🎒 The South America backpacking route I would take if I had only 30 days ✈️

I would not attempt six countries. I know the temptation. Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina... suddenly a 30-day trip has become a competition against the calendar 😂 With only one month, I would choose Peru, Bolivia and northern Chile. My route would look like this: 🇵🇪 Lima → Arequipa → Cusco → Sacred Valley → Machu Picchu 🇧🇴 Copacabana → La Paz → Uyuni 🇨🇱 San Pedro de Atacama I would spend roughly 10 days in Peru, 10 in Bolivia and 7 in northern Chile, leaving a few days for transportation and unexpected changes. The section I would be most excited about is the transition from Uyuni to San Pedro de Atacama. You go from the surreal landscapes of the Bolivian salt flats and high-altitude lagoons into the Atacama Desert, and suddenly the scenery changes again. For budget planning, I would expect Bolivia to be the easiest country on the wallet. Current 2026 estimates put budget travel there around US$35 per day, while Peru is closer to US$48 once major attractions such as Machu Picchu are factored in. I would also take altitude seriously. Cusco sits at roughly 3,400 meters, La Paz is even higher and the Uyuni region is well above 3,500 meters. I would not schedule a demanding hike immediately after arriving. My first few days would be deliberately slow: short walks, plenty of water, food and sleep. A backpacking route should challenge me with landscapes and experiences, not with an unnecessarily aggressive itinerary 🏔️ If you had exactly 30 days, would you choose this Peru-Bolivia-Chile route or spend the entire month exploring just one country? #backpacking2026