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Ask anyone who has done it and they'll tell you the same thing: the flight is the bit you worry about, and the continent is the bit you never forget. South America is huge, wildly varied and a lot easier to reach from Britain than most people assume. You can eat breakfast in London and watch the sun drop behind Sugarloaf Mountain the next evening, or step off a plane in Lima with a week of Inca ruins and ceviche ahead of you.
The catch is the price. Long-haul fares swing about more than the weather in Patagonia, and it's easy to overpay if you grab the first deal that pops up. That's the reason we put this page together. Below you'll find a plain-English guide to flights to South America from UK airports: which cities are worth flying into, how long you'll spend in the air, when fares tend to dip, and how to stack the odds in your favour.
Whether you're after cheap flights to South America for a backpacking stint or planning a once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon, read on, then compare live fares for your own dates. And if you'd rather not do the legwork, call us. A quick chat with one of our agents often turns up options a search box never will.
Where to fly
South America isn't one destination, it's a dozen countries with very different personalities. Your arrival city matters because it sets the tone, the cost of getting around and often the price of your ticket. These are the airports UK travellers search for most when they look for flights from UK to South America. Pick a city, tap its link and call our agents on +44 203-836-6667. They will check live fares for your dates.
Brazil's giant is the busiest gateway in the country and often the easiest place to find a direct flight from London. Come for the food, the street art and the nightlife, then hop on a domestic flight to Rio, Salvador or Iguaçu Falls. A great first stop for a longer Brazil trip.
Flights to São Paulo from UKBeaches, rainforest-covered peaks and Christ the Redeemer in a single city. Fares climb around Carnival and New Year, so if you can stay flexible, aim for March to May or September to November. The weather is still lovely and the crowds thin out.
Cheap flights to Rio de JaneiroTango, steak, Malbec and café culture in a city that feels more European than plenty of European ones. It's also the launchpad for Patagonia, Iguazú Falls and the vineyards around Mendoza. Overnight flights from the UK mean you land ready for a long lunch.
Flights to Buenos Aires from UKPeru's capital is a food city first and a gateway second. Most people pair it with Cusco and Machu Picchu, which means a short domestic hop after you land. Book those internal flights early in the dry season, because they fill up faster than you'd think.
Flights to Lima from UKChile's capital sits between the Andes and the Pacific, with vineyards on its doorstep and ski fields an hour or two away in winter. From here you can head north to the Atacama Desert or south to Torres del Paine and the lake district.
Cheap flights to Santiago, ChileColombia has gone from rumour to must-visit, and Bogotá is its main hub. The altitude is real here, around 2,600 metres, so take it gently on day one. Medellín, Cartagena and the coffee region are all a short flight away.
Flights to Bogotá from UKWalled colonial streets, Caribbean heat and brightly painted balconies. Expect at least one stop on the way from the UK, but it makes a perfect beach finish after a few busy weeks inland.
Cheap flights to CartagenaThe starting point for the Galápagos Islands, where you swim alongside sea lions and giant tortoises wander across the path. Quito's old town is UNESCO-listed and sits high in the Andes, so it's worth a couple of nights before you head out to the islands.
Flights to Quito from UKNot a direct UK gateway, but the stepping stone to Machu Picchu, usually reached through Lima. Cusco sits at roughly 3,400 metres, so give yourself a day or two to adjust before you tackle the Sacred Valley or the Inca Trail.
Cheap flights to Cusco, PeruGetting there
Longer than Europe, shorter than you fear. Where direct services operate, the journey from London generally takes somewhere between eleven and fourteen hours, with Brazil at the shorter end and Argentina at the longer. Because most routes cross the Atlantic overnight, you can sleep through a good chunk of it and wake up for the descent. Where there's no direct flight, a one-stop itinerary through Madrid, Lisbon, Paris, Amsterdam or another European hub usually lands somewhere between fourteen and twenty hours door to door, depending on the layover.
Don't dismiss connections too quickly. A stop can be the cheapest way to get South America flights from UK airports other than Heathrow, and it often opens up routes to cities that don't have a nonstop link. Some of the best fares we see go via the Gulf or the United States. If you're curious, have a look at cheap flights to Dubai to see how that hub works, or browse flights to the USA if a Miami connection catches your eye. Just check transit visa and ESTA rules for the country you'd pass through first.
Jet lag is gentler than on a flight to Asia or Australia. Brazil and Argentina run three or four hours behind UK time, depending on the time of year, and Peru and Colombia five or six. Most people feel normal again after a night or two.
Save money
We're not going to promise a magic trick, because there isn't one. But after years of watching fares move, a few habits reliably help anyone hunting for cheap flights from UK to South America.
Moving your departure from a Friday to a Tuesday can shave a surprising amount off the fare. If you've got a week of wiggle room, search a few different dates before you decide. Midweek flights are generally quieter, and quieter planes tend to be cheaper.
Christmas, New Year, Carnival and the July to August school holidays push prices up, sometimes dramatically. The shoulder seasons are your friend. You'll get better weather in many regions, smaller crowds at the big sights and noticeably more affordable flights to South America.
South America is long and thin, and backtracking eats time and money. Fly into Lima and home from La Paz, or into Buenos Aires and out of Santiago, and you'll skip a day of travel and often a domestic flight too. An open-jaw ticket sometimes costs about the same as a standard return, so it's well worth pricing both.
Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh can all be cheaper than Heathrow once you add a connection. A different airline alliance or an extra stop can also change the picture. We compare options across carriers so you don't have to open fifteen browser tabs.
Lock in the transatlantic leg, then fit domestic flights, buses and hotels around it. Internal flights in Peru, Argentina and Chile can be good value, but baggage allowances are often smaller than on international tickets, so check the weight limit before you pack.
Keep an eye out for South America flight deals as they appear. Fares can drop without warning and sell out just as fast, so if you see a price you like for dates that work, it's usually wise not to sit on it for a week.
When to go
Here's the thing that trips up first-timers: the seasons are the wrong way round. When it's grey and cold at home, it's summer in Patagonia. The continent also spans the equator and runs from desert to rainforest to glacier, so there's no single "best month". This quick guide should help you match your dates to the region.
| Region | Best months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Rio and the Brazilian coast | March to June, September to November | Warm, less crowded than the Christmas to Carnival peak |
| Buenos Aires | March to May, September to November | Mild days, comfortable for walking and long dinners |
| Patagonia | November to March | Longest daylight, best hiking, busiest in January |
| Peru and Machu Picchu | May to September | Dry season in the Andes, cold nights, clearer views |
| Atacama Desert, Chile | Year-round | Dry and clear, brilliant for stargazing |
| Colombia | December to March, July to August | Drier spells across much of the country |
| Galápagos Islands | Year-round | Cooler and drier June to November, warmer and calmer seas December to May |
Prices tend to follow demand, so the months that suit the weather best are also the ones where fares jump. Think about whether you'd rather save money or have the very best conditions. Often the sweet spot is just before or just after peak season.
Fly in comfort
An overnight flight is a lot more pleasant when you can stretch out. If you're travelling for a special occasion, or you simply want to land fresh enough to enjoy day one, take a look at our business class flights to South America. A lie-flat seat turns a long overnight sector into something close to a proper night's sleep.
If a full business seat is out of budget, the middle ground is worth a look. Premium economy flights to South America give you more legroom, a wider seat and better service, usually for a fraction of the business fare. Over twelve hours, that extra space matters more than you'd expect.
Trip ideas
Not sure where to point the map? These routes are popular with UK travellers and work well with the ticket types we've covered above. Treat them as a starting sketch, not a rulebook.
Land in Lima for a couple of nights of eating well, fly to Cusco, spend a few days in the Sacred Valley getting used to the altitude, then take the train to Machu Picchu. Fly home from Lima, or add Lake Titicaca if you have a spare few days.
Start in Buenos Aires, fly south to El Calafate for the Perito Moreno glacier, cross into Chile for Torres del Paine, and finish in Santiago with a vineyard day. This is the classic open-jaw trip, and it saves a very long backtrack.
Arrive in Bogotá, head to the coffee region for hiking and tastings, then Medellín for culture and cable cars, and fly on to Cartagena to unwind by the sea. Domestic flights are short and cheap, so you won't lose whole days to the road.
Before you fly
A bit of homework now saves a lot of stress later. Here's what we'd tick off once your flights are booked.
Dream bigger
South America is rarely a one-and-done. Plenty of our customers come back for a second trip somewhere completely different. Here's a little inspiration, in case one trip isn't enough.
Why us
We're a UK-based travel agency, and we spend our days helping people get to places like these. That means two things. You can compare fares yourself in a few clicks, or you can pick up the phone and talk through your plans with someone who knows how multi-stop trips fit together. Both routes lead to the same place, so use whichever suits you.
We work with airlines and travel partners to offer a wide range of options, from budget-friendly returns to open-jaw and multi-city tickets. Our agents are available 24×7, and bookings are ATOL protected (No. 12238) and subject to availability and provider terms. If you're not sure what a fare includes, ask before you pay. We'd rather answer ten questions than have you surprised at the airport.
Questions
Fares change with the season, the route and how early you book, so there is no single price. Off-peak months and midweek departures usually cost less than school holidays, Christmas and Carnival. Run a search for your own dates to see live fares, or call the team and ask them to look for you.
The shoulder months, roughly April to June and September to November, often have lower fares than December to February. Remember the seasons are flipped south of the equator, so check the weather for the region you plan to visit before you lock in a date.
Yes, direct services run from London to some major cities, with Brazil and Argentina the best known. Schedules change by season and airline. Many other cities need one stop in Europe, the Gulf or the United States, which can also bring the fare down.
Many popular countries let UK passport holders visit as tourists without a visa for a limited stay, often up to 90 days. Rules differ by country and change from time to time, so check the latest entry requirements on GOV.UK foreign travel advice before you book.
It depends on where you are going. Yellow fever is the one people ask about most, because some regions recommend or require it. Check TravelHealthPro and speak to your GP or travel clinic at least six to eight weeks before departure.
For peak periods such as Christmas, New Year, Carnival and July to August, book as early as you can, ideally several months ahead. For quieter months you can often find good fares closer to the date, but waiting is always a gamble.
Yes. These open-jaw tickets are very popular in South America because the distances are huge. Flying into Buenos Aires and home from Santiago, for example, saves you a long and expensive backtrack.
BookForYou is an independent travel agency acting as a booking agent for third-party providers. Bookings are ATOL protected (No. 12238) and subject to availability and provider terms. If you are unsure what covers your trip, ask the team before you pay.
That depends on the airline's fare rules. Some tickets are flexible, others are non-refundable or carry a change fee. Check the fare conditions before you pay, and contact our support team if you need to make changes later.
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