South America
The Gringo Trail
Andes, salt flats and steak — the South America classic
60 days
Duration
$28
Daily budget
Rugged
Difficulty
Apr – Oct
Best months
Two months of altitude, ruins and 20-hour bus rides that somehow become your favourite memories. Start high in Cusco and finish with wine in Buenos Aires.
The route, stop by stop
🇵🇪 Cusco · Peru
Acclimatise, then hike Salkantay to Machu Picchu.
6 nights$26/day
🚣 Lake Titicaca · Peru/Bolivia
Floating islands and a border crossing by boat.
3 nights$22/day
🇧🇴 La Paz · Bolivia
Cable cars over a canyon city, Death Road if you dare.
4 nights$20/day
🧂 Uyuni · Bolivia
The salt flats — the photo you came for.
3 nights$30/day
🇨🇱 San Pedro de Atacama · Chile
Driest desert on the planet, clearest night sky.
3 nights$40/day
🍷 Mendoza · Argentina
Bike between vineyards for pocket change.
4 nights$32/day
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires · Argentina
Steak, tango and a nightlife that starts at 2am.
6 nights$30/day
7 stops · 29 nights
≈ $820 total
Totals are estimates built from the per-night budgets above — your real spend will vary.
Getting around
- →Cama night buses
- →Shared 4x4 across Uyuni
- →Occasional cheap LATAM hop
Don't forget
- ✓Altitude tablets
- ✓Down jacket
- ✓Sun cream (brutal at 4,000m)
- ✓Copies of your passport
Ready to walk it?
Save the stops as a trip, track your budget and find hostels along the way.
Start planning free