South America • Regional guide
Southern Cone Travel Guide
A tango evening, a vineyard lunch, a glacier that makes you forget your phone. Southern Cone travel offers plenty to tempt you. The trick is resisting the urge to put every temptation into the same fortnight.
By Rob Wheatley · Traveller and Viking Program Director
Rob’s take
My blunt take: this is a region where distance can quietly eat your holiday. Choose a few places you really want to experience, then give them enough time. The airport lounge is rarely the highlight you came for.
This hub focuses on Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. Definitions of the Southern Cone vary; Paraguay and parts of southern Brazil also appear in broader groupings. Here, Brazil has its own country pathway, and Paraguay has a dedicated country guide for its own cultural and practical planning.
Choose your country
Argentina and Chile are both large enough to fill several holidays. Therefore, “doing both” is not a useful plan until you choose the actual places. A focused Patagonia journey and a Buenos Aires–Uruguay break solve very different travel wishes.
For cities, wine and big landscapes
Argentina
Buenos Aires, Mendoza and Patagonia offer very different trips. Start with one main focus, then add a second region if your time allows. The published Argentina guide helps you narrow the choice before booking internal transport.
For desert, valleys, lakes and Patagonia
Chile
Chile’s long shape makes a countrywide dash tempting and tiring. Instead, choose the north, central Chile or the south as your anchor. Use the published Chile guide to build around the landscapes you most want to see.
For a smaller-scale city and coast journey
Uruguay
Montevideo, Colonia del Sacramento and coastal stays offer a different pace. Uruguay can also pair with Buenos Aires, provided the ferry schedule and border formalities fit. Allow overnight time if you want more than a rushed introduction.
For a more independent cultural route
Paraguay
Paraguay offers Asunción, the Jesuit missions near Encarnación and more independent regional journeys. Start with the country guide, then check distances and current transport before extending the route.
Route ideas that leave room to enjoy them
These are suggested planning ranges, not package itineraries or confirmed schedules. Add your international flight days, and check all internal connections before committing to accommodation.
Route idea 1
About 7–10 days: Buenos Aires and Uruguay
Begin with Buenos Aires, then consider Colonia and Montevideo. However, confirm ferry terminals, check-in times and the return journey before booking. If the trip feels busy, keep Uruguay to one overnight base rather than rushing through two.
Route idea 2
About 10–14 days: Santiago and Mendoza
Combine central Chile with Mendoza if city life and wine are your priorities. You may travel by air or investigate an overland crossing. However, mountain weather and border delays can disrupt road plans, so protect your onward flight.
Route idea 3
Two to three weeks: a focused Patagonia trip
Choose a manageable cluster, such as southern Argentine Patagonia and Torres del Paine in Chile. Then build around confirmed transport, park access and accommodation. Leave spare time for weather; do not bolt this onto a fast tour of both countries.
Practical planning before you book
Choose Patagonia’s season deliberately
Chile’s official tourism guidance identifies October to March as the main spring and summer window for milder conditions and more available services. However, wind and closures can still alter plans. Check park rules and trail access close to departure, especially outside peak summer.
Count transfers as travel days
A flight takes more than its time in the air. Include the airport journey, baggage, waiting and the transfer at the other end. Similarly, a border crossing can turn a scenic drive into a long day. Fewer moves often buy a better holiday.
Watch the costs that grow quietly
Patagonia accommodation, organized excursions and internal transport can add up. Meanwhile, wine-country visits may need transfers that cost more than the tasting. Price the full day, and check current currency and payment arrangements rather than relying on an old budget.
Check borders and local conditions
Read current official advice and entry requirements for each country. In addition, confirm permission and insurance before taking a rental car across a border. City theft, remote-road distances and mountain weather call for different precautions; plan for the places you will actually visit.
For current country advice, use the U.S. State Department’s travel advisories. Then check entry requirements for your own passport.
Southern Cone travel questions
What countries are in this Southern Cone guide?
The main trip-planning focus is Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. Broader definitions can include Paraguay and southern Brazil. However, Brazil has its own guide here, while Paraguay has its own country guide.
Can I visit Argentina and Chile in two weeks?
Yes, if you choose a focused combination. Santiago and Mendoza or a carefully planned Patagonia cluster can work better than trying to cover both countries from north to south. Your flights and local transport determine what is realistic.
Should I combine Patagonia with Uruguay?
You can, but the extra distance needs a clear reason. For a short trip, I would usually pair Uruguay with Buenos Aires and give Patagonia a separate journey. That leaves more time for both experiences.
Keep planning your South America trip
Planning a route? Share your travel month, available days and the places you are weighing up in the comments below.