South America Holidays

South America is vast, so the best time to travel depends heavily on which regions are on your itinerary. As a general guide: 

• Patagonia (Argentina & Chile) is a year-round destination, though December to March is peak season with the best weather and biggest crowds. May to September is much colder and some lodges close for the season, but you will encounter fewer crowds and prices are generally lower. 

• The Andes & Highlands (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador) are best visited during the dry season, April to October, for clearer skies and easier trekking. November to March brings the rainy season, particularly heavy from December to February. 

• The Amazon in Brazil, Peru, Ecuador can be visited year round. May to October is generally driest, while December to February is wettest, though the wet season brings increased wildlife activity and, in Ecuador, flooded forest access by canoe. 

• The Galápagos Islands are a genuine year-round destination with two seasons: warm and wet from December to May, and cooler and drier from June to November. Wildlife sightings vary by month. 

• Iguazu Falls (Argentina & Brazil) stays warm year round and can be visited from either side of the border, though water levels can drop between April and July. 

• Rio de Janeiro is warm year round, with high season running from just before Christmas through Carnaval in February or March. 

• Northern South America (Colombia & Venezuela) stays warm year round thanks to its proximity to the equator, with the driest stretches falling between December and March, and July and September. 

Our team can help tailor your itinerary and travel dates to the regions and experiences you’re most interested in. 

Getting to South America from Australia involves a day of flying to connect through Santiago de Chile. Depending on where your adventure in South America begins, you might need an additional flight to connect through. Our South America itineraries can be any length depending on your travel plans. Most of our comprehensive tours range from the 6-day Patagonia Highlights trip through to the 39-day Comprehensive South America journey, with popular options like South America Essentials (14 days) and Best of South America (20 days) in between. 

For most South American countries, Australian citizens do not need a visa. Peru, Argentina, Colombia, Chile and Bolivia all grant a free 90-day tourist stamp on arrival. There is one major exception: Brazil requires a pre-arranged eVisa. Visa requirements can change, so we always recommend checking the latest requirements with Smartraveller or the relevant embassy before you travel. Our team can also help point you in the right direction. 

We run tailormade adventures in South America, including Best of South America (20 days), Grand South America (31 days), Comprehensive South America (39 days), South America Essentials (14 days), the South America Loop (25 days) and many more. These tours start in South America, so you will also need a flight from Australia to get there, which our team can help organise alongside your tour, so the whole journey is taken care of. 

Price varies greatly depending on the time of travel, length of stay, destination and level of accommodation and service. In 2026, some of our best-selling tours, like the Incan Route: Cusco to La Paz, start from roughly AUD $3,500pp, while a fuller multi-country journey such as the 39-day Comprehensive South America starts from roughly AUD $20,500pp. Keep in mind these prices are for the land tour only. Return flights from Sydney to Santiago de Chile typically start from roughly AUD $1,500 to $2,000pp, which our team can help arrange alongside your tour. Get in touch and we’ll tailor an option to suit your budget and travel dates.