9 Best Hikes in South America for Adventure Travelers
Enjoy our top nine hikes in South America!
Discovering the South American continent on foot is a journey of a lifetime. From the Peruvian Andes where ancient Inca trails lead to some of the most mystical monuments in the world, to the remote corners of Patagonia with its hidden fjords, floating glaciers, and golden pampas, this is an adventurers’ dreamland.
Enjoy our curated choice of top nine hikes in South America, handcrafted for active travelers of different aptitudes and aspirations, visiting the continent for the first or the fifteenth time!
1. Chile Patagonia Cochamo Valley
In December 2025, conservationists secured over 328,000 acres of wild Patagonian wilderness in the Cochamo Valley — the “Yosemite of South America.” And when it came time to welcome the first commercial hiking groups, they chose MT Sobek as their partner. On this brand-new adventure, discover forgotten gaucho trails, packrafting crystal-clear rivers, and exclusive wilderness camps on this 10-night, 11-day itinerary.
Every departure directly supports the local families, guides, baqueanos, and conservation efforts protecting this extraordinary corner of Patagonia! Jump on the rare chance to experience a place before the rest of the world catches on!
Activity Level: 4 / Number of days: 11
How to hike in Cochamo Valley? -> Join the 11-day Chile Patagonia Cochamo Valley Hiking Tour
Learn More:
From Torres del Paine to Cochamo: Searching for Patagonia’s Next Wild Place
2. Argentina & Chile Patagonia to the Sea
From the Pampas grasslands to the fabled Cape Horn, journey by sea and land to discover Argentine and Chilean Patagonia in one go. Revel in a complete sea-to-sky Patagonia experience from Ushuaia and Cape Horn to Torres del Paine. Explore remote fjords and otherwise inaccessible glaciers aboard the Ventus Australis or Stella Australis.
Then hike in stunning Torres del Paine, staying at special boutique hotels including Estancia Cerro Guido, an authentic working estancia with just 13 deluxe rooms and stunning views of the Paine Massif.
Activity Level: 3 // Number of days: 11
How to go on a land and cruise in Patagonia? -> Join the 11-day Argentina & Chile Patagonia to the Sea Hiking & Cruising Tour
3. Chile & Argentina Ultimate Patagonia
Patagonia’s staggering beauty shines through in this 12-day itinerary that winds across two famous national parks in the region’s opposite corners. In Chile’s Torres del Paine, conquer the iconic 40-mile W circuit by hiking beneath gray granite peaks and blue-tinted glaciers.
Activity Level: 4 // Number of days: 12
How to hike the “best of” Patagonia? -> Join the 12-day Chile & Argentina Ultimate Patagonia Hiking Tour
4. Patagonia Torres del Paine W Trek
Trek 40 miles of Torres del Paine’s famous W Trek on this achievable one-week itinerary. Spend each night in the comfort of coveted wilderness lodgings, supported by our guide and porter team – no camping! Watch icebergs calve into Grey Glacier, hike into the French Valley and beneath the Horns, and be moved by mighty granite spires soaring above turquoise waters. Unforgettable!
Activity Level: 4 // Number of days: 7
How to hike the W Trek? -> Join the 7-day Chile Patagonia Torres del Paine W Trek Hiking Tour
5. Chile Patagonia Torres del Paine O Circuit
Introducing a brand new itinerary to take you through Torres del Paine: the O Circuit, pioneered by MT Sobek! Back in 1985, co-founder Leo LeBon trekked this complete loop with park ranger Pepe Alarcón, opening up the remote backside long before the route became one of Patagonia’s most iconic treks.
Hike a true 360° of the Paine Massif: engage on wild, lesser-seen trails to the icons you’ve been dreaming of. Granite spires, remote glacier-fed lakes, the climb over John Garner Pass, and sunrise at the Towers to finish.
Activity Level: 5 // Number of days: 12
How to hike the O Circuit? -> Join the 12-day Chile Patagonia Torres del Paine O Circuit Trek
6. Peru Cordillera Blanca
Soar to incredible heights in South America’s Himalayan counterpart. With 27 peaks over 19,000 feet, Peru’s Cordillera Blanca (the White Mountain Range) graces many a bucket list.
Prepare to conquer seven mountain passes, each one offering a new perspective on the rugged beauty that surrounds you. As you reach the summit of each pass, a sense of accomplishment washes over you, fueling your determination to push forward. The air becomes thinner, but the views become more breathtaking with every step!
Camping at over 14,000 feet, you’ll experience the true essence of the Cordillera Blanca. The crisp mountain air fills your lungs as you gaze up at the star-filled sky, feeling a profound connection to the natural world. Surrounded by towering peaks like the pyramidal Alpamayo and the 22,204′ Mount Huascarán, you’ll understand why this region is a hiker’s paradise!
Activity Level: 5 // Number of days: 14
How to hike Cordillera Blanca? -> Join the 14-day Peru Cordillera Blanca Trekking Tour
7. Peru Machu Picchu & Salkantay
Experience Peru’s most famous sites on this memorable 10-day adventure. Your trip begins and ends in Cusco, and journeys along the lightly traveled Salkantay Trail through the magnificent Cordillera Vilcabamba.
Spend nights at comfortable mountain lodges in spectacular locations. After days of hiking amid sparkling glaciers, azure lakes, dreamy cloud forests, and snow-capped peaks, enjoy ample time to explore Peru’s star attraction: Machu Picchu.
Activity Level: 4 // Number of days: 10
How to hike to Machu Picchu on the Salkantay Trail? -> Join the 10-day Peru Machu Picchu & Salkantay Lodge-to-Lodge Trekking Tour
8. Peru Inca Trail Custom Trek
Discover both the cultural and scenic highlights of Peru, from the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu. Combine awe-inspiring day hikes with immersive experiences in traditional villages, and spend nights at perfectly located luxury hotels.
Cap it off with a half-day hike on the classic Inca Trail to the legendary lost citadel of Machu Picchu, and enjoy a full day’s worth of visit the following day. This inspiring trip captures the best of Peru in one achievable hiking adventure!
Activity Level: 4 // Number of days: 8
How to hike the Inca Trail? -> Make your own dates for our 8-day Peru Inca Trail Custom Trekking Tour
9. Peru Cordillera Huayhuash Trek
Take on one of the world’s most spectacular mountain circuits in Peru’s Cordillera Huayhuash, a compact yet dramatic range of glaciers, jagged peaks, and turquoise lakes. Home to six of Peru’s highest summits, it’s also the legendary setting of Touching the Void, the gripping story of climbers Joe Simpson and Simon Yates on Siula Grande.
This demanding multi-day trek delivers unforgettable views of snow-capped peaks and hanging glaciers, with MT Sobek’s expert guides leading you on a true bucket-list adventure.
Activity Level: 5 // Number of days: 16
How to hike the Cordillera Huayhuash? -> Join the 16-day Peru Cordillera Huayhuash Trekking Tour
Ask an Expert
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In Conclusion
Few places on earth ignite the spirit of adventure like Patagonia. Our Patagonia adventures bring you deep into the heart of this legendary region with world-class guides backed by decades of expertise. Each day reveals something extraordinary—granite towers glowing at sunrise, guanacos grazing beneath snow-capped peaks, and endless skies that make you feel both small and limitless.
Ready to explore the first step? Check out all of MT Sobek’s adventures in Patagonia and get your free MT Sobek catalog!
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FAQS
December through March generally offers the most reliable hiking conditions, longer daylight hours, and access to Patagonia’s most famous trails, although November and March are often favored for fewer crowds.
Patagonia offers hikes for a wide range of abilities, from moderate day hikes in Torres del Paine to challenging multi-day treks such as the O Circuit. Weather, wind, and distance often make Patagonia feel more demanding than the elevation profiles suggest.
Many Patagonia trails can be hiked independently, but guided trips like MT Sobek are ideal for travelers seeking logistics support, local expertise, remote access, and deeper insight into the region’s geology, wildlife, and history.
The W Trek focuses on Torres del Paine’s most famous highlights and is generally shorter and more accessible. The O Circuit completes a full loop around the Paine Massif, offering a more remote, physically demanding, and immersive Patagonia trekking experience.
First-time visitors often choose the Torres del Paine W Trek because it combines many of Patagonia’s most iconic landscapes, including granite towers, glaciers, turquoise lakes, and mountain valleys, in a manageable one-week itinerary.
Depending on the region, hikers may spot guanacos, Andean condors, foxes, rheas, flamingos, and occasionally pumas in protected areas such as Torres del Paine National Park.
Both destinations offer extraordinary hiking. Patagonia is known for dramatic wilderness landscapes, glaciers, and trekking routes, while Peru combines mountain adventures with rich cultural and archaeological experiences such as Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail.
Not necessarily. Many guided Patagonia hiking itineraries use lodges, hotels, estancias, or mountain refugios, allowing travelers to experience world-class trekking while enjoying added comfort each evening.
Patagonia combines vast wilderness, dramatic mountain scenery, massive glaciers, unique wildlife, and some of the world’s most celebrated trekking routes, creating an adventure experience unlike almost anywhere else on Earth.
