Plunging waterfalls, dramatic mountain ranges, mirrored salt flats, and sweeping sand dunes encompass South America. The continent is filled with hidden gems that are best discovered by hopping in a car and hitting the roads.
Though driving south of the border may sound daunting (it’s definitely not for inexperienced drivers), there are several popular road trips for adventurous travelers that are worth the hectic road conditions and driving tours for some of them that won’t require you to get behind the wheel. Some of South America’s best road trips shouldn’t be made by car at all and are better experienced by cycling.
These are the road trips in South America you should take before it’s too late:
1. The Southern Coastal Route (Brazil)
Gaucho culture, live music, and excellent churrasco (Brazilian barbecue) are the name of the game in Porto Alegre, where you’ll start your drive.
While many tourists in Brazil flock to Rio de Janeiro, Garopaba, a stop along this route, is a lesser-known beach town that offers surfing and snorkeling. Come to a halt in Florianópolis, one of Brazil’s most prized islands with plenty of beaches, hiking trails, and beach bars.
2. Qhapaq Ñan (Peru)
Following ancient Incan roads, you’ll explore some of Peru’s most impressive ancient ruins and unique local culture on this drive between Cusco and Puno. Cusco, where the road trip begins, was the capital of the Inca Empire. Currently, it’s a base for exploring Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley.
Located between the cities is Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake for large vessels, filled with floating islands. Near the lake is Raqch’i, a little-visited Inca site featuring ruins and ancient aqueducts.
3. North Yungas Road (Bolivia)
As its nickname suggests, Bolivia’s North Yungas Road, known as “The Death Road,” is not for the faint of heart. This drive is one that you may want to hire a local for. Spanning from La Paz to Coroico, the road is known as one of the most dangerous drives in the world for its aggressive curves, which descend through cloud forests and jungle.
The Death Road is more popular as a mountain biking adventure than it is a drive. For true thrills, book a guided cycling tour to take on the road in a truly exhilarating way.
4. Pan-American Highway (Chile to Peru)
The Pan-American Highway is the world’s longest highway, highlighting the diverse natural scenes from bright blue coasts to rust-colored deserts. If you don’t have the time (or courage) to drive the whole thing, focus on the section between Santiago, Chile, and Lima, Peru.
Explore surreal salt flats, geysers, and the star-filled night skies in the Atacama Desert, considered one of the driest deserts in the world. Rehydrate in Arica, a laid-back beach town in Northern Chile before crossing into Peru to see the mysterious Nazcas Lines and spot sea lions, penguins, and marine birds in the Paracas National Reserve, a protected desert-meets-ocean area.
5. Patagonia Route (Argentina & Chile)
There are several frequently driven routes to explore Patagonia, but traveling from Bariloche, Argentina, to Puerto Natales, Chile, may be one of the best.
Start with hiking and lake views in Argentina’s famous Lake District in Bariloche. Along the way, hike to the iconic Fitz Roy peak for amazing mountain views in El Chaltén and see the ice walls in Los Glaciares National Park at the Perito Moreno Glacier. Torres del Paine National Park in Chile is easily one of the region’s most recognizable landscapes. You’ll need at least five days for a meaningful trek through this stunning natural spectacle.
6. Ruta de las Casadas (Ecuador)
Ruta de las Casadas (Route of the Waterfalls) will take you from Baños to Puyo, trellising through the Ecuadorian Andes to highlight the country’s most breathtaking waterfalls, canyons, and tropical vegetation.
Unlike other top road trips in South America, Ruta de las Cascadas is purely a cycling adventure. The route is short, approximately 25 kilometers, which makes the cycle easy to accomplish in a few hours. The trip begins in Baños, the “Gateway to the Amazon,” which has hot springs, waterfalls, and adrenaline sports like bungee jumping. Stop to see the Devil’s Cauldron (Pailón del Diablo), one of Ecuador’s most famous waterfalls with paths leading behind the water.
7. Wine Route (Argentina)
Argentina’s wine country is one of the most indulgent and romantic drives through South America. From Mendoza to Cafayate, sample wines and whirl through mountain landscapes.
In Mendoza, stop into world-renowned wineries for Malbec, a deep, dry red wine. Your drive will take you past Cerre Aconcagua, the tallest peak in the Western Hemisphere. While summiting this beast requires immense preparation, the hike to the first base camp can be accomplished in a day. End your journey in Cafayate, a picturesque town in the Calchaquí Valleys, famous for its Torrontés wine and red rock formations.
8. The Andes Loop (Colombia)
Colombia’s lush coffee-growing region and rugged Andes offer a road trip that balances nature and culture. Embark in cosmopolitan Medellín for a street art walk and a cable car ride through Comuna 13 before heading to colorful Jardín, where many fincas (farms) grow coffee. Spend a few nights sleeping on one of these farms and go on a horseback ride through the mountains while you’re there.
Wrap up your exploration in Salento and Cocora Valley before turning around to go back to Medellín. The towering wax palms of the valley are a national icon of Colombia.
9. Ruta 40 (Argentina)
Ruta 40 covers Patagonia to Northern Argentina. This extensive road is one of the longest in the world, passing by Patagonia’s iconic mountains, stretches of desert, and remote villages hidden away from Argentina’s cosmopolitan hubs like Buenos Aires.
As you drive, stop to get lost in Los Alerces National Park, whose environment encompasses forests, glacial lakes, and distinctly Patagonian flora and fauna. El Chaltén, a small mountain village, is one of the top spots along this route for hiking, with trails leading to some of Argentina’s most picturesque spots. As you drive north towards Bolivia, you’ll encounter La Quiaca, a historic border town surrounded by Andean mountain views and traditional cultures.
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Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.