A Six-Country South American Itinerary To Kickstart Your Holiday Planning

There’s no way to plan a trip to South America without getting stalled by indecision. The sheer size of the continent is one thing, but the landscape and culture shift so dramatically from region to region – country to country – that choosing your route can feel impossible. Your friends who’ve visited all have their tips, and the internet is alive with recommendations, but we’ve mapped out a six-country journey that takes you through cities and mountains, wine bars and locally loved food markets.

Starting with a direct flight with LATAM – from Melbourne  to Santiago – you’ll be adventuring within 13 hours of take-off. From there, make use of LATAM’s network across South America with flights Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina and beyond.

Santiago, Chile

While the direct flights from Melbourne land here, the Chilean capital is much more than just your South American launch point. It’s an expansive hub of exceptional food, arty history, sweeping views and pockets of nature – a destination in its own right.

Hike up Cerro San Cristobal to marvel at the Andes while you sip mote con huesillos, before taking the cable car back down for a meal in the neighbourhood Lastarria. There are excellent flea markets and a central food market that’s been servicing locals since 1872. Make sure you visit Emporio Zunino to try the hefty Chilean empanadas, and sandwich institution Fuente Alemana for a lomito.

Where to stay: Providencia, Lastarria or Barrio Italia

Before you leave: hike the foothills of the Andes; visit the colourful, coastal city of Valparaiso; or head north to the Atacama Desert.

How to get there: Reach Santiago direct from  Melbourne in around 13 hours with LATAM.

Lima, Peru

Cusco may be the gateway to Machu Picchu and home to the staggering architecture of Coricancha, but rushing through Lima would mean missing a brilliant city on the Pacific coastline.

Start your day with brewed Peruvian beans at a specialty coffee bar, then take a walk through the City of Kings (the old town). Lunchtime means ceviche, the country’s national dish, whether from markets, beachside vendors or bars. Taste the variety of regional specialties, with lightly cured raw fish dressed in leche de tigre, or crunched up with choclo and camote (sweet potato). Barranco’s bohemian streets are ideal for a holiday stroll, while nearby Miraflores is ideal for exploring the ancient Huaca Pucllana and cycling along the coast on the Malecon Cisneros.

Where to stay: Miraflores, Centro Historico or Barranco

Before you leave: hike to canyons in Santa Eulalia valley; explore the ancient city of Caral; or visit Huacachina, a little oasis in the Ica Desert.

How to get there: Reach Lima from Santiago direct in less than four hours with LATAM.

Quito, Ecuador

Hilly streets lined with brightly painted houses, neighbourhood dining rooms celebrating local flavours and… the equator? Yep, Museo Intinan offers a lesson in astronomy and geography, with the chance to stand right on the equator line. The high-altitude city shines with large green spaces like Parque La Carolina, where stalls sell llapingachos (cheesy fried potato patties, with a nutty salsa to dip), humitas (fluffy tamale-like corn cakes, steamed in corn husks) and fresh juices.

The La Floresta neighbourhood is alive with art and energy – think boutique shopping, hyperlocal coffee roasters and dinner at Urko for a fine-dining take on Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Don’t skip the stained-glass grandeur of Basilica del Voto Nacional or the gold-leaf interiors of Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús. Mariscal Sucre also delivers a thriving local arts market and bar scene.

Where to stay: Quito Old Town, La Floresta or Guapulo

Before you leave: take a daytrip to Quilotoa Lake; visit Cotopaxi National Park; or soak in the hot springs at Papallacta Thermal Baths.

How to get there: Reach Quito from Lima direct in under three hours with LATAM.

Bogota, Colombia

By the time you reach the northernmost capital in this itinerary, you’ll be at serious altitude, so pack a jumper. Start with a hike (or take the 1929 funicular) to the top of Monserrate for the best view in town, then warm up with hot coca tea.

The historic La Candelaria neighbourhood is waiting downtown, full of architectural landmarks, local eateries and galleries. Spot a building wrapped in red and white stripes and you’ve found Museo Botero, home to works by celebrated Colombian artist Fernando Botero. For more creative energy, wander around San Felipe for galleries, bakeries and small bars.

Don’t leave without trying a bowl of ajiaco, the city’s signature soup of corn, potato and chicken, and eating your way through Paloquemao Market for regional fruit like lulo, soursop, mangosteen and yellow dragon fruit.

Where to stay: La Candelaria, Chapinero or San Felipe

Before you leave: visit the underground Zipaquira Salt Cathedral; daytrip to Lake Guatavita; or hike around La Chorrera, home to the country’s tallest waterfall.

How to get there: Reach Bogota from Santiago or Buenos Aires direct in under seven hours with LATAM.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil via Sao Paulo

Your Rio itinerary probably already includes lazing on the sand of Copacabana and Ipanema, eating queijo coalho, coxinha and churros, and making the pilgrimage to Christ the Redeemer. But a cable car ride to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain deserves equal priority.

Keep the nature streak going with a day in Tijuca National Park, where waterfalls cut through native forest, and you might spot monkeys, sloths and toucans. Jardim Botanico is a calmer alternative closer to the city. At night, samba classes, botecos (casual dive-style bars for drinking and snacking) and local institutions like Bar Bracarense and Bar Urca are calling.

Where to stay: Santa Teresa, Ipanema or Leblon

Before you leave: daytrip to snorkel around Ilha Grande; visit the cobblestone streets of Paraty; or settle in at Niteroi Bay for sunset.

How to get there: Reach Rio de Janeiro from Santiago direct in four hours with LATAM.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

The Argentinian capital is all charm, full of flavour. The architecture is staggering, the streets hum with people, and there’s a spread of things to do no matter what you’re into. Start with a cortado and a medialuna – ideally from Atelier Fuerza – then explore Recoleta Cemetery, where presidents, poets and Evita Peron have been laid to rest.

Visit El Ateneo Grand Splendid, a magical bookstore inside a heritage theatre, then wander Palermo for cafes, vintage stores and bars. San Telmo Market is best visited on a Sunday, when the flea market spills onto Calle Defensa. If timing aligns, La Boca is unmatched on game day – otherwise, visit for its technicolour houses and a lomito from La Glorieta de Quique.

A late-night whip around a tango hall is as moody as you’d expect. Find a milonga (dance hall) and watch the dancers move, or stand up to take your place on the dance floor. And if an Argentinian gives you one piece of advice, it’ll be to find an asado. Barbequed meat is an art form here, whether at a family-run parrilla or somewhere like Palermo institution Don Julio. Go hungry.

Where to stay: Palermo, Recoleta or San Telmo

Before you leave: catch the ferry across Rio de la Plata to Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay; explore the riverside city of Tigre by boat; or spend a day on a gaucho ranch in the mountains, finishing with an asado.

How to get there: Reach Buenos Aires from Santiago direct in less than three hours with LATAM.

Home via Santiago – or onwards?

The spoils of South America are endless: the desert landscapes of Salta, the grape-growing regions of Mendoza, Chile’s Aysen region, and the untouched beauty of Patagonia. There are volcanoes in Ecuador and waterfalls in Paraguay, Mayan cities surrounded by rainforests in Guatemala, and national parks on secluded Chilean islands. LATAM – with its 153 destinations to 27 countries – is ready to connect you to the continent.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with LATAM Airlines and Melbourne Airport.