Cheap Flights to South America from the US

In its 2026 Travel Trends report for American travelers, Skyscanner listed Sao Paulo as the single biggest fare drop, with economy return fares down roughly 29 percent year on year. Its wider research also names Colombia and Argentina among the places seeing growing interest, which fits what many travelers have noticed: South America is quietly becoming easier and cheaper to reach.

The continent has two big advantages for travelers from the United States. Most of it sits in the same or a nearby time zone, so jet lag is mild, and the flights are shorter than people expect. Bogota is under six hours from Miami, and Buenos Aires, at the far end, is about eleven hours from New York. Once you land, prices on the ground are often modest.

Sao Paulo (GRU) is South America's biggest city and a major hub, with nonstops from Miami, New York, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Orlando and other cities. Rio de Janeiro (GIG) has nonstops from Miami, Atlanta, New York and a few others. Flying time is about eight and a half hours from Miami and ten from New York.

Brazil reintroduced a visa requirement for US citizens in 2025, which can be applied for online as an e-visa, so allow time and check the official site. Our guide to Rio de Janeiro explains the city, and our page on Miami to Buenos Aires business class covers premium options nearby.

Buenos Aires (EZE) has nonstops from Miami, New York, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and a few other cities, taking about eight and a half hours from Miami and eleven from New York. Santiago (SCL) is similar, with services from Miami, Dallas, Atlanta, New York and others.

Argentina's tango, steak and wine make Buenos Aires an easy city to love, and Patagonia and the lake districts reward a longer trip. Our Buenos Aires guide covers the city. US citizens can generally enter Argentina and Chile without a visa for up to 90 days, but check current rules.

Miami is the gateway to Latin America and has the widest choice, with American Airlines as the dominant carrier and LATAM, Avianca and many others. Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, New York and Fort Lauderdale also have good service, and Orlando has surprising numbers of Colombian routes.

If you live far from a gateway, a one-stop itinerary through Miami, Houston or Panama City is common. Copa Airlines connects dozens of US cities with South America through Panama, and often has competitive fares. Our page on Copa Airlines explains its network.

South America's seasons are reversed. December to March is summer in Argentina, Chile and southern Brazil, with the warmest beach weather and the highest prices, particularly around Christmas, New Year and Carnival in February. June to August is winter, and a good time for skiing in the Andes and for Peru's dry season.

Colombia and the equatorial countries have a dry season from December to March and again in July and August, and rainy periods in between. The Amazon has its own patterns. Choose by the experience you want, then look at the price.

Beyond the cities, South America's landscapes are the draw. Iguazu Falls, on the border of Argentina and Brazil, is a short flight from Buenos Aires or Sao Paulo, Patagonia's glaciers and peaks lie in the far south of Argentina and Chile, and the Amazon and Pantanal offer wildlife in the north.

These areas need more time than most visitors allow, and domestic flights are the only practical way to reach them. Book internal flights and lodges early for the southern summer, since the best places fill months ahead.

Entry requirements differ widely. Colombia asks for an online registration form for arrivals, Brazil requires an e-visa for US citizens, Argentina and Chile have been simple but ask for passport validity of at least six months, and Peru allows up to 183 days without a visa.

Your passport should have blank pages and at least six months of validity, as many countries require. Some require a yellow fever vaccination certificate for certain regions, such as parts of Brazil and the Amazon. Check the CDC and the State Department websites a couple of months before you go.

Millions of visitors travel safely to South America each year, but petty crime is a real concern in many big cities. Do not wear flashy jewelry or display your phone, use licensed taxis or ride-hailing apps, and keep copies of your documents.

Check the State Department's advisories for the countries you plan to visit, since they differ a lot. Some regions are best avoided, and local advice from your hotel is useful. Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is essential.

In big tourist hotels you will find English, but outside them, much less. A few Spanish phrases go a long way in most of the continent, and Portuguese in Brazil. A translation app and offline maps solve most problems.

Learning to say hello, thank you, how much, and where is, makes a big difference to how you are treated. Locals appreciate effort, and it makes taxis, markets and restaurants far easier.

South America rewards a multi-country trip, but distances are huge. An open-jaw ticket, flying into Lima and out of Buenos Aires, or into Bogota and out of Cartagena, avoids backtracking, and it often costs about the same as a return.

Regional flights between countries are not always cheap, so price them early. LATAM, Avianca and Copa have passes and multi-city fares. Our guide to multi-city versus round-trip tickets explains how to compare.

Hub airports such as Panama City (Copa), Bogota (Avianca) and Lima let you reach smaller South American cities with one stop, and they often price below nonstops. A connection of two to three hours is comfortable, and a single ticket protects you if the first flight is late.

Check the airport transfer rules, since some stops require immigration and a bag recheck. Our guide to tight layovers explains how to judge a connection.

Typical errors include trying to cover too many countries in too few days, ignoring altitude, forgetting visa or e-visa requirements, and carrying valuables in crowded places.

Less obvious ones include booking a tight domestic connection on separate tickets, underestimating distances, and assuming that Spanish skills are unnecessary. A few basic phrases help a lot.