10 South America experiences worth every penny
From Manu National Park to salsa socials in Medellín: the ten things from my year and a half in South America that I’d happily pay for again.
After a year and a half travelling South America, these are the ten experiences I’d happily pay for again. Some were cheap, some weren’t, but every one was worth it.
1. Visiting Manu National Park, Peru
An absolutely surreal experience and an amazing opportunity to completely disconnect. I spent 4 days here and would definitely return!
2. Visiting the Atacama Desert, Chile
I spent 3 full days in Atacama and it was one of the highlights of my trip! The landscapes are absolutely incredible and so diverse. I highly recommend spending a long weekend here.
3. Taking salsa classes in Medellín, Colombia
This is definitely one of the best things I did in South America. I went from never dancing to going to socials every day, and I am still obsessed (and currently planning my return).
4. Visiting Iguazú Falls, Argentina and Brazil
As someone who has lowkey never understood the hype with waterfalls, even I have to admit that Iguazú is absolutely breathtaking.
5. The 7 Lagoons hike, Peru
This was definitely the best hike I did in my time in Peru. The views were absolutely stunning, and I think it’s underrated as a hiking option if you’re staying in Cusco (most people I know visited Rainbow Mountain or Humantay).
6. Road-tripping Ruta 40, Argentina
I highly recommend renting a car and exploring Salta and Jujuy! There are so many small towns and beautiful sights on the route.
7. Vineyard-hopping in Mendoza, Argentina
One of my favourite days! We hired bikes for the day and went from vineyard to vineyard trying different wines.
8. Climbing Machu Picchu, Peru
I decided to go last-minute and debated whether it was worth it, as it was going to be a lot more expensive than I realised. But after seeing the views, I had no regrets!
9. Visiting Iquitos, the city in the jungle, Peru
One of my favourite cities! So many interesting foods to try, markets, and the possibility to spend some time in the Amazon jungle.
10. Sunset from the Patagonia bar over Bariloche, Argentina
Such a surreal view, worth the hike to get there, and the perfect plan for a warm summer evening. The photos don’t do it justice.
Planning your own trip?
If you want to know what all of this costs over a longer trip, I’ve published everything I spent in 18 months in South America, month by month. And if you have questions about any of these experiences, message me, I’m always happy to share recommendations.
