Why Hike in South America?

This continent is a dream for hikers — with landscapes that range from high-altitude lakes to Patagonian peaks, and jungle trails to salt flats. Over six months, I hiked in nearly every country I visited, and these are the ones that stood out.

How the hikes are ranked

This list includes all the 17 hikes I did during my 6-month trip through South America. I’ve ranked them based on the overall impression they left on me — how they felt in the moment, how they stayed with me, and how meaningful the experience was.

That doesn’t mean I’d necessarily do all of them again. Some were incredible but also exhausting, or one-time bucket list moments. So while I’ve included a note on whether I’d personally repeat the hike if I had the time, the ranking reflects how memorable and impactful each hike was — not just how easy, hard, or scenic it was.

Because sometimes, the most unforgettable hikes aren’t the ones you’d repeat — they’re the ones that changed you the first time

1. Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

📍 Base: Cusco, Peru

🎒 Pack Type: Backpack

📏 Distance: ~70 km over 4 days

🏞️ Tour: KB Adventures

🔥 Pain Level: 8/10

🔁 Would I do it again?: Yes

A multi-day trek through mountain ranges and peaks, jungle, hot springs, and ancient ruins. All leading to Machu Picchu as the final reward. The changing weather, landscapes, and long distances was unmatched to anything I have ever experienced.

2. Fitz Roy Trek

📍 Base: El Chaltén (Patagonia), Argentina

🎒 Pack Type: Backpack

📏 Distance: ~36 km over 3 days

🏞️ Tour: DIY with rented gear

🔥 Pain Level: 5/10

🔁 Would I do it again?: Yes

We did this one ourselves and very spontaneously. The cold during the night and the weight of the gear and food/drinks made it harder, but the trail itself was mostly straight forward and manageable — and the views of Fitz Roy at sunrise was unreal.

3. Laguna 69

📍 Base: Huaraz, Peru

🎒 Pack Type: Daypack

📏 Distance: ~13 km round trip

🏞️ Tour: Akilpo

🔥 Pain Level: 7/10

🔁 Would I do it again?: Yes

Altitude, early start, and varied terrain made this one a challenge - and the fact that I spilled all the water I brought - but the turquoise lake at the top was straight out of a dream.

4. Nevado Mateo

📍 Base: Huaraz, Peru

🎒 Pack Type: Daypack

📏 Distance: ~6 km round trip

🏞️ Tour: Akilpo

🔥 Pain Level: 10/10

🔁 Would I do it again?: No

A mountaineering-style hike with snow, steep rocky terrain, and snow axes. Early and dark start, high altitude, and serious incline — this one pushed me to the edge, but the summit and few minutes of a clear sky was worth it.

5. Laguna 513

📍 Base: Carhuaz, Peru

🎒 Pack Type: Daypack

📏 Distance: ~12 km round trip

🏞️ Tour: DIY (guided by Akilpo)

🔥 Pain Level: 5/10

🔁 Would I do it again?: Yes

Easy to get to Carhuaz from Huaraz by bus. A peaceful trail with river crossings and wet terrain. We had it all for ourselves and the lake, Laguna 513, at the top had serious Lord of the Rings energy.

6. Cotopaxi Base Camp Hike

📍 Base: Cotopaxi National Park (via Secret Garden Hostel), Ecuador

🎒 Pack Type: Daypack

📏 Distance: ~4 km round trip

🏞️ Tour: Secret Garden Hostel

🔥 Pain Level: 10/10

🔁 Would I do it again?: No

Altitude sickness, wind, and volcanic gravel made this short hike feel endless. The glacier was cool (literally), but the weather blocked most views. However, it’s listed high because it was an experience that still lives vividly in my mind as a moment where I was very proud of myself and my friend.

7. Pasochoa Hike 

📍 Base: Cotopaxi National Park (via Secret Garden Hostel), Ecuador

🎒 Pack Type: Daypack

📏 Distance: ~8 km round trip

🏞️ Tour: Secret Garden Hostel

🔥 Pain Level: 10/10

🔁 Would I do it again?: No

Another steep, fast-paced hike at altitude and I was still adjusting. But the views? Straight out of Middle-earth. And the cutest? The hostel dogs followed us all the way up to the peak and down again. 

8. Cocora Valley (Palmas de Cocora)

📍 Base: Salento, Colombia

🎒 Pack Type: Daypack

📏 Distance: ~12 km loop
🏞️ Tour: DIY

🔥 Pain Level: 2/10

🔁 Would I do it again?: No

A long but easy loop through Jurassic Park-style landscapes and towering wax palms. A must-do in Colombia.

9. Laguna Churup

📍 Base: Huaraz, Peru

🎒 Pack Type: Daypack

📏 Distance: ~10 km round trip

🏞️ Tour: DIY

🔥 Pain Level: 7/10

🔁 Would I do it again?: Yes

Lots of stairs and a steep rocky section with ropes. A bit repetitive, but none the less a stunning lake at the end of the trial and the view towards it was impressive. I felt so small in a huge world.

10. Wilcacocha

📍 Base: Huaraz, Peru

🎒 Pack Type: Daypack

📏 Distance: ~6 km round trip

🏞️ Tour: DIY

🔥 Pain Level: 2/10

🔁 Would I do it again?: No

A chill acclimatization hike with great views over Huaraz. Perfect for a half-day adventure in very idyllic surroundings with cows, pigs, dogs, and sheep.

11. Laguna Llaca 

📍 Base: Huaraz

🎒 Pack Type: Daypack

📏 Distance: ~8 km round trip

🏞️ Tour: Transport via Akilpo (not guided)

🔥 Pain Level: 6/10

🔁 Would I do it again?: No

A peaceful hike with glacier views, fewer crowds, and horses everywhere. Not too hard, but the altitude still kicked in.

12. Cajas National Park

📍 Base: Cuenca, Ecuador

🎒 Pack Type: Daypack

📏 Distance: ~10–12 km (varies by route)

🏞️ Tour: DIY

🔥 Pain Level: 7/10

🔁 Would I do it again?: No

I know I keep referring to landscapes like in the Lord of The Rings (yes, I’m a fan), and it’s not much different here. We went through the most fantasy-ish forest and were surrounded by a golden landscape. So beautiful.

13. Pan de Azúcar

📍 Base: Piriápolis, Uruguay

🎒 Pack Type: Daypack

📏 Distance: ~5 km round trip

🏞️ Tour: DIY

🔥 Pain Level: 4/10

🔁 Would I do it again?: No

Steep and hot (March), but surprisingly scenic for a flat country. Great views from the top and a nice little zoo at the foot of the “mountain”.

14. Laguna Tullpacocha

📍 Base: Huaraz, Peru

🎒 Pack Type: Daypack

📏 Distance: ~22 km (loop)

🏞️ Tour: DIY (by car)

🔥 Pain Level: 3/10

🔁 Would I do it again?: Yes

A very long, mostly flat, hike. Walking through a valley and alongside a small river. The plan was to mountainbike there, but the tire was flat upon arrival so we walked instead. Next time I would start earlier to avoid walking back in complete darkness.

15. Lanín National Park

📍 Base: San Martín de los Andes, Argentina

🎒 Pack Type: Daypack

📏 Distance: ~3–5 km (short trails)

🏞️ Tour: DIY (by car)

🔥 Pain Level: 1/10

🔁 Would I do it again?: No

A scenic walk more than a hike, but still a beautiful stop if you’re road-tripping through Patagonia and what to try something more if the beaten path.

16. Pico do Papagaio

📍 Base: Ilha Grande, Brazil

🎒 Pack Type: Daypack

📏 Distance: ~6–8 km round trip (we didn’t finish)

🏞️ Tour: DIY

🔥 Pain Level: 6/10

🔁 Would I do it again?: No

We had to turn back due to heavy rain — but the jungle trail had serious Indiana Jones vibes and the humidity made it almost unbearable - but would have loved to see the island from the peak.

17. Parque Nacional Los Alerces

📍 Base: Esquel, Argentina

🎒 Pack Type: Daypack

📏 Distance: ~ 5-8 (varies by trail)

🏞️ Tour: DIY

🔥 Pain Level: 1/10

🔁 Would I do it again?: No

This was one of the easiest hikes of the trip — a peaceful walk around Lago Verde with beautiful views and easy access by bus. While it was lovely, it didn’t leave a strong impression compared to the other hikes I did. If I returned to the area, I’d probably explore something new instead.

Final Thoughts (and a Huge Shoutout)

Every hike on this list gave me something — whether it was a view, a challenge, or a story I’ll be telling for years. South America is a hiker’s dream, but it’s also unpredictable. The weather changes fast, the altitude hits hard, and sometimes your legs just give up. But the reward? Always worth it.

And speaking of rewards — I want to give a special shoutout to Akilpo in Huaraz, Peru. They helped us plan so many of our hikes, even the ones we didn’t book through them. Their prices were fair, their onboarding was incredibly helpful (and free!), and they had the best virtual trail maps I’ve seen — showing exactly how steep, rocky, or exposed each hike would be. That kind of transparency made a huge difference in how we prepared and what we chose to do.

If you’re heading to Huaraz, I can’t recommend them enough.

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