Best places for budget travelers in South America
Best places for budget travelers in South America
Affordable guest houses and economic travel paths in South America
South America offers some of the best value travel anywhere in the world, particularly along the Andes, where favourable exchange rates make food, accommodation and transport remarkably cheap even by backpacker standards. The region has decades of budget infrastructure built around this kind of travel.
The destinations on this list range from established backpacker circuits through the mountains, with hostels and overnight buses on every route, to pricier countries further south, where costs run noticeably higher but still well below North American or European equivalents.
Long-distance overnight buses remain the backbone of budget travel across the continent, covering huge distances for a fraction of flight prices. Shared dorm rooms typically cost only a fraction of private accommodation. Booking accommodation a few days ahead rather than on arrival tends to secure better rates during busier periods.
Lists by region
Country
Colombia
Where diverse landscapes meet culture
Colombia offers good value across a country with many landscapes. Hostels are plentiful and often include breakfast and kitchens. Comfortable long distance buses and cheap domestic flights link the coast and the Andes. Travellers can enjoy cities, mountains and Caribbean beaches without spending too much money.
Country
Peru
Ancient wonders meet diverse landscapes
Peru has a large backpacker trail with cheap hostels in every major city. Comfortable overnight buses link the coast, the desert and the Andes at low fares. Local markets and small restaurants keep daily costs low. Machu Picchu is the main big expense so travellers can save elsewhere.
Country
Ecuador
Compact country, immense biodiversity
Ecuador uses the US dollar and is small enough to cross quickly. Buses connect the Andes, the Amazon and the Pacific coast at low fares. Hostels and guesthouses keep lodging costs low on the mainland. Travellers can visit volcanoes, cloud forests and beaches within a few days.
Country
Bolivia
Land of dramatic climate contrasts
Bolivia is one of the cheapest countries in South America. Hostels, guesthouses and local restaurants all stay low priced. Long distance buses link cities and highlands at modest fares. Travellers can join tours to salt flats and mountain towns that give big landscapes for a small budget.
Country
Paraguay
Land of contrasting climate regions
Paraguay is a low cost country that sees far fewer tourists than its neighbours. Guesthouses and local restaurants stay cheap in Asuncion and in small towns. Buses connect the main places at low fares. Visitors can see old missions and quiet rivers at an easy pace.
Other lists you may like
Discover
Top budget destinations and affordable travel hubs
The most rewarding budget travel destinations are rarely the cheapest in absolute terms but those where the gap between cost and experience is widest. Affordable accommodation,…
Read more
Discover
Best places for budget travelers in Africa
Africa contains some of the world's most affordable travel alongside some of its most expensive safari experiences and knowing which half of the continent you're in makes an…
Read more
Discover
Best places for budget travelers in Asia
Southeast Asia remains one of the most consistently affordable regions in the world to travel, with several countries offering genuinely low prices across food, accommodation and…
Read more
Discover
Best places for budget travelers in Europe
Western Europe's reputation for expensive travel obscures just how affordable much of the continent remains once you move east and south. Eastern Europe and the Balkans offer…
Read more
Discover
Best places for budget travelers in North America
Budget travel in North America looks very different depending on which side of the U.S. border you're on. Mexico and Central America remain genuinely affordable, with strong bus…
Read more
Discover
Best places for budget travelers in Oceania
Australia and New Zealand can be expensive once you look past the backpacker scene, which makes Samoa, Vanuatu and the Cook Islands worth considering as more budget friendly…
Read more
What other users say about travelfilters
“travelfilters made it easy for me to find ski areas and compare what else they offer, so that I could find the best place for my personal travel style.”
Chris
Snowboarding & Onsen trip to Japan
“I love how transparent the data feels. There is no pushy upsell, just honest information and settings I can tune to my own travel style.”
Maria
After booking her 2027 winter escape
“The level of detail for each destination and how well those are displayed, make planning feel confident instead of overwhelming.”
Mina
Planned a week in New York City
“We used travelfilters for our planning from start to end. The trip turned out even better than expected, thanks to all their tools and customisation options.”
Allan & Etienne
Trip to Japan to see autumn foliage
“Thanks to travelfilters, I found some hidden gems to see. Being able to filter for exactly your interests is a game changer for my travel planning.”
Michael
Tour through the old cities of Northern Italy
“The customizable filters helped me find a quiet beach town with good wifi and low season crowds in under five minutes.”
Diego
Weekend Escape to Llanes, Spain
“The airport connection map saved me hours by showing good flight options from my home airport to lesser-known cities.”
Nguyen
Planning a 2027 trip to France
“The website is clean, fast and focused on the search itself, which makes travelfilters feel more like a professional tool than an ad-heavy booking site.”
Hassan
Christmas Market trip, Germany
