South America is home to some of the most amazing hikes in the world. For many travelers, it’s the main reason they travel the continent.
I myself traveled from north to south and east to west enjoying some of the best hikes in South America. From the high-altitude Andes in Peru to the beaches in Colombia, I trekked while traveling in South America every chance I got.
Some hikes I’d never heard of before, others are famous all around the world. Some took me to extreme elevations and others had me sweating it out in the rain forest.
Best Off The Beaten Path South America Highlights
In this blog, I’ll share the absolute 15 best hikes in South America. The ones that made my epic 18-month journey on the continent one to remember!
The hike up Cerro Tronador in Bariloche was one of the best hikes I have done and also one of my favorite things to do in Bariloche. Not only because it’s beautiful, but because I accidentally stumbled upon this hidden gem that’s well off the beaten path.
The Cerro Tronador is an extinct stratovolcano inside of Nahuel Huapi National Park which happens to be the tallest mountain near Bariloche, rising up 3, 400 meters (11, 155 feet) above sea level. Witnessing this giant in person is nothing short of impressive and the mountain actually has 8 glaciers.
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The most commonly taken route is to hike the base of the mountain on the overnight trail that starts with a 1.5-hour drive from Bariloche. From there, the trail is 18 kilometers (11.2 miles) one way to a small alpine hut. At the hut, you can choose to either stay in the hut for a fee or camp outside for free.
To camp, you do need to have high-quality alpine gear due to the location of the campsites and high winds. Bailey and I didn’t have camping gear good enough so we instead stayed in the hut. To be honest, it was so cold we were glad we did!
On the way up to the hut, you’ll trek through the beautiful Patagonian forest, see a hanging glacier, and lots of Condors. At the top was an incredible view of the snow-covered Andes mountain range and beside us, two glaciers whose deep crevices led to the unknown.
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Spending the night on Cerro Tronador is something I will never forget and is easily a highlight of Argentina! This hike took a little while to organize simply because not many tourists try it, but it was worth it in the end!
If you don’t want to commit to hiking Cerro Tronador without a guide you could also take this 8-hour sightseeing day trip from Bariloche that includes a short hike to Ventisquero Negro glacier. You’ll also get to admire all of the natural scenery on your way there from the window of your coach including Nahuel Huapi Lake and Manso River. Expect to pay around $72 USD.
Looking over the Grey Glacier on the section of the Torres del Paine trek between Paine Grande and Campamento Grey on the W Trek
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The first multi-day hike I ever did was the Torres del Paine W Trek. This epic trail ignited my love for hiking and since then, I haven’t stopped.
The W Trek is famous all around the world and every year hundreds of thousands of tourists head to Torres del Paine National Park to hike the W Trek or the full O Loop.
This hike is famous for many reasons, however, the most common is because it is so beautiful. Amazing valleys, huge glaciers, and then the famous sunrise over the Torres to top it all off.
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The W Trek is typically done over five days as this is the ideal way to see everything without having to walk too far on certain days. Distances each day vary from 14 km (8.5 miles) to 25 km (15.5 miles). With that said, some people complete the trail in as little as 3 days.
The Torres del Pain W Trek is not an overly difficult trail even though it is fairly long.With plenty of other hikers around it is perfect for those who are less experienced.
After hiking the trail the first time in 2016, I headed back in 2019 to complete the longer version of the hike, “the O”. This trail is 8 days and takes you to what’s called the “back end” of the national park. For those who are more experienced, it’s a great option!
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The W Trek is one of the most famous hikes in South America and as such, it is necessary to book in advance! To ensure you get a spot, be sure to read our guide to camping in the Torres del Paine. It outlines how to book and plan your journey!
To make things a bit easier on yourself you could also pay for a multi-day tour that will include all of your transportation to and from the trailhead, campsites along the trail, and food.
This particular tour is your best bet for the W Circuit because you will be hiking each of the 5 days which breaks things up more, unlike other tours that only have you hiking on 4 of the 5 days.
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If you want to take the O Circuit route this 8-day option comes with everything you will need to make completing your journey as easy as possible.
Related Read: Staying in Torres del Paine National Park is one of the best things to do in Chile. Check out our guide to the best hotels in Torres del Paine National Park.
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The Huayhuash is the hardest hike on my list of the best hikes in South America – but also one of the most beautiful and rewarding.
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Located deep in the Andes mountain range near the town of Huaraz, this hike has an average elevation of 4, 600 m (15, 000 feet) above sea level and offers very little flat ground. With overnight temperatures of -15 degrees Celsius (5 degrees Fahrenheit), this hike had me breaking sheets of ice off my tent every morning.
Over the 8 to 14 days that this route will generally take to complete, you will conquer 9 mountain passes taking you to over 5, 100 m (16, 700 feet) above sea level. This hike is not for beginners as the terrain is rough and the trail is unmarked. Sadly, other hikers have lost their lives on the trek.
There is also a high risk of getting altitude sickness so acclimatizing for at least a few days in Huaraz would be strongly advised before beginning.
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If you are not the most experienced, I recommend taking a guided tour that includes local guides and donkeys that will carry some of your equipment and food, making the giant task more manageable. The tours range from 8 to 14 days with the longer you go, the less you hiking you do each day.
This 10-day tour is highly regarded by reviewers and one of the biggest reasons why is that the tour company handles everything with a high level of professionalism and goes the extra mile to answer any questions that you might have leading up to the start of your hike.
The cost breakdown for the 10 days averages out to be around $100 USD/day so it’s definitely an investment but in the end is it totally worth it for such an unforgettable experience.
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Despite the difficulty of the trail, I’d recommend it to anyone willing to take on the challenge as the views are out of this world. The above picture is only just one viewpoint visited over the course of the Huayhuash trek. This is easily one of the best hikes in Peru!
The Lost City Trek is Colombia’s answer to Machu Picchu. The trek involves hiking through the jungle in the hills around Santa Marta and Minca for 4 days stopping at small camps each night. It is easily one of the best things to do in Colombia!
The trail takes you to the Lost City, (aka Cuidad Perdida) a famous Inca ruin that has to be seen to be believed. You’ll tour the ruins and learn all about the Incas all while enjoying the magnificent views.
The Best Hiking Trails In South America
The trail isn’t easy with constant uphill and downhill sections with little sections that are completely flat, and depending on the heat, it can be brutal! Fortunately, it is not a technical route and the trail conditions are well-maintained so you don’t have to be super-skilled to embark on this journey. As long are you are physically fit, completing the Lost City Trek should be doable.
The highest point is 1, 500 meters/4, 920 feet so you don’t need to be concerned with elevation sickness either but what you will need to prepare for is the bugs! I hate to break it to you but there are lots of mosquitoes especially once you make it to the lost city so be prepared with bug spray.
Although the ancient site doesn’t really compare to Machu Picchu, it’s still a spectacular trek that’s well worth doing. For one, it’s nowhere near as busy as Machu Picchu. I’d say it’s an off-the-beaten-path hike in South America only
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