A Continent Like No Other
Explore South America
From the Inca heartland of Peru to the wild extremity of Patagonia — South America spans more diverse landscapes, ecosystems and cultures than any other continent on earth.
Peru
Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Cusco, Lima's ceviche and Lake Titicaca — the Inca heartland.
From $5,890 ppBrazil
Rio at Carnival, the Amazon by boat, Iguazu from the Argentinian boardwalk and Salvador's Afro-Brazilian culture.
From $6,295 ppPatagonia
Torres del Paine, Perito Moreno Glacier, condors on the thermals and the end of the known world.
From $8,750 ppArgentina
Buenos Aires tango, Mendoza Malbec, Iguazu Falls and the vast windswept Pampas.
From $7,390 ppChile
Santiago, the Atacama Desert, Torres del Paine, Chilean vineyards and the dramatic Andes skyline.
Combined with ArgentinaBolivia
Uyuni Salt Flats — the world's greatest mirror at dawn — plus La Paz's chaotic markets and Lake Titicaca.
From $6,490 ppHandpicked South American Journeys
Featured Tours
Classic Peru & Machu Picchu
Lima's ceviche culture, Cusco's Inca stonework, the Sacred Valley's terraced fields, Machu Picchu by Hiram Bingham train or the 4-day Inca Trail, and Lake Titicaca on a reed-island boat. Peru's complete masterpiece.
Patagonia Explorer
Trek among the granite towers of Torres del Paine on the famous W circuit, boat across to Perito Moreno Glacier as house-sized blocks of ice detach into the lake below, and watch condors circle the thermals above the Andean steppe.
Brazil Highlights
Rio's beaches, Christ the Redeemer and a samba lesson at a Lapa dance school. Then the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls — 275 separate cascades visible from the Devil's Throat walkway — and two nights in an Amazon eco-lodge spotting caimans after dark.
Galapagos & Ecuador Adventure
Quito's UNESCO colonial centre and a cloud forest canopy walk, then a small-ship cruise among the Galapagos Islands — giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas and sea lions who have never learned to fear humans.
Bolivia & Peru Discovery
The Uyuni Salt Flats at sunrise — 10,000km² of absolute white sky-mirror — La Paz's Witches' Market, a reed-island homestay on Lake Titicaca and on to Cusco, Sacred Valley and the Inca city of Machu Picchu.
Argentina & Chile Wine Route
Buenos Aires tango lesson in San Telmo, a steak dinner at a classic parrilla, the Mendoza Malbec wine region's bodegas in the foothills of the Andes, then Chile's Casablanca Valley whites and Santiago's buzzing Bellavista barrio.
Amazon & Andes Explorer
Navigate the Amazon by river boat — pink river dolphins, electric eels, caimans by torch after dark, piranha fishing at dawn — then cross the Andes to the highland markets of Otavalo and the colonial streets of Quito.
Colombia Cultural Journey
Bogotá's extraordinary street art in La Candelaria, the walled city of Cartagena under a Caribbean sunset, a coffee finca stay in the Zona Cafetera and Medellín's remarkable urban transformation — one of South America's most compelling travel stories.
Grand South America
The definitive South American journey — Lima, Machu Picchu, Uyuni, La Paz, Iguazu, Rio, Buenos Aires, Mendoza and Torres del Paine. Six countries, nine wonders and 28 days that change how you understand what a continent can be.
Day by Day
South American Itineraries
Three of our most iconic South American journeys in full — written so you can taste the pisco sour, feel the altitude and hear the glacier calve before you decide.
Cusco sits at 3,399m, Lake Titicaca at 3,812m and the Uyuni Salt Flats at 3,653m. All our Peru and Bolivia itineraries include a dedicated acclimatisation day on arrival. Our guides carry supplemental oxygen and monitor every group member for symptoms. If you have cardiac or respiratory concerns, consult your GP before booking.
Compare & Choose
All South America Packages
| Tour Package | Duration | Highlights | From (AUD) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏔 Classic Peru & Machu Picchu | 12 Days | Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca | $5,890 pp | View › |
| 🧊 Patagonia Explorer | 14 Days | Buenos Aires, Torres del Paine, Perito Moreno, Fitz Roy | $8,750 pp | View › |
| 🌊 Brazil Highlights | 10 Days | Rio, Iguazu Falls, Amazon rainforest eco-lodge | $6,295 pp | View › |
| 🦎 Galapagos & Ecuador | 11 Days | Quito, Galapagos island cruise, cloud forest, wildlife | $7,950 pp | View › |
| 🌵 Bolivia & Peru Discovery | 16 Days | Uyuni Salt Flats, La Paz, Lake Titicaca, Machu Picchu | $6,490 pp | View › |
| 💃 Argentina & Chile Wine Route | 13 Days | Buenos Aires tango, Mendoza Malbec, Chilean vineyards, Andes | $7,390 pp | View › |
| 🌿 Amazon & Andes Explorer | 15 Days | Amazon river boat, pink dolphins, Otavalo, Quito | $6,890 pp | View › |
| 🇨🇴 Colombia Cultural Journey | 12 Days | Bogotá, Cartagena, coffee finca, Medellín urban transformation | $5,295 pp | View › |
| 🌎 Grand South America | 28 Days | Peru, Bolivia, Iguazu, Rio, Buenos Aires, Patagonia — 6 countries | $12,950 pp | View › |
💡 All prices per person AUD, excluding international flights from Australia. Qantas, LATAM and Aerolíneas Argentinas all fly from Australian capitals to South America — typically routing through Santiago, Lima or Buenos Aires. Most South American countries allow Australian passport holders 90 days visa-free. Contact us for current entry requirements for your chosen itinerary.
Natural & Cultural Wonders
South America's Greatest Sights
The experiences that stay with you for decades — the ones you reach for when someone asks why you travel.
Machu Picchu
The Inca city perched at 2,430m above the Urubamba River — one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Arrive at first light before the clouds lift to see it as it was intended: in isolation, impossible, perfect.
Iguazu Falls
275 individual waterfalls along 2.7km of the Iguazu River — wider than Niagara, taller than Victoria. Eleanor Roosevelt saw it and said: "Poor Niagara." Both sides are extraordinary. Together they are overwhelming.
The Amazon
The world's largest rainforest — 5.5 million km², 10% of all species on earth. From a river boat at night with the jungle orchestra at full volume, you understand immediately why conservation of this place is not optional.
Uyuni Salt Flats
10,582km² of absolute white. At dawn before the wind picks up, it becomes the world's largest mirror — clouds, mountains and sky reflected perfectly, indistinguishably, in a thin film of water over pure salt. The Uyuni at sunrise photograph you will fail to do justice to.
Before You Go
Essential South America Information
Key practical details for Australians travelling to South America — the continent that rewards preparation.
Flights from Australia
No direct flights exist from Australia to South America — all routes connect via the USA, Europe or New Zealand. The most common routing is Sydney → Los Angeles → Lima or Buenos Aires with LATAM, LAN or American Airlines, or Sydney → Auckland → Buenos Aires with Aerolineas Argentinas. Flight time is typically 24–36 hours with connections. Santiago, Lima and Buenos Aires are the main South American hubs for onward domestic flights. Budget 2–3 days each way when planning your holiday length.
Visas & Entry
No visa required for Australian passport holders in Peru, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Brazil for stays up to 90 days for tourism. Requirements are subject to change — always verify at Smartraveller.gov.au before departure. Brazil previously required a visa from Australians — confirm current status before booking. Some countries charge a reciprocity fee at land borders. We provide full visa guidance per itinerary at time of booking.
Altitude & Health
Altitude sickness is a genuine risk at Cusco (3,399m), Lake Titicaca (3,812m) and the Bolivian Altiplano (3,500–4,000m). Symptoms include headache, nausea, insomnia and fatigue. We build mandatory acclimatisation time into every Andean itinerary. Diamox (acetazolamide) is effective for prevention — consult your GP 6–8 weeks before departure. Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for Amazon regions. Comprehensive travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is mandatory for all Cooee South America tours.
Currency & Money
Multiple currencies across the continent. Peru uses the Sol (PEN), Argentina the Peso (ARS), Chile the Peso (CLP), Brazil the Real (BRL), Bolivia the Boliviano (BOB), Ecuador the US Dollar (USD). Argentina has a complex exchange rate situation — your guide will brief you at arrival. Budget AUD $100–200 per day for personal expenses above your tour costs. ATMs are available in all cities but carry some US Dollars as a universal backup. Notify your Australian bank before departure.
American Travel
Why Cooee Tours?
Australia's Trusted South America Specialist
South America is extraordinary but logistically complex. Permits, altitude, border crossings, multiple currencies and long-haul routing all require an operator who knows the continent deeply.
What Travellers Say
South America Tour Reviews
From Australians who have crossed the continent with Cooee Tours.
"We arrived at Machu Picchu at 5:45 AM, before any other group. For twenty minutes we stood on the main terrace in complete silence with the clouds below us and the sun just catching the top of Huayna Picchu. I have seen thousands of photographs of this place. Not one of them told me what it would actually feel like. That's the part Cooee gave us."
"Standing at the Devil's Throat at Iguazu when the wind shifts and the spray hits you — I completely understood why Eleanor Roosevelt said what she said about Niagara. Then three days in the Amazon where every night the jungle was so loud I genuinely couldn't sleep. This is why I travel. This is what I mean by travel. Two weeks in Brazil with Cooee was the best decision of my travelling life."
"The Uyuni at sunrise after a very cold night in a basic salt hotel — we drove out before dawn on a perfectly still morning. The entire surface was covered in 2cm of water. The sky, the mountains, the horizon — everything was reflected perfectly. I have the photograph as my computer wallpaper. I look at it every day and I still don't fully believe I was there."
Common Questions
South America Tours FAQ
The questions Australians ask before booking their South American adventure with Cooee.