South America
55 curated road trips
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LegendaryCarretera AustralChile's Ruta 7 is one of the world's great adventure roads, unpaved, remote, cut through Patagonian fjords and ancient rainforest. Glaciers, hanging valleys, thermal pools, and almost nobody ahead of you.SUV onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
LegendaryRuta 40: Full Seasonal ExpeditionArgentina's longest highway traces 5,000 km of the jagged Andes from the shores of the South Atlantic at Punta Loyola through Los Glaciares, Bariloche, Mendoza, Salta, and the Bolivian border at La Quiaca, traversing 20 national parks, crossing 18 major rivers, and climbing over 27 mountain passes. One of the most epic drives on the planet.4WD onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
LegendarySalar de Uyuni CircuitAcross the world's largest salt flat, a 10,582 km² mirror of white that becomes a perfect sky reflection after rain, then through volcanoes, lagoons of pink flamingos, and geysers at 5,000m into the Altiplano.4WD onlyOff-road sectionsPermit requiredLoop / circuit
IconicAngra dos Reis to Santos: Costa VerdeThe Rio–Santos coastal highway (BR-101) threads between the Serra do Mar mountains and the Atlantic, colonial fishing villages, the world's largest urban forest at Tijuca, islands, and Brazil's most spectacular beaches.EV-friendly
IconicTranspantaneiraThe only road into the Northern Pantanal, 147km of raised dirt track on 122 wooden bridges through the world's largest tropical wetland. In the dry season, caimans line every bridge, capybaras graze the shoulders, and the Cuiabá River banks are the best place on Earth to see a wild jaguar.4WD onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
IconicSerra do Rio do RastroSC-438 climbs the Serra Geral escarpment in 18km of relentless hairpins, from the subtropical coastal plain to a cold gaucho plateau at 1400m. Above the clouds, apple orchards, frost-dusted dawns, and the sheer-walled canyons of Aparados da Serra await.EV-friendlyPermit required
IconicCaminho dos Diamantes, Estrada RealThe Royal Road built in the 1700s to carry gold and diamonds from the Minas interior to the coast. This stretch, the Caminho dos Diamantes, connects UNESCO Ouro Preto through the colonial hill towns of Tiradentes and São João del-Rei to the diamond capital of Diamantina, birthplace of President JK.EV-friendlySUV onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
IconicPan-American Highway, PeruPeru's stretch of the Pan-American Highway takes in everything from pre-Inca history to world-renowned wineries, the road winds through coastal desert, tiny fishing villages, the Islas Ballestas wildlife islands, the mysterious Nazca Lines, colonial-era towns, and the Atacama at Tacna. Drive only during daylight hours; fuel up wherever you can.Permit required
IconicAvenue of the VolcanoesThis classic Ecuadorian highland drive follows the spine of the Andes from Quito toward Chimborazo, linking a chain of volcanic peaks, market towns, and broad alpine valleys. Expect dramatic snowcapped summits, fertile farmland, and frequent roadside viewpoints in one of South America’s most iconic mountain corridors.Permit required
IconicArica to Lauca and Putre AltiplanoClimb from the Pacific heat of Arica into Chile’s high Altiplano on one of the country’s most dramatic mountain drives. The route follows the Lluta Valley to Putre, then continues into Lauca National Park for volcano views, bofedales, turquoise lagoons, and herds of vicuñas under thin, brilliant air.SUV onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
LegendaryBariloche Extension to the Route of the Seven LakesThe most beautiful short drive in South America, Ruta Nacional 40 and Ruta Provincial 234 through the Andes foothills between Bariloche and San Martín de los Andes, threading through seven glacier-fed Andean lakes of extraordinary blue-green clarity: Nahuel Huapi, Espejo, Correntoso, Escondido, Villarino, Falkner, and Machónico. The Swiss Alps transplanted to Patagonia.Permit required
IconicBonito and Bodoquena Pantanal SulThis classic Mato Grosso do Sul road trip links Bonito’s clear rivers and sinkholes with the limestone hills of Bodoquena and the wildlife flats of the southern Pantanal. Expect good paved highways, short gravel detours, birdlife everywhere, and memorable stops for swimming, cave views, and ranch stays.SUV onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
IconicBR-319 Manaus to Porto Velho ExpeditionAn expedition-only framework for the official BR-319 corridor from Manaus via Careiro, Igapó-Açu, Realidade and Humaitá to Porto Velho, with urban highlights only at the two bookends.4WD onlyOff-road sections
NotableChachapoyas and Kuelap Northern PeruThis northern Peru loop links the colonial highland town of Chachapoyas with the hilltop fortress of Kuelap, then continues through cloud-forest viewpoints and small Andean villages. Expect steep switchbacks, dramatic scenery, and one of Peru’s most distinctive pre-Inca archaeological landscapes.SUV onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
IconicChapada DiamantinaThe highland plateau of Bahia, Brazil's walking and driving heartland. Diamond-rush colonial villages, table-top cerrado mountains, 100m waterfalls into swimming holes, underground lakes glowing with refracted light, and the most extraordinary cerrado scenery in Brazil.SUV onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
NotableChapada dos GuimaraesA classic self-drive from Cuiabá into the sandstone tablelands of Chapada dos Guimarães, where the road climbs from Mato Grosso’s heat into escarpments, waterfalls, and wide cerrado views. Base yourself in the park area and explore the rim, caves, and lookouts along short paved drives.SUV onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
IconicChapada dos VeadeirosA UNESCO cerrado highland 250km north of Brasília, the ancient quartz-crystal plateau that generates one of the highest concentrations of natural crystal in the world. Waterfalls, cerrado canyons, the New Age capital of Alto Paraíso, and the clearest night skies in Central Brazil.EV-friendlySUV onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
NotableChe Guevara Biographical Route to ChileIn January 1952, Ernesto "Che" Guevara and Alberto Granado left Buenos Aires on a 1947 Norton 500 named La Ponderosa II, riding the lower part of Argentina to San Carlos de Bariloche before struggling through Chile to Santiago. Though the motorcycle was eventually abandoned, retracing the route from Che's birthplace in Rosario reveals the grazing country, Andean crossings, and political awakening that made the man.Permit required
IconicChilean Lake District Pucon to Puerto VarasThis classic Chilean Lake District drive links Pucón and Puerto Varas through a chain of blue lakes, snowcapped volcanoes, and well-kept paved highways. Detour for forested viewpoints, hot springs, and waterfront towns such as Villarrica, Frutillar, and Ensenada for an easy, scenic South American road trip.
IconicChiloe Island LoopThis loop traces Chile’s misty Chiloé Island from Castro through stilt-house villages, tidal wetlands, and fishing coves to the windswept south coast. Expect slow scenic driving, colorful wooden churches, artisan markets, and wild Pacific views, with the route naturally closing back through Ancud.Permit requiredLoop / circuit
IconicColca Canyon and Arequipa to Lake TiticacaThis classic southern Peru road trip links Arequipa’s volcanic skyline with the terraces of Colca Canyon and the wide-open altiplano around Lake Titicaca. The drive climbs from canyon villages and condor lookouts to puna grasslands, then finishes in the lakeside city of Puno.SUV onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
IconicColombia Caribbean CoastThis coast-to-coast drive follows Colombia’s Caribbean shoreline from Cartagena through Barranquilla and Santa Marta to the gateway of Tayrona and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Expect colonial cities, mangrove lagoons, beach towns, and long stretches of warm coastal highway with lively regional food and music.Permit required
IconicCordillera Blanca LoopThis high-Andes loop begins in Huaraz and circles Peru’s Cordillera Blanca on paved and rough mountain roads past turquoise glacial lakes, Quechua villages, and dramatic snow peaks. The route reaches classic viewpoints around Llanganuco and Chavín before returning through the Callejón de Huaylas.4WD onlyOff-road sectionsPermit requiredLoop / circuit
NotableCosta do Descobrimento Porto Seguro to CaraivaThis short Bahia coast drive links Porto Seguro with the rustic river village of Caraíva through the historic beaches of the Costa do Descobrimento. Expect coconut-lined shoreline, village stops, and a final stretch where the paved road gives way to sand, mud, and a simple boat crossing.
NotableCosta do Sol: Búzios and Cabo FrioA relaxed coastal loop through Rio de Janeiro’s Costa do Sol, this drive links the relaxed beaches of Cabo Frio with the granite coves and viewpoints of Búzios. It’s best as a short two-day road trip with time for beach stops, seafood lunches, and sunset along the shore.Permit required
IconicEstrada da Graciosa Self-Drive LoopThe historic colonial road carved through the Serra do Mar Atlantic Forest in 1872, PR-410 descends 900m from the Paraná plateau to the coast through dense rainforest, roadside waterfalls, and the colonial riverside town of Morretes, the home of barreado.EV-friendlyLoop / circuit
NotableGuyana Interior RoadDrive deep into Guyana’s interior from Georgetown to Lethem, crossing the country’s evolving savanna-and-forest spine on the paved-to-gravel Linden–Lethem corridor. Expect river ferries, mining settlements, wide-open Rupununi landscapes, and a true frontier feel with long stretches far from reliable services.4WD onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
IconicJalapão CircuitThe Jalapão Circuit is a classic cerrado road trip through eastern Tocantins, linking Palmas with sand tracks, orange dunes, blue springs, and river beaches around Mateiros, São Félix do Tocantins, and Ponte Alta do Tocantins. It is remote, scenic, and best tackled at a slow pace.4WD onlyOff-road sectionsPermit requiredLoop / circuit
LegendaryLençóis MaranhensesThe "Maranhão Bedsheets", 1500km² of white sand dunes rising from a flat coastal plain, filled between July and September with hundreds of turquoise and emerald rainwater lagoons. One of the most surreal landscapes on Earth, reached from São Luís via the Preguiças River delta.4WD onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
NotableMantiqueira to Itatiaia: One-Way Mountain RouteThis mountain loop follows the Serra da Mantiqueira between Campos do Jordão and Itatiaia, linking cool pine-covered highlands, small historic towns, and sweeping escarpment views. The drive is best in the dry season, when clear days reveal the peaks, valleys, and parkland landscapes that define this part of southeastern Brazil.SUV onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
IconicMedellín to the Coffee Axis via Jardín and SalaminaDrive the heart of Colombia’s Coffee Axis on a loop between Medellín and Salento, passing green ridgelines, colonial towns, and working fincas. The route is best in the drier months, when mountain roads are easier and views over the Andes and wax palm valleys are clearest.Permit required
IconicMendoza Wine Region and Uco ValleyA relaxed wine-country loop from Mendoza city through Maipú, Luján de Cuyo, and the wide-open Uco Valley. Drive between olive groves, vineyard estates, and snow-backed Andes views, stopping for Malbec tastings, winery lunches, and sunset light over Tunuyán and Tupungato.Loop / circuit
Hidden GemParaguay Jesuit Missions RouteTrace Paraguay’s Jesuit past on a compact loop through the southeast, linking the best-preserved mission towns and rural church ruins. From Asunción to San Ignacio Guazú, Santa Rosa, Jesús de Tavarangue, and Trinidad, the drive blends paved countryside roads, red earth scenery, and remarkably intact colonial religious heritage.Permit required
IconicPeninsula Valdes and Atlantic PatagoniaThis Atlantic Patagonia drive links Puerto Madryn with Península Valdés, Punta Tombo, and the long empty coast toward Rawson and Comodoro Rivadavia. Expect whale cliffs, sea lion colonies, penguin rookeries, and big-sky steppe scenery on paved roads with long, rewarding detours.SUV onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
IconicQuebrada de HumahuacaThis classic northwestern Argentina drive follows Ruta 9 through the Quebrada de Humahuaca, a narrow Andean valley of multicolored cliffs, adobe villages, and high-desert light. Start in San Salvador de Jujuy and end in Humahuaca, stopping at Purmamarca, Tilcara, and dramatic viewpoints along the UNESCO-listed corridor.SUV onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
IconicQuilotoa Road CircuitThe Quilotoa Loop is a high-Andean circuit west of Quito that links market towns, canyon viewpoints, and the brilliant crater lake of Laguna Quilotoa. The route heads out via the back roads through Isinliví, Sigchos, and Chugchilán, then closes the loop back to Latacunga through Zumbahua on the main paved highway. Expect winding paved and gravel roads, big altitude swings, and stop-start driving through Indigenous communities, farmland, and dramatic volcanic scenery.SUV onlyOff-road sectionsPermit requiredLoop / circuit
NotableRota das Missões: Brazilian Seven PeoplesThe Jesuit missions route of western Rio Grande do Sul, a UNESCO World Heritage trail through the ruins of seven 17th-century reductions where Guaraní communities and Jesuit priests built the most advanced utopian society in the Americas, before the Portuguese destroyed it in 1756.EV-friendlyPermit required
IconicSacred Valley and Cusco RegionThis highland loop links Cusco with the Sacred Valley’s most iconic Inca sites, weaving through terraced slopes, river gorges, and market towns beneath snowcapped Andes peaks. It combines easy day drives with rewarding stops at Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Maras for a vivid cultural road trip.Permit requiredLoop / circuit
IconicSantiago to San Pedro de AtacamaFrom the Pacific Coast to the world's highest and driest desert, north from Santiago via Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, La Serena, and Copiapó to the Atacama. Parts haven't felt rain in 400 years (possibly ever), yet snowflakes occasionally fall. The Salar de Atacama, Valle de la Luna, and El Tatio geyser field are the rewards.Permit required
IconicSierra Nevada de Santa Marta and TayronaThis Caribbean-road trip links Santa Marta’s laid-back waterfront with the jungle-cloaked foothills of the Sierra Nevada and the palm-fringed coast of Tayrona National Natural Park. Drive through banana country, stop at Minca’s cool mountain cafés, then finish with turquoise bays, white sand, and dramatic granite headlands.Permit required
IconicSouthern Calchaquí Valleys: Salta to TucumánThrough the high-altitude Andes of northwestern Argentina, the world's highest vineyards at Cafayate, the sculpted red rock canyons of Quebrada de Cafayate, pre-Inca ruins at Quilmes, and the colonial splendour of Salta.SUV onlyOff-road sections
NotableTatacoa Desert and San AgustínThis south Huila loop links the rust-red badlands of the Tatacoa Desert with the misty archaeology of San Agustín. Start in Neiva, cross the Magdalena River valley, explore the labyrinth of eroded canyons and starry night skies, then continue south to colonial villages and the monumental stone statues and tombs near San Agustín.SUV onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
IconicTrans-Andean HighwayThis classic Andean crossing links Santiago with Mendoza through one of South America’s most dramatic mountain corridors. Expect sweeping switchbacks, high desert valleys, vineyard foothills, and the iconic Cristo Redentor pass area, with changing conditions from coastal Chile to the dry Argentine side.Permit required
NotableUruguay CoastTrace Uruguay’s Atlantic shoreline from Colonia del Sacramento to Punta del Este, following a relaxed mix of riverfront towns, dune-backed beaches, fishing ports, and polished resort strips. The drive is mostly flat and well paved, with easy detours for sunset viewpoints, seafood lunches, and long seaside walks.EV-friendly
IconicUshuaia and Argentine Tierra del FuegoThis southernmost Argentina itinerary combines Ushuaia, the drivable roads of Tierra del Fuego National Park, and an RN3 out-and-back through Paso Garibaldi, Tolhuin, and Río Grande. Alpine bays, peat bogs, lenga forests, and open steppe provide classic end-of-the-world scenery without inventing a western-island road loop.Permit requiredLoop / circuit
IconicAparados da SerraThe Serra Geral escarpment splits the Rio Grande do Sul plateau with two of the deepest canyons in South America, Itaimbezinho (720m deep, 5.8km long) and Fortaleza (900m deep). The araucária pine forests above and the Atlantic Forest below create two entirely different worlds within 20km.SUV onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
LegendaryNorth Yungas Road Guided Cycling DayBolivia’s North Yungas Road drops from the high Andes near La Paz into the humid Yungas valleys on a dramatic, tightly winding descent. Expect cliffside curves, changing weather, and sweeping mountain-to-jungle scenery on a historic route once notorious for its extreme exposure.SUV onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
NotableRota RomânticaThe RS-235 through the Serra Gaúcha follows the valleys settled by German and Italian immigrants in the 1820s, half-timbered architecture, sausage and Gemütlichkeit in Gramado, the Parque do Caracol waterfall, and the Vale dos Vinhedos where Brazil's best Merlot and Moscato are made.EV-friendly
NotableDirect Sucre to Potosí and TupizaThis classic Bolivian road trip links the whitewashed colonial capital of Sucre with the silver-city grandeur of Potosí and the red-rock desert landscapes around Tupiza. Expect steep Andean scenery, mining history, and long stretches of high-altitude highway with dramatic light and changing weather.SUV onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
NotableIberá Wetlands: Portal Laguna IberáThis gentle Corrientes road trip links the provincial capital with Argentina’s vast Iberá Wetlands, trading city streets for quiet estero country, bird-filled marshes, and ranchland horizons. Base yourself in Colonia Carlos Pellegrini for lagoon boat trips, capybara and caiman sightings, and long sunset drives on sandy access roads.SUV onlyOff-road sectionsPermit required
NotableLinha Verde, Coconut CoastBA-099 traces Brazil's most beautiful coastal highway from Salvador north through the "Estrada do Coco" and "Linha Verde", past sea turtle reserves, endless coconut-palm beaches, coral reefs at Praia do Forte, and the dune world of Mangue Seco immortalised in Jorge Amado's novel Tieta.EV-friendly
NotableVale dos Vinhedos: Bento Gonçalves Wine DayThis relaxed loop through Serra Gaúcha links Bento Gonçalves, Garibaldi, and the vineyard-lined Vale dos Vinhedos, Brazil’s best-known wine district. Expect paved country roads, hillside estates, cellar doors, Italian-Brazilian food, and sweeping views of neatly planted vines and rolling green valleys.
NotableCosta Esmeralda: Santo Antônio de Lisboa to BombinhasThis short Atlantic-coast drive links Florianópolis to Bombinhas through Santa Catarina’s Costa Esmeralda, with beach towns, offshore islands, and turquoise bays along the way. The route is paved and straightforward, best enjoyed as a leisurely summer escape with stops for swimming, seafood, and viewpoints.EV-friendly
Hidden GemSuriname Coastal Highway Paramaribo to Nieuw NickerieThis straight, low-key coastal drive follows Suriname’s main westbound highway from Paramaribo to Nieuw Nickerie, crossing wide rivers on road bridges, rice-country plains, and sleepy villages. It is a practical road trip through long stretches of flat, tropical scenery rather than dramatic mountain views.
Hidden GemFoz do Iguaçu Highlights DayA compact cross-border day loop from central Foz do Iguaçu to the iconic Triple Frontier, where Brazil meets Argentina and Paraguay beside the Paraná and Iguazu rivers. Expect easy city roads, sunset river views, and a lively mix of frontier landmarks, viewpoints, and local dining.Permit requiredLoop / circuit