a breakdown of three different budgets for 10 days in South America:
| Budget | Realistic | Flashpacker | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Daily Budget |
$35 |
$50 |
$75 |
|
Ten Day Budget |
$350 |
$500 |
$750 |
|
Flights and Tours |
$300 |
$300 |
$300 |
|
Total Ten Day South America Itinerary Budget |
$650 |
$800 |
$1050 |
“We ended up with a better itinerary than anything a travel agent suggested – and without the hefty price tag!
Jerry & Maria – 5 Weeks In South America
Planning a trip to
Struggling with any of this?
✔ Don’t know where to start planning
✔ Spending hours researching… and still feeling stuck
✔ Want freedom, not a rigid tour
✔ Don’t want to spend $5,000+ on a travel agent
You don’t have to figure it out solo.
I help travellers like you plan custom South America trips that are efficient, affordable, and totally personalised.
