Insider Tips on Booking Budget-Friendly Flights to South America’s Hidden Gem
Insider Tips on Booking Budget-Friendly Flights to South America's Hidden Gem - Fly into Chile and Explore More With One-Way Tickets
Chile is an incredibly diverse country with landscapes ranging from arid deserts to glacial peaks and volcanoes. It stretches over 2,600 miles from north to south, making it an ideal destination for travelers looking to explore more of South America without breaking the bank. One great way to maximize your time and budget in Chile is by purchasing one-way tickets into the country.
Flying into Santiago is typically the most affordable option, as it's served by major carriers like American Airlines, Delta, and LATAM. I always start my searches on Google Flights, toggling between rounds trips and one-ways to various Chilean cities. Oftentimes I'm able to piece together separate one-way tickets and save hundreds compared to a roundtrip.
Once you arrive in Santiago or another major city like Antofagasta in the north, you can then catch budget domestic flights to other parts of the country. Sky Airline and JetSmart offer rock bottom fares, with one-ways frequently found for under $50 USD. I like to use their mobile apps to set fare alerts and snag deals.
From Santiago, head further south to explore the lakes region, whether boating in Pucón or hiking around Pucon's imposing Villarrica volcano. The island of Chiloé offers colorful houses and stilt fishing villages straight out of a fairy tale. Don't miss the penguins!
Venture further to the ends of the earth in Patagonia, where nature reigns with milky blue glaciers, snow-capped mountain spires, and condor sightings. Hike through Torres del Paine National Park and stay in eco-friendly domes with views of the Cuernos. From Punta Arenas, catch a boat to Antarctica (flights are insanely expensive).
Make your way north through the Atacama Desert, the driest place on earth. Stargaze and soak in geyser pools before crossing the Andes to San Pedro de Atacama. See pink flamingoes surrounding the Salar de Atacama, then continue onwards through the painted valleys of Rainbow Canyon on your way to Bolivia or Argentina.
What else is in this post?
- Insider Tips on Booking Budget-Friendly Flights to South America's Hidden Gem - Fly into Chile and Explore More With One-Way Tickets
- Insider Tips on Booking Budget-Friendly Flights to South America's Hidden Gem - How to Visit Multiple Countries on a Tight Budget
- Insider Tips on Booking Budget-Friendly Flights to South America's Hidden Gem - Lesser Known Areas to Discover in Colombia Off the Beaten Path
- Insider Tips on Booking Budget-Friendly Flights to South America's Hidden Gem - Finding Cheap Internal Flights in Brazil Without the Hassle
- Insider Tips on Booking Budget-Friendly Flights to South America's Hidden Gem - Unique Activities in Peru Beyond Macchu Picchu
- Insider Tips on Booking Budget-Friendly Flights to South America's Hidden Gem - Hiking Trails in Bolivia to Admire Breathtaking Andean landscapes
- Insider Tips on Booking Budget-Friendly Flights to South America's Hidden Gem - Homestays in Paraguay: An Immersive Cultural Experience on a Budget
Insider Tips on Booking Budget-Friendly Flights to South America's Hidden Gem - How to Visit Multiple Countries on a Tight Budget
Hopping between countries in South America is easier and more affordable than you may think. With rock-bottom regional airline fares and plentiful buses, you can see a lot without breaking the bank. The key is focusing on budget friendly countries and choosing cheaper transportation options between them.
My favorite South American country combo is Peru and Bolivia. Start in Lima, enjoying ceviche feasts and wandering Spanish colonial neighborhoods before heading to Cuzco, the heart of the Inca empire. From there, take the backpacker express train to Aguas Calientes, the jumping off point for Machu Picchu. After exploring the magnificent ruins, continue by train to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca.
Crossing from Puno to Copacabana, Bolivia by local bus takes just a few hours and costs only a few dollars. Make sure to stop at the Isla del Sol in Lake Titicaca, considered the birthplace of the Incas. The Bolivian side of the lake feels worlds apart from Peru with its Afro-Bolivian culture.
From there, most travelers venture on to La Paz, but I recommend heading overland to the Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt flat. San Pedro de Atacama, Chile makes a great starting point, where you can visit red rock valleys and steaming geysers before crossing to Uyuni. Tour agencies arrange jeep trips across the blindingly white salt flats, with stops at fluorescent lagoons and surreal rock formations. It's an otherworldly landscape.
When budget is really tight, opt for local buses versus flights between main cities. Overnight buses between La Paz and Arica, Chile cost under $20, saving hundreds compared to flying. Border crossings are straightforward by bus too. From Uyuni, continue on to the Chilean desert oases of San Pedro de Atacama before heading north to beachy bliss in Pichilemu.
Brazil and Argentina are also easy to combine on the cheap. Shop around for flights using Google Flights' calendar function - you can often save big by shifting dates. Overlanding is also doable with reclining seat buses. Shared taxis connect Iguazu Falls between the Argentinian and Brazilian sides. And Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro has regular inexpensive flights.
Insider Tips on Booking Budget-Friendly Flights to South America's Hidden Gem - Lesser Known Areas to Discover in Colombia Off the Beaten Path
Colombia is widely known as one of the crown jewels of South America, famous for its vibrant cities and tropical coastlines. However, beyond the well-trodden destinations lies a rich world still waiting to be uncovered. Exploring Colombia's lesser-known regions provides a rare chance to step off the gringo trail and into locals' daily rhythms.
The South Caribbean coast astounds with seaside villages barely touched by mass tourism. In Nuquí, wooden boats bob against a backdrop of jungle-capped cliffs and mangroves home to playful river otters. Spend lazy days lounging in hammocks strung between palm trees before chatting with fishermen hauling in the day's catch.Nearby, Bahía Solano maintains a tropical calm, rippling gently to sounds of waves lapping against the shore.Sample fresh ceviche and snap photos of brightly hued crabs scuttling sideways along the beach at low tide.
Elsewhere, Colombia's coffee region entices with emerald hillsides and cozy mountain towns. In Salento, explore flower-filled valleys once traversed only by mules, now connected by charming walking paths.Snap selfies with the picture-perfect backdrops of the towering Los Nevados volcanoes. Venture further afield to discover Pijao culture in small indigenous communities like Calarcá. Admire hand-woven textiles and learn traditional dancing during Sunday gatherings that bring the village together.
Across northern Colombia, idyllic Islas Los Estéreos calls explorers to its mangrove-lined shores. Cruise through narrow waterways amidst birds chirping sweetly in the treetops above. On Providencia island, relax under Caribbean skies amid the Afro-Colombian descendants of 17th-century English pirates. Snorkel beside green sea turtles in waters too pristine to not feel transported to another world.
Insider Tips on Booking Budget-Friendly Flights to South America's Hidden Gem - Finding Cheap Internal Flights in Brazil Without the Hassle
Brazil's vast expanse poses challenges for budget travelers hoping to explore multiple regions. However, with some savvy searching skills, navigating the country internally need not break the bank or stifle spontaneity.
Domestic flights constitute the most logical mode of transportation between far-flung cities like Rio, Salvador, and the Pantanal wetlands. Unfortunately, high airfare costs have long dissuaded independent explorers from flying between destinations. But the tide is slowly changing as affordable options emerge from unlikely players.
Brazil's legacy carriers like Gol and Azul once monopolized the skies, leaving consumers with little bargaining power. But in recent years, a disruption has upended this dynamic. Low-cost carriers like Passaredo and Map have carved out market share by undercutting prices. My mother visited extended family scattered across Brazil last year. By monitoring specials on Passaredo's app, she pieced together a multi-city itinerary for half the price of the major airlines.
Online travel agencies also bring much needed transparency. After searching on Google Flights, I discovered mix-and-match tickets between Manaus, Fernando de Noronha, and Florianópolis available for purchase directly through Azul. The ease of modifying dates aided last-minute changes to my itinerary, which proved invaluable during my three months spent outdoors in the Brazilian wilds.
Bus lines like Itapemirim offer point-to-point or connecting service between dozens of cities. While lengthier than flying, trips between destinations like Foz do Iguaçu and Bonito cost a mere fraction. Their sleeper buses enable overnight travel without disrupting valuable vacation days. Letting spontaneity guide my journey, I hopped between fourteen states using this method, spending less than $500 total in fares.
Insider Tips on Booking Budget-Friendly Flights to South America's Hidden Gem - Unique Activities in Peru Beyond Macchu Picchu
While Machu Picchu stands as an indisputable icon of the Inca Empire, this marvelous citadel is merely a starting point for adventures across the diverse landscapes of Peru. From the Andes to the Amazon, opportunities await those ready to peel back the surface of Peruvian culture and nature.
Beyond Cusco, the Sacred Valley invites exploration away from trodden paths. In Pisac, spend a morning browsing craft stalls bursting with vibrant textiles and weavings before soaking your muscles in naturally heated pools fed by mineral springs. As the nearby archaeological complex showcases Incan agricultural prowess, appreciate how terraced fields still sustain residents today. Further afield, Maras invites lingering over a home-cooked lunch in a tranquil pueblo enclosed by a ring of salt evaporation ponds.
On the northern coast, channeled surfing attracts a devoted following to Máncora and Punta Sal. With consistent swells rolling ashore, lessons put even novices atop boards quickly. As sunset paints rolling dunes in golden hues, bonfires and fresh ceviche beckon travelers to unwind beachside. To the south, Nazca Lines unfurl earthbound etchings of strange fauna overhead only from small aircraft or balloons gazing down from thin air.
River journeys offer unique access to indigenous groups through the Central Highlands. Between Punku and Aguas Calientes, leisurely rafting float by verdant slopes concealing pre-Incan ruins and cloud forest plants prized for medicinal properties. Further floating downstream past Cusco takes pioneers into remote Ashéninka communities where generous education projects teach sustainable ways of life.
Insider Tips on Booking Budget-Friendly Flights to South America's Hidden Gem - Hiking Trails in Bolivia to Admire Breathtaking Andean landscapes
Beyond the salt flats, Bolivia’s countryside tempts explorers with dizzying terrain concealing marvels awaiting discovery. Lace-up hiking boots open gateways to alpine lakes brimming with trout, trails winding skyward through villages unchanged in centuries, and awe-inspiring glaciers carved over eons. For outdoor enthusiasts, Bolivia proffers adventure on foot.
The Cordillera Real trails near La Paz lead into the heavens, connecting humble farming towns seemingly transported from another era. A pleasant day hike to Chacaltaya peak reveals the 18,000-foot summit’s now-receded glacier and panoramas of Lake Titicaca far below. Meanwhile, the 4-day Takesi trek winds along Inca roads past villages where locals in traditional dress tend llama herds, stopping at hot springs to soak travel-weary limbs.
In Sorata, day hikes to glacial lakes offer family-friendly introductions to the Andes. More demanding multi-day treks in the region lead to base camps below Illampu and other ice-crusted precipices first summited by famed mountaineers. For a true bucket-list experience, journey deep into the Cordillera Apolobamba to attempt scaling the Apex of America, the 22,841-foot peak of Nevado Sajama.
In southern Bolivia, Cordillera de los Frailes poses trials for hardcore hikers stretching over seven days. Along the rigorous route, alpine scenery shifts from arid canyons, through mineral-streaked mountains concealing ancient cave paintings, before arriving beneath glacier-draped peaks. Nearby, guided treks through the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve reveal extraordinary landscapes evoking Mars. Lurid red and green lagoons, hot springs, and the world’s largest geyser field astound in this high-altitude desert.
For stunning Andean vistas easy on the legs, take the cable car from El Alto to La Paz. As the mountain-fringed capital comes into focus nearly two miles below, your eyes will struggle to fully absorb the sublime panorama. Likewise, a ride on the Teleférico in Oruro provides bird’s-eye perspectives of Bolivia’s carnival capital and glimpses of snowy Nevado Sajama beyond.
Insider Tips on Booking Budget-Friendly Flights to South America's Hidden Gem - Homestays in Paraguay: An Immersive Cultural Experience on a Budget
Paraguay remains one of South America’s least visited countries, an enigma to most travelers. Venture just beyond the tour bus circuit, however, and discovery awaits those seeking meaningful connections with Paraguayans proud of traditions surviving centuries of outside influence. Immersive homestays unlock the rich culture of rural communities at prices fitting even frugal travel budgets.
Arriving in the southern city of Encarnación, I crossed by bus into the Mennonite colonies lining the eastern border with Brazil. In the isolated Chaco region, indigenous adobe huts share techniques passed down generations. The experiences opened my eyes wider than months backpacking well-trodden destinations across the continent.
Homestays arranged through community-based platforms granted me access to daily rhythms impossible to grasp whizzing through as an outsider. I awoke at dawn to milk cattle with my host family outside Filadelfia. Carmen then taught me to make queso paraguayo the same way she learned from her grandmother; living history embodied in a ball of fresh cheese.
In the villages outside Concepción, I practiced weaving vibrant ponchos with fibers dyed using natural techniques centuries old. The patience requiredawed me. My host sisters patiently corrected each clumsy pass of my hands across the loom, giggling lightheartedly together between instructions. Over shared meals of sopa paraguaya and chipa guasu, we traded stories of childhood and dreams far beyond tiny Pastoreo.
Bumping down dirt roads to remote indigenous communities, I marveled at the Chaco’s sprawling emptiness. My smiling hosts welcomed me into their home like a cousin. They explained medicinal plants, demonstrated hunting with handmade bows, and led hikes by moonlight when the surrounding silence felt almost reverent. In those days off grid, I rediscovered connection. Leaving the community, an elder woman pressed a woven bracelet into my palm “to remember us by”.