Highlights of South America: Self-Launched (Santiago Loop)

Land at SCL and take the Centropuerto or Turbus airport bus into the city centre (~£3, 40 mins) or a shared taxi transfer (~£12). Check into a hostel in Bellavista or Lastarria — these are walkable, sociable and close to the metro. Spend the evening acclimatising with a wander up Cerro San Cristóbal (funicular ~£2) and an early dinner of completo and terremoto.

🚌Centropuerto/Turbus bus from SCL ~£3

🛏Hostel dorm or private in Bellavista (~£15-20/night)

• →Airport bus to city centre
• →Cerro San Cristóbal funicular
• →Bellavista neighbourhood wander

Morning self-guided walking loop of the historic centre: Plaza de Armas, Metropolitan Cathedral, La Moneda and the Museo de la Memoria. In the afternoon, book a small-group Maipo or Casablanca Valley winery tour through GetYourGuide or Viator (from ~£35-45 including tastings and transport) — these cover the same boutique organic vineyards the original visits, just with a small mixed group instead of a private one. Alternatively take the metro + local bus to a vineyard like Viña Cousiño Macul (~£15 tour) and do your own tasting.

🚌Metro ~£1/ride; winery tour transport included

🛏Hostel in Bellavista (~£15-20/night)

• →Historic centre walking tour (free, self-guided or free walking tour ~£0-5 tip)
• →Maipo/Casablanca Valley small-group wine tour via GetYourGuide ~£40
• →Museo de la Memoria ~£2

Fly Santiago to Punta Arenas on Sky Airline or JetSMART (booked 1-3 months ahead, ~£70-110 one-way). From Punta Arenas take the Bus-Sur or Buses Fernández coach to Puerto Natales (~3 hrs, ~£10). Puerto Natales is a low-key gateway town with colourful houses on the Ultima Esperanza Sound — pick up groceries, sort your Torres del Paine park ticket online, and book tomorrow's tour at the bus station or via GetYourGuide.

🚌Flight ~£90 + bus ~£10

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Puerto Natales (~£14-18/night)

• →Domestic flight Santiago–Punta Arenas
• →Bus Punta Arenas–Puerto Natales
• →Evening orientation walk

Join a full-day small-group guided tour of Torres del Paine via GetYourGuide or a local operator in Puerto Natales (~£40-55 including park entry). You'll stop at Grey Lake and Grey Glacier viewpoint, the Pehoé Lake lookout, Cuernos del Paine viewpoint, Salto Grande waterfall and Sarmiento Lake, with guanacos all over the steppe. Bring a packed lunch (cheaper than the tour lunch option). Back in Puerto Natales by evening for dinner.

🚌Tour minibus included

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Puerto Natales (~£14-18/night)

• →Torres del Paine full-day guided tour ~£45
• →Grey Lake & Grey Glacier viewpoint
• →Cuernos lookout, Salto Grande waterfall

Take the early Cootra or Bus Sur bus from Puerto Natales to El Calafate across the Patagonian steppe (~5-6 hrs including border formalities, ~£25-30). Change money to Argentine pesos at a cueva or use a Wise/Revolut card for the blue rate. Afternoon in El Calafate: walk the main street, and visit the Glaciarium Museum (~£10) with its ice bar for the background on the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.

🚌Long-distance bus ~£28

🛏Hostel in El Calafate (~£12-16/night)

• →Bus Puerto Natales–El Calafate
• →Glaciarium Museum ~£10
• →Main street walk

Book the classic Perito Moreno day tour locally or via GetYourGuide (~£40-50 including park entry and return transport). Walk the boardwalk network on the front face for calving ice, then add the optional 1-hour boat trip along the north face (~£28-35, book on the day at the port or in advance). Return to El Calafate for a parrilla dinner — an Argentine steak and a glass of Malbec costs ~£12-15.

🚌Tour bus included

🛏Hostel in El Calafate (~£12-16/night)

• →Perito Moreno guided day tour ~£45
• →Optional boat cruise to north face ~£30
• →Boardwalk viewpoints

Fly El Calafate to Buenos Aires (Aerolíneas Argentinas or JetSMART, ~£80-120 booked ahead). Note the 15kg luggage limit on Aerolíneas domestic fares. Check into a hostel in San Telmo or Palermo — both are sociable and close to nightlife and cafés. Afternoon stroll down Avenida de Mayo to the Obelisk, and an evening in Palermo Soho's bars.

🚌Flight ~£95; airport bus ~£3

🛏Hostel in San Telmo/Palermo (~£15-20/night)

• →Domestic flight to Buenos Aires
• →Avenida de Mayo walk
• →Palermo Soho evening

Free day. San Telmo's cobbled streets and Sunday antique market (if you're there on a Sunday), the bright facades of La Boca and Caminito, or a café-and-book afternoon in Palermo. In the evening, book a tango dinner show — the original sells this as an optional extra from ~$90 USD, but you can find mid-range shows like El Viejo Almacén or La Ventana for ~£45-60, or a cheaper milonga class + entry for ~£12.

🚌Subte ~£0.50/ride

🛏Hostel in San Telmo/Palermo (~£15-20/night)

• →San Telmo & La Boca self-guided wander
• →Optional tango dinner show ~£50
• →Milonga class ~£12 alternative

Take a free walking tour of the centre (Plaza de Mayo, Casa Rosada, Catedral Metropolitana, Teatro Colón exterior) — tip ~£5. Then do the original's community angle independently: cross the Avellaneda Bridge on foot or by local bus into Isla Maciel to see the murals (it's a working neighbourhood — go in daylight, don't flash valuables), or join a small-group street-art tour of Barracas/Isla Maciel via GetYourGuide (~£25). Lunch at a bodegón.

🚌Bus ~£0.50; short taxi ~£3

🛏Hostel in San Telmo/Palermo (~£15-20/night)

• →Free walking tour ~£5 tip
• →Isla Maciel murals (self-guided) or street-art tour ~£25
• →Bodegón lunch

Morning flight Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazú (~£70-100) or the overnight bus (~16 hrs, ~£35-45) if you want to save money. Cross into Brazil (bus from Puerto Iguazú over the Tancredo Neves Bridge, ~£1). Visit the Brazilian side of Iguassu Falls in the afternoon — panoramic trails, the walkway out over the river, and the classic rainbow shots. Entry ~£18. Evening at a churrascaria (~£12-15).

🚌Flight ~£85 or bus ~£40; border bus ~£1

🛏Hostel in Foz do Iguaçu (~£12-16/night)

• →Flight or overnight bus to Iguazú
• →Brazilian side of Iguassu Falls ~£18 entry
• →Churrascaria dinner

Cross back into Argentina and spend the full day in Parque Nacional Iguazú (~£22 entry). Take the Ecológico train to the Garganta del Diablo walkway (Devil's Throat), then the Upper and Lower Circuits. Add the Gran Aventura boat ride into the falls (~£40, book on arrival) if you want the soaking. Buses run from Puerto Iguazú town to the park entrance every 20 mins (~£2). Return to Foz do Iguaçu for the night.

🚌Local park bus ~£4 return; border crossing ~£1

🛏Hostel in Foz do Iguaçu (~£12-16/night)

• →Argentine side of Iguassu Falls ~£22 entry
• →Garganta del Diablo & Lower Circuit
• →Optional Gran Aventura boat ~£40

Short flight Foz do Iguaçu to Rio (~£60-90, GOL/Azul/LATAM). Check into a hostel in Botafogo, Santa Teresa or Ipanema (~£15-22/night). Afternoon: take the cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) — buy the combo ticket to Morro da Urca and the summit (~£15-18), ideally timed for late afternoon light. Then walk or bus past Botafogo, Copacabana and Ipanema beaches at golden hour.

🚌Flight ~£75; metro/bus ~£2

🛏Hostel in Botafogo/Santa Teresa (~£15-22/night)

• →Flight to Rio
• →Sugarloaf cable car ~£16
• →Copacabana & Ipanema beach walk

Self-launch the original's guided Rio day: start with a small-group 'Little Africa' walking tour of Saúde and Gamboa (GetYourGuide/Airbnb Experiences, ~£20-25) to learn the Afro-Brazilian roots of samba. Then head up Christ the Redeemer via the Corcovado train or van (~£18-22) — book a timed slot online in advance. Evening: Lapa's Selarón Steps and live samba in a bar (~£5-10 cover).

🚌Metro/VLT ~£2

🛏Hostel in Botafogo/Santa Teresa (~£15-22/night)

• →Little Africa walking tour ~£22
• →Christ the Redeemer (Corcovado train) ~£20
• →Lapa steps & samba

Wander Santa Teresa's hilltop cobblestones, ride the historic bondinho tram (~£1), and visit the ruins of the Parque das Ruínas mansion (free). Then stroll the Jardim Botânico (~£6) with its avenue of royal palms and orchid house. Late afternoon bus or shared van to the airport for the evening flight Rio–Lima (~£180-260; LATAM, Avianca or Sky). Arrive Lima and sleep near the airport or in Miraflores.

🚌Tram ~£1; flight ~£220

🛏Airport-area hotel or Miraflores hostel (~£15-20/night)

• →Santa Teresa & Parque das Ruínas
• →Jardim Botânico ~£6
• →Evening flight Rio–Lima

Morning flight Lima–Cusco (~£50-80) if you haven't already booked a through ticket. Cusco sits at 3,400m — take it slow on day one: coca tea, a gentle walk around Plaza de Armas, and no booze. Check into a hostel in San Blas (~£12-16/night). Buy a Boleto Turístico if you plan to see several sites (~£28 for 10 days). Do any Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu ticket bookings now if you haven't already — Machu Picchu slots sell out weeks ahead.

🚌Flight ~£65; airport taxi ~£3

🛏Hostel in San Blas (~£12-16/night)

• →Flight to Cusco
• →Plaza de Armas & San Blas acclimatisation walk
• →Coca tea

Join a small-group Sacred Valley full-day tour (~£25-35 via GetYourGuide, or a colectivo DIY version for ~£10 of transport plus entries). Cover the Pisac ruins and market, Moray's Inca terraces, the Maras salt pans (~£2 entry) and Ollantaytambo fortress. Where the original visits the Parque de la Papa and Parwa community restaurant, you can eat at Lamay's community-style restaurants or Mercado de Urubamba — buy directly from weavers and potato farmers in Pisac market instead. Overnight in Ollantaytambo or Aguas Calientes.

🚌Tour van or colectivos ~£10

🛏Guesthouse in Ollantaytambo or Aguas Calientes (~£14-18/night)

• →Sacred Valley full-day tour ~£30
• →Pisac ruins & market
• →Moray & Maras salt pans ~£2
• →Ollantaytambo fortress

Take the PeruRail or Inca Rail Vistadome/Expedition service from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (~£45-60 one-way, book 3-4 weeks ahead). The gorge scenery is spectacular. Afternoon: hot springs (~£4), Mandor Gardens waterfall walk (~£8) or the butterfly house. Buy your Machu Picchu bus ticket (~£10 return) and confirm your circuit ticket for tomorrow, and go to bed early.

🚌Train ~£52; site bus ~£10

🛏Guesthouse in Aguas Calientes (~£16-22/night)

• →Scenic train to Aguas Calientes
• →Hot springs ~£4
• →Mandor Gardens ~£8

Early bus up to the citadel for the first entry slot. You must follow a designated circuit (Circuit 1 or 2 for classic views of the ruins; Circuit 3 if you're hiking in via the Sun Gate). Entry ~£40 plus optional licensed guide at the gate (~£15 shared). Spend 3-4 hours on site, then descend for the afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo and a bus to Cusco (~£50 train + £5 bus).

🚌Train ~£50; bus ~£5

🛏Hostel in Cusco (~£12-16/night)

• →Machu Picchu entry ~£40
• →Licensed local guide ~£15
• →Return train to Ollantaytambo

Explore Cusco at your own pace: Qorikancha (~£5), San Pedro market for a cheap lunch (~£2), and the San Blas artisan quarter. In the evening, book the Cusco Planetarium tour directly (~£12-15, includes pickup from the centre) to look at the southern sky and hear about Inca astronomy — the same experience the original includes. Optional: a Peruvian cooking class (~£25-35).

🚌Walking; taxi ~£2

🛏Hostel in Cusco (~£12-16/night)

• →Qorikancha ~£5
• →San Pedro market
• →Cusco Planetarium ~£14
• →Optional cooking class ~£30

Either fly Cusco–La Paz via Lima (~£140-190) or take the overland route: bus Cusco–Puno (~£10, 7 hrs), then a Bolivia Hop or local bus Puno–Copacabana–La Paz (~£15-20, 6-8 hrs with border stop). The overland route is slower but far cheaper and gives you Lake Titicaca views. In La Paz, stay in a hostel in Sopocachi or the historic centre (~£10-15/night). Altitude here is 3,600m — hydrate.

🚌Buses ~£30 or flight ~£160

🛏Hostel in La Paz (~£10-15/night)

• →Overland bus route via Puno and Copacabana
• →Evening in Sopocachi

Do La Paz the local way: ride the Mi Teleférico cable car network (~£0.40 per ride) to El Alto for the Sunday or Thursday market and the city panorama. Book a Valley of the Moon excursion (~£10-15 including transport) for the afternoon, then join a small-group La Paz food or market tour (~£25) in the evening — or simply eat your way through the Mercado Rodríguez and try salteñas and api. The original's chef-led quinoa cooking experience can be replicated with a Bolivian cooking class booked direct (~£25-30).

🚌Cable car & minibus ~£3

🛏Hostel in La Paz (~£10-15/night)

• →Mi Teleférico cable car rides ~£2
• →Valley of the Moon ~£12
• →Optional Bolivian cooking class ~£28

Daytime in La Paz for the Witches' Market and the Museo de la Coca. In the evening, take the overnight bus La Paz–Uyuni (~10-12 hrs, ~£25-35 on a semi-cama service, or the cheaper local bus ~£15). Book your 3-day salt flats and desert tour in Uyuni for the following morning — expect ~£90-120 per person including 4x4, driver, food and basic lodgings.

🚌Overnight bus ~£30

🛏Overnight bus

• →Witches' Market & Museo de la Coca ~£2
• →Overnight bus to Uyuni

Start your shared 4x4 tour with the Train Cemetery, the salt-processing village of Colchani (where salt is still harvested by hand), and the endless white expanse of the Salar de Uyuni. Share a picnic lunch out on the flats — bring your own bread, cheese and fruit from the market to keep costs down. Sunset on the salt is the highlight. Night in a basic salt hotel or hostel in San Juan or near the flats.

🚌Shared 4x4 (tour)

🛏Basic salt hotel / hostel (included in tour)

• →Uyuni Salt Flats 4x4 tour (day 1)
• →Train Cemetery & Colchani
• →Salt-flat picnic & sunset

Day two of the 4x4 tour: the high altiplano desert with the Siloli Desert, the Arbol de Piedra, and the coloured lagoons — Laguna Colorada (red, full of flamingos), Laguna Honda, and the geyser field at Sol de Mañana. Nights are freezing; bring layers. Sleep in a very basic refuge near Laguna Colorada (included).

🚌Shared 4x4 (tour)

🛏Basic refuge near Laguna Colorada (included in tour)

• →Laguna Colorada & flamingos
• →Sol de Mañana geysers
• →Siloli Desert & Arbol de Piedra

Final morning: the green-and-white Laguna Verde beneath Volcán Licancabur, then transfer to the Bolivian–Chilean border at Hito Cajón. From there a shared van drops you in San Pedro de Atacama (~£15-20, book with your tour operator). San Pedro is pricey for Chile but hostels are good value (~£15-20). Do a sunset trip to the Valley of the Moon (~£10-15 including entry), or rent a bike and ride out yourself (~£6).

🚌Shared van to San Pedro ~£18

🛏Hostel in San Pedro de Atacama (~£15-20/night)

• →Laguna Verde
• →Border crossing at Hito Cajón
• →Valley of the Moon sunset ~£12

Choose your own Atacama day: El Tatio geysers at sunrise (~£30 tour), the Laguna Cejar salt lake float (~£22), or an archaeology tour to Tulor and Pukará de Quitor (~£20). Cheapest option is a bike hire day around the valley floor (~£6). Book your onward bus to Calama and flights tonight.

🚌Local tours; bike ~£6

🛏Hostel in San Pedro de Atacama (~£15-20/night)

• →El Tatio geysers ~£30 or Laguna Cejar ~£22
• →Bike hire ~£6 alternative
• →Stargazing tour ~£20 optional

Morning bus San Pedro–Calama (~1.5 hrs, ~£3) and fly Calama–Santiago (~£50-90 on Sky or JetSMART booked ahead). Back in Santiago, check into your last hostel and spend the afternoon on a Cerro Santa Lucía walk and Lastarria's cafés and bookshops — the perfect bookend to the loop.

🚌Bus ~£3; flight ~£70; metro ~£1

🛏Hostel in Bellavista/Lastarria (~£15-20/night)

• →Bus to Calama
• →Flight to Santiago
• →Cerro Santa Lucía & Lastarria

Take the Turbus or Pullman bus from Santiago to Valparaíso (~1h40, ~£5 each way) and spend the day in the colourful hillside streets of Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción, riding the old ascensores (~£0.50), browsing street art and eating seafood at the Mercado El Cardonal. Bus back to Santiago in the evening. Alternatively, spend the day doing a cooking class or a day trip to the Andes foothills.

🚌Coach ~£10 return

🛏Hostel in Bellavista/Lastarria (~£15-20/night)

• →Bus to Valparaíso ~£10 return
• →Ascensores & street art
• →Seafood lunch at the market

Last morning for a souvenir run at the Mercado Central or a slow breakfast in Lastarria. Take the airport bus (~£3) or a shared transfer to SCL for your international flight home. Loop complete: five countries, two glaciers, the world's largest salt flat, and Machu Picchu — on a backpacker's budget.

🚌Airport bus ~£3

🛏—

• →Last-minute shopping
• →Airport bus to SCL