57 days in South America & Mexico Itinerary

Make it your trip
Train to Dresden, Fly to Fernando de Noronha
1
Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
— 6 nights
Fly
2
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
— 6 nights
Drive
3
Paraty, Brazil
— 6 nights
Drive to Angra dos Reis, Ferry to Ilha Grande
4
Ilha Grande, Brazil
— 8 nights
+2
Ferry to Conceição de Jacareí, Bus to Rodoviaria, Fly to Foz do Iguacu
5
Foz do Iguacu, Brazil
— 2 nights
Fly
6
Santiago, Chile
— 7 nights
Fly
7
Machu Picchu, Peru
— 3 nights
Fly
8
Tulum, Mexico
— 6 nights
Fly
9
Mexico City, Mexico
— 5 nights
Fly
10
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
— 5 nights
Fly

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Fernando de Noronha, Brazil — 6 nights

Emerald of the Atlantic

Spend the 19th (Fri) exploring nature at Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park. The adventure continues: stroll through Baia dos Porcos, step off the mainland to explore Morro Sao Jose Fernando de Noronha, enjoy the sand and surf at Praia do Cacimba do Padre, and get up close to creatures of the deep with a dolphin and whale watching tour.

For ratings, maps, other places to visit, and more tourist information, you can read our Fernando de Noronha vacation planner.

Berlin, Germany to Fernando de Noronha is an approximately 27-hour combination of train and flight. The time zone difference moving from Central European Standard Time (CET) to Fernando de Noronha Standard Time (FNT) is minus 3 hours. Expect a daytime high around 34°C in January, and nighttime lows around 29°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 21st (Sun) to allow time to fly to Rio de Janeiro.
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Parks · Outdoors · Beaches · Nature
Find places to stay Jan 14 — 21:

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — 6 nights

Marvelous City

Rio de Janeiro is known for sightseeing, beaches, and nightlife. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: appreciate the history behind Corcovado - Christ the Redeemer, admire the natural beauty at Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, stop by Santa Teresa, and tour the pleasant surroundings at Barra da Tijuca Beach.

For photos, maps, where to stay, and other tourist information, go to the Rio de Janeiro trip builder website.

Getting from Fernando de Noronha to Rio de Janeiro by flight takes about 7 hours. Traveling from Fernando de Noronha to Rio de Janeiro, you'll gain 1 hour due to the time zone difference. Expect a daytime high around 37°C in January, and nighttime lows around 28°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 27th (Sat) to allow enough time to drive to Paraty.
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Parks · Outdoors · Beaches · Neighborhoods
Find places to stay Jan 21 — 27:

Paraty, Brazil — 6 nights

Paraty is known for beaches, nature, and sightseeing. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: wander the streets of Centro Historico, witness a stunning natural landmark at Piscina Natural da Caixa d'Aco, step off the mainland to explore Ilha do Cedro, and enjoy the sand and surf at Saco do Mamangua Beach.

To see ratings, other places to visit, where to stay, and other tourist information, you can read our Paraty road trip planning site.

You can drive from Rio de Janeiro to Paraty in 4 hours. Other options are to do a combination of bus and taxi; or take a bus. Finish your sightseeing early on the 2nd (Fri) to allow enough time to travel to Ilha Grande.
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Parks · Outdoors · Beaches · Nature
Find places to stay Jan 27 — Feb 2:

Ilha Grande, Brazil — 8 nights

Ilha Grande is known for beaches, nature, and wildlife. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: tour the pleasant surroundings at Meros Beach, enjoy the sand and surf at Morcego Beach, indulge in some personalized pampering at Namaste Terapias Corporais, and explore the activities along Lagoa Verde, Ilha Grande.

To see more things to do, photos, reviews, and tourist information, read our Ilha Grande online trip itinerary maker.

You can do a combination of car and ferry from Paraty to Ilha Grande in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and ferry. February in Ilha Grande sees daily highs of 38°C and lows of 26°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 10th (Sat) to allow enough time to travel to Foz do Iguacu.
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Parks · Outdoors · Beaches · Nature
Find places to stay Feb 2 — 10:

Foz do Iguacu, Brazil — 2 nights

Land of the Waterfalls

On the 11th (Sun), admire the sheer force of Iguazu Falls. Keep things going the next day: see human ingenuity at work at Itaipu Dam and then get to know the resident critters at Parque das Aves Bird Park.

To see other places to visit, maps, photos, and more tourist information, refer to the Foz do Iguacu trip website.

Traveling by combination of ferry, bus, and flight from Ilha Grande to Foz do Iguacu takes 8.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of ferry and car; or do a combination of ferry, car, and bus. Expect a daytime high around 37°C in February, and nighttime lows around 25°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 12th (Mon) so you can fly to Santiago.
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Parks · Nature · Zoos & Aquariums
Find places to stay Feb 10 — 12:

Santiago, Chile — 7 nights

City of the Island Hills

Santiago is known for shopping, sightseeing, and parks. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: take in the awesome beauty at San Cristóbal Hill, take an in-depth tour of Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos, walk around Parque Metropolitano de Santiago - Parquemet, and explore the world behind art at Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino.

To find more things to do, ratings, traveler tips, and tourist information, use the Santiago attractions planner.

Fly from Foz do Iguacu to Santiago in 6.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. You'll gain 1 hour traveling from Foz do Iguacu to Santiago due to the time zone difference. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 19th (Mon) to allow time to fly to Machu Picchu.
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Museums · Parks · Neighborhoods · Shopping
Find places to stay Feb 12 — 19:

Machu Picchu, Peru — 3 nights

Kick off your visit on the 20th (Tue): explore the ancient world of Ruinas de Choquequirao. On the 21st (Wed), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: steep yourself in history at Santuario Historico de Machu Picchu.

To see traveler tips, maps, photos, and other tourist information, read Machu Picchu online road trip planner.

Fly from Santiago to Machu Picchu in 6.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. The time zone changes from Chile Standard Time to Peru Standard Time, which is usually a -1 hour difference. You'll set off for Tulum on the 22nd (Thu).
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Side Trip
Find places to stay Feb 19 — 22:

Tulum, Mexico — 6 nights

Venture out of the city with trips to Zona Arqueologica de Coba (in Coba) and Playa del Carmen (Xcaret & Scuba & Snorkeling). Next up on the itinerary: explore the ancient world of Tulum Archaeological Site, see the sights as you ascend with a climbing tour, Head underground at Samula Cenote, and stroll through Punta Laguna Nature Reserve.

For ratings, more things to do, and tourist information, refer to the Tulum trip itinerary builder tool.

Fly from Machu Picchu to Tulum in 11 hours. In February in Tulum, expect temperatures between 31°C during the day and 21°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 28th (Wed) to allow time to fly to Mexico City.
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Outdoors · Parks · Tours · Wildlife
Side Trips
Find places to stay Feb 22 — 28:

Mexico City, Mexico — 5 nights

City of Palaces

Get out of town with these interesting Mexico City side-trips: San Juan Teotihuacan (Zona Arqueológica de Teotihuacan Estacionamiento Puerta 5 & Piramide de la Serpiente Emplumada). Next up on the itinerary: learn more about the world around you at Museo Nacional de Antropologia, indulge in some culinary diversions at a local gastronomic tour, pause for some serene contemplation at Basilica de Santa Maria de Guadalupe, and delve into the distant past at Museo del Templo Mayor.

To find maps, traveler tips, other places to visit, and other tourist information, read our Mexico City travel website.

Getting from Tulum to Mexico City by flight takes about 4 hours. Other options: drive; or take a bus. The time zone changes from Eastern Standard Time (EST) to Central Standard Time (CST), which is usually a -1 hour difference. Plan for slightly colder temperatures traveling from Tulum in February, with highs in Mexico City at 28°C and lows at 10°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 4th (Mon) so you can catch the flight to Puerto Vallarta.
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Historic Sites · Museums · Tours · Parks
Side Trip
Find places to stay Feb 28 — Mar 4:

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico — 5 nights

Change things up with a short trip to Vallarta Botanical Gardens in Cabo Corrientes (about 48 minutes away). The adventure continues: take a leisurely stroll along Malecon Boardwalk, sample some tasty brews at a beer tour and tasting, get to know the fascinating history of Zona Romantica, and see majestic marine mammals with a dolphin and whale watching tour.

For maps, ratings, more things to do, and other tourist information, go to the Puerto Vallarta online trip planner.

Getting from Mexico City to Puerto Vallarta by flight takes about 3 hours. Other options: drive; or do a combination of bus and taxi. Plan for somewhat warmer nights when traveling from Mexico City in March since evenings lows in Puerto Vallarta dip to 20°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 9th (Sat) to allow enough time to fly back home.
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Tours · Parks · Outdoors · Nature
Side Trip
Find places to stay Mar 4 — 9:

Brazil travel guide

4.5
Beaches · Landmarks · Specialty Museums
Land of Brazilwood
The largest country in South America and the biggest Portuguese-speaking nation in the world, Brazil remains best known for its soccer tradition and annual Carnaval. Most visitors on holiday in Brazil come for the country's outstanding beaches, music, wildlife, and diverse neighborhoods, each one boasting its own distinct character, atmosphere, and way of life. A tour of Brazil reveals a vast land of great natural and human diversity, from its sprawling rainforest wildernesses, to its busy urban centers. There are plenty of things to do in Brazil, from basking on its coastline to chasing the samba scene or catching a picturesque sunset from one of the country's lush mountaintops.
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Chile travel guide

4.3
Parks · Landmarks · Specialty Museums
Land of Poets
Squeezed between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean, geographically diverse Chile is a long, thin stretch of land encompassing some of the world's driest deserts in the north, and some of its largest glacial fields in the south. Though most Chile holidays include some form of adventure in the vast wilderness areas, the country also contains charming cities providing plenty of urban things to do and see. Many tours of Chile include at least a brief visit to the country's lush wine regions, where backyard vineyards compete with sprawling estates producing some of the world's most respected whites and reds.
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Peru travel guide

4.6
Historic Sites · Parks · Landmarks
Land of the Incas
In a country renowned for its pre-Columbian archeological sites, no Peru vacation would be complete without an adrenaline-inducing hike to Machu Picchu, World Heritage-listed symbol of the once-mighty Incan Empire. Aside from visiting these spectacular ruins set against the backdrop of photogenic mountain peaks, most holidays in Peru also include an exploration of the country's pretty cities, boasting well-preserved colonial architecture and a slew of modern buildings housing fine museums, galleries, shops, and restaurants. Ideal for active vacationers, Peru trips are also tailor-made for gourmands, as the country's eclectic cuisine blends tasty influences from Africa, Asia, and Europe.
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Mexico travel guide

4.4
Tailor-made for anyone seeking that traditional sun-and-sand experience, Mexico vacations allow visitors to explore nearly 10,000 km (6,200 mi) of picturesque coastlines. Idyllic beaches and favorable year-round weather aside, this diverse country with a rich pre-Colombian history allows tourists a chance to discover a fascinating cuisine, numerous archaeological sites, state-of-the-art museums, colonial-era haciendas, and outstanding examples of 21st-century architecture. Most visitors get to know the country by its cities, but if you want a well-rounded Mexico tour, spend some time exploring its jungles, cloud forests, Caribbean reefs, snowcapped volcanoes, vast deserts, and tranquil lagoons. Life is lived outdoors in Mexico, so wherever you go, don't forget to dine alfresco and stroll the country's colonial streets.
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