Should I book one-way tickets as I go?

Only if your plans are completely flexible. Last-minute flight prices in South America are consistently 200-300% higher than those booked 3 weeks out.

Do I need a printed itinerary?

Yes. Keep a paper copy of your flight confirmation and your proof of onward travel. Immigration officers and airline check-in agents in South America frequently request these to confirm you are not overstaying your tourist permit.

Are regional flights often delayed?

Yes. Weather, especially in the Andes, frequently causes delays. Never book a connection with less than 4 hours of buffer time.

How to Book Multi-City Flights Across South America

Avoid booking individual one-way tickets on small regional airlines, as these are often overpriced or difficult to manage. Instead, use an airline alliance 'Explorer' pass or a flight aggregator that supports 'multi-city' searches to bundle your routes into a single booking for better reliability.

Use an alliance-based flight pass. LATAM and the Oneworld alliance offer 'South America Airpass' options. If you are flying to more than 4 countries, check the Oneworld Explorer fare, which is significantly cheaper than booking segments individually.
Stick to one major carrier if possible. Booking all your segments through LATAM or Avianca makes handling delays and missed connections much easier. When you book across three different budget airlines, a delay on flight one voids the rest of your itinerary.
Use the 'Multi-City' search tool. On Google Flights, click the 'Round trip' drop-down and change it to 'Multi-city'. Add your legs chronologically. This forces the engine to look for pricing that includes all segments, which is usually cheaper than buying separate tickets.
Check budget airlines directly. Budget carriers like Sky Airline (Chile/Peru) or JetSmart do not always show up on major search engines. Check these sites separately if you are doing a high-frequency route like Lima to Cusco or Santiago to Buenos Aires.

Should I book one-way tickets as I go?: Only if your plans are completely flexible. Last-minute flight prices in South America are consistently 200-300% higher than those booked 3 weeks out.
Do I need a printed itinerary?: Yes. Keep a paper copy of your flight confirmation and your proof of onward travel. Immigration officers and airline check-in agents in South America frequently request these to confirm you are not overstaying your tourist permit.
Are regional flights often delayed?: Yes. Weather, especially in the Andes, frequently causes delays. Never book a connection with less than 4 hours of buffer time.