Traveling around South America for 6 months was one of the longest trips I have ever taken in my life. Starting from Colombia, I traveled through 7 countries from top to bottom, witnessing the landscapes shift from tropical to desert and from desert to mountainous, all in one trip.
It was one of the best trips I have done so far. I went to South America without knowing a word of Spanish, and I came out pretty well-versed at ordering café con leche and getting the coffee I want 😂.
Being inspired by all the different cultures I have experienced in South America, I have decided to write a comprehensive backpacking itinerary for South America for those who have the luxury of time to get lost in one of the most vibrant and interesting continents in the world.
The itinerary begins in Colombia as we traverse along the western coast of the continent through Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, all the way to the end of the world in Ushuaia, Argentina, while we traverse back from the east to Brazil.
During these visits, we will be exploring many of the great wonders of the world, from the Galapagos and Easter Island to Machu Picchu and Patagonia. It is going to be one hell of a backpacking trip and a ton of information to cover in this post, so without further ado, let’s look at an overview of the 6-month itinerary for South America, all mapped out below: