Flights to South America: air tickets and flight information

Two major airlines that offer flights to South America from Australia are LAN and Qantas. LAN operates six weekly services between Sydney and Santiago (Chile) via Auckland. From Santiago, fly LAN to the majority of South American destinations including Brazil, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Argentina, Ecuador and Columbia. Qantas also offers flights to South America from Australia’s major cities, including Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Hobart. Travel via Auckland and choose the options of stop overs in Los Angeles or San Francisco (with further connections to Mexico and Cuba).

Everyone should experience the riches of tis continent, which are too many to share. Below are a pick of some popular South American destinations:

• Peru: A destination with a rich and ancient culture, Peru is a potluck of fun and excitement for the explorer. Experience its vibrant modern culture while learning the ancient traditions of the Inca tribes, and find adventure in the famous jungle areas of the Amazon.

• Argentina: European influences are strong in Argentina, particularly Buenos Aires, making it the perfect holiday hot spot for English-speakers to be comfortable while enjoying a mix of culture and fun. A land of gorgeous natural wonders, Argentina is also a bargain holiday destination for those on a budget.

• Brazil: A place of great sights and discovery, Brazil is also a guaranteed ‘good time’ destination because of Rio de Janeiro’s renowned party scene. Choose from the wildlife wonders of the Amazon, the colonial palaces and churches, the scenic pleasures of the Iguassu Falls or the colourful atmosphere of Rio (particularly during its notorious carnival season – held between 2-6 February in 2008). Even so, the beauty of Rio is still based in its geography – situated between cliffs over looked by ‘Christ the Redeemer’ and the beautiful Guanabara Bay waters.

• Chile: If you want to be amazed at the majestic beauty of nature in all its extremes, you can’t go past Chile. A contrast of scenes, Chile is made up of deserts (north), lakes, rainforests, wildlife, and even an island of Moai statues, volcanos and glaciers.

• Mexico: Always a popular destination, Mexico is a land of ancient ruins, colonial remnants and modern and natural beauty. See the ruins of the ancient empires of the Aztecs and Maya, relax amidst the pampering of its many beach resorts, wander through the old colonial towns, or explore the scenic natural wanders such as the Copper Canyon or the San-Cristobal mountain valley. The possibilities in Mexico are endless.

South America is situated on the same latitude as Australia, and as such has the same seasons. But different parts of the continent come alive and boast their best during different seasons, so there’s never a bad time to travel.

Days are generally hot and sunny, with only a few occasional showers. Expect fairly high humidity levels between December and June. Southern Chile is at its best between October and April. The Amazon offers much during both wet and dry seasons. Travel to Mexico at anytime, but keep in mind that the hotter and wetter months fall between June and October, which is why peak tourist times are in December through January.