South America

Why this region works the way it does

South America is the continent where the hostel common room is still the travel agency, the bus station and the social life all at once. Cusco, La Paz, Medellin and Buenos Aires anchor almost every long trip here.

Altitude drives the plan more than distance. Landing in La Paz at 4,050 m after a night flight is a rough introduction, so most travelers start lower in Lima or Santiago and climb slowly. Our chapter lays out the Andean spine as a workable sequence rather than a wish list.

Places worth building a route around

• San Blas, Cusco. Steep, quiet, ten minutes above the Plaza de Armas.
• El Poblado, Medellin. The nomad capital of the continent, metro to everywhere.
• El Chalten. Trailheads for Fitz Roy start at the edge of town.
• Palermo, Buenos Aires. Late nights, good hostels, cheap steak.