While there are a million different ways you could plan your route through South America, the following list will give you some indication about what you can hope to visit depending on how long you have. Ranging from a backpacking trip that lasts 2 weeks all the way up to 6 months, the following guide is your one-stop shop for all things South American backpacking routes.

At the midpoint mark in my South American gap year, 2014.

2 weeks

Best of Colombia

Start your trip off in the capital Bogota, taking in the sights and sounds of this vibrant megalopolis. Then, take the bus north to Medellin and witness a city fully recovered from the turmoil of the narco wars in the 1980’s. Afterwards, head further north to Cartagena and lose yourself in a gorgeous colonial dreamscape. Finally, end your trip in Parque Tayrona, snorkelling amidst dolphins, coral reefs and dining on endless, deserted beaches.

Wine Country

Start your trip off in Mendoza, taking your time to visit the best wineries in the region: Trapiche, Salentin and Ruca Malen. Next, take the bus westwards into Chile, stopping off in the capital, Santiago, before heading north to the Casablanca wine region, after 2 hours away. Afterwards, head further north to the Elqui Valley to complete your trip sipping on some of the finest white wine Chile has to offer.

Inca Highlights

Start your trip off in Cusco: before completing your hike to Macchu Picchu, visit the ruins of Saqsayhuaman. Afterwards visiting Macchu Picchu and Ollayantaytambo, head to nearby Sacred Valley to visit the ruins of Pisac, and also checking out the still in use Incan salt mines at Maras. Afterwards, head back to Cusco for a well-earned beer before flying out.

1 MONTH

Southern Patagonia

Start your trip in Buenos Aires before flying to the Southern-most town in the world, Ushuaia. then head north to El Calafate, before moving into Chile to visit Puerto Natales before embarking on a week long hike through Torres Del Paine. Your route will then take you north to visit Perito Moreno Glacier, and then further north to Bariloche. here you can do some excellent day hiking, before heading west into Puerto Montt, Chile, and then visiting Isla Chiloe.

Inca Exploration

Start your trip in La Paz, before heading north to Lake Titicaca. After taking a ferry to Isla del Sol, take the ferry over to Puno, Peru, and visit the floating islands of Uros. Next, head north west to the famed city of Arequipa, taking in historical sights and Colca Canyon, before next heading north to Cusco on the night bus, and completing a hike to Macchu Picchu. Next, head north to Lima, exploring the nearby ruins, before flying home.

2 months

Ecuador and Colombia

Start your trip off in Quitos - before visiting the Galapagos islands. Next, head south through Ecuador, visiting Guayaquil, visiting active volcanoes such as Coltopaxi. Next, head north once more, taking the night bus through to Cali, Colombia. Spend your time here learning to Salsa, before heading to the Coffee triangle in southern Colombia. Visit Salento, before moving north to Bogota. After recuperating in the capital, take the bus north to Medellin, giving yourself plenty of time to visit the most vibrant city in the country. next, head all the way north to Cartagena, exploring the colonial city, before next moving east into Parque Tayrona.

Chile, Argentina and Bolivia

Commence your trip in Santiago. After visiting the nearby town of Valparaiso, take the bus to the west to the gorgeous town of Mendoza. After more than one winery tour, take the bus north to Salta. Explore the desert town, making sure to try some more wine and doing a few hikes. Take the bus north to Uyuni, Bolivia. From here, do a tour of the Bolivian Salt Flats and San Pedro De Atacama - a weeklong venture that will take you back into Chile. Afterwards, head north to Potosi and do a tour of the famous ‘Cerro Ricco’ mine. Moving north from there, visit gorgeous Sucre, before heading to La Paz. After exploring the city, catch a short flight to the nearby town of Rurrenbaque, to explore the Amazon River basin, before flying back to La Paz to complete your trip.

4 months

Chile to Peru

Let’s start your trip in Santiago. After visiting the nearby town of Valparaiso, take the bus to the west to the gorgeous town of Mendoza. After more than one winery tour, take the bus north to Salta. Explore the desert town, making sure to try some more wine and doing a few hikes. Take the bus north to Uyuni, Bolivia. From here, do a tour of the Bolivian Salt Flats and San Pedro De Atacama - a weeklong venture that will take you back into Chile. Afterwards, head north to Potosi and do a tour of the famous ‘Cerro Ricco’ mine. Moving north from there, visit gorgeous Sucre, before heading to La Paz. After exploring the city, catch a short flight to the nearby town of Rurrenbaque, to explore the Amazon River basin, before flying back to La Paz. Next, head north to Lake Titicaca. After taking a ferry to Isla del Sol, take the ferry over to Puno, Peru, and visit the floating islands of Uros. Next, head north west to the famed city of Arequipa, taking in historical sights and Colca Canyon, before next heading north to Cusco on the night bus, and completing a hike to Macchu Picchu. Next, head north to Lima, exploring the nearby ruins, before flying home.

5-6 months

The Big One

This is the route that I can personally attest to. Fly into Buenos Aires, before flying to Ushuaia - next, move north through Patagonia to complete a hike at Torres Del Paine. Next, move further north to the Perito Moreno Glacier before heading to Bariloche. After that, head west into Chile towards Isla Chiloe and Puerto Montt. move north through Chile, visiting Concepcion before hitting Santiago. after visiting Santiago and Valparaiso, head further north to La Serena, before flying to San Pedro de Atacama via Antofagasta. After exploring the Atacama desert Take the bus north to Uyuni, Bolivia. From here, do a tour of the Bolivian Salt Flats. Afterwards, head north to Potosi and do a tour of the famous ‘Cerro Ricco’ mine. Moving north from there, visit gorgeous Sucre, before heading to La Paz. After exploring the city, catch a short flight to the nearby town of Rurrenbaque, to explore the Amazon River basin, before flying back to La Paz. Next, head north to Lake Titicaca. After taking a ferry to Isla del Sol, take the ferry over to Puno, Peru, and visit the floating islands of Uros. Next, head north west to the famed city of Arequipa, taking in historical sights and Colca Canyon, before next heading north to Cusco on the night bus, and completing a hike to Macchu Picchu. Next, head north to Lima before making your way slowly north through Peru, stopping off at Mancora for a surf and a party. Next, head north to the Ecuadorian town of Guayaquil, exploring the local volcanoes, before exploring the closeby adventure capital of Banos. Afterwards, head north to Quitos, visiting Galapagos islands whilst you are there. Next, head north once more, taking the night bus through to Cali, Colombia. Spend your time here learning to Salsa, before heading to the Coffee triangle in southern Colombia. Visit Salento, before moving north to Bogota. After recuperating in the capital, take the bus north to Medellin, giving yourself plenty of time to visit the most vibrant city in the country. Next, head all the way north to Cartagena, exploring the colonial city, before next moving east into Parque Tayrona and completing your trip with a hike to the famed Lost City there.