slug: 3-weeks-south-america-itinerary

title: "3 Weeks in South America: The Ultimate Itinerary for First-Time Visitors"

description: "Three weeks in South America covering Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina. Real prices, routes, and transport options for an unforgettable first trip."

category: Guides

tags: ["south america", "itinerary", "peru", "argentina", "bolivia"]

author_slug: faroway-team

cluster: itinerary-guides

reading_time: 9 min

Three weeks. That's enough time to watch the sun rise over Machu Picchu, stand on the edge of the world's largest salt flat, and eat the best steak of your life on a cobblestone street in Buenos Aires. South America rewards travelers who commit — and this itinerary shows you exactly how to do it without burning out or blowing your budget.

This route covers Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina: three countries, one continent, and more variety than most travelers see in an entire year of wandering Europe.

Why This 3-Country Route Works

Most 3-week South America itineraries try to cram in too much. Six countries, overnight buses, and frantic hopping between capitals. This itinerary is different — it goes deep rather than wide, spending enough time in each country to actually feel the place.

The logic:

Peru (9 days): Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Lima
Bolivia (5 days): La Paz, Uyuni Salt Flats
Argentina (8 days): Buenos Aires, Mendoza or Patagonia side trip

You'll fly between major hubs (Lima→La Paz, La Paz→Buenos Aires), keeping ground transport to manageable distances.

Week 1: Peru — Lima to Machu Picchu

Day 1–2: Lima

Land at Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM). Don't write Lima off as a layover city — it's one of South America's great food capitals.

Where to stay: Miraflores district (safe, walkable, ocean cliffs). Budget: $25–$50/night hostel dorms, $60–$120 for mid-range hotels.

What to do:

Walk along the Malecón (clifftop promenade) at sunset
Eat ceviche at La Mar or El Mercado (~$18–25/person)
Visit Larco Museum to understand 3,000 years of Andean history ($15 entry)
Street food in Barranco neighborhood (empanadas, anticuchos — $1–3 each)

Transport from airport: Official taxi to Miraflores ~$15–20 USD. Use the airport taxi counters, not street taxis.

Day 3–4: Cusco

Fly Lima → Cusco (1.5 hours, ~$40–80 on LATAM or Sky Airline booked in advance). The altitude hits immediately — Cusco sits at 11,200 feet. Plan these two days lighter to acclimatize.

Acclimatization tips: Drink coca tea (free at most hotels), skip alcohol the first day, move slowly.

Highlights:

San Blas neighborhood: ceramic workshops, artisan studios, zero tourists
Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun): $15 entry, stunning Inca stonework
San Pedro Market: locals shopping, traditional food stalls ($2–4/meal)
Plaza de Armas in the evening for free architecture watching

Where to stay: San Blas or Centro Histórico. Budget $20–40 hostel, $60–100 hotel.

Day 5–6: Sacred Valley

Take a collectivo (shared taxi) from Cusco's terminal to Pisac or Ollantaytambo — $2–4 each way, ~1.5 hours. This valley sits 2,000 feet lower than Cusco, so it's easier on the lungs.

Must-see:

Pisac Ruins: Terraced hillside citadel, $30 Cusco Tourist Ticket covers entry
Pisac Market (Sunday is best): textiles, ceramics, fresh produce
Ollantaytambo: Massive ceremonial terraces, the last Inca town with original layout still intact

Overnight in Ollantaytambo — it's the launching point for the train to Machu Picchu. Budget hotel: $30–60/night.

Day 7–8: Machu Picchu

Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (PeruRail or Inca Rail): $55–120 round trip. Book at least 2 weeks ahead — they sell out.

From Aguas Calientes, take the bus up to the ruins (~$24 round trip) or hike the 1.5-hour trail on foot ($8 entrance surcharge).

Machu Picchu entrance: ~$30–55 depending on the circuit you book. Buy tickets on the official government website (machupicchu.gob.pe) — DO NOT buy from third parties.

Sunrise entry (first slot at 6am) is worth waking up for. The mist burns off by 8–9am for photo-perfect views.

Stay one night in Aguas Calientes to catch the ruins twice at different times of day.

Day 9: Back to Lima → Fly to Bolivia

Return train + flight Lima → La Paz. Book La Paz overnight arrival to allow acclimatization time (La Paz is at 11,900 feet).

Week 2: Bolivia — La Paz + Uyuni

Day 10–11: La Paz

La Paz is one of the world's most visually dramatic cities — a canyon of concrete spilling down bowl-shaped mountains, with snowy Illimani towering above.

Highlights:

Mi Teleférico: Cable car system across the city ($0.70 per ride, best views in town)
Witches' Market (Mercado de las Brujas): Llama fetuses, dried herbs, potions — surreal and completely real
Valley of the Moon: Lunar clay formations just outside the city, $2 entry
Cholita wrestling on Sunday evenings (~$15 tourist show, genuinely entertaining)

Where to eat: Mercado Lanza for almuerzo (set lunch) for $2–3. Gustu restaurant for upscale Bolivian cuisine ($40–60/person).

Where to stay: Sopocachi neighborhood — safer than downtown, more cafes. $15–30 hostels, $40–70 hotels.

Day 12–14: Uyuni Salt Flats

Overnight bus La Paz → Uyuni: $10–20, ~10–12 hours. Or fly ($80–120, 45 minutes) if budget allows — highly recommended to save energy.

The Uyuni Salt Flats (Salar de Uyuni) cover 4,086 square miles and sit at 11,995 feet. During rainy season (December–March) a thin film of water creates the world's largest mirror. Dry season (May–November) means endless white geometric hexagons.

3-day salt flat tour from Uyuni town: $80–140/person including transport, meals, and accommodation at salt hotels. Every agency in Uyuni offers this — check TripAdvisor for current best operators (Red Planet Expedition and Quechua Connection are consistently rated).

What you'll see:

Salar de Uyuni main flats + "perspective photos"
Flamingo-filled lagoons (Laguna Colorada, green, and white)
Train cemetery outside town
Geysers at 4,800m elevation (bring warm layers — it's freezing at dawn)

Week 3: Argentina — Buenos Aires + Day Trip

Day 15: Fly to Buenos Aires

La Paz → Buenos Aires: ~3 hours, $100–200 on LATAM. Land at Ezeiza International Airport (EZE).

Buenos Aires runs on a different clock. Dinner at 10pm is normal. Restaurants close at 1am. Plan accordingly.

Day 16–17: Buenos Aires Neighborhoods

Palermo Soho: boutique shopping, brunch cafes, street art

San Telmo: antique market on Sundays, tango in the streets (free), colonial architecture

La Boca: Caminito street for color and crowds, only go during daylight

Recoleta: Evita's tomb, grand European-style boulevards, free

Food hits:

Parrilla (steakhouse) for asado: Don Julio or El Preferido for mid-range (~$25–40/person with wine), or neighborhood parillas for $15–20
Alfajores everywhere — the Havanna brand at $1.50 each
Facturas (pastries) from any neighborhood bakery for $0.50

Where to stay: Palermo, Recoleta, or San Telmo. Budget $20–30 hostel dorms, $60–120 private hotels.

Day 18–20: Day Trip — Mendoza (Wine Country)

Fly Buenos Aires → Mendoza: 2 hours, $50–80. Or overnight bus (14 hours, $25–40 — actually quite comfortable with fully reclining seats).

Mendoza is Argentina's wine capital, nestled at the foot of the Andes.

Best activities:

Bike tour of bodegas: Rent a bike for $15, pedal between wineries all day. Rutini, Norton, and Achaval Ferrer offer free tastings
Cavas Wine Lodge for splurging ($250+/night but includes breakfast and wine)
Aconcagua viewpoint day trip: Drive up to 10,000 feet for views of South America's highest peak ($40–60 guided)

Mendoza is proof that Argentina has far more than Buenos Aires.

Day 21: Back to Buenos Aires → Fly Home

Return to Buenos Aires (EZE) for international departure. Allow 3+ hours for check-in at EZE — Argentine airports move slowly.

Budget Breakdown: 3 Weeks in South America

Country	Daily Budget (Budget)	Daily Budget (Mid-Range)	Big Costs
Peru	$40–60/day	$80–120/day	Machu Picchu train ($55–120), entrance ($30–55)
Bolivia	$25–45/day	$60–90/day	Uyuni tour ($80–140 total)
Argentina	$50–80/day	$100–160/day	Flights domestic ($50–80 each)

Total 3-week estimate:

Budget traveler: $1,800–2,400
Mid-range traveler: $3,000–4,500
Flights between countries: $300–600 additional

Essential Logistics

Visas

US, UK, Canadian, EU passport holders enter Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina visa-free. Bolivia requires a tourist fee ($160 USD cash for Americans, paid on arrival — this is real, don't be caught without cash).

Currency

Peru: Soles (S/). Exchange at official cambios, not airports
Bolivia: Bolivianos (Bs.). ATMs charge high fees — withdraw larger amounts
Argentina: ARS pesos. The official rate and blue-market rate differ enormously — exchange at Western Union branches or ask your hotel for guidance on current legal options

Health

Yellow fever vaccine recommended for jungle areas (not needed for this itinerary). Altitude sickness medication (Diamox) is worth having — ask your doctor before traveling. Drink bottled water in all three countries.

Planning This Trip

Routing 3 countries across 3 weeks involves a lot of moving parts: flight timing, altitude acclimatization days, tour bookings, and the Machu Picchu ticket system that requires advance planning. Getting the logistics wrong (like flying into Cusco with only 1 day before Machu Picchu) can ruin the trip.

Faroway builds personalized day-by-day itineraries that account for things like altitude adjustment time, booking windows, and transport connections. Drop in your dates and interests, and it maps out a logical sequence — including when to book train tickets and which days to keep light.

Start building your South America itinerary at faroway.ai.

3 Weeks in South America: The Ultimate Itinerary for First-Time Visitors