Flights to South America from the US
42 route guides to 5 South America airports from US cities, with entry rules, flight times and the best months to go.
Quick answer: Miami, Houston, Atlanta and New York are the main US gateways to South America, with nonstops on American, United, Delta, LATAM and Avianca. Flights take about 4 to 5 hours to Bogota, about 6 to Lima and about 8 to 9 hours from Miami to Santiago, Sao Paulo or Buenos Aires. US citizens need no visa for Argentina, Colombia, Peru or Chile for tourist stays of up to 90 days, but Brazil requires an e-visa obtained before travel.
Facts checked November 2026. Schedules and entry rules change, so confirm with the airline and the official government site before you travel.
South America flights at a glance
| Entry for US citizens | Brazil: e-visa required before travel. Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru: no visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days. |
|---|---|
| Typical nonstop flight time | About 4 hours Miami to Bogota; about 6 hours Miami to Lima; about 8 to 9 hours Miami to Santiago, Sao Paulo or Buenos Aires; about 10 to 11 hours from New York to Sao Paulo or Buenos Aires |
| Main US gateways | Miami, Houston, Atlanta, New York JFK, Dallas/Fort Worth, plus Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles on some routes |
| Main airlines | American (oneworld), United and Avianca (Star Alliance), Delta with its partner LATAM |
| Best months | Opposite seasons south of the equator: December to March for Patagonia and Buenos Aires, May to September for Machu Picchu |
| Time difference | In US winter: Bogota and Lima same as New York, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo and Santiago 2 hours ahead. In US summer: Bogota and Lima 1 hour behind, Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo 1 hour ahead, Santiago about the same |
Where you can fly in South America
Each city links to every route guide we publish into that airport; each guide covers the airlines, connections and baggage rules, with live fares when the page loads.
Which US airports fly nonstop to South America
Miami is the main gateway. American flies from Miami to Bogota, Lima, Santiago, Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo, and LATAM flies its own Miami nonstops to Sao Paulo and has restored a Miami to Buenos Aires service. Check with the airline for current schedules.
Houston is United's Latin America hub, with nonstops to Bogota and to Sao Paulo, where United is putting its premium Boeing 787-9 from October 24, 2026. United also flies Houston to Lima and plans to end its Newark to Lima route in late March 2027, adding a second daily Houston flight instead, as of recent filings.
Delta flies Atlanta to Buenos Aires as of recent schedules, and its joint venture with LATAM covers New York JFK to Sao Paulo, Lima, Santiago and Bogota. LATAM also announced more Sao Paulo flights from Orlando and Los Angeles and a new Boston route for 2026. Avianca, Colombia's largest airline, flies to Bogota from several US cities. Schedules change by season, so check with the airline.
How long the flights take from different parts of the US
Distance matters more than people expect, because South America lies east as well as south of the US. From Miami, Bogota is about 4 hours and Lima about 6, while Santiago, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires are about 8 to 9 hours. From New York, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires take about 10 to 11 hours.
The time change is small. Bogota and Lima keep the same clock as New York in US winter, and Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo are two hours ahead then and one hour ahead in US summer, so jet lag after a long overnight flight is mostly lost sleep rather than a shifted body clock.
From the West Coast and the Mountain states, most trips connect in Miami, Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth or Atlanta. Los Angeles has some nonstops on LATAM, which can save a connection if you live in Southern California.
Entry rules for US citizens, including Brazil's e-visa
Brazil: since April 10, 2025 US citizens need a visa for Brazil whatever the purpose of the trip, and the rule is still in force as of November 2026. Most travellers use the e-visa, applied for on the official portal, brazil.vfsevisa.com, which is open to US, Canadian and Australian passport holders. Apply well before your trip, since processing takes time. Without a visa you will not be allowed to enter.
Argentina and Chile: no visa for tourist visits of 90 days or less. Argentina asks for a passport valid on entry with at least one blank page; Chile asks for a passport valid for the length of your stay.
Peru: no visa for tourist stays of 90 days or less, but your passport must be valid at least six months after you enter, or you will be refused entry. Bring proof of a return or onward ticket.
Colombia: no visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days. Complete Migracion Colombia's free online Check-MIG form between 72 hours and 1 hour before your flight (airlines may ask for it at check-in), and carry a return ticket. Check each country's page on travel.state.gov before you go.
Gateway airports and onward connections
Bogota's El Dorado and Lima's Jorge Chavez are the big connecting hubs of the north and west. Lima is the usual connection for Cusco, and Bogota for Cartagena and Medellin, though United will also fly Houston and Washington Dulles to Cartagena from December 17, 2026.
Sao Paulo Guarulhos is LATAM's largest hub and the gateway for Rio de Janeiro and the rest of Brazil. Santiago is the hub for Patagonia, Easter Island and the Atacama. In Buenos Aires, long-haul flights use Ezeiza, while many domestic flights leave from Aeroparque in the city, so leave time for the cross-town transfer if your ticket changes airports.
Best and quietest months to fly
The seasons are reversed in the Southern Cone. December to March is summer in Buenos Aires, Santiago and Patagonia, and the busiest time for flights from the US. June to August is winter there and the ski season in the Andes.
Peru's dry season, about May to September, is the best time for Machu Picchu and the busiest. The classic Inca Trail closes every February for maintenance. Colombia sits near the equator, so the weather is steady all year and the drier months are roughly December to March and July to August.
Brazil's Carnival, in February or March depending on the year, fills flights to Rio and Salvador and is the most expensive week to fly there. The quietest months for South America overall are usually April to June and September to November, outside Easter and US holidays.
Booking tips
Compare connecting in a US hub with connecting in South America. A Miami or Houston connection keeps you on one US carrier, while LATAM via Lima or Avianca via Bogota can be quicker to secondary cities such as Cusco, Cartagena or Mendoza.
Open-jaw tickets fit this region well: fly into Lima and home from Santiago, or into Rio and home from Buenos Aires, and cover the middle by regional flight or bus. They often beat two round trips.
Because the overnight flights are long, book a nonstop when your US city has one. From the Southern Cone, most nonstops to the US leave at night and arrive in the early morning, so plan the first day of your trip home around a short night.
Route guides to South America
Sao Paulo (GRU)
Buenos Aires (EZE)
Bogota (BOG)
Lima (LIM)
Frequently asked questions
Do US citizens need a visa for Brazil in 2026?
Yes. Since April 10, 2025 US citizens need a visa for Brazil, and the rule is still in force as of November 2026. Apply for the e-visa on the official portal, brazil.vfsevisa.com, well before you travel.
Do US citizens need a visa for Colombia?
No, not for tourist stays of up to 90 days. Fill in the free Check-MIG form from Migracion Colombia between 1 and 72 hours before your flight and carry a return ticket.
Do I need a visa for Peru or Argentina?
No visa for tourist stays of 90 days or less in either country. Peru requires a passport valid at least six months after entry and proof of onward travel; Argentina requires a valid passport with one blank page.
How long is the flight from Miami to Buenos Aires?
About 8 to 9 hours nonstop. American and LATAM fly the route from Miami, and Delta flies from Atlanta. Check with the airline for current schedules.
What is the closest South American country to the US by flight time?
Colombia. Miami to Bogota takes about 4 hours nonstop, and Bogota is in the same time zone as New York during US winter.
Which US airlines fly nonstop to Sao Paulo?
As of recent schedules, American flies from Miami, United from Houston, and Delta and its partner LATAM from New York JFK. LATAM also flies from Miami, Orlando, Los Angeles and Boston. Check with the airline before you book.
What is the cheapest month to fly to South America?
Usually April to June and September to November, outside Easter and Carnival. December to March, the southern summer, is the busiest and most in demand.
