Is 3 Months In South America Enough?
South America is vast, so three months won’t allow you to cover everything. However, most people only want to see the highlights in the most popular countries.
So a better question is, is three months enough to see the highlights? And I would answer yes.
With 3 months, you can comfortably explore 3-6 countries without rushing and hop between the highlights of each country. For example, Machu Picchu in Peru and the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador.
What's The Best Way To Spend 3 Months In South America?
There are two ways in which I think you should spend 3 months in South America.
- If you prefer slow travel, I would recommend sticking to 3 countries with a month in each.
- If you want to maximise your time and don’t mind a faster paced trip, then I would recommend 6 countries with two weeks in each.
Slow travel is my preferred choice. I will always encourage travelers to immerse themselves in local cultures and explore destinations at a leisurely pace.
However, there’s nothing wrong with the second option and going down this route means you will see the highlights of South America in one epic trip!
“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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3 Month South America Itinerary - Ecuador, Peru & Bolivia
| Month | Country | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Ecuador |
Quito, Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, Banos and the Galapagos Islands |
|
2 |
Peru |
Lima, Paracas, Huacachina, Arequipa, Cusco, Machu Picchu |
|
3 |
Bolivia |
Lake Titicaca, La Paz, the Amazon, Uyuni |
PROS & CONS
- ticks off some of the best sights in South America including Machu Picchu, Galapagos Islands, the Amazon and the Salt Flats.
- Budget friendly compared to second itinerary outlined further on in this post that covers 6 countries.
- Patagonia isn't included which is often the place most people want to visit when visiting South America.
Month 1 - Ecuador
Stop 1 - Quito
I recommend you explore the UNESCO historical centre on a free walking tour and visit the equator line at Mitad Del Mundo. If you are feeling brave you can also attempt your first hike at altitude and climb Volcano Pichincha.
You can also check out the towns of Mindo and Otavalo, both two hours away from the city.
Stop 2 - Cotopaxi
Now it’s time to spend 2 days at Ecuador’s best hostel – Secret Garden Cotopaxi. From the hostel you can:
- Enjoy one of the best views in the world. The hostel is directly opposite Cotopaxi Volcano.
- Plan hikes into the park, go horse-riding across the Andean planes, and even summit Cotopaxi if you are brave enough.
Stop 3 - Quilotoa
After a lovely stay at Cotopaxi, it’s time for even more trekking. A short journey south will take you to the town of Latacunga where you can prepare for the epic 3-day, self-guided trek known as the Quilotoa Loop.
The challenging 70km ‘loop’ will take you through 3 towns in the Ecuadorian countryside, eventually ending at the breathtaking Quilotoa Crater.
Stop 4 - Baños
You can easily spend 4-5 days in the adventure capital of Ecuador. Baños has so many great activities worth checking out. I recommend:
- White-water rafting or canyoning
- Riding bicycles along a 16km stretch of road known as the ‘Route of Waterfalls’
Stop 5 - The Galapagos Islands
You can’t visit South America for 3 months and not go to the Galapagos Islands. The price often puts a lot of people off but it’s such an incredible place that it can’t be missed.
The island has so many free activities that you only need to worry about spending money on food and accommodation.
And contrary to what most people believe, you don’t need to book a tour or a live-aboard boat to see the islands. You can take direct flights to the islands and explore them yourself without blowing your budget on an over-priced tour that does the exact same thing.
Stop 6 – Montañita
After an amazing week on the Galapagos Islands, it’s time to head to the amazing beach town of Montañita.
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.
For a more detailed version of this backpacking route, including a breakdown of each day and how to budget for it, you can also check out these posts:
Month 2 - Peru
Stop 8 - Lima
Two days in the capital of Peru is more than enough to explore the modern Miraflores district and the bohemian district of Barranco and try some amazing regional dishes like ceviche.
Stop 9 - Paracas
Paracas National Park is an untouched natural landscape perfect for exploration and adventure. I recommend:
- You navigate the park by bicycle, ATV, or dune buggy. As you fly down giant dunes at sunset with an endless expanse of desert in front of you, it will feel like you’re on another planet.
- Visit the Ballestas Islands. This is another chance to see some incredible wildlife such as sealions, dolphins and blue-footed boobies.
Stop 10 - Huacachina
Then after Paracas, it’s time to swap one desert for another with a visit to the famous oasis at Huacachina. My favourite activities include:
- Fly across the giant dunes in sand buggies as well as sandboard down to the tallest of them
- Watch the epic sunset from the top of the dunes and party the night away in the crazy Wild Rover backpacker hostel.
Stop 11 - Arequipa
Arequipa is worth an extra day or two both before and after visiting Colca Canyon. It’s full of great backpacker hostels, restaurants, and bars to enjoy.
My favourite things to do there include:
- Finding a rooftop bar and watch the sunset. Arequipa is surrounded by volcanoes so you’ll be treated to one of the best views in Peru whilst enjoying an ice cold beer.
- Trekking down into the Colca Canyon is an experience like no other takes anywhere from 2 to 3 days depending on the route you take.
Stop 12 - Cusco
Cusco is the highlight of the country and a week here is needed to see everything it has to offer.
I recommend taking your first day easy and adjusting to the altitude before:
- Exploring the town and then one day trekking to 5000 to the top of Rainbow Mountain.
Embark on the Salkantay Trek – consistently voted among the world’s best treks. It’s a fun, efficient and challenging way to reach Machu Picchu.
Month 3 - Bolivia
Stop 13 - Copacabana
Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,810 metres above sea level. Half of it sits in Peru, the other half in Bolivia.
Fun activities include walking up to the summit of Cerro Calvario to get beautiful views of the lake and taking a boat tour to Isla del Sol which is the largest island on the lake.
Stop 14 - La Paz
Once you reach La Paz you have an endless list of things to choose from such as:
- Biking down Death Road
- Go walking in the Valley of the Moon
- Climbing Huayna Potosi – said to be one of the easiest 6000m mountains to summit
Stop 15 - The Amazon
Visiting the Amazon in Bolivia is a good idea as it’s so much cheaper compared to other countries in South America.
You can get a package deal that includes a 3-day jungle tour and return flights from La Paz for around $200 depending on the season and how savvy you are.
Yoo’ll spend 3 days exploring the winding tributaries of the Amazon river by speedboat, searching for caimans, anacondas, and rare birds of paradise.
Stop 16 - Uyuni Salt Flats
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 on day 1, to the high-altitude desert of the Andes on the next.
- The first day on the tour is spent taking the famous perspective and reflection shots.
- Then on the second, you drive out across the Altiplano, the high altitude desert that’s home to volcanoes, geyser fields and high altitude lakes.
Your mind will be blown by all the incredible scenery and you will leave on a high. The perfect way to end an incredible 3 months in South America!
If you want to extend the trip in Bolivia, then check out our 1-month Bolivia itinerary and budget guide:
“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.
3 Month South America Itinerary - The Highlights
| Week | Country | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
|
1-2 |
Colombia |
Bogota, the Caribbean Coast and Medellin |
|
3-4 |
Ecuador |
Quito, Cotopaxi and the Galapagos Islands |
|
5-6 |
Peru |
Lima, Paracas, Huacachina, Cusco and Machu Picchu |
|
7-8 |
Bolivia |
Lake Titicaca, La Paz, the Amazon, Uyuni |
|
9-10 |
Chile |
Atacama, Santiago and Torres Del Paine |
|
11-12 |
Argentina |
Patagonia, Buenos Aires and Iguazu Falls |
PROS & CONS
- Ticks off all of best sights in South America including Machu Picchu, Galapagos Islands, the Amazon, Salt Flats, Patagonia and Iguazu Falls.
- This itinerary is faster paced and which may be stressful for some
- Much more expensive compared to first itinerary outlined above as more countries and places means more flights
Week 1-2 - Colombia
As this is the highlights tour, we need to start in Colombia. Here are the recommended stops:
- Stop 1 – Bogota – most international flight will land in Bogota so this is a great place to start your 3-month adventure
- Stop 2 – The Caribbean Coast – there are multiple stops along Colombia’s beautiful coastline worth checking out. I recommend a few days in Cartagena before heading along to Santa Marta. Here you can find two of South America’s best highlights – Tayrona National Park and the Lost City Trek
- Stop 3 – Medellin – enjoy few days in the ‘City of Eternal Spring’ before your next leg of this adventure
Week 3-4 - Ecuador
This 3-month itinerary follows a similar route through Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia in the previous itinerary but with more places cut out.
In Ecuador, your stops are:
- Stop 4 – Quito
- Stop 5 – Cotopaxi
- Stop 6 – Galapagos Islands
Week 5-6 - Peru
Spend less time in Lima and the coast, and dedicate your two weeks to in and around Cusco:
- Stop 7 – Lima
- Stop 8 – Arequipa
- Stop 9 – Cusco / Machu Picchu
Week 7-8 - Bolivia
Your route through Bolivia stays the same, just with less time in each place:
- Stop 11 – Lake Titicaca
- Stop 12 – La Paz
- Stop 13 – The Amazon
- Stop 14 – Uyuni
Week 9-10 - Chile
A Salar De Uyuni Tour drops you on the border between Chile and Bolivia.
All you need to do is take a 45-minute bus from the border to the town. From here you can start your journey through the country:
- Stop 15 – Atacama – I recommend renting a jeep and exploring even more high-altitude lakes, volcanoes, and geysers. Another must do is the stargazing tour – you can see the Milky Way in the desert because the night sky is so clear.
- Stop 16 – Santiago – After a couple of days in the desert, fly down to Santiago for the standard city escape with walking tours and museums.
- Stop 17 – Torres Del Paine – from Santiago, you’ll need to take a 3 hour flight down south to Puerto Natales. This is the closest town to Torres Del Paine National Park and where your adventures into the park will start from. In the park you can complete one of the best multi-day treks in the world – the W-trek. This 5-day self-guided trek takes you in the shape of a W – in, out, and around the beautiful Cordillera Paine mountain range.
If you don’t have 3 months to spare, see how this part of the itinerary can be done in a month or two instead:
Week 11-12 - Argentina
You are a 5-hour bus and border crossing away from Argentina and the town of El Calafate.
- Stop 18 – El Calafate – explore the town and plan your visit to Parque Nacional Los Glaciares to see the epic Perito Moreno Glacier.
- Stop 19 – El Chalten – This town is known as the “Trekking Capital of Argentina”. You will have your pick of hikes from single day to multi-day options that take you into the beautiful Patagonian wilderness and Glacier National Park.
- Stop 20 – Bariloche – Nestled amidst the picturesque Andes Mountains, Bariloche offers a stunning display of natural beauty. From snow-capped peaks to crystal-clear lakes and lush forests, the landscape is nothing short of awe-inspiring.
- Stop 21 – Buenos Aires – Now it’s time for a few days in one of the best capitals on the continent. Buenos Aires is known as the “Paris of South America,” as it feels like your visiting a European capital.
How Much Money Do You Need For 3 Months In South america?
For three months travelling in South America, I would recommend bringing $6000.
Your basic monthly budget will be $1500.
This gives you $50 a day a for accommodation, food, transport and basic activities like day tours. Then I recommend taking an extra $500 for each month for flights and bigger activities and tours that cost more such as Machu Picchu and the Amazon.
A week on the Galapagos Islands costs a little more – around $500 for the flights, entrance fees and higher costs for food and accommodation on the island.
However, Ecuador is so cheap you’ll spread that cost out over the month.
Luckily, because you are only visiting three countries, you can do most journeys via local buses or overnight buses and avoid costly flights. The only two you’ll need is the flight from Ecuador to Peru, and then an internal one from Uyuni to La Paz before you return home.
Machu Picchu, Amazon tours and Salt Flat tours can cost anywhere between $150-250.
The best way to get these cheap is to book in person and haggle. Online prices are always over inflated in South America.
Here’s a breakdown of a 3-month budget for travelling South America:
| 3-Month South America Budget | Cost ($) |
|---|---|
|
Ecuador Budget – 1 Month |
$1500 |
|
Galapagos Islands – Flights and Entrance |
$500 |
|
Flight #1 – Ecuador To Peru |
$150 |
|
Peru Budget – 1 Month |
$1500 |
|
Machu Picchu |
$250 |
|
Bolivia Budget – 1 Month |
$1500 |
|
Amazon Tour |
$300 |
|
Salt Flat Tour |
$200 |
|
Flight #2 – Uyuni To La Paz |
$100 |
|
|
|
|
TOTAL COST |
$6000 |
For the second 3-month itinerary on this list that includes Patagonia, I would recommend taking $7500.
This is due to 1) the additional flights you need to take and 2) the fact that visiting Patagonia is one of the most expensive things to do in South America.
Check out this budget guide to help you plan your spending whilst travelling South America:
How To Prepare For A Trip To South America
1. When's The Best Time To Visit South America?
South America is a big place with a variety of landscapes and micro-climates, from misty cloud forests in Ecuador to low lying deserts in Peru.
Due to such variety, there isn’t one specific month that’s optimal for visiting.
However, the best time to visit in general to visit South America is between May-October where most of the countries have their dry seasons.
When's The Best Time To Visit South America?
Sign up for a FREE PDF outlining the best months to visit every country:
2. What Should I Pack For South America?
You need to pack for summer and winter when visiting South America due to the variety of micro-climates.
With the Andes going through seven countries, one day you can be enjoying warm weather and sunny skies at sea level, and the next, you’ll be cold and wet in a high-altitude mountain town.
You’ll need shorts, sandals and vests for when you’re at the beach.
And then base layers, hiking boots, a thermal jumper and a waterproof windbreaker for when you’re in the mountains.
Even if you aren’t into hiking, you’ll still want some decent shoes, trousers, a warm jumper and a rain jacket for when you’re in high altitude cities like La Paz or Quito as they are much colder.
Here’s my hiking loadout that ticks all these boxes:
- Hiking boots – fully waterproof and ankle high are essential for trekking in the Andes. I went into my local Mountain Warehouse and picked up a pair of these and they haven’t let me down since.
- Waterproof windbreaker – much needed when trekking in the Andes to deal with the biting winds and rapidly changing weather. I like to use the Patagonia TorrentShell 3L. Its lightweight, warm and packable. The jacket self-stuffs into one of the handwarmer pockets with carabiner clip-in loop. Mens | Womens
- Hiking Socks – a few pairs of sturdy merino wool socks that don’t rub. There’s nothing worse than getting a blister whilst hiking. If you are from the UK, try these on Amazon.
3. What's The Best Backpack For South America?
The best backpack for South America is the Osprey Farpoint 50-70L.
It’s reasonably priced and perfect for first time backpackers visiting South America.
It also comes with a 15L detachable day pack.
This is great for two reasons:
1) You can attach them together when on the move and check them both as one back for flights.
2) You can then detach the smaller pack when you’re in one place to use it as a day pack when exploring.
For the full breakdown comparison between backpacks, suitcases and hybrids, along with my suggestions for the best options in each category, head to the post below:
4. What Are Some Other Travel Essentials For South America?
Here are 4 travel essentials for South America that I always bring with me:
- Portable Charger – a portable charger always comes in handy on long buses. It’s also useful in hostels as it’s difficult to find a plug socket sometimes, especially if you’re in a big dorm with only one outlet. Anker are my favourites.
- Travel Adapter – this one is my favourite. It’s lightweight and holds firmly into most sockets.
- Extension Lead – taking an extension lead is a great little travel hack. You can use your travel adapter to plug it into the mains and then plug in all your home appliances to the extension lead. This one is is my favourite as it packs better compared to the long ones.
- Hydroflask Trail Series Water Bottle – I always take this water bottle with me when I travel to South America. It’s 20% lighter than their other bottles and my back appreciates it when I’m on a long hike! It’s also durable, easy to clean and keeps drinks cold for 24 hours!
5. What's The Best Way To Get Around South America?
The best way to get around South America if you’re on a budget is by bus.
Buses are cheap and the services are good quality. Some of the distances are long which require an overnight bus but I always found these comfortable and easy to sleep on.
To this day I continue to use Busbud to find the best prices and times.
However, you don’t always need to book online. For most places in South America, you can simply go to the bus station the day of your departure and hop on the next bus.
However, flights won’t break the bank in South America either.
However, they will start to add up if you have to keep flying from country to country.
I’ve been using WayAway Plus to book all my flights whilst travelling around South America.
You get cashback on:
- Flights – finds the cheapeast flights and gives you 5% cashback on all flights booked
- Accommodation – up to 20% cashback on selected deals with Booking.com and 6% with HostelWorld
- Tours – up to 8% cashback with GetYourGuide and 6% with Viator
6. What's The Best Sim Card To Get For South America?
If you are travelling to multiple countries in South America, I would recommend getting an eSIM (digital SIM card) instead of a physical SIM card.
An eSIM is better than a physical SIM card for a couple of reasons:
- Firstly, you can access the Internet from any country in South America without having to pay excessive roaming charges.
- Secondly, you don’t waste time looking for a local physical SIM cards. An eSIM can be activated either immediately after installation or upon arrival at the your destination.
I now use Airalo. Simply download the app, buy the digital sim, and then use the app to switch sims when you reach your destination and you’ll have data on the go.
“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.
