7 Affordable Places to Fly to in South America for Your 2025 Getaway

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South America hits differently. Last month, I grabbed a $450 round trip to Colombia and found myself watching sunset from Medellín’s Comuna 13, cold beer in hand, while the whole city glowed orange below. Everyone thinks flying to South America costs a fortune, but I’ve got news: you just need to know where to look.

These are the best places in South America where you can score actual flight deals. When I landed in Lima for a $500 roundtrip and spent mornings eating fresh ceviche in Miraflores while watching surfers catch waves, I couldn’t believe my luck. I’ve spent weeks hunting down every possible flight route, and I’m sharing only the real deals I’ve found. No fantasy prices, just legit fares that’ll get you exploring this incredible continent without destroying your savings.

#1 tip for finding the cheapest places to fly to in South America

Locating the cheapest airports in South America can be a tedious task, especially when you want to travel on a budget. But here’s my #1 tip for saving money on air travel:

For the last 5 years, I have been using Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) to locate incredible flight deals to some amazing places. This includes Hawaii, Mexico, and many countries in Europe. It’s pretty crazy how easy it is to use this service. You just sign up for Going’s free email alerts and then input your origin airport and destination. Going will send you all kinds of deals, including mistake fares and other crazy discounts on round-trip airline tickets.

Suffice to say, over the years, Going has helped me to save thousands of dollars on air travel. This includes my most recent trip to Colombia, when I took an $227 roundtrip from Boston to Bogota. Flying to South America from the United States is typically a bit more expensive (depending on where you go) due to higher taxes and fewer airlines running there, so these savings mean a lot to me. On average, I save around $300 on specific flight routes to airports in South America.

Depending on how proactive you are, you can use Going’s free email service or sign up for their premium membership. It starts at $49 a year and provides you with more flight deals at greater frequencies than the free version. You can use my discount code Jon20 to save 20% on the premium membership!

So, if you’re ready to get Going to the cheapest places to fly to in South America, let’s head out!

Affordable Places to Fly to in South America in 2025

Looking for affordable places to fly to in South America in 2025? Visit Buenos Aires, Argentina for its vibrant neighborhoods and rich tango culture, Cartagena, Colombia for its colonial charm and Caribbean beaches, Lima, Peru for its world-class cuisine and historic sites, and Mendoza, Argentina for its stunning vineyards and breathtaking mountain views. Whether you’re interested in history, culture, or cuisine, these destinations offer budget-friendly escapes to South America in 2025.

1. Buenos Aires, Argentina ($480–$720 roundtrip)

• ✈️ Flight Time from U.S.: 10-12 hours with direct flights from major U.S. hubs
•  🛫 Best Airlines: American, Aerolíneas Argentinas, LATAM (best deals often midweek or on overnight flights)
• 💸 Why It’s Cheap: Currency advantage 🏆, long-haul fare competition ✈️, seasonal price dips 📉, tourism reboot push 🌎
• 🔥 Perfect for: 💃 Tango lovers, 🥩 steak fanatics, 🏙️ city explorers, 🎭 culture seekers

Buenos Aires is where European charm meets Latin passion, and right now, it’s one of the best-value cities on the continent. The Argentine peso stretches your dollar far, so you can live large on a backpacker budget or splurge without guilt.

San Telmo is where the charm kicks in, with cobblestone streets, open-air markets, and tango dancers performing right on the plazas. Palermo is where you’ll lose hours to rooftop bars, street art, and boutique shops with more personality than anything on Fifth Ave. The food? Ridiculous. Steaks the size of your head, red wine that feels underpriced by at least three zeroes, and empanadas from hole-in-the-wall spots that will ruin your snack standards forever.

LATAM and Aerolíneas Argentinas drop solid flight promos year-round, while American tends to offer the most consistent nonstop options. 

2. Cartagena, Colombia ($340–$510 roundtrip)

• ✈️ Flight Time from U.S.: 3-5 hours with direct flights from major U.S. hubs
• 🛫 Best Airlines: Avianca, JetBlue, Spirit (8+ daily flights with best deals on Tuesday departures)
• 💸 Why It’s Cheap: Direct flight competition 🛩️, tourism infrastructure boom 🏨, favorable exchange rate 💱, package bundle options 📦
• 🔥 Perfect for: Beach lovers 🏖️, history buffs 🏰, foodies 🍽️, photographer dreams 📸

Cartagena is basically a colonial fairytale with Caribbean beaches thrown in as a bonus. This walled city has insane technicolor buildings, bougainvillea-draped balconies, and streets so pretty you’ll think you’re walking through a movie set.

The Walled City is famous for its perfectly preserved colonial architecture, while Getsemaní is so vibrant you can actually feel the neighborhood’s energy shift as sunset brings out street performers and food carts on Plaza Trinidad. When the heat gets too much, Playa Blanca is just a 45-minute boat ride away with powder-white sand and crystal waters that’ll make your social media followers seriously jealous.

For the best flight deals, JetBlue and Spirit often battle with sales, though Avianca offers the most reliable service if you’re willing to pay a bit more for comfort and flexibility.

3. Lima, Peru ($400–$600 roundtrip)

• ✈️ Flight Time from U.S.: 6-9 hours with direct flights from major U.S. hubs
• 🛫 Best Airlines: LATAM, Avianca, JetBlue (12+ daily flights with midweek deals slashing prices)
• 💸 Why It’s Cheap: Competitive gateway city 🛂, shoulder season values 📆, currency advantage 💰, multi-airline hub status 🌐
• 🔥 Perfect for: Food obsessives 🍴, history enthusiasts 🏺, surf chasers 🏄‍♂️, urban explorers 🏙️

Lima is the culinary capital that nobody saw coming. This coastal metropolis has transformed itself into South America’s foodie headquarters with restaurants so good they’re actually worth building your entire trip around.

Miraflores is famous for its clifftop parks and luxury shopping, while Barranco is so cool you can actually feel the creative energy in its colorful streets, bohemian bars, and converted colonial mansions. Don’t miss the ancient Huaca Pucllana pyramid sitting casually in the middle of the city, or the stunning Plaza de Armas where Spanish colonial grandeur hits you right in the face.

JetBlue and Avianca frequently battle it out with sales, though LATAM offers the most flight options if you’re planning to explore beyond the capital. 

• Read Next: Amazing UNESCO Sites to Visit

4. Mendoza, Argentina ($520–$750 roundtrip)

• ✈️ Flight Time from U.S.: 10-14 hours with connections from major U.S. hubs
• 🛫 Best Airlines: LATAM, Aerolíneas Argentinas, Copa (best deals on connecting flights through Santiago)
• 💸 Why It’s Cheap: Favorable exchange rates 💱, shoulder season discounts 📉, wine tourism competition 🍷, package deal offerings 📦
• 🔥 Perfect for: Wine lovers 🍷, mountain adventurers ⛰️, foodies 🍽️, relaxation seekers 🧘‍♀️

Mendoza is basically wine heaven with the Andes as a backdrop. This laid-back city has over 1,500 wineries, streets lined with massive trees, and a chill vibe that makes you want to extend your stay indefinitely.

Luján de Cuyo is famous for its world-class Malbec producers, while Valle de Uco is so stunning you can actually taste the mountain minerals in wines from vineyards sitting at 4,000+ feet elevation. Don’t miss Plaza Independencia, the city’s beautiful central square, or day trips to Aconcagua National Park where you can see the highest peak outside the Himalayas without hardcore climbing skills.

Time your visit for April when grape harvest festivals are in full swing and LATAM drops those sweet flash sales that’ll get you there for under $600 roundtrip.

5. Bogotá, Colombia ($350–$540 roundtrip)

• ✈️ Flight Time from U.S.: 3-7 hours with direct flights from major U.S. hubs
• 🛫 Best Airlines: Avianca, JetBlue, American (daily direct flights with frequent sales)
• 💸 Why It’s Cheap: Strong dollar advantage 💵, increasing flight competition ✈️, off-season discounts 📉, emerging destination status 📈
• 🔥 Perfect for: Coffee addicts ☕, art lovers 🎨, mountain hikers 🏔️, urban foodies 🍽️

Bogotá is basically South America’s best-kept secret and a budget traveler’s dream. This high-altitude metropolis has a crazy-cool mix of colonial charm and edgy urban culture, all at prices that’ll make you wonder why you waited so long to visit.

La Candelaria is famous for its colorful colonial buildings and mind-blowing street art, while Chapinero is so hip you can actually feel yourself getting cooler just by walking its streets lined with third-wave coffee shops and indie boutiques. Don’t miss the Gold Museum with its insane collection of pre-Hispanic gold artifacts, or the Sunday Ciclovía when they shut down major roads to cars and the entire city comes alive with bikes, skaters, and street performers.

Spring is usually the ideal time to visit when the city enjoys perfect weather and Avianca runs those “secret” Tuesday fare drops that can get you there for under $400 roundtrip. 

6. Guayaquil, Ecuador ($380–$590 roundtrip)

• ✈️ Flight Time from U.S.: 4-7 hours with direct flights from major U.S. hubs
• 🛫 Best Airlines: American, LATAM, Copa (connecting flights through Panama often cheapest)
• 💸 Why It’s Cheap: USD is local currency 💵, gateway city status 🚪, airline route expansion 🛩️, tourism incentives 🏨
• 🔥 Perfect for: Galápagos launchers 🐢, seafood lovers 🦐, riverfront explorers 🚶, cultural adventurers 🎭

Guayaquil is Ecuador’s bustling port city that serves as an affordable gateway to the Galápagos while being worth exploring in its own right.

Malecón 2000 is famous for its stunning riverfront promenade, while Las Peñas is so colorful you can actually spend hours getting lost in its 400+ steps lined with art galleries and cafes in centuries-old houses. The Iguana Park is literally crawling with dinosaur-like creatures that hang out in trees and benches like they own the place (they kinda do), while the Parque Histórico lets you experience Ecuador’s diverse ecosystems without leaving the city.

Snag those American Airlines weekend web specials that drop unexpectedly, usually 2-3 months out. November flights are shockingly cheap, and you’ll hit perfect weather between Ecuador’s two rainy seasons.

7. São Paulo, Brazil ($490–$730 roundtrip)

• ✈️ Flight Time from U.S.: 9-12 hours with direct flights from major U.S. hubs
• 🛫 Best Airlines: LATAM, Delta, American (codeshare partners often have best combos)
• 💸 Why It’s Cheap: Brazilian currency fluctuations 💱, business travel focus 💼, huge airport competition 🛬, seasonal pricing swings 📊
• 🔥 Perfect for: Urban adventurers 🏙️, food enthusiasts 🍖, nightlife lovers 🎭, art hunters 🖼️

São Paulo is Brazil’s massive metropolis offering world-class food, art, and nightlife at prices far lower than comparable global cities.

Vila Madalena is famous for its graffiti-covered alleyways and hipster bars, while Liberdade is so authentic you can actually believe you’ve teleported to Tokyo with its incredible Japanese food and weekend markets. Don’t sleep on Ibirapuera Park, the city’s gorgeous green lung designed by legendary architect Oscar Niemeyer, or Mercado Municipal where you’ll find massive mortadella sandwiches that’ll haunt your food dreams forever.

Visiting this beast of a city? Fly LATAM and watch for their flash sales that happen roughly every six weeks, typically announced on Thursdays. May and September offer perfect mild weather plus hotel rates about 40% lower than December peak season.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the cheapest places to fly to in South America

If you still need some direction on finding the most affordable flights to South America, I have you covered. Here are some frequently asked questions about the best ways to get to South America.

Which airlines offer direct flights to South America?

When efficient travelers look for the cheapest places to fly to in South America, they frequently look at which airlines offer direct service to their destination. Connections and layovers are often just unnecessary inconveniences. After all – who has time sit around an airport for several hours?

Keep in mind that, you sometimes pay extra for convenience. However, here is a list of carriers offering direct flights to South America:

• Dynamic Airways
• Interjet Interjet
• American Airlines
• Air Canada
• Azul Brazilian Airlines
• Air France
• Aeromexico
• Aerolineas Argentinas
• Avianca
• JetBlue Airways
• Air Jamaica
• Copa Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Gol Transportes Aéreos
• LATAM Airlines Group SA

What is the cheapest South American country to fly into?

As we have seen from this list, there are a number of cheap countries to visit in South America. This is due to a variety of factors, including the cost of living, exchange rate, and the size and popularity of the airport.

Given those criteria, the cheapest country to visit in South America is often cited as Bolivia. It’s followed closely by Colombia and Ecuador. Depending on where you are, these countries might offer accommodations for under $10 a night, with food coming in at even less.

Add in the fact that most South American cities offer public transport, and you’re looking at a fairly budget-friendly vacation.

Is it cheap to travel in South America?

Yes, traveling in South America can be relatively cheap, especially when compared to other parts of the world. You can find budget accommodations, street food, and local transportation options that won’t break the bank.

However, the cost of travel will depend on various factors such as the countries you’re visiting, the time of year, and your preferred mode of transportation. For example, Argentina and Chile can be more expensive than other countries in South America, while Bolivia and Peru are generally cheaper. With a bit of planning and research, you can enjoy all that South America has to offer without spending a fortune. Just make sure to budget for the occasional splurge on some of the region’s amazing food and experiences!

How far in advance should I book a flight to South America?

You probably noticed that the best times to visit South America are usually in the shoulder seasons of spring and fall. So, if those are your preferred times to go, you may want to start shopping for the cheapest flights between 2 and 8 months ahead of time.

Of course, you can use Going just a few weeks before to find mistake fares and other crazy-low flight prices. Most flights to South America are pretty affordable anyway. So, any deals you can find on those prices are only going to be even friendlier on your wallet.

Why is it so cheap to fly to Colombia?

First of all, Colombia is an incredibly diverse country that offers visitors everything from stunning Caribbean beaches to Andean mountain ranges, and ancient ruins to modern cities. However, in the past, Colombia has had a reputation for violence and instability, which kept many travelers away.

But fear not. In recent years, the country has undergone a transformation and has become one of the top destinations in South America. With a growing tourism industry, more and more airlines are offering flights to Colombia. This has increased competition and driven down prices.

Another reason why it’s cheap to fly to Colombia is that the country is strategically located in the middle of South America. This makes it a great hub for connecting flights to other countries in the region. So, if you’re planning a trip to South America, it might be cheaper to fly to Colombia first and then catch a connecting flight to your final destination.

Colombia is an amazing destination that offers visitors incredible experiences at a fraction of the cost of other countries. Plus, you might just fall in love with the country and want to stay forever! Just make sure to save some room in your suitcase for some delicious Colombian coffee and a poncho to keep you warm in the Andes.