Maximize Your Travel with Discount Airlines in South America

When it comes to long distance travel, there is a vast difference between traveling in South America and traveling in Europe or the United States. Trains are not an option for getting around South America. Likewise, there are not scores of cheap plane tickets and discount airlines to choose from either.

For budget travelers, both local and foreign, that leaves buses for long distance, affordable travel.

Traveling by bus can get very tedious given the enormous size of the continent. There are certain routes, however, that for about the same price as an upgraded bus ticket, you can hop on a two-hour flight and avoid 24 hours of sitting on a bus. Other times paying just a little more for a flight is a worthwhile exchange for taking a bigger hop down the road and making life a lot easier on yourself.

Cheap Flight vs. Long-Haul Bus

Lima – Cusco (Machu Picchu), Peru
Cusco, Peru – the largest city near Machu Picchu – is obviously a very popular destination. For a little more than the cost of a plush bus seat, you can skip the 22-hour bus ride from Lima and take a 1-1/2 hour flight into Cusco for about the same price.

The Size of South America

To put things into perspective, from the top of Venezuela to the bottom of Chile is approximately 4,600 miles (7,400 kilimeters). The width of the United State is about 3,000 miles. Imagine traveling across the United States and half way back… by bus.

There is so much to see in South America. Be sure to check into options for an occasional flight to help you keep your sanity and maximize your travel time and energy.

Local Airlines in South America

  • Sky Airline – A Chilean airline, offers some of the best deals. Their regular schedule includes 14 cities in Chile, travel to Buenos Aires and Mendoza in Argentina, and Lima and Arequipa, Peru. View destinations
  • Aerolineas Argentina – Flights in Argentina and from the United States to South America.
  • LAN – One of the largest airline carriers in South America.
  • Taca – Connects its four Hubs – Colombia, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Peru.
  • Avianca – Mainly serving Central America and connecting South America.

Flight Restrictions

If you see an advertised airline special, make sure that you read the fine print. Some promotions have restrictions by nationality. This is to make air travel affordable for locals. This is especially true in countries like Peru where there is a large difference in the economy for locals as opposed to foreign travelers.