South America · All year round
South America: which countries to visit
Machu Picchu among the mountains, glaciers in Patagonia, the Iguazú Falls, the Atacama Desert, the Galápagos Islands and lively colonial cities: South America is a continent to keep coming back to.
Updated 20 October 2026 · How we make our guides
The Andes
- South America
Peru
Machu Picchu, Cusco and the Sacred Valley, Lake Titicaca and the best food on the continent.
Peru travel guide -
South AmericaEcuador
The Galápagos Islands, Quito and the avenue of the volcanoes.
Ecuador travel guide - South America
Colombia
Cartagena de Indias, the Coffee Region and the Caribbean coast.
Colombia travel guide
The Southern Cone
- South America
Argentina
Buenos Aires, the Iguazú Falls, the glaciers of Patagonia and the vineyards of Mendoza.
Argentina travel guide -
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South AmericaUruguay
Colonia del Sacramento, Montevideo and the beaches of Punta del Este.
Uruguay travel guide
Brazil
- South America
Brazil
Rio de Janeiro, the Amazon, Salvador da Bahia and beaches from end to end.
Brazil travel guide
Frequently asked questions
Which countries should you visit in South America?
Peru, Ecuador and Colombia in the Andes; Argentina, Chile and Uruguay in the Southern Cone; and Brazil.
When is the best time to travel to South America?
It depends on the area: Patagonia from November to March; Machu Picchu and the Andes in the dry season, from May to September.
Which country should you visit on a first trip?
Peru, for Machu Picchu, Cusco and its food, or Argentina, for the variety between Buenos Aires, Iguazú and Patagonia.
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Reviewed 20 October 2026. Dates and seasonal warnings: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.
Cover photo: Martin St-Amant (S23678) (CC BY-SA 3.0), Wikimedia Commons.