The 8 Best Hikes in South America

The Inca Trail is undoubtedly among the best treks in South America, thanks in no small part to its spectacular endpoint: the ruins of Machu Picchu. Although there are multiple ways to reach this legendary site (including some fantastic train journeys), none is more immersive or rewarding than the four-day trek that culminates in a sunrise view of the citadel.

Need to know: The Inca Trail is moderately difficult and best enjoyed between May and October. Keep in mind that it’s closed in February every year.

High on the list of the best treks in Peru, the Salkantay Trek is a slightly more intense alternative to the Inca Trail. This seven-day experience includes a wide variety of scenery and cultural experiences before you end up at Machu Picchu. Along the way you’ll see Mount Salkantay, Lake Humantay, snow-capped mountains, cloud forests and more.

Need to know: The Salkantay Trek is more challenging than the Inca Trail and reaches a higher altitude: over 15,000 feet (4,600 metres). It’s also generally less crowded and quieter.

Chile is one of the world’s best hiking destinations, and Torres del Paine is arguably the jewel in its crown. This region’s quintessential trail, known as the W Trek, has earned a reputation as one of the best hikes in Chile and the most famous South American hiking trails. Punctuated by glacial lakes and granite peaks, it zigzags through three valleys to form a rough ‘W’ shape.

Need to know: The full W Trek takes about four to five days, but it’s also possible to walk just a section of the route. The surrounding national park offers plenty of other epic trails as well.

The O Circuit is one of the world’s ultimate long-distance treks and the top hiking challenge in Patagonia. It combines the classic W Trek with the park’s remote northern and eastern valleys, making it the only way to experience the full grandeur of Torres del Paine. We recommend you stay at Tierra Patagonia for its close proximity to the park’s entrance and access to different routes.

Need to know: Entry is limited to 80 hikers per day and the trail must be completed anticlockwise, a one-way system designed to maintain solitude and minimise environmental impact.

The Lost City (or Ciudad Perdida) is an ancient Tayrona city hidden within Colombia’s Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. This round-trip trek takes around four to six days, with plenty of time to explore the archaeological site that lends the route its name. You’ll hike through dense jungle, gorgeous valleys and local Indigenous communities along the way.

Need to know: The Lost City Trek is ideal if you’re looking for a more rustic, remote and challenging experience.

World-renowned for its towering wax palms and mystical cloud forests, the Cocora Valley is at the heart of Colombia’s Coffee Triangle. You can explore it on a scenic five-hour hike that leads you through its most beautiful spots, including the legendary bosque de palmas (palm forest). Here you’ll find the tallest palm trees on earth, some of which are around a century old.

Need to know: The Cocora Valley trail can be hiked clockwise or anti-clockwise, depending on whether you want to start or end with the palm forest.

Ecuador is home to one of the best hiking trails in the world for volcanic views: the Quilotoa Loop. Located in the aptly named Avenue of the Volcanoes, this point-to-point hike leads you through the canyons, hills and valleys surrounding the picture-perfect Laguna Quilotoa: a jewel-toned crater lake formed by a volcanic eruption.

Need to know: The best time to embark on the Quilotoa Loop is between June and September, and the full trail takes about three to four days.

Brazil is beloved for its beaches and rainforests, but it also boasts some of the best trekking in South America. The inland region of Chapada Diamantina is full of rugged landscapes, flat-topped mountains and old diamond mining towns – plus a plethora of hiking trails to choose from, whether you’re looking for a short trek or a multi-day challenge.

Need to know: Chapada Diamantina is located in the northeastern state of Bahia, making it easy to combine with a trip to Salvador.

Some of the top Argentina trekking experiences can be found in the area around El Chaltén, a small town in southern Patagonia. Perhaps the most famous is the trek to Laguna de Los Tres, with its postcard-worthy backdrop of Mount Fitz Roy, though this is far from the only route available. There are dozens of different trails here for hikers of all experience levels.

Need to know: The best time to go hiking in Argentina’s southern region is summer (December to February) although this is also when trails tend to be the most crowded.

If hiking is your priority, the best time to visit South America depends entirely on which trails you’re hoping to tackle. After all, this is an enormous continent with all sorts of climates and seasonal differences. For instance, Peru and Bolivia are generally best during the dry season from around May to September, while southern Chile and Argentina offer optimal hiking weather from December to February.