Getting There

Buenos Aires, Santiago, Lima, and São Paulo receive the greatest number of international flights to South America. If you're planning to explore the whole continent, you might consider starting off at one of these gateways and hooking up there for connecting flights to less-serviced destinations.

To Argentina

The following carriers offer service to Ezeiza Ministro Pistarini Airport in Buenos Aires:

From the U.S. & Canada -- Air Canada, Aerolíneas Argentinas, American, Continental, Delta, LAN, and United

From the U.K. & Europe -- Aerolíneas Argentinas, Air France, Air Madrid, Alitalia, British Airways, Iberia, KLM, and Lufthansa

From Australia & New Zealand -- Aerolíneas Argentinas, LAN, and Qantas

To Bolivia

The following carriers fly to El Alto Airport in La Paz:

From the U.S. & Canada -- American, LAB, and Grupo Taca

From the U.K. & Europe -- American (via Miami), Varig (via São Paulo)

From Australia & New Zealand -- Aerolíneas Argentinas (via Buenos Aires), Qantas (via connecting flights)

To Brazil

The following carriers fly to either Guarulhos Airport in São Paulo or Antonio Carlos Jobim Airport (Galeão) in Rio de Janeiro:

From the U.S. & Canada -- Air Canada, American, Continental, Delta, TAM, United, and Varig

From the U.K. & Europe -- Aerolíneas Argentinas, Air France, Alitalia, British Airways, Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa, TAM, and Varig

From Australia & New Zealand -- Aerolíneas Argentinas (via Buenos Aires) and LAN (via Santiago)

To Chile

The following carriers fly into Santiago's Aeropuerto Arturo Merino Benítez:

From the U.S. & Canada -- Air Canada, American, Delta, LAN, and Lacsa

From the U.K. & Europe -- Air France, British Airways, KLM, LAN, and Lufthansa

From Australia & New Zealand -- LAN and Qantas (code-share), and Aerolíneas Argentinas

To Ecuador

The following carriers offer service to Quito's Aeropuerto Internacional Mariscal Sucre:

From the U.S. & Canada -- American, Continental, Copa (via Panama), LAN, and Taca (via San José)

From the U.K./Europe -- American (via Miami), Continental (via Houston or New York), Iberia, and KLM.

From Australia & New Zealand -- American, Continental, or LAN (via Los Angeles and Miami)

To Peru

The following carriers fly into Lima's Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Chávez:

From the U.S. & Canada -- Air Canada, American, Continental, LAN, and United

From the U.K./Europe -- American (via Miami), Iberia, KLM, United (via Miami or New York), and Lufthansa

From Australia & New Zealand -- American (via Los Angeles and Miami), LAN (via Santiago or Los Angeles), and United (via Los Angeles)

To Uruguay

The following airlines fly into Montevideo's Carrasco International Airport:

From the U.S. & Canada -- Aerolíneas Argentinas, American, United, and Varig

From the U.K./Europe -- Aerolíneas Argentinas, American, United, and Varig

From Australia & New Zealand -- Aerolíneas Argentinas and LAN Chile

To Venezula

The following carriers offer service to the Simón Bolívar International Airport (Maiquetía) in Caracas:

From the U.S. & Canada -- American, Continental, Delta, Lacsa, and Mexicana

From the U.K./Europe -- Air France, Air Europa, Alitalia, American, British Airways, Iberia, KLM, and Lufthansa

From Australia & New Zealand -- American (via Los Angeles and Miami), and LAN (via Santiago)