When to visit South America?
Flights to South America
Visas, Entrance Fees & Insurance
Health & Diet considerations when travelling to South America
Covid 19 Entry Requirements
Money Matters
Technology
Packing Lists – Inca Trail, Amazon, Patagonia & General
When to visit South America?
South America is a huge continent and weather conditions differ greatly depending on which destinations you plan to visit. We all want different things from our holiday and the best time to go to South America for one person may be poles apart from another. For some dry weather is important, whereas for others travelling out of peak season is vital, so this summary is only intended as a brief guide covering the most popular destinations. Please contact us to discuss in more details.
| Country | When to Go |
| Argentina |
|
| Bolivia |
|
| Brazil |
|
| Chile |
|
| Colombia |
|
| Ecuador |
|
| Galapagos Islands |
|
| Peru |
|
| Venezuela |
|
Flights to South America
Overstock Trips can assist with all your flight arrangements, including international flights, round- the-world flights, internal South America flights and South America air passes.
Which airlines fly to South America from Australia or NZ?
From the east coast there are 3 options for flying into South America:
- LATAM Airlines fly from Sydney to Santiago via Auckland 7 days per week, and from Melbourne to Santiago direct 1 day per week. Qantas code share connections via Auckland can be arranged.
- Qantas Airlines fly direct from Sydney to Santiago 3 days per week.
- Air New Zealand fly direct from Auckland to Buenos Aires 3 days per week with good connections from Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
There are also alternatives via the USA, although connections are not as good and will usually require an overnight stop.
From the west coast you can either fly via Sydney on one of the above alternatives or can consider alternatives via South Africa or the Middle East.
Can South America be incorporated into round-the-world flights?
Yes, there are many options, some of which can be good value. Or if you are simply looking to combine South and North America with the one ticket then there are other good alternatives we can discuss.
What is the baggage allowance for flights?
Baggage allowances depend on the airline, however common international flight allowance is between 20-23kgs and 15-23kgs for domestic flights. All airlines allow international limits on domestic flights when issued on the same ticket.
Some popular airline baggage allowances can be found here;
Qantas | LATAM Airlines | Aerolineas Argentinas | Avianca | Skyairline
Visas, Entrance Fees & Insurance required for South America
Which visas are required?
Please note that while we make every effort to keep visa information up to date, regulations change frequently. The information provided is intended as a guide.
|
Country |
Australia |
United States |
New Zealand |
|
Chile |
Yes* – more info |
No |
No |
|
Argentina |
No |
No |
No |
|
Brazil |
No |
No |
No |
|
Peru |
No |
No |
No |
|
Bolivia |
No |
Yes – more info |
No |
|
Ecuador |
No# |
No# |
No# |
|
Colombia |
No |
No |
No |
|
Paraguay |
Yes** – more info |
Yes** – more info |
Yes** – more info |
|
Uruguay |
No |
No |
No |
NOTE: There may be Covid-19 entry requirements for all travellers, in addition to the visa requirements.
* Previously Australian citizens were required to pay a US$117 reciprocity fee to enter Chile. This has now been scrapped and replaced with the E-visa system. Along with your trip documents, Overstock Trips will provide a step by step guide to obtaining your Chile visa before travel. Visa approval takes at least 10 business days after submission. If you have not received an update after that time we suggest you contact the Chilean consulate.
# Travellers visiting the Galapagos Islands need a Transit Control Card (US$20) for the region as well as paying a National Park Entrance fee (US$100).
** For citizens who have passports from the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, China (Taiwan), visas are enabled upon arrival at the Silvio Petirossi airport in Paraguay. This service is not available at land border crossings. If you are entering Paraguay by land you must obtain a visa before travel.
USA: If you are travelling or transiting through the USA you must obtain a visa waiver before travel.
Canada: If you are travelling or transiting through Canada you must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation before travel.
New Zealand: If you are travelling or transiting through New Zealand and do not hold an Australian, British or New Zealand passport, you must apply for a NZeta permit before travel.
What additional entrance fees or taxes can I expect?
- When you arrive in the Galapagos Islands, you are required to purchase a National Park Entrance Fee (US$100) and a Transit Control Card (US$20)
- Several countries also charge international departure taxes or airport fees usually between US$20-$50 per person. Currently this charge is applied in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela.
- At the Chilean-Bolivian border officials charge 15 – 21 Bolivianos (around US$3) for the ‘stamp’ in your passport. The amount can also be paid in Chilean Pesos.
- Additionally many domestic airports within South America also charge small departure taxes or airport fees usually between US$5-10 per person.
Travel Insurance
We highly recommend obtaining comprehensive travel insurance when travelling to South America. Please check the terms of your policy carefully, particularly with regard to limits of cover and ensure you are familiar with the procedure for making claims. Once you have paid your deposit or full payment, certain fees will apply if you have to cancel your holiday and for this reason you should take out insurance at the time of paying your deposit, which should then protect you in such a situation. Ensure you carry the details of your travel insurance as some countries require proof of travel insurance upon entry.
Health & Diet considerations when travelling to South America
What vaccinations are required?
There are many factors that need to be considered by you and your health care professional when assessing the need for vaccines and/or medication. This information is only a guide and not a replacement for professional health advice. Be sure to speak to your doctor or visit a travel clinic at least 6-8 weeks before you travel. The following is a list of our general recommendations:
- Yellow Fever – The yellow fever vaccination is recommended for those travelling to the Peruvian Amazon or at certain times those visiting Iguassu Falls. If you are in Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia or Colombia prior to travelling to Brazil it is required that you carry a yellow fever vaccination card with you. Bolivia is now requiring you to present an international vaccination certificate (“yellow booklet”) as proof.
- Hepatitis – Both A and B vaccination recommended
- Typhoid – Vaccination recommended
- Diphtheria – Vaccination recommended
- Cholera – Vaccination recommended
- Rabies – Vaccination recommended
- Tetanus – Vaccination recommended
- Malaria – risk varies by the region and season and you are most at risk in remote Amazon regions. Consult your doctor for the latest information.
What Causes Altitude Sickness?
The primary cause of altitude sickness is ascending too quickly. Many areas within South America have altitudes which have been known to induce this illness. Given time, your body can adapt to the decrease in oxygen at specific altitudes. This is known as acclimatisation and generally takes one to three nights at a given altitude. If this is a particular concern to you, all our trips can be customised to give you more time to acclimatise.
Some general recommendations for people travelling to areas of high altitude:
The day before you travel
- Get a proper nights sleep.
- Eat easily digestible food.
- Avoid alcohol.
After you arrive
- Avoid strenuous physical activity particularly if this activity part of your normal routine.
- Drink at least two litres of water.
- Avoid alcohol.
- Eat small quantities of food, preferably carbohydrates.
- Wear warm clothing.
- Avoid unnecessary medication like sleeping pills.
Altitude sickness may develop into a serious medical condition if its effects are not addressed promptly. If you are having difficulty breathing, feel unwell, or develop any abnormal symptoms then seek immediate medical help. Many hotels and also most of your tour guides will have a ready supply of oxygen which will help alleviate any potential problems.
Preventative Medications(requiring prescriptions):
If you are concerned about the effects of altitude sickness, we recommend you consult your GP or a specialised travel doctor for advice before you depart. They may prescribe some preventative medicines if required.
- Diamox (Acetazolamide) changes acid balance which allows you to increase breathing and improve oxygen intake.
- Dexamethasone decreases brain and other swelling, helping to reverse the effects.
Dietary Requirements
Whilst we understand your dietary requirements are important and often vital to your health, sometimes due to cultural and language differences these are not always easy to convey when you are travelling. Overstock Trips aims to alleviate these concerns and on request will prepare translations of your requirements into either Spanish or Portuguese, depending on which destinations you are travelling to.
Covid-19 Entry Requirements
PLEASE NOTE: International Covid-19 entry requirements continue to change frequently as the health situation evolves. This page is updated regularly however the information is presented as a guide and you should reconfirm your specific entry requirements before departure.
Chile
| Negative PCR test | Negative Rapid Antigen Test | Covid-19 declaration | Vaccination Certificate |
| Not required* | Not required* | Not required* | Required |
Mainland Chile
* Rapa Nui (Easter Island) – Additional entry requirements
More information – https://www.chile.travel/en/traveltochileplan/ |
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Argentina
| Negative PCR test | Negative Rapid Antigen Test | Covid-19 declaration | Vaccination Certificate |
| Not required | Not required | Not required | Not required |
|
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Brazil
| Negative PCR test | Negative Rapid Antigen Test | Covid-19 declaration | Vaccination Certificate |
| Not required | Not required | Not required | Required |
PLEASE NOTE: Unvaccinated travellers will not be permitted entry to Brazil. |
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Peru
| Negative PCR test | Negative Rapid Antigen Test | Covid-19 declaration | Vaccination Certificate |
| Not required* | Not required | Not required | Required* |
* Travellers without the required vaccinations must present a negative PCR test result within 48 hours of boarding. ** Please note that for Peruvian nationals, the Peruvian government stipulates that ‘fully vaccinated’ is defined as 3 doses of a recognised Covid-19 vaccine. If your country’s vaccine regime only requires 2 doses to be deemed ‘fully vaccinated’ we recommend you consider either receiving a 3rd vaccine dose or presenting a negative PCR test on arrival to avoid confusion or unnecessary delays. More information – https://www.peru.travel/en/useful-data/visa-and-entry-requirements |
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Bolivia
| Negative PCR test | Negative Rapid Antigen Test | Covid-19 declaration | Vaccination Certificate |
| Not required* | Not required* | Required | Required* |
* If you are not vaccinated you must present a negative PCR test result with 72 hours of travel, or a negative Rapid Antigen Test within 48 hours of travel. |
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Ecuador
| Negative PCR test | Negative Rapid Antigen Test | Covid-19 declaration | Vaccination Certificate |
| Not required | Not required | Required | Not required |
|
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Colombia
| Negative PCR test | Negative Rapid Antigen Test | Covid-19 declaration | Vaccination Certificate |
| Required* | Required* | Required | Required* |
|
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Paraguay
| Negative PCR test | Negative Rapid Antigen Test | Covid-19 declaration | Vaccination Certificate |
| Not required* | Not required* | Not required | Required |
* Unvaccinated travellers must present a negative PCR test result carried out within 72 hours of travel. |
|||
Uruguay
| Negative PCR test | Negative Rapid Antigen Test | Covid-19 declaration | Vaccination Certificate |
| Not Required* | Not Required | Not Required | Required |
* Unvaccinated travellers must show a negative PCR test result conducted no more than 72 hours before arrival. |
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Money Matters
Currency
In general we recommend using the local currency for each country within South America as you will get the most value for your money. ATMs are common in all major centres and even the smaller ones. As a backup we recommend a supply of US dollar notes in small denominations as every country in South America readily accepts these and they can be very handy on border crossings.
Travel Money Cards are also an option and work as a bank card on your travels around the continent. Traveller’s cheques are very difficult to exchange in South America so we do not recommend these.
Tipping Guidelines
Unlike the United States tipping in South America is not mandatory but like anywhere is much appreciated. Expected amounts differ by the country but we have outlined some broad guidelines for you as follows:
- If you are on a day tour or transfer then depending on the duration a small tip of US$1-5 per person is appropriate.
- We recommend a tip of 10-15% in restaurants.
- If you are part of a group tour or cruise for multiple days then you should consider spending a little more. We suggest US$5 per person per day for any porters, US$10 per person per person per day to the cook and US$10 per person per day to your guide. Most cruises will provide you with their tipping guidelines when on board.
- In Brazilian restaurants, tips (servicios) are generally included in the bill.
- If you are on a all inclusive Amazon or Galapagos cruise for example tipping is completely up to you but there are some guidelines depending on the trip that you are on, which vary from starting at USD$30 per day. If you would like to know more please ask your consultant.
Technology
Internet Access
Internet cafes are prevalent throughout all major centres in South America and are generally inexpensive to use. Additionally, most hotels offer Wi-Fi or shared computers with internet access which is often included in the cost of your hotel.
Telephone Calls
Using your mobile phone with roaming can be very expensive. We recommend using Wi-Fi in your hotels to access programs like Viber or Skype to make free calls to your family and friends back home. Additionally, you can use calling booths or paid accounts with Skype in internet cafes as a very inexpensive way of making calls.
Electrical Outlets in Latin America
Most countries in South America use the European style outlet with 110v. Visit the below link for more information on each country.
Packing Lists
INCA TRAIL: SUGGESTED PACKING LIST
You can typically expect anything from warm and sunny to freezing cold and rainy in the day time when doing a trek in Peru. Evenings are almost always chilly and we suggest dressing in layers so you can easily adapt to the conditions. We recommend you to take the following;
- Valid passport
- Daypack
- Water bottle
- Hat
- Towel and toilet paper
- Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, etc.
- Cash (there are no ATM machines in Aguas Calientes)
- Swimsuit (if you plan on visiting the hot springs at Aguas Calientes after the trek)
- Walking sticks or poles (rubber covers required in order to avoid damage of the Inca Trail). Can be hired in Cusco if you require them.
- Trekking shoes
- Warm clothes (jacket, fleece and sweaters)
- Light-weight shirts and T-shirts
- Long-sleeved cotton shirts
- Warm wind and waterproof jacket
- Warm pants & shorts • Waterproof gloves
- Hat, beanie, scarf, or other face protection
- Fleece
- Woollen socks
- Thermal underwear
- A bright flashlight
- Binoculars
- Camera with extra memory cards and extra batteries
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Sunglasses (polarised, close fitting are best)
- Plastic bags – Plastic zip-lock bags will protect your camera from the rain.
- Medications – bring a sufficient supply of any medications you regularly take; prescription and over-the-counter including your preferred motion sickness remedy, as well as copies of your prescriptions.
- If you wear prescription glasses or contact lenses, be sure to pack an extra pair.
- Cash for souvenirs. Credit card to settle your bill at the end.
AMAZON: SUGGESTED PACKING LIST
- Valid passport
- Hat
- Long cotton pants and shorts
- Light-weight shirts and T-shirts
- Rain coat or long poncho (100 % waterproof)
- Socks
- Long-sleeved cotton shirts
- Water bottle
- A pair of sneakers or hiking boots and sandals
- Insect repellent
- A bright flashlight
- Binoculars
- Camera with extra memory cards and extra batteries
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses (polarised, close fitting are best)
- Plastic bags – Plastic zip-lock bags will protect your camera and binoculars from the rain.
- Daypack
- Bathing suit
- Converters/adapters as needed
- Medications – bring a sufficient supply of any medications you regularly take; prescription and over-the-counter including your preferred motion sickness remedy, as well as copies of your prescriptions.
- If you wear prescription glasses or contact lenses, be sure to pack an extra pair.
PATAGONIA: SUGGESTED PACKING LIST
- Thermal underwear top
- T-shirts
- Long sleeve t-shirts
- Polar fleece/Jumpers
- Wind stoppers
- Medium-weight fleece jacket
- Breathable Waterproof jacket (Gore-Tex, sympatex or similar)
- Breathable Waterproof pants (Gore-Tex, sympatex or similar)
- Thermal underwear bottoms
- Full length hiking pants
- Lightweight cotton pants
- Hiking Shorts
- Gloves (Waterproof)
- Good hiking boots (with good support for the ankle) for those who are trekking.
- Sandals
- Thick (hiking) socks
- Swimsuit
- Small towel
- Head lamp / torch and extra batteries
- Sun glasses
- Water bottle
- Camera, extra batteries, lens cleanser.
- Binoculars
- Walking sticks (adjustable preferred)
- Toilet paper
- Beanie
- Cap for the Sun
- Toiletries
- Hiking Kit
- First aid kit
GENERAL: SUGGESTED PACKING LIST
- Passport
- Visas
- Travel Insurance documents
- Itinerary and tickets
- Cash
- Credit card
- Photocopies of important documents – keep in suitcase & an electronic copy on your email
- Suitcase or backpack – most of our tours don’t require a backpack but ask if you are unsure
- Day pack
- Toiletries
- Sunscreen
- Medications (if required)
- First aid kit
- Clothes – jacket for cold climates, jumper, dress, shirts, t-shirts, long pants, socks, underwear, rain jacket, swimmers, hat. Smart casual clothes (if planning to eat at some nice restaurants)
- Comfortable shoes with good grip and sandals or flip flops
- Sunglasses
- Phone
- Camera & Charger
- Laptop/tablet & charger
- Converter/adapter
