Darker cells are stronger weather or travel-fit months. The second row is crowd pressure.
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Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
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Quick answers
When is the best time to go?
Start with November, December, January, February & March. Choose June & July only with a written reason.
Is this a good honeymoon pick?
Romance score 82/100 sits next to crowd 58/100 — read both.
How crowded does it get?
On red months, empty midday or change region.
What should I budget per day?
Use bands in varies. Mid is the baseline. Not a live fare.
Do I need a visa?
Entry rules differ by country; check each passport pair.
How many days do I need?
Countries breathe at 7–12 days, honeymoon islands at 5–8. Continents: pick one region.
Read South America as regions such as Peru, Patagonia, Brazil, not as a pin.
Lima-Cusco-Machu Picchu is the spine.
Regions
- Peru — Peru is stop 1 in a South America map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Patagonia — Patagonia is stop 2 in a South America map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Brazil — Brazil is stop 3 in a South America map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Colombia — Colombia is stop 4 in a South America map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Argentina wine country — Argentina wine country is stop 5 in a South America map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Galapagos — Galapagos is stop 6 in a South America map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
Routes
- Lima-Cusco-Machu Picchu — Lima-Cusco-Machu Picchu — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
- El Calafate-Torres del Paine — El Calafate-Torres del Paine — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
- Rio-Iguazu-Buenos Aires — Rio-Iguazu-Buenos Aires — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
- Bogota-Cartagena — Bogota-Cartagena — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
Icons
- Peru — Why Peru photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Patagonia — Why Patagonia photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Brazil — Why Brazil photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Colombia — Why Colombia photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Argentina wine country — Why Argentina wine country photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
Pairings
- Slow pair — Pair Peru with Patagonia; drop a third stop before you add one.
- Weather pair — Do not force a wet coast and a dry highland into the same week.
- Honeymoon pair — Two city nights plus three quiet nights recover better than a trophy circuit.
Dropping the third city is usually a gain.
When to goPlacesHow to travelCultureCostHoneymoon notesToday