Self-Launched South America: Ushuaia to Guayaquil by Land & Sea

Fly into Ushuaia (USH) from Buenos Aires — book early, delays are common and domestic baggage limits are tight (15–23 kg). A local taxi into town is about £8–10; shared shuttles cost similar. Check into a hostel near the waterfront, then walk the harbour promenade, visit the old prison museum (Museo Marítimo, ~£12) and pick up groceries for the next few days — Argentine supermarkets are excellent value.

🚌Taxi from USH airport to town (~£9)

🛏Hostel dorm in central Ushuaia

• →Harbour promenade walk
• →Museo Marítimo y del Presidio de Ushuaia
• →Pre-departure supermarket stock-up

Skip the group transfer — take the local bus from the Ushuaia bus terminal to Tierra del Fuego National Park entrance (~£12 return, 30 min). Walk the coastal Sendero Costera and Senda Hito XXIV trails, and pay the small extra for the End of the World train if you want the postcard ride. Afternoon back in town for the Martial Glacier trailhead (free hike, ~£5 taxi to base). Book tomorrow's bus south tonight.

🚌Public bus to park entrance (~£12)

🛏Hostel dorm in central Ushuaia

• →Tierra del Fuego National Park trails
• →Optional End of the World train
• →Martial Glacier trailhead hike

Cross into Chile overland: buses run Ushuaia–Punta Arenas daily (roughly 10–12 hrs with the Primera Angostura ferry crossing, ~£35–45). Keep your passport handy at the border. Arrive evening, check into a hostel, and eat at the Mercado Municipal — a cheap, hearty chilean relleno or crab empanada.

🚌Intercity bus Ushuaia–Punta Arenas (~£40)

🛏Hostel dorm in Punta Arenas

• →Overland border crossing
• →Mercado Municipal dinner

Mirror the operator's two included options but self-book: either a day at a working Patagonian estancia (sheep shearing, Chilean rodeo, asado — book direct or through your hostel, ~£55–70) or a DIY city day: Museo Regional salesian museum (~£3), Cerro de la Cruz viewpoint (free), then the Magellan Forest Reserve trails south of town by local bus (~£8).

🚌Local bus / shared transfer (~£12)

🛏Hostel dorm in Punta Arenas

• →Estancia day trip with asado
• →Museo Regional de Magallanes
• →Reserva Nacional Magallanes walk

Three-hour bus to Puerto Natales (~£9). Spend the afternoon booking tomorrow's Torres del Paine day tour with any of the many agencies on the main square (~£35–45 including lunch), or hire gear if you'd rather trek. Walk the waterfront, see the corrugated-tin houses, and stock up on snacks.

🚌Bus Punta Arenas–Puerto Natales (~£9)

🛏Hostel dorm in Puerto Natales

• →Book Torres del Paine day trip
• →Waterfront walk
• →Gear hire / trek prep

Self-bookable small-group day tour to Torres del Paine (~£40): stops at Lago Grey and the Grey Glacier viewpoint, the Salto Grande waterfall, and the classic base-of-the-towers mirador with guanacos and possibly condors. If you want to trek rather than tour, the base of the towers hike needs a 2–3 day W-trek extension — budget an extra few days if that's your goal.

🚌Tour minibus included in activity cost

🛏Hostel dorm in Puerto Natales

• →Torres del Paine full-day excursion
• →Grey Glacier viewpoint
• →Salto Grande waterfall

Long travel day south/north along Chile's Carretera Austral. The bus Puerto Natales–Coyhaique takes roughly 14–18 hrs with changes (~£45–55) — an overnight bus saves a night's accommodation. Bring food, water and a warm layer; this stretch is remote.

🚌Intercity bus (~£50)

🛏Overnight bus / hostel dorm in Coyhaique

• →Carretera Austral scenery
• →Remote Patagonian stop-offs

The operator's Chacabuco/Zodiac day becomes a DIY Aysén day: visit Coyhaique's main plaza and handicraft market, then hire a local taxi or shared minibus to Reserva Nacional Río Simpson (~£10–15 return) for short riverside trails through lenga and coihue forest with views to the Cerro Castillo peaks. Return for the colourful evening market.

🚌Shared minibus / taxi (~£14)

🛏Hostel dorm in Coyhaique

• →Coyhaique plaza and craft market
• →Reserva Nacional Río Simpson trails
• →Waterfall stop en route

Head north toward the lake district: either a long bus chain via Coihaique's regional hops and Puerto Montt (~18 hrs, ~£45) or the cheaper-fast option of a sector flight from Balmaceda (BBA) to Puerto Montt/Puerto Varas (~£60 booked early). Whichever you choose, arrive and check into a hostel in Puerto Montt or cosier Puerto Varas.

🚌Bus chain or domestic flight (~£60)

🛏Hostel dorm in Puerto Montt / Puerto Varas

• →Lake District arrival
• →German colonial architecture in Puerto Varas

The operator's expedition sail becomes a local crossing: take a bus to Pargua and the public Pargua–Chacao ferry (foot passage cheap, buses go on board, total ~£12) to Isla Grande de Chiloé. Check into a hostel in Castro, see the UNESCO-listed palafitos (stilt houses) and the bright yellow-and-purple church on the plaza.

🚌Bus + public ferry (~£12)

🛏Guesthouse/hostel dorm in Castro

• →Pargua–Chacao ferry crossing
• →Castro palafitos and UNESCO church

Self-book a full-day island circuit (~£35–45) covering the Puñihuil penguin colonies (Magellanic and Humboldt), coastal villages, and the beach-and-rainforest trails of Parque Nacional Chiloé. Alternatively go DIY with local buses (~£8) to Dalcahue's market and the national park, and eat curanto — a seafood, potato and meat feast cooked in a pit — at lunch (~£10).

🚌Local buses or shared tour minibus (~£30)

🛏Guesthouse/hostel dorm in Castro

• →Puñihuil penguin colonies
• →Parque Nacional Chiloé trails
• →Dalcahue craft market

Bus back over the Chacao ferry to Puerto Montt (~£10), then an overnight or evening bus to Santiago (~18 hrs, ~£30–40) or a value flight Puerto Montt–Lima via Santiago to start the Peru leg (~£140–180 if booked early). Overnight travel saves a hotel night — factor in a rest half-day on arrival.

🚌Bus + ferry + onwards flight or coach (~£45)

🛏Overnight bus / hostel dorm

• →Ferry back to the mainland
• →Puerto Montt Angelmó fish market stop

Land in Lima and stay in Miraflores or Barranco backpacker territory. Recover with a walk along the Malecón clifftop, a cheap menu del día lunch (~£4) and a sunset at the Puente de los Suspiros in Barranco. Book your Lima–Nazca or Lima–Ica bus for tomorrow.

🚌Airport bus or taxi (~£12)

🛏Hostel dorm in Miraflores/Barranco, Lima

• →Malecón coastal walk
• →Barranco street art and bridge
• →Menu del día lunch

Take a Cruz del Sur or Oltursa coach Lima–Ica (~4.5 hrs, ~£12). Base yourself in Huacachina oasis or Ica town. Afternoon sandboarding and dune buggy ride in the Huacachina dunes (~£20) — the DIY version of a desert excursion — and sunset from the top of the dunes.

🚌Coach Lima–Ica (~£12)

🛏Hostel dorm in Huacachina/Ica

• →Huacachina dunes and oasis
• →Sandboarding and dune buggy
• →Desert sunset

Day trip to Nazca (~1.5 hrs by local bus/taxi, ~£8): visit the Chauchilla desert cemetery with its 1,500-year-old mummies, bones and pottery out in the open, plus a local ceramics workshop — self-book a shared taxi tour from Nazca town (~£15) or take a guide. Optionally add a light-aircraft Nazca Lines flight (~£80–100) or the cheaper mirador tower (~£3).

🚌Local bus/taxi Ica–Nazca (~£8)

🛏Hostel dorm in Nazca

• →Chauchilla Cemetery
• →Potter's studio visit
• →Optional Nazca Lines flight or mirador

Travel day. Overnight coach Nazca–Arequipa (~10 hrs, ~£18) — comfortable semicama seats are worth the small upgrade. Arrive early morning and check into a hostel in Arequipa's historic centre.

🚌Overnight coach (~£18)

🛏Hostel dorm in Arequipa

• →Overnight coach
• →White City arrival

Explore the walled Santa Catalina Monastery (~£12 entrance, self-guided), the Plaza de Armas, and the Museo Santuarios Andinos with the mummy Juanita (~£6). Try rocoto relleno and queso helado. Optional: a Colca Canyon day/overnight tour if you want condors (~£35–55) — worth adding a day if you can.

🚌Walking / local taxi (~£4)

🛏Hostel dorm in Arequipa

• →Monasterio de Santa Catalina
• →Plaza de Armas
• →Museo Santuarios Andinos

Quickest is a 1-hour flight Arequipa–Cusco (~£55–75 booked ahead); the cheaper option is a long bus (~10 hrs, ~£15), usually via Juliaca or overnight. Either way, take the first day in Cusco gently at 3,400 m: hydrate, avoid alcohol, and walk slowly. Evening: San Blas neighbourhood and a cheap set-menu dinner.

🚌Domestic flight or coach (~£35)

🛏Hostel dorm in Cusco

• →Acclimatisation day
• →San Blas lanes and viewpoints

Morning self-guided or small-group Cusco city tour (free walking tours tip-based, or ~£15 for the cathedral, Qorikancha and Sacsayhuamán combo ticket). Afternoon: collectivo (~£3) or shared van to Pisac market and the Pisac ruins, then on to Ollantaytambo for the night so you're close to the Machu Picchu train.

🚌Collectivos Cusco–Pisac–Ollantaytambo (~£6)

🛏Guesthouse in Ollantaytambo

• →Cusco cathedral and Qorikancha
• →Pisac market and ruins
• →Ollantaytambo town

Climb the Ollantaytambo fortress terraces in the morning (~£12 entry, guided version ~£15 extra). Afternoon visit to a women's weaving co-operative — Ccaccaccollo, the community the operator supports, is reachable by shared van from Ollantaytambo (~£10–15 with a local guide). Buy directly from the weavers. Buy your Machu Picchu entry ticket online today (they sell out — ~£45) and your train ticket.

🚌Shared van (~£14)

🛏Guesthouse in Ollantaytambo

• →Ollantaytambo ruins guided tour
• →Ccaccaccollo women's weaving co-op
• →Book Machu Picchu entry and train

The operator's included Machu Picchu guided tour, self-booked: take the Ollantaytambo–Aguas Calientes train (~£55 one way — book early for cheaper fares), bus up to the ruins (~£10 each way) and enter Machu Picchu with a licensed guide (~£20 shared). Overnight in Aguas Calientes so you can revisit at dawn tomorrow if you have a second-day ticket, or do Huayna Picchu if booked well in advance.

🚌Train + shuttle bus (~£65)

🛏Guesthouse in Aguas Calientes

• →Scenic train to Aguas Calientes
• →Machu Picchu guided tour
• →Optional Huayna Picchu climb

Morning in Aguas Calientes (hot springs, ~£3) then the train back to Ollantaytambo and a shared van to Cusco (~£55 train return budget covers today). Stop at Lamay for the Parwa community restaurant — the farm-to-table project the operator helps fund — if you time it right for lunch (~£8 for a set meal). Evening back in Cusco: San Pedro market for cheap eats and souvenirs.

🚌Train + shared van (~£12 local portion)

🛏Hostel dorm in Cusco

• →Aguas Calientes hot springs
• →Parwa Community Restaurant, Lamay
• →San Pedro market

Fly Cusco–Lima (~£45–60 booked early) and connect onward to Trujillo, or take a long coach Lima–Trujillo (~10 hrs, ~£15). Staying overnight in Lima is worth it if flight connections are tight. Trujillo is your base for the northern archaeology.

🚌Domestic flights or coach (~£50)

🛏Hostel dorm in Trujillo

• →Flight north
• →Trujillo Plaza de Armas at dusk

Self-book a Chan Chan trip — the world's largest adobe city, a Chimú capital (~£10 entry plus ~£6 shared taxi or a ~£20 half-day tour). Add Huanchaco beach for ceviche and the reed caballitos de totora boats (~£5). Don't miss the Moche huacas of the Sun and Moon if you have spare afternoon.

🚌Shared taxi / local bus (~£8)

🛏Hostel dorm in Trujillo

• →Chan Chan archaeological site
• →Huanchaco beach and reed boats
• →Ceviche lunch

The operator ends with a flight to Guayaquil — do it overland to save money or fly if time is short. The cheapest route: coach Trujillo–Piura (~5 hrs, ~£8), then Piura–Huaquillas border (~4 hrs, ~£6), cross on foot, and continue by bus or shared van to Guayaquil (~4 hrs, ~£8). That's a long ~14-hour day — or fly Lima/Trujillo to Guayaquil (~£120 booked ahead).

🚌Coaches + border crossing (~£22)

🛏Hostel dorm in Guayaquil

• →Peru–Ecuador border crossing
• →Huaquillas–Guayaquil leg

Easy day in Ecuador's biggest city: walk the Malecón 2000 riverfront, climb the 444 steps of Cerro Santa Ana through the bright Las Peñas neighbourhood, and eat encebollado (fish soup) or a cheap almuerzo (~£4). Evening at the iguanas in Parque Seminario.

🚌Walking / city bus (~£3)

🛏Hostel dorm in Guayaquil

• →Malecón 2000
• →Cerro Santa Ana and Las Peñas
• →Parque Seminario iguanas

Choose a self-bookable day out: a shared tour to the mangrove reserve of Reserva Ecológica Manglares Churute (~£30, boat ride and birdlife) or the artisan village of Puerto López–style coastal villages. Or take it slow in Guayaquil and prep for onward travel. Budget for a last dinner on the riverfront.

🚌Shared tour minibus (~£10)

🛏Hostel dorm in Guayaquil

• →Manglares Churute boat trip
• →Coastal village visit
• →Riverfront dinner

Final morning in Guayaquil — coffee at a local café, last-minute markets — then a taxi or city bus to José Joaquín de Olmedo airport (~£6) for your onward flight. Add your international flight or continue north to the Galápagos, Quito or the coast if you've got more time.

🚌Taxi to airport (~£6)

🛏—

• →Final markets and café
• →Airport transfer