Discover South America’s backpacking route with our free guides and advice from the experts at Xtreme Gap Year. If you are planning on travelling South America you might want a bit of first-hand advice before you travel, as it is very important to plan your route effectively. South America has very distinct climates and regions, it is one of the only places in the world where you can experience desert, beaches and polar ice capped peaks in one day. So if you are planning on choosing a South America backpacking route, you may want to have a look at our South America packages to give you an idea of what you can do whilst you travel.
If you are looking for help and advice for routes only, then check out our travel passes. Booking one of these gives you the benefit of pre-researched routes, guaranteed to be popular with other backpackers and make the logistics of travel in this exciting yet challenging continent super easy.
South America backpacking routes and travel passes:
Lima Loop South America Travel Pass£959
Our uber popular backpacker travel pass. This pass provides full transport starting in Lima through Peru, Bolivia and Chile taking in some of the most amazing aspects of the South America backpacker trail, before heading up the West Coast pass the Nasca lines to end backup in Lima. One of the cheapest cities to fly into South America. This pass works very well with the Inca Trail as you can set your trail dates well ahead.
Backpacking South America£3200
Superb South America backpacking itinerary starting in Lima. Taking on the Inca Trail, Peru, Bolivia before heading north to Ecuador. All transport and plenty of activities included on this flexible adventure. Epic scenery, culture and adventure on one of the worlds most sort after backpacker routes.
Buenos Aires to Rio Travel Pass£699
Buenos Aires to Rio Travel Pass All you need to travel between two of South America's most exciting cities: Buenos Aires in Argentina and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and covering a lot of exciting locations between. It's a fair distance, and if you speak little Spanish or Portuguese it takes a lot of the hassle out of finding your way on this ultra-popular South America backpacking route.
Ecuador to Peru Travel Pass£597
Ecuador to Peru Travel Pass All you need to travel between two of South America's most popular counties, Travel from Quito in Ecuador to Lima in Peru stopping off at lots of exciting places on the way. Why not extend this trip by adding on one or more of our other exciting South America programmes. Choose from Spanish and Surf in Ecuador, Trek the Inca Trail or one of the other choices and make your gap year experience one to remember.
Lima to La Paz via Cuzco Travel Pass£369
This is the perfect pass if you want to travel through Peru seeing some of the major highlights of South America, including stopping off in Cuzco, the Gateway to the Inca Trail. The pass then ends in La Paz, the capital of Bolivia and the world's highest city. Plenty of inclusions like the Colca Canyon, for condor spotting, the Ballestas Islands and the Sacred Valley. High Andean peaks, ruined Incan citadels and a well trodden backpacker trail. South America at its best.
Complete Peru and Bolivia Travel Pass£806
Complete Peru and Bolivia Travel Pass Experience Peru and Bolivia with all the wondrous adventure travel that comes with these two epic backpacker destinations. In Peru go condor spotting in the Colca Canyon, see thousands of seabirds off the Ballestas Islands and as a contrast travel through the lush agricultural region of Sacred Valley. Trek the Inca Trail on an optional excursion. Then onto Bolivia, for Lake Titicaca and the unreal salt flats at Salar de Uyuni.