If you're planning a trip across the continent this year, these are the destinations we'd send you to first — chosen for landscape, adventure and the kind of experiences you can't replicate anywhere else. They span the five countries we operate in: Chile, Argentina, Peru, Brazil and Bolivia.
The headline act. Granite towers, turquoise lakes and the famous W and O treks. Best from October to April. The single most-requested destination on the continent for a reason. Guided: our 7-day W Trek or the 9-day O Circuit.
The driest desert on Earth: Valley of the Moon, dawn geysers at El Tatio, flamingo-dotted salt flats and unbeatable stargazing. A year-round counterpoint to Patagonia's green and granite. Guided: our 5-day San Pedro de Atacama trip.
Argentina's trekking capital, sitting beneath the spires of Fitz Roy. World-class day hikes you can do without a guide and harder objectives if you want them — plus the nearby Perito Moreno glacier. Guided: our 7-day Chaltén & Calafate trip.
The cultural heart of the Andes. Beyond the classic Inca Trail, the Salkantay route trades crowds for high passes, glaciers and cloud forest before delivering you to Machu Picchu. Guided: our 7-day Peru Highlights, or the classic Inca Trail trek.
The largest salt flat in the world. In the wet season it becomes a perfect mirror that erases the horizon; in the dry season, an endless white expanse dotted with cacti islands.
Granite walls, hanging waterfalls and old-growth forest in Chile's Lake District — a paradise for hikers and big-wall climbers that still feels off the beaten path. Guided: our 9-day Puerto Varas, Chiloé & Cochamó trip.
You don't have to choose just one. The classic combinations pair contrast — desert and ice, culture and wilderness: Atacama + Patagonia, or Patagonia (Chile) + El Chaltén (Argentina) across the border. The trick is sequencing flights and acclimatization, which is where planning with local experts saves you days and headaches.
If you want several of them in one go, our 16-day Grand Tour of South America links Santiago, Torres del Paine, Perito Moreno, Buenos Aires, Iguazú and Rio.
Ready to plan? Start with our Patagonia trek, or read the San Pedro de Atacama guide.
For adventure travelers, Torres del Paine (Patagonia) and San Pedro de Atacama top the list, alongside Machu Picchu and the Uyuni salt flats.
Roughly October to April, the Southern Hemisphere spring to autumn.
Yes — Atacama + Patagonia, or Chilean and Argentine Patagonia, are the most popular multi-stop combinations.