Should I use a travel agent for South American business travel?

Only if you are visiting multiple countries in one trip. The complexity of regional flight schedules often leads to missed connections, and having a single agent to handle rebooking is worth the service fee.

Is it safe to use ride-sharing apps?

Yes. Use Uber or Cabify in major cities. They are safer and more transparent than local street taxis, and they provide a digital receipt for your company expense reports.

Booking Budget Business Travel to South America

Book your flights 6-8 weeks in advance and prioritize hub cities like Bogotá or Lima to minimize stopovers and costs. Use regional budget airlines for internal legs, but always book these directly on their local websites using a travel-specific credit card to avoid excessive third-party markups.

Identify your primary regional hub. South American aviation is hub-heavy. Fly into major entry points like Bogotá (BOG), Lima (LIM), or São Paulo (GRU) to access competitive international fares, then book your connections separately.
Use local airline websites for regional legs. Third-party sites often struggle with regional carriers like Avianca, LATAM, or Sky Airline. Go directly to the airline's site and change the country setting to the local version (e.g., .cl for Chile, .pe for Peru) to see lower 'resident' or local-market pricing.
Optimize for business class value. If your company allows business class for long-hauls, look for 'LATAM Pass' or 'Avianca LifeMiles' sales. You can often book premium seats at a 30% discount by purchasing miles during a transfer bonus promotion rather than buying the ticket outright.
Verify visa and tax requirements. Check if you are eligible for a tax refund on hotel stays. In countries like Peru and Argentina, business travelers with a foreign passport are often exempt from the local 18-21% VAT if they pay with a foreign credit card.

Should I use a travel agent for South American business travel?: Only if you are visiting multiple countries in one trip. The complexity of regional flight schedules often leads to missed connections, and having a single agent to handle rebooking is worth the service fee.
Is it safe to use ride-sharing apps?: Yes. Use Uber or Cabify in major cities. They are safer and more transparent than local street taxis, and they provide a digital receipt for your company expense reports.