South America is a vast destination with so many attractions. Often, the question is ” How can I fit in as much as possible — in my 4 weeks in South America?”
We have a quarter of a century of experience putting together the logistics for top tours and making dream trip ideas a reality. Ask us the best time to go, where to land, how to maximise travel time, and where to build in some downtime, and we’ll help.
We want everyone to enjoy the continent as much as we do. That’s why we’ve put together several itinerary suggestions for up to four weeks in South America, including a required budget guide.
Four weeks in South America may be beyond many people’s time and budget allowance. These flexible itineraries are mere outlines to inspire, and we can mould them to suit your travel style and tastes.
Read our perfect four-week trips around South America. Get in touch, and we can start planning your trip, too.
Four Weeks in South America by Kathy Jarvis
Andean Trails’ founder Kathy has picked beautiful Patagonia for her four-week tour. Make sure you pack enough memory cards to capture all the beautiful surroundings.
Suggested Itinerary for Four Weeks in Patagonia
Day 1: Arrive in Santiago, Chile
Day 2: Explore Santiago
Day 3: Fly to Puerto Montt and explore the Chilean Lake District
Days 4-8: Hike, bike and kayak around volcanoes and lake
Day 8: Fly to Balmaceda and self-drive through Aysen
Days 9-13: Marble Caves, Terra Luna Hotel
Day 14: Arrive at Villa O’Higgins.
Day 15: Trek and boat crossing from Chile into Argentina to El Chalten
Day 17: Explore El Chalten and Fitz Roy National Park
Day 21: Visit Perito Moreno glacier
Day 22: Travel to Paine W for Paine W trek (self-guided or group), or Paine Circuit
Day 28/29: Ends with a flight back to Santiago.
Trip Highlights: Lakes, snow-capped mountains, marble caves, trekking
Who’s it for?: Hikers, independent and adventurous travellers, active families, wilderness lovers
Required budget (without flights): USD 6,500pp upwards
Best time to go: October to April
Where to land: Santiago, Chile
Four Weeks in South America by Kat Dougal
Kat is a huge fan of Ecuador and the Galapagos (Bolivia, Colombia, and more) and has designed a ‘see-it-all’ itinerary.
Ecuador is like South America in miniature; you’ll experience everything from Amazon to high mountains to the unique Galapagos Islands. Travel times are generally short (1-3 hours) between highlights.
Suggested Itinerary for Four Weeks in Ecuador with the Galapagos
Day 1: Arrive in Quito
Day 2: Explore historic Quito
Days 3-5: Discover north Ecuador’s lakes, volcanoes, and estancias
Days 6-8: Cloudforest and wildlife at Maquipucuña
Days 9-12: Explore the Amazon rainforest
Day 13: Travel to Hacienda Porvenir
Day 14: Horse ride or walk near Cotopaxi
Day 15-16: Quilotoa lagoon and Black Sheep Inn
Day 17: Baños
Days 18-22: Travel overland to coastal Guayaquil, visiting Chimborazo, Ingapirca Inca ruins, Cuenca and Cajas National Park
Day 23: Fly to Galapagos for 5-8 day cruise or land-based trip
Day 28-31: Fly home
Trip Highlights: Wildlife, rainforest, culture, volcanoes, and Galapagos Islands
Who’s it for?: Everyone from children to wildlife enthusiasts to culture freaks
Required budget (without flights): USD 5,000pp upwards + Galapagos at USD 2,000-10,000pp, depending on boat or hotels used.
Best time to go: Year round
Where to land: Quito, Ecuador
Four Weeks in South America by Tom Shearman
Tom has gone for a mix of countries that all share borders in the Central Andes. This itinerary is packed with culture, history, snow-capped mountains and treks, plus a chance to see some of the clearest night skies in the world.
Suggested Itinerary for Four Weeks in Peru, Bolivia and Chile
Day 1: Arrive in Lima
Day 2: Museums and fine dining
Day 3: Fly to Cusco, city tour
Day 4: Sacred Valley tour
Day 5: Four-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Day 10: Relax in Cusco
Day 11: Amazon Rainforest of Manu or Tambopata
Day 15: Return to Cusco
Day 16: First class train to Puno, for Lake Titicaca
Day 17-18: Explore Lake Titicaca
Day 19: Bus from Peru to La Paz in Bolivia
Day 20: La Paz city tour
Day 21: Fly to Uyuni Salt Flats tour
Day 24: Cross the border into Chile for the Atacama Desert
Day 25-28: Explore the area — stargazing, geysers, hot springs with 3 to 5* hotels
Day 29: Fly to Santiago, ends
Trip Highlights: Culture, history, Incas, mountains, trains, stars, and deserts
Who’s it for?: Culture lovers, fine diners, hikers, and explorers of remote places
Required budget (without flights): USD 8,000pp upwards
Best time to go: Year-round (Inca Trail closed in February)
Where to land: Lima, Peru. This tour can also be run in reverse, starting in Chile.
Can you give me some more ideas for South America holidays?
Of course, there is a panoply of ways to spend four weeks in South America. Here are some more ideas for traveller types:
Hikers: Head to Huaraz in Peru, acclimatise on the Santa Cruz trek (4 days), then undertake any number of 8-14 day hikes like the Huayhuash. End with a visit to Gocta waterfall and Kuelap ruins.
Bikers: Some flying is required between Colombia’s road options, Peru’s Single Track biking and some more leisurely stuff in Chile.
Off-the-beaten-trackers: Start in Paraguay, then explore Argentina’s Pantanal at Irupe, ending with Iguazu Falls and Buenos Aires.
The Perfect 4 Weeks In South America
There are a few ways to spend four weeks in South America — and we didn’t even mention Antarctica or Guyana.
The continent’s excellent flight connections mean it’s perfectly possible to combine Galapagos in the north with Patagonia in the south.
For many people, a holiday to South America is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so it’s essential to get it right.
Make the most of our knowledge. Get in touch for ideas and outline itineraries tailored to your exact needs. Our simple-to-follow outlines will help you get to grips with travel times, logistics, and what to expect on arrival.
Join a group, travel independently, or mix it up. Here at Andean Trails, we’re delighted to talk to people excited about visiting South America.
