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From the Andes to the Amazon and everything in between, South America is an incredible continent to visit.
We have travelled across the continent on a budget for six months and found it relatively cheap compared to say our travels in Europe or Africa. But not as cheap as travel in South East Asia.
Your biggest expense will be the flights to South America and this depends on where you are flying from. Generally speaking, the cheapest countries to visit in South America from the USA are Peru or Colombia as you can get a flight for as little as $200.
We recommend booking the cheapest flight deals with Skyscanner.
There is no doubt Bolivia is one of the cheapest countries in South America, if not the cheapest. And as a bonus, there is plenty of amazing things to see and do here.
Bolivia is home to some of the most dramatic landscapes on the continent and home to the famous Salt Flats. You can take public transport to Uyuni and book a day tour to visit the Salt Flats once you arrive or book this popular day trip online.
We also spent some time in La Paz, the main city in Bolivia. You definitely feel the altitude when you walk around as La Paz is one of the highest cities in the world, at just over 3500m above sea level.
But, as this was one of the cheapest places to sleep and eat, we lingered here for longer. Don’t miss out on the Cholitas wrestling – this was so much fun. Check out this entertaining experience here.
From La Paz, you can also visit Potosi and learn more about the silver mines here, plus the town had nice chilled vibes and the town of Sucre has beautiful whitewashed architecture.
Bolivia has the lowest cost of living in South America so your savings will go further here than anywhere else.
The impressive Laguna Colorada is where you see the flamingos and you can check out the turquoise waters of Laguna Verde as well.
We spent the least amount of money in Bolivia on our big trip across South America.
Whenever someone asks us which is our favourite country in South America, Colombia immediately comes to mind. Fresh coffee, delicious food, stunning towns and the perfect beaches. Colombia has it all, and it is so easy on the budget.
The nightlife is phenomenal, too, so for anyone travelling on a budget and looking for fun, music and dancing, Colombia won’t disappoint.
Whether you visit Medellin, Cartagena, or Bogota using our helpful 2-day itinerary, you’re in for a treat! So much culture, incredible cuisine and spectacular scenery to enjoy.
And if you’re keen to visit a stunning region of Colombia, head to Salento, and here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Salento when you get there.
One of our favourite places was the small town of San Augustin, set in the Andes mountains. Nearby the town, you’ll find an archaeological park with the largest group of religious monuments and megalithic sculptures in South America.
And if you love good food, here is a helpful blog for what to eat in Colombia – 11 Amazing dishes you must try.
Mainland Ecuador is a cheap place to travel but visiting the Galapagos islands will cost you a lot, so leave that one for another time.
Getting to Ecuador from the neighbouring countries of Colombia or Peru is relatively easy and affordable, so your best bet is going overland.
Ecuador offers Unesco-listed historic towns such as the capital Quito and Cuenca, adventures in the Amazon rainforest and near the Cotopaxi Volcano. And the town of Banos become travellers’ favourite over the years.
You can stay here for a week and chase waterfalls, join adventure sports, enjoy the local baths or choose any of these other fantastic things to do in Banos.
Argentina feels different to the rest of the South American countries. Suddenly you can eat steak and drink wine on a backpacker’s budget.
Wait a minute, you might think this must be the cheapest country to visit in South America. No, it isn’t, accommodation and transport will cost you more than in Colombia or Ecuador but there are a few travellers perks.
First of all the Argentian peso can be exchanged at the black market rate instead of in the bank and you will get much more for it, making your stay more affordable.
Furthermore, steak and wine are very cheap here, the two main products that Argentina is famous for. It’s kinda the only place where you see shoestring travellers in hostels preparing dinner of steak with a bottle of wine.
Argentina is one of the cheapest countries in South America and you can easily spend months here travelling as it is huge.
Many travellers find it easy to visit cities such as Salta, Mendoza, Cordoba and of course the highlight Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires has plenty of gourmet restaurants to splash out, awesome museums, beautiful parks, and crazy nightlife too.
Please read our 2 Days in Buenos Aires Itinerary to help you plan the perfect stay. These 16 Best Restaurants in Buenos Aires are guaranteed to satisfy you.
We absolutely loved all of the cities and each city offered something else. Argentina also had some of the nicest hostels to stay in, check out Hostelworld for the best places to stay at the lowest price.
Find some great little apartments for surprisingly affordable prices on Booking.com, too.
If you can travel down to Patagonia, you will be rewarded with the most incredible landscapes. You can take an overnight bus or pay for the flight. Either way, search Omio.com for the best deals.
We highly recommend you visit the incredible Perito Moreno Glacier.
You can read more in our comprehensive guide to visiting Perito Moreno Glacier from El Calafate; it includes everything you need to know.
Some lucky travellers reach Ushuaia, the end of the world and ask around for last-minute bookings for a trip to Antarctica.
It’s not usually a budget-friendly trip, but a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it will set you back around $4000-$5000 per person for a 7-day all-inclusive expedition.
Peru is one of the most popular destinations in South America, with Machu Picchu being a highlight of anyone’s travels in South America.
And while entry to Machu Picchu is expensive, starting from $45 per person (if you book your ticket online here), overall Peru is one of the cheapest countries to visit in South America.
View all options available to visit Machu Picchu.
There are some amazing hiking routes and the best food and nightlife in the capital, Lima. Read our perfect 2 days in Lima itinerary here. For something else, check out the Nazca lines (ancient geoglyphs).
Cuzco is the oldest continuously inhabited city in South America, and it serves as the getaway to the cities and villages of the Incas, including Machu Picchu.
Lake Titicaca is another destination not to miss. Straddling the border between Peru and Bolivia in the Andes Mountains, you could easily travel around here for a month to try and see it all. A good idea if you have the time to slow down and explore the cheapest countries in South America more in-depth.
If you’re a little short on time, this day tour of Lake Titicaca from Puno in Peru is recommended.
And you will no doubt visit the cosmopolitan capital city of Peru, Lima. Although Lima is known for its fancy restaurants, there are plenty of lunch deals known as ‘almuerzo’, which translates to the daily menu in English.
These lunch deals are great and usually include soup, a main dish and a drink for around $6-8.
Lima offers inexpensive buses to get around too, so it’s a cheap way to explore the city.
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On average, you can eat, sleep and travel around the most affordable countries in South America for less than $30 USD per day.
Here are a few tips on how to stay within your budget:
We have many travel guides and tips for South America—a colourful and vibrant continent!
We believe these are the 15 best places to visit in South America.
Are you travelling on a budget? These five cheapest countries in South America will help you plan an itinerary that lets you see as much as possible.
Furthermore, if you plan to travel long-term (or at least until the money runs out), these 21 cheapest countries to visit will help you make your hard-earned dollars stretch a bit further.
Delicious cuisine can be enjoyed across South America. There’s Colombian cuisine, Venezuelan food, the food in the Dominican Republic, Brazilian cuisine, and even Guyanese cuisine to inspire you on your culinary journey.
For food lovers, don’t miss our top 10 best countries for food.
Would you like some suggestions for packing for your South American adventure? Our ultimate packing list for travellers has you covered for the essentials.
These top 6 travel hacks to save money are great to read when planning your travels. Try these 5 popular foods in South America; they’re delicious!
You’ll need to stay connected while travelling in South America. We recommend eSIM. It’s easy, reliable and affordable. View eSIMs for individual countries, or consider a regional eSIM for Latin America (which covers 19 countries).
If your travels in Latin America are part of a much larger global adventure, then a Global eSIM may be the answer. It connects you in 124 countries, offering data-only eSIM and data/call/text eSIM. The Global eSIM has been a game-changer; we couldn’t imagine travelling without it now.
If you want to travel with like-minded travellers, consider joining a group tour. Check out our Group Tours first for any upcoming departures in Latin America, or view Tourradar deals on group tours in Latin America.
Check out our best-ever travel tips compiled from more than twenty years of experience.
✈️ Flights: We use Skyscanner to book cheap flights worldwide.
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🚘 Car Rental: We use DiscoverCars to book rental cars worldwide.
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