Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Argentina & Brazil – 5 Signature Journeys Compared
Planning a trip across South America is not about choosing countries.
It is about choosing a travel experience logic: landscapes, rhythm, altitude, cities or wildlife.
These 5 itineraries are designed as complete, real multi-country routes based on actual travel constraints: distances, altitude progression, flight logistics and realistic pacing.
This guide compares them honestly so you can understand which South America itinerary is right for your travel style.
🧭 Quick Comparison of the 5 South America Itineraries
1. Peru – Bolivia – Brazil
Best South America bucket list itinerary (Machu Picchu, Uyuni Salt Flats, Iguazu Falls, Rio de Janeiro)
2. Chile – Argentina – Brazil
Best contrast itinerary (Atacama's desert, Patagonia's glaciers, Buenos Aires' vibrant city, Rio' stunning beaches)
3. Peru – Argentina – Brazil
Best balanced first South America trip (Machu Picchu, Perito Moreno perfect glacier, Rio beaches)
4. Chile-Bolivia-Peru
Best high-altitude landscapes itinerary (Atacama's desert, Lipez' Lagoons, Uyuni' salt flats, Machu Picchu)
5. Brazil – Peru – Galapagos
Best wildlife South America itinerary (Amazon Rainforest, Pantanal, Galapagos Islands)
1. PERU – BOLIVIA – BRAZIL
ICONIC SOUTH AMERICA BUCKET LIST ROUTE
Peru → Bolivia → Brazil
This is the most searched South America itinerary: the classic bucket list route.
You start in Peru with the Inca world (Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu), continue into Bolivia’s high-altitude desert landscapes (Lake Titicaca, La Paz, Salar de Uyuni, Lipez), and finish in Brazil with Iguazu Falls and Rio de Janeiro.
This route is powerful because it combines:
- culture (Peru)
- extreme landscapes (Bolivia)
- iconic nature and beaches (Brazil)
👉 Best South America itinerary for first-time visitors
👉 Most complete bucket list route (Machu Picchu, Uyuni Salt Flats, Iguazu Falls)
2. CHILE – ARGENTINA – BRAZIL
BEST SOUTH AMERICA CONTRAST ITINERARY
Chile → Argentina → Brazil
This itinerary is built around maximum visual contrast.
You move from the Atacama Desert (one of the driest places on Earth), to Patagonia glaciers (Perito Moreno, Torres del Paine), to Buenos Aires (culture, tango, city life), and finally Rio de Janeiro (beaches and coastline).
It is one of the most diverse South America travel routes.
👉 Best South America itinerary for landscapes diversity
👉 Best multi-climate itinerary South America
3. PERU – ARGENTINA – BRAZIL
BEST BALANCED SOUTH AMERICA ITINERARY
Peru → Argentina → Brazil
This is the most balanced and accessible South America itinerary.
You experience:
- Inca culture in Peru
- Patagonia glaciers in Argentina
- Buenos Aires city life
- Rio beaches in Brazil
Nothing extreme, nothing missing — just a complete overview of South America in one trip.
👉 Best South America itinerary for first trip
👉 Most comfortable multi-country route
4. CHILE - BOLIVIA - PERU
BEST HIGH-ALTITUDE LANDSCAPES ITINERARY
Chile → Bolivia → Peru
This itinerary is focused only on the Andes corridor.
It connects:
- Cusco, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu (Peru)
- Lake Titicaca, Uyuni, Lipez (Bolivia)
- Atacama Desert (Chile)
👉 Best high altitude landscapes tour
👉 Pure desert + mountain route
5. BRAZIL – PERU – GALAPAGOS
BEST SOUTH AMERICA WILDLIFE ITINERARY
Brazil → Peru → Galapagos
This itinerary is fully focused on wildlife and ecosystems.
You move from:
- Amazon rainforest (Peru)
- Pantanal (Brazil)
- Galapagos Islands (unique wildlife ecosystem)
- Andean culture (Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu)
👉 Best wildlife itinerary South America
👉 Best eco travel South America route
🧠 How to choose your 3-week 3-country South America Itinerary
Choose based on your travel priority:
- First time in South America → Peru Bolivia Brazil
- Maximum diversity → Chile Argentina Brazil
- Balanced comfortable trip → Peru Argentina Brazil
- Extreme landscapes → Chile Bolivia Peru
- Wildlife focus → Brazil Peru Galapagos
💡 Important Travel Insight
There is no “best South America itinerary”.
There is only the itinerary that matches:
- your tolerance for altitude
- your interest in landscapes vs cities, culture, or wildlife
- your pace of travel
- your desire for comfort vs adventure
Each route is designed around real logistics: flights, altitude progression and travel time between regions.
📩 Plan Your South America Trip
All South America itineraries are fully customizable depending on your travel style, pace and level of comfort.
Latin Discoveries designs tailor-made journeys across Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Argentina and Brazil.