How much time do you need for Peru and Bolivia together?

For Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lake Titicaca, La Paz and the Salar de Uyuni, three weeks is a realistic frame. Altitude sets the pace: above 3,000 m, the CDC recommends gaining no more than 500 m in sleeping altitude per day.

How do you get from Puno to La Paz?

Overland along Lake Titicaca, crossing the border at Yunguyo to Copacabana and on to La Paz, by daylight and with an entry stamp. By air, Lima connects nonstop to La Paz.

Can you travel from Uyuni to San Pedro de Atacama?

Yes, through the Reserva Eduardo Avaroa and via the Chilean border post Hito Cajón at 4,549 m, whose nearest town is San Pedro. Only smaller vehicles and minibuses are permitted there.

Can Machu Picchu and the Salar de Uyuni be combined on one trip?

Yes. First fix the Machu Picchu day, since the tickets can't be rebooked; later, fly nonstop with BoA from La Paz to Uyuni.

Do you need a yellow fever vaccination for an Andes round trip?

Mainly if the route goes into the lowlands below 2,500 m — for example to Tambopata, Rurrenabaque, Ecuador's Amazon, or Tayrona Park, where proof is checked. It is not recommended for Chile or Galápagos.

Is there malaria in the Andes?

Not at high altitude. There is a risk in the lowlands, high for example in the Loreto region of Peru, in Pando and northern Beni in Bolivia, and on Colombia's Pacific coast. Whether to take tablets is a decision for a travel medicine consultation.

Can you pay in US dollars in the Andean countries?

In Ecuador, the dollar is the national currency; in Peru, many shops and hotels accept it; in Bolivia, larger cities do. In Colombia and Chile you pay in pesos; for Chile, the BMEIA recommends keeping dollars as a cash reserve.

What time zones are the Andean countries in?

Colombia, Ecuador and Peru are on UTC−5, Bolivia on UTC−4, and the Galápagos Islands on UTC−6. Chile changes its clocks: the mainland moves from UTC−4 to UTC−3 for southern summer (clocks change in September and April), while Magallanes in the south keeps UTC−3 year-round.

Which plug types do you need in the Andean countries?

Peru (220 V) and Bolivia (230 V) use socket types A, B and C; Chile runs 220 V with type L, which also fits flat Europlugs. Ecuador at 120 V and Colombia at 110 V use types A and B; devices rated only for 230 V need a converter there.

What emergency numbers apply in the Andean countries?

Peru 105 for emergencies and police, Bolivia 110 for police and 123 for ambulance, Ecuador 911, Colombia 123, Chile 133 for police and 131 for ambulance.

Can you drive yourself in the Andean countries?

In Peru, your own license is valid for up to six months after entry; in Chile, a German license is valid for 90 days. Bolivia requires both an international and a national driving license; Germany's Federal Foreign Office recommends hiring a car with a driver there.

Is a night bus between Andean countries a good idea?

No. In Peru, overland buses have been robbed at night around Ica, Arequipa and Puno, according to Germany's Federal Foreign Office, and in Bolivia night buses sometimes pass through border control without stopping, leaving travelers without an entry stamp.

How high up are the capitals of the Andean countries?

Bogotá sits at around 2,600 m, Quito at 2,850 m, and Bolivia's seat of government, La Paz, at around 3,600 m, while Bolivia's constitutional capital, Sucre, sits at around 2,790 m. Lima lies on the Pacific coast, and Santiago de Chile at the foot of the Andes.

What do you need to know about continuing on to Galápagos?

You need a return flight and hotel reservation in hand, and you buy the transit control card before the flight. Fresh fruit, seeds, plants and live animals are banned on the islands, and luggage is inspected.

What matters at overland border crossings?

Insist on getting your entry stamp, otherwise Bolivia can impose fines. Ecuador wants to see an apostilled police clearance certificate for overland entry, Chile the SAG food declaration, and Colombia the Check-MIG form.

The Andes: Countries Compared, Best Time, Altitude and Routes

What connects the Andean countries, and how do they differ?

In short

Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile share the Andes and the Spanish language, and Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador also share the Inca heritage. As destinations, they differ sharply: overnight stops in the highlands range from around 2,400 m in San Pedro de Atacama to over 4,200 m in southwestern Bolivia, rainy seasons fall in different months, and while Switzerland's FDFA calls Chile "fundamentally safe," protests and road blockades are a recurring risk in Bolivia.

For this page, the Andean region covers five countries: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile. Chile alone stretches more than 4,300 km down to Tierra del Fuego, yet averages only 177 km in width.

Most travelers come for the highland destinations: Cusco and Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca at 3,810 m, the Salar de Uyuni, Ecuador's Avenue of the Volcanoes with Chimborazo (6,268 m), and the coffee region around Salento. Galápagos, the Caribbean coast around Cartagena and the Amazon are often added on.

Any planning across borders comes down to three factors: altitude, since many nights are spent above 3,000 m; rainy seasons that shift depending on latitude; and the large distances, which almost always require domestic flights.

Sources: Wikipedia · PromPerú (peru.travel) · Ministerio de Turismo del Ecuador (ecuador.travel) · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Colombia Travel (ProColombia) · Wikipedia · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Wikipedia · Wikipedia

How do the five Andean countries compare at a glance?

In short

Peru and Bolivia are the true highland countries, with many nights above 3,400 m; Ecuador offers volcanoes and Galápagos within short distances; Colombia links Andean cities with the Caribbean; and Chile stretches from the Atacama to Patagonia. Swiss, German and Austrian citizens need no visa for a vacation in any of the five countries; safety assessments, however, vary widely (as of September 19, 2026).

The Andean countries compared (summary, as of September 19, 2026)
Country	Character	Altitude of main destinations	Best months	Entry for CH/DE/AT citizens	Safety per foreign ministries
Peru	Desert coast, Inca sites, Amazon	Machu Picchu 2,430 m, Cusco around 3,400 m, Puno 3,825 m	Highlands May to October	Visa-free up to 90 days	FDFA advises against the VRAEM and the border area with Colombia; protests with road blockades possible
Bolivia	Altiplano, salt desert, colonial cities	Sucre around 2,790 m, La Paz around 3,600 m, Potosí around 4,070 m	May to October	Visa-free, online registration SIGEMIG	recurring protests and road blockades; extra caution in La Paz, El Alto, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz and the Chapare
Ecuador	Volcanoes, Amazon, Galápagos	Quito 2,850 m, Quilotoa up to 3,914 m	Highlands June to September	Visa-free up to 90 days for DE/AT, not visa-required for CH	Advisory against Guayaquil (except transit), Durán, the city of Esmeraldas, and the border with Colombia
Colombia	Andean cities, coffee region, Caribbean	Bogotá around 2,600 m	December to March, July to August	Visa-free up to 90 days, Check-MIG	Varies greatly by region; advisories against, among others, Arauca, Cauca, Nariño, Putumayo
Chile	Atacama, wine valleys, Patagonia	San Pedro de Atacama around 2,400 m, Tatio over 4,300 m	South December to March	Visa-free up to 90 days, SAG declaration	FDFA: fundamentally safe

For safety, Chile has the mildest advisories — Germany's Federal Foreign Office counts it among South America's safer countries. For Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia, the FDFA and the Federal Foreign Office advise against overland travel at night.

These are short summaries; the current advisories from the FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA remain authoritative.

Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · PromPerú (peru.travel) · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores del Perú (Portal Consular) · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Embassy of the Plurinational State of Bolivia in the United Kingdom · Wikipedia · Quito Turismo (Visit Quito) · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Movilidad Humana del Ecuador · Colombia Travel (ProColombia) · Colombia Travel (ProColombia) · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs BMEIA, Austria · Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Colombia · Migración Colombia · Wikipedia · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Chile, Consulado.gob.cl · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria

When is the best time to travel through several Andean countries?

In short

Anyone combining Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia is best off traveling in July or August: that's the dry season in the central Andes, the best time in Ecuador's highlands, and one of the drier periods in Colombia. Central Chile then has cool, wet winter months; for Patagonia and the Carretera Austral, December to March works better, which is when the highlands of Peru and Bolivia see heavy rain.

Central Andes: In Peru and Bolivia, the dry season runs from May to October, with sunny days and nighttime frost; the heaviest rain falls from December to March, bringing floods and landslides. In Cusco and La Paz, most of the year's rainfall comes between November and March, and in La Paz average lows from June to August drop below freezing.

Near the equator: In Ecuador and Colombia, altitude determines temperature, not the season — Colombia Travel speaks of "pisos térmicos," or thermal zones. Quito Turismo names October to May as the rainy season, with afternoon showers, and July and August as the driest months. In Colombia's Andean region, April to May and October to November bring the most rain.

Highlands from south to north: Cusco, La Paz, Quito and Bogotá

Cusco	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	20	19	20	20	20	20	21	21	21	21	22	20
Low °C	8	8	8	6	3	2	1	2	5	7	7	8
Rainfall mm	129	127	96	44	9	4	11	8	18	63	72	137

La Paz	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	18	18	18	19	19	18	18	19	20	20	21	19
Low °C	7	7	6	4	1	-1	-1	-1	2	4	5	7
Rainfall mm	136	114	79	35	13	9	16	22	24	48	44	107

Quito	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	21	20	20	20	21	21	21	22	22	21	21	21
Low °C	8	9	9	8	8	8	8	7	8	8	8	8
Rainfall mm	139	143	176	177	122	58	34	25	38	76	90	100

Bogotá	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	20	20	20	20	19	19	19	19	19	19	19	20
Low °C	7	8	9	10	10	9	9	8	8	8	9	8
Rainfall mm	44	71	132	209	207	162	134	108	103	186	165	103

Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station TENIENTE ALEJANDRO VELASCO ASTETE INTL (3 km, 3310 m), auf 3399 m umgerechnet. Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station EL ALTO INTL (5 km, 4062 m), auf 3640 m umgerechnet. Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station IZOBAMBA (21 km, 3058 m), auf 2850 m umgerechnet. Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station EL DORADO INTL (8 km, 2548 m), auf 2640 m umgerechnet. Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.

Coast: Lima gets almost no rain, but from May to November the city is often covered by winter fog. Santiago de Chile has a Mediterranean climate with rain almost only in winter, and smog from June to August. Guayaquil has a rainy season from January to April, Cartagena is sunniest from December to April, and its hurricane season, according to Germany's Federal Foreign Office, runs from June to December.

Coast and central valley: Lima, Santiago de Chile, Cartagena and Guayaquil

Lima	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	26	27	27	25	22	20	19	18	19	20	21	23
Low °C	20	21	20	19	17	16	16	15	15	15	17	18
Rainfall mm	3	5	4	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	3

Santiago de Chile	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	31	31	29	25	21	17	17	19	21	24	28	30
Low °C	14	13	12	9	6	4	3	5	7	8	10	12
Rainfall mm	8	8	10	12	44	63	47	40	15	12	9	7

Cartagena	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	32	32	32	32	33	33	33	33	33	32	32	32
Low °C	24	24	25	26	26	26	26	26	26	25	25	25
Rainfall mm	2	3	10	60	178	135	160	160	182	242	181	56

Guayaquil	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	32	31	32	32	32	31	30	30	31	31	31	32
Low °C	24	24	25	24	24	23	22	21	22	22	22	23
Rainfall mm	123	215	212	126	38	10	3	3	2	6	8	24

Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station JORGE CHAVEZ INTL (8 km, 34 m), auf 150 m umgerechnet. Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station QUINTA NORMAL (2 km, 520 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station RAFAEL NUNEZ (7 km, 1 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station SIMON BOLIVAR INTL / JOSE JOAQUIN DE OLMEDO INTL (4 km, 6 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.

The mirror effect on the Salar de Uyuni only occurs during the rainy season, between December and April.

Sources: Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · PromPerú (peru.travel) · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Colombia Travel (ProColombia) · Quito Turismo (Visit Quito) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Ministerio de Turismo del Ecuador (ecuador.travel) · Wikipedia · Federal Foreign Office, Germany

Which Andean country fits which kind of trip?

In short

Peru, with Cusco, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca, is the heartland of the Inca; Bolivia is the higher, less predictable highland destination with the Salar de Uyuni. Ecuador combines volcanoes, the Amazon and Galápagos within a small area; Colombia combines Andean cities, coffee country and the Caribbean; and Chile stretches from the Atacama — called the driest desert on Earth by Chile Travel — to the glaciers of Patagonia.

Peru: Inca heartland with fixed visitor quotas

In Peru, a flight from Lima to Cusco takes around 1 h 15 min, and Machu Picchu admits (as of 2026) 4,500 visitors per day, rising to 5,600 in high season. Because tickets are only valid for the booked date and hour, border crossings and domestic flights need to be planned around that day. The desert coast and the rainforest around Tambopata round out the highlands.

Bolivia: Altiplano, salt desert and a lot of altitude

In Bolivia, La Paz, Copacabana, Uyuni and Potosí sit at around 3,600 m and higher, and the lagoons in the southwest lie above 4,200 m. In return you get the Salar de Uyuni, the colonial cities of Sucre and Potosí, and the Isla del Sol in Lake Titicaca. Protests and road blockades keep recurring; the FDFA advises building in extra time for possible blockades and checking the current situation in its travel advice.

Ecuador: volcanoes, the Amazon and Galápagos

Ecuador is so compact that Otavalo, Cotopaxi National Park, Mindo and Papallacta are each less than two hours from Quito, according to Quito Turismo. The "Avenue of the Volcanoes" runs through the highlands with more than 70 volcanoes and mountains. Payments are in US dollars, and a domestic flight adds the Galápagos Islands. The strictest safety advisories apply to the coast.

Colombia: Andean cities, coffee and the Caribbean

Colombia is the only one of the five countries with coastlines on both the Pacific and the Caribbean. Bogotá sits at around 2,600 m, the coffee cultural landscape around Salento has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2011, and Cartagena has, according to UNESCO, the most extensive fortifications in South America. Like the other Andean countries, it lies in a seismically active zone where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are possible at any time.

Chile: Atacama, wine valleys and Patagonia

Chile belongs to the classic Andes trip mainly through its north: San Pedro de Atacama, at around 2,400 m, is the counterpart to Bolivia's southwest. Santiago and the wine valleys form the Mediterranean heartland, and Patagonia, with Torres del Paine, forms the south. Germany's Federal Foreign Office calls the price level relatively high, and for a north-to-south overview, Chile Travel reckons on at least a month.

Sources: PromPerú (peru.travel) · Ministerio de Cultura del Perú · Ministerio de Cultura del Perú · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Quito Turismo (Visit Quito) · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · PromPerú (peru.travel) · Ministerio de Turismo del Ecuador (ecuador.travel) · Colombia Travel (ProColombia) · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs BMEIA, Austria · Wikipedia · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur)

Which routes connect several Andean countries?

In short

Four combinations lie close together geographically: Peru and Bolivia via Lake Titicaca; Bolivia's southwest with the Atacama via the Chilean border post Hito Cajón; Ecuador's highlands with Galápagos; and Colombia with Ecuador, most easily by nonstop flight from Bogotá to Quito in around 1 h 35 min. Direction usually follows altitude: arrive low, climb in stages, and descend at the end.

Peru and Bolivia via Lake Titicaca (14 to 18 days)

After landing in Cusco, the route first drops into the lower Sacred Valley, then continues to Machu Picchu and Cusco, followed by a roughly 7-hour bus ride or a roughly 10 h 30 min journey on the PeruRail Titicaca train to Puno. The border runs right through Yunguyo; from there a road leads a few kilometers to Copacabana, where boats depart for the Isla del Sol. The route ends in La Paz, which has nonstop connections to Lima.

Bolivian border posts, according to Germany's Federal Foreign Office, are sometimes unstaffed; in the Puno region and around Lake Titicaca, protests and road blockades keep recurring.

Terraces and paths on the Isla del Sol in Lake Titicaca — Photo: Vincent Etter on Unsplash

From the Salar de Uyuni to the Atacama (8 to 10 days from La Paz)

BoA flies nonstop from La Paz to Uyuni. From there, tours cross the Salar and pass through the Reserva Eduardo Avaroa to Laguna Colorada (4,278 m) and Laguna Verde (4,310 m) at the foot of the Licancabur volcano, on the border with Chile; overnight stays are above 4,200 m. The Chilean border post Hito Cajón sits at 4,549 m, with San Pedro de Atacama as the nearest town; only smaller vehicles and minibuses are permitted.

Direction matters: starting in San Pedro at around 2,400 m means arriving at the border post already more than 2,100 m higher, while coming via La Paz and Uyuni means descending at the end. Chile Travel recommends four to five days for San Pedro; Calama is 100 km away, and from there it's around 2 h 10 min by flight to Santiago.

Ecuador's highlands and Galápagos (12 to 16 days)

The islands belong at the end, after Quito, Cotopaxi and Quilotoa. Before flying from Quito or Guayaquil, you buy the transit control card for 20 USD, and foreign visitors aged 12 and up pay 200 USD to enter the national park (as of 2026). Guayaquil should only be used as an airport transit point, given the FDFA's advisories.

Colombia and Ecuador (3 to 4 weeks)

Overland, the Rumichaca bridge connects Ipiales to Tulcán, but the FDFA advises against the entire border region, and Ecuador requires an apostilled police clearance certificate with a Spanish translation for overland entry. Flying is usually the better choice.

Documented border crossings between the Andean countries
Border	Crossing	Note
Peru – Bolivia	Yunguyo – Copacabana	Insist on getting your entry stamp
Bolivia – Chile	Hito Cajón (4,549 m) near San Pedro de Atacama	Only smaller vehicles and minibuses
Bolivia – Chile	Chungará (4,678 m) near Putre	All vehicles
Peru – Chile	Chacalluta (98 m), opposite Tacna	All vehicles
Peru – Ecuador	Huaquillas, Macará	Apostilled police clearance certificate; check yellow fever proof requirements in advance
Colombia – Ecuador	Rumichaca (Ipiales – Tulcán)	FDFA advises against the border region; Germany's Federal Foreign Office excludes the crossing

All day counts in this section — for the four routes as well as the table — are editorial estimates, not guaranteed travel durations. Border crossings can close on short notice according to the FDFA; some of Chile's border areas still contain landmines.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · PeruRail · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · FlightConnections · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Gobierno de Chile, Pasos Fronterizos · Gobierno de Chile, Pasos Fronterizos · Gobierno de Chile, Pasos Fronterizos · Wikipedia · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · Parque Nacional Galápagos · Ministerio de Turismo del Ecuador (ecuador.travel) · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria

How do you fly to the Andes and between the countries?

In short

Long-haul flights to the Andes land mainly in Bogotá (BOG), Lima (LIM), Quito (UIO), Guayaquil (GYE), Santiago de Chile (SCL) and Santa Cruz de la Sierra (VVI). Madrid is the only European hub with nonstop flights to all five countries, Miami the only North American one; Santiago is also served nonstop from Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland. Between the countries, flying is almost always faster than going overland: Quito–Lima takes around 2 h 15 min nonstop.

Nonstop connections from Andean airports (selection, as of September 2026)
Arrival airport	From Europe	From the Americas and Oceania	Flight time (example)
Bogotá (BOG)	Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Istanbul	Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, New York, Newark, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Washington, Boston, Toronto, Montreal, Mexico City, Panama City	Frankfurt–Bogotá (Lufthansa) 11 h 10 min, 3 times a week
Lima (LIM)	Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam	Miami, New York, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Toronto, Montreal, Mexico City, Cancún, Panama City, San José	69 nonstop destinations in 21 countries
Quito (UIO)	Madrid, Amsterdam	Miami, Houston, Atlanta, New York, Panama City	Madrid–Quito 11 h 5 min, 5 times a week
Guayaquil (GYE)	Madrid, Amsterdam	Miami, Fort Lauderdale, New York, Panama City, San José	Plus Baltra and San Cristóbal in Galápagos
Santa Cruz de la Sierra (VVI)	Madrid	Miami, Panama City	Madrid–Santa Cruz averages 11 h 15 min
La Paz-El Alto (LPB)	None	None; international connections limited to Bogotá, Lima, Cusco and Santiago	Domestic flights to Uyuni and Rurrenabaque
Santiago de Chile (SCL)	Madrid, Paris, London, Barcelona	Miami, New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles; Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland	Madrid around 12 h 40 min, Paris around 14 h

From North America, Miami, Atlanta and New York connect nonstop to Bogotá, Lima, Quito and Santiago, and Houston to Bogotá, Lima and Quito. From Europe, Paris and Amsterdam also serve several Andean capitals alongside Madrid. For travel from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, connecting flights via Europe, North America or São Paulo — which connects nonstop to Bogotá, Lima and Santiago — are the practical choice.

For round trips, open-jaw flights work well — flying in to Bogotá or Quito and out from Lima, La Paz or Santiago, for example. Landing in Santa Cruz at around 400 m instead of El Alto at around 4,070 m in Bolivia avoids altitude problems from the start. Within each country, flights save many hours: Lima–Cusco around 1 h 15 min, La Paz–Rurrenabaque 45 min to 1 h instead of a 410 km road trip.

La Paz-El Alto (LPB) has no long-haul service; nonstop flights from there go only to destinations in South America, such as Santa Cruz, Uyuni, Rurrenabaque, Cusco, Lima, Bogotá and Santiago. Long-haul flights to Bolivia land in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, which has nonstop connections to Madrid and Miami.

Time zones of the Andean countries
Country	Time zone
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru	UTC−5
Galápagos	UTC−6, no daylight saving
Bolivia	UTC−4
Chile (mainland)	UTC−4 in southern winter, UTC−3 in southern summer (clocks change in September and April)
Chile, Magallanes region	UTC−3 year-round

Sources: FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · Wikipedia · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · PromPerú (peru.travel) · Wikipedia · Instituto Nacional de Metrología de Colombia · Wikipedia · PromPerú (peru.travel) · timeanddate.com · Reporte Minero · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections

What are the entry, vaccination and altitude rules for the Andean countries?

In short

Swiss, German and Austrian citizens need no visa for a vacation in any of the five countries, but they do need a passport — for Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador with at least six months of remaining validity; Bolivia and Colombia additionally require online registration (as of September 2026); other nationalities have their own rules. Yellow fever vaccination matters mainly for the lowlands below 2,500 m, while altitude is the biggest health risk shared across all five countries.

Entry for vacations, as of September 2026
Country	Passport	Additional requirement
Peru	Valid 6 months on entry	Austrians: onward or return ticket
Bolivia	Valid 6 months	SIGEMIG registration within 48 h
Ecuador	Valid 6 months	Return or onward ticket; overland: police clearance certificate with apostille
Colombia	Valid for the length of stay	Check-MIG 72 h to 1 h before entry and exit
Chile	DE: 6 months; AT: for the length of stay	Tarjeta Única Migratoria; SAG declaration

A national ID card is not sufficient for German citizens in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia or Chile. The FDFA, Germany's Federal Foreign Office, the BMEIA and the representations of the five countries are the authoritative sources. Other nationalities have their own rules: Colombia maintains a visa list by nationality, Bolivia assigns countries to three visa groups, and Chile's migration service refers visa-required nationalities to the consulates.

Vaccinations and mosquitoes

Guidance on yellow fever varies. healthytravel.ch recommends the vaccination in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador for lowland areas below 2,500 m, and in Colombia for any travel below 2,500 m; for Chile, according to the CDC, it is neither required nor recommended. The CDC lists an entry requirement for Bolivia and Colombia from age one.

Malaria occurs only in the lowlands; Cusco, Lake Titicaca, La Paz, Quito and Bogotá are malaria-free. Dengue and chikungunya also occur in the lowlands, and measles vaccination protection is part of travel preparation.

Altitude: the shared risk across all Andean countries

Typical symptoms of acute mountain sickness are headache, nausea and poor sleep, appearing, according to the CDC, usually 2 to 12 hours after arrival. Breathlessness at rest, confusion or an unsteady gait are warning signs: descend immediately and get help.

Sleeping altitudes on Andean routes
Place	Country	Altitude
San Pedro de Atacama	Chile	around 2,400 m
Bogotá	Colombia	around 2,600 m
Quito	Ecuador	2,850 m
Urubamba, Sacred Valley	Peru	around 2,870 m
Cusco	Peru	around 3,400 m
La Paz, city center	Bolivia	around 3,600 m
Uyuni	Bolivia	around 3,700 m
Puno	Peru	3,825 m
Potosí	Bolivia	around 4,070 m
Reserva Eduardo Avaroa	Bolivia	over 4,200 m

The rule of thumb from healthytravel.ch: above 2,500 m, increase your sleeping altitude by no more than 300 to 500 m per day, and take a rest day for every 1,000 m gained. If symptoms don't improve, Germany's Federal Foreign Office recommends descending below 2,000 m; medications such as acetazolamide should be discussed with a doctor.

For multi-country routes, that means arriving low and saving the highest stages for the end. The CDC calls landing directly in La Paz particularly risky; it's better to start in Lima or Santa Cruz, sleep first in Peru's Sacred Valley, and put Lake Titicaca, Uyuni and the lagoons after Cusco. In Chile, day trips from Arica to Lago Chungará at 4,500 m have already caused deaths; a night in Putre at 3,400 m is safer.

Sources: Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores del Perú (Portal Consular) · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Embassy of the Plurinational State of Bolivia in the United Kingdom · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Movilidad Humana del Ecuador · Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Colombia · Migración Colombia · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Chile, Consulado.gob.cl · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · healthytravel.ch, Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine · healthytravel.ch, Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine · healthytravel.ch (Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine) · healthytravel.ch (Swiss Society for Tropical and Travel Medicine) · HealthyTravel.ch (Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine) · CDC Travelers' Health · CDC Travelers' Health · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · healthytravel.ch, Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Wikipedia · Colombia Travel (ProColombia) · Quito Turismo (Visit Quito) · Wikipedia · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Wikipedia · PromPerú (peru.travel) · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Servicio Nacional de Migraciones (Chile)

What does a trip through the Andean countries cost?

In short

Each country has its own currency; only Ecuador uses US dollars. Germany's Federal Foreign Office describes Chile's price level as relatively high compared with other South American countries, while the BMEIA and FDFA report rising prices in Bolivia. Fixed costs are mainly entry fees for foreign visitors, such as 200 USD for Galápagos National Park or 96,500 pesos for Tayrona Park in high season (as of September 2026).

Currencies and example prices (as of September 2026)
Country	Currency	Examples	Cash
Peru	Sol (PEN)	Colca Canyon S/ 70 for foreigners, Chan Chan S/ 11	Cash only on the Titicaca islands
Bolivia	Boliviano (BOB)	Rising prices per the BMEIA	Keep a reserve in dollars or euros
Ecuador	US dollar	Quito Metro 0.45 USD, Galápagos 200 USD plus 20 USD	$50 and $100 bills often refused
Colombia	Peso (COP)	Tayrona 81,000 COP, high season 96,500 COP	No ATMs in Nuquí
Chile	Peso (CLP)	Torres del Paine 32,400 CLP per day	No ATMs inside the park

Machu Picchu tickets accept only Visa and Mastercard, and in Santiago you can even pay by card on the metro. In Peru, withdrawing cash with a debit card is, according to Germany's Federal Foreign Office, possible only in a very limited way. Cash over 10,000 US dollars must be declared to customs in all five countries.

Sources: PromPerú (peru.travel) · PromPerú (peru.travel) · PromPerú (peru.travel) · PromPerú (peru.travel) · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Ministerio de Cultura del Perú · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Quito Turismo (Visit Quito) · Parque Nacional Galápagos · Colombia Travel (ProColombia) · Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia · Instituto Colombiano de Antropología e Historia ICANH · Colombia Travel (ProColombia) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria

Which cultures and festivals connect the Andean countries?

In short

Quechua and Aymara shape the highlands of Peru and Bolivia, while in Ecuador, Kichwa and Shuar are official languages alongside Spanish for intercultural relations. Many festivals blend Andean and Catholic traditions, from Inti Raymi in Cusco on June 24 to the Carnival of Oruro and the Candelaria festival in Puno in February.

Festival calendar of the Andean countries
Time	Festival	Place
From January 24	Alasita	La Paz, Bolivia
February	Virgen de la Candelaria	Puno, Peru
June 22	Inti Raymi	Cotacachi, Ecuador
June 24	Inti Raymi	Cusco, Peru
Early August	Feria de las Flores	Medellín, Colombia
Late August or early September	Yamor	Otavalo, Ecuador
September 18 and 19	Fiestas Patrias	All of Chile

For the major festivals, arriving early pays off: PromPerú recommends being in Cusco two to three days before Inti Raymi. At the Candelaria, more than 40,000 people dance over two weeks, and at the Carnival of Oruro, held at 3,700 m, more than 28,000 dancers take part.

According to the Ministry of Culture, 48 indigenous languages are spoken in Peru, 36 have official status in Bolivia, and around 65 survive in Colombia. The Mapuche in southern Chile, with nearly two million members, are South America's largest indigenous people.

The road network itself is also a shared heritage: the Qhapaq Ñan, the Inca road system, has been listed on UNESCO's World Heritage list in all six countries at once since June 21, 2014; Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia and Peru submitted the nomination jointly. The listing covers 780 km and 291 sites as a representative sample of a historic network of more than 30,000 km.

The Plaza de Armas in Cusco with the cathedral — Photo: Sophia Simoes on Unsplash

Photograph people only with their consent, as the FDFA and ICANH advise for Ecuador and Colombia. Germany's Federal Foreign Office warns against ayahuasca rituals in Peru and Colombia, citing deaths and life-threatening risk.

Sources: Ministerio de Cultura del Perú, Indigenous Peoples Database · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Colombia Travel (ProColombia) · Wikipedia · PromPerú (peru.travel) · PromPerú (peru.travel) · UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · Ministerio de Turismo del Ecuador (ecuador.travel) · Ministerio de Turismo del Ecuador (ecuador.travel) · Colombia Travel (ProColombia) · Colombia Travel (ProColombia) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Instituto Colombiano de Antropología e Historia ICANH · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Ministerio de Cultura del Perú (Qhapaq Ñan Sede Nacional)

Worth combining

Galápagos Islands
Amazon
Patagonia
Argentina
Machu Picchu
Salar de Uyuni
Lake Titicaca

The Andes

What connects the Andean countries, and how do they differ?

How do the five Andean countries compare at a glance?

When is the best time to travel through several Andean countries?

Which Andean country fits which kind of trip?

Peru: Inca heartland with fixed visitor quotas

Bolivia: Altiplano, salt desert and a lot of altitude

Ecuador: volcanoes, the Amazon and Galápagos

Colombia: Andean cities, coffee and the Caribbean

Chile: Atacama, wine valleys and Patagonia

Which routes connect several Andean countries?

Peru and Bolivia via Lake Titicaca (14 to 18 days)

From the Salar de Uyuni to the Atacama (8 to 10 days from La Paz)

Ecuador's highlands and Galápagos (12 to 16 days)

Colombia and Ecuador (3 to 4 weeks)

How do you fly to the Andes and between the countries?

What are the entry, vaccination and altitude rules for the Andean countries?

Vaccinations and mosquitoes

Altitude: the shared risk across all Andean countries

What does a trip through the Andean countries cost?

Which cultures and festivals connect the Andean countries?

Worth combining

Routes through Andes

Destinations in this part of the world

Frequently asked questions

Where this information comes from

Plan Andes with AVA