This is a great place to start if you plan a trip to South America!
South America has so much to offer that choosing where to go is extremely difficult.
There are, however, some places that no traveler should forget to add to the must-visit list when planning a first trip to the charming South American countries.
There are many different ways to plan your perfect two weeks South America itinerary, depending on your interests. Visit the highlights, Go off the beaten path, more adventurous trips, and trips for wildlife lovers and wine lovers…
If you are planning a trip to South America and have two weeks, we have three itinerary ideas for you that cover some of the most incredible destinations and Experiences in South America.
South America is such a vast continent that with two weeks we suggest including no more than three countries to make your trip experience the best experience.
👉For more tips about traveling to South America and more itinerary ideas, make sure you Get our free South America Travel Guide here.
Table of Contents
Our 3 Suggested South America Itineraries (2 weeks each)
So, here are the three different ways to plan a two-weeks South America Itinerary
1- Two Weeks in South America Highlights: Our Charming South America Itinerary
2- Luxury South America for foodies and wine lovers
3- South America Adventure & spa trip with Australis Expedition Cruise to the End of the world
#1 Two Weeks in South America: Our Charming South America Itinerary
This is our “classic” 2 weeks South America itinerary, where you visit the most popular spots in South America.
Top destinations on this itinerary include Rio de Janeiro in Brazil; Iguazu Falls and Buenos Aires in Argentina; and Peru, Lima, Cusco, and Machu Picchu.
For first-time visitors to South America, visiting the wonderful city of Rio de Janeiro with its stunning views, going to the Iguazu falls, exploring Buenos Aire’s rich culture, and seeing the magnificent Machu Picchu Ruins usually make the “must-see” list.
With two weeks in South America, you have enough time to visit these destinations. You can see how to do this, in this Two weeks in South America Charming Itinerary.
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY:
DAY 1: Arrive in Brazil
DAY 2: Corcovado Mountain and Christ Redeemer
DAY 3: Sugar Loaf and Samba School
DAY 4: Fly to Iguazu – Visit the Brazilian side of the falls
DAY 5: Visit Argentina’s side of the falls.
DAY 6: Fly to Buenos Aires
DAY 7: Visit Buenos Aires
DAY 8: Explore Buenos Aires countryside
DAY 9: Fly to Cusco, Peru
DAY 10: Sacred Valley
DAY 11: Train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes – Visit Machu Picchu Ruins
DAY 12: Train to Cusco
DAY13: Visit Cusco and Fly to Lima
DAY 14: Visit Lima
DAY 15: Fly back home
👉 Read the full itinerary here
#2 Luxury South America for foodies and wine lovers
If you are foodie and love wines and you are looking for a luxury trip, check out our South America for foodies and Wine lovers Luxury itinerary, including a food experience in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, an eco-lodge experience in the Iguazu Falls, Buenos Aire’s rich culture and gourmet trip, a Visit to Mendoza and to Santiago de Chile Wine Lands.
two weeks south america itinerary
Top destinations on this itinerary include Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Iguazu Falls, Buenos Aires and Mendoza in Argentina, Santiago, and the wine valleys of Chile.
If you are a foodie and wine lover who want to explore the delights of South America, this trip is for you!
Here is an overview of this two-weeks itinerary. Below you have the detailed itinerary of this South America trip: Luxury South America for foodies and wine lovers
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
DAY 1: Arrive in Rio de Janeiro Brazil
DAY 2: Christ Redeemer & Sugar Loaf
DAY 3 Hidden Treasures of Rio & the most memorable food experience in Brazil
DAY 4: Fly to Iguazu Falls, Argentina. The Awasi Experience
DAY 5: Awasi eco-retreat experience
DAY 6: Fly to Buenos Aires
DAY 7: Visit Buenos Aires – Barbecue experience
DAY 8: Buenos Aires Food, art, and Tango experience
DAY 9: Fly to Mendoza – wine lodge experience
DAY 10: Vineyards: winemaker for one day and cooking class
DAY 11: Best Wineries of Valle de Uco and Francis Malmann 7 fires dinner experience
DAY 12: Land Crossing to Santiago de Chile
DAY 13: Chile wine route: Viña Vik Experience, cocktails and barbecue
DAY 14: Vineyards and Vik Experience
👉 Read the full itinerary here
Want more inspiration for your trip to South American wine country? We’ve got you covered!
#3 Exclusive South America trip with Australis Expedition Cruise to the End of the World
If you like the idea of going more off the beaten path in South America and searching for a more adventurous trip, we suggest a trip to the End of the world, our Patagonia with Australis Expedition Cruise trip. You will explore Buenos in Argentina and Santiago de Chile and include an Expedition Cruise to the fjords of Tierra del Fuego and the exploration of Torres del Paine National Park.
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
DAY 1: Arrive in Buenos Aires
DAY 2: Buenos Aires
DAY 3: Buenos Aires Countryside
DAY 4 Fly to Ushuaia, the “End of the World” city
DAY 5: Explore the “End of the World” in 4X4WD
DAY 6: Tierra del Fuego National Park & embark on Australis Expedition Cruise
DAY 7: Australis Cruise: Cruise Chilean fjords between Cape Horn & Wulaia Bay
DAY 8: Australis Cruise: Pía Glacier – Garibaldi Glacier
DAY 9:Australis Cruise: Agostini Sound – Águila Glacier
DAY 10: Australis Cruise: Magdalena Island – Punta Arenas – Puerto Natales in Chile
DAY 11: Exploring Torres del Paine: Adventure spa experience
DAY 12: Exploring Torres del Paine: Adventure spa experience
DAY 13: Fly to Santiago de Chile
DAY 14: Santiago de Chile
DAY 15: Chile, end of your trip
👉 Read the full itinerary here
Which one will you choose?
HOW TO PLAN YOUR TWO WEEKS SOUTH AMERICA ITINERARY
What to do BY SEASON
First of all, when thinking about the best time to visit South America, you need to think that the seasons correspond to the southern hemisphere, which means that:
- Summer runs from December to March;
- Autumn from April to June;
- Winter from July to September;
- and then Spring from September until November;
Also, you need to consider the wet and dry seasons, which are essential facts to understand which places are better to visit, such as the Amazonas or the Deserts in Chile and Bolivia.
SUMMER – December to March
What is it Perfect for, and what to expect?
The beaches in Uruguay – José Ignacio and La Pedrera, are my favorites.
✨At the same time, it’s the best time to visit Patagonia: Hike in Patagonia – Fitz Roy in Chalten or the classic W of Torres del Paine and trek the spectacle that is Perito Moreno glacier.
Wildlife in Patagonia and Antarctica – penguins in Peninsula Valdes and Ushuaia, all the diversity of the marine fauna in Antarctica at its glory.
Carnival festival and New Year’s Eve in Rio de Janeiro – are both massive colorful celebrations.
AUTUMN – April to June
Autumn is the best time to visit South America if you want to explore the cities; temperatures ease slightly from hot summers, and fewer tourists are around. When it comes to Patagonia, this is the best time to go as well; after the summer and high season but not as cold yet as the winter to come, it makes perfect for exploring as it is a shoulder season and hotels are less expensive.
What is it Perfect for, and what to expect?
✨Iguazu Falls is an ideal time to explore this jungle experience; the weather is delightful, so enjoying the fantastic falls is much better.
✨City escapes in Buenos Aires – With more pleasant weather, it’s the perfect time to explore the city and walk its streets in San Telmo, Recoleta, and Palermo.
✨City escapes Rio de Janeiro – the temperature eases from the hot summer, and although you have to expect the rain to continue (10 days per month approximately), it’s a lovely time to see Rio and its natural side with a lot fewer tourists
✨ Galapagos – although any month is excellent for this destination, June, for example, is fantastic because it offers cooler temperatures and clear sunny skies.
✨Mendoza and wine route – If you want to avoid the crowds, March and April are charming months to visit Mendoza. In fall, many vineyards are finishing the harvest and starting the winemaking process, making it an enjoyable time to taste grapes and get into winemaking.
✨Trekking Patagonia – stunning photos while saying goodbye to crowds are the main reasons to choose this time of the year to trek in Patagonia.
WINTER – stunning from the end of June until mid-September.
Winters are generally pleasant and warm in the north and cold in the southern parts, especially in Patagonia in Chile and Argentina, experiencing frequent frost and snow.
However, winter weather is not as severe as in the northern hemisphere. In the southern part of South America, temperatures could go a bit below 0 °C (32 °F). On the other hand, the Andes Mountains in Peru and Ecuador offer dry winters, so it’s ideal, for example, to visit Machu Picchu. If you want to visit Galapagos, you can enjoy cooler weather and see more dolphins and whales.
What is it Perfect for, and what to expect?
✨ The Pantanal in Brazil – it’s the best time to see animals since it’s the dry season, running from April/ May to October.
✨Winter sports in Argentina and Chile – from Las Lenas in Mendoza to Bariloche and Ushuaia in Argentina, you can either enjoy skiing at the end of the world or head to Chile’s Valle Nevado ski resort.
✨ Machu Picchu & Inca Trail – Warm days, cool nights, and lowest rainfall of the whole year: the winter months are known as the ‘dry season,’ and you’ve got a very high chance of encountering a sunny day.
✨Tango world festival in Buenos Aires – Tango can be enjoyed throughout the year. However, August is predominantly important since the Tango’s International Festival and Dance World Cup take place this time of the year.
✨ Pachamama Festival in San Antonio de Los Cobres, Salta, this wonderful and local tradition celebrating the “Mother Earth” happens every August at the Quebrada de Humahuaca, a magical place located in the northwest of Argentina.
🌟I love this Itinerary for winter in South America: Charming South America in 14 days
SPRINGTIME: Lovely from September until the end of November.
It’s the dry season in the Amazon, making for OK wildlife watching. Fewer crowds and lower prices make visiting Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro a good time. Patagonia is less expensive than summer and also a great time to visit the region since trekking and hiking are now possible thanks to the end of the winter.
What is it Perfect for, and what to expect?
✨ Wildlife in Peninsula Valdes – Sea lions, seals, killer whales, and the Southern Right Whale are the other main characters during this time of the year.
✨Wildlife in Amazon – low water season is from June to November, so the jungle trails are not flooded during winter or spring, which allows the naturalist guides to get deeper into the jungle by foot and also escorted by fewer mosquitoes than during the high water season. ✨ Polo Open Buenos Aires takes place from November until December each year, and Argentina has the greatest players in the world.
✨Copacabana time! Yet not so warm as in the summer months, so it allows enjoying the beach of Rio de Janeiro like a local in Copacabana – gives beach volley a try!
🌟Here is an ideal itinerary for springtime in South America: Cruising the Amazon.
What to do BY EXPERIENCE
When it comes to South America, there are so many places to visit and so many experiences to live. We’ve built a list of 5 unique experiences that I want to share with you, trusting it will inspire you, your family, your partner, or your friends, to look beyond the classic and go a bit off the beaten track. I hope you enjoy it!
#1 The Best Countryside Experiences in Argentina & Uruguay
Estancias play a massive part in Argentine and Uruguayan culture. To stay on one gives you the opportunity to experience the unique gaucho culture in a tranquil, beautiful setting of untamed countryside.
At an Estancia, you will get the chance to participate in activities with the gauchos, including horse riding, herding, and tending to cattle. Additional activities usually include hiking & fly fishing, and birdwatching, all with the backdrop of stunning countryside.
Estancias are also known for their excellent food and wines, especially the traditional barbecues called “asados.”
If you’re hoping to immerse yourself in nature, relax and unwind, learn about the culture and history, and taste the best wines and food surrounded by the most stunning landscapes, Argentina & Uruguay will offer a unique and unforgettable countryside Experience.
READ MORE 👉 The Best Countryside Travel Experiences: Argentina & Uruguay
#2 Wine and Gourmet Experiences in Argentina, Chile & Uruguay
There is no doubt that South American Winelands is a must for all wine lovers, and sleeping in a charming vineyard will make this a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Maybe it’s the pleasant climates, wide-open spaces, or the fantastic views — but for whatever reason, there’s nothing quite like a vineyard-hotel getaway in South America!
Read more 👉 The best wine hotels to stay in South America
#3 Wildlife and Eco nature Amazon lodge Experience in Ecuador
The Amazon jungle is a giant ecosystem running through 9 countries in South America. Although Brazil accounts for the largest share of it, it’s not the only way to experience the Amazon rainforest. You cal also explore the famous Amazon Jungle during your escape to Ecuador. Combining a visit to Galapagos Islands with a lodge in Amazon Ecuador is a unique experience for wildlife viewing.
#4 Glamping Experience in Patagonia
Glamping in Patagonia, Torres del Paine Combines the best of the outdoors with the best of the indoors of Patagonia. Imagine waking up with the colorful sunrise images of Torres del Paine and enjoying the fresh air and natural beauty. Glamping is a new way of enjoying nature’s beauty without giving up pampering yourself during your vacation. It’s a modern twist on a traditional camping experience; it offers you the chance to combine the best of the outdoors with the best indoor comfort. It’s a mix of natural delights and luxury hotel comforts for anyone wishing to get inspired and reconnect with nature.
READ MORE: The Best Glamping Experience in Patagonia
#5 Ibera Wetlands Off the beaten Path Experience
If you are passionate about nature and want to get closer to South America’s most incredible places, begin your South American expedition with a visit to the Ibera Wetlands.
Floating islands of vegetation, unique wildlife, shallow water lagoons, and the fantastic network of lakes will amaze you while you explore this Argentina’s natural wonder. A must-visit for any wildlife enthusiast!
Read more: How to Travel to the Ibera Wetlands in Argentina
Continue reading More about our suggested Itineraries, experiences, and tips to help you plan your trip on our free South America Travel Guide.
Do you want a Custom trip to South America?
These itineraries are a good starting point for designing your own South America custom trip. For a custom trip, consider booking your trip Consultation Call with us. We would love to organize your custom trip to South America!
Maria Barciela Founding Partner & Director Across South America
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