From the glaciers of Patagonia to the skyline of New York, the ruins of Machu Picchu to the rainforests of the Amazon — the Americas hold a lifetime of adventure.
The Americas stretch from the frozen tundra of Alaska to the storm-lashed tip of Cape Horn — a combined landmass of over 42 million square kilometres that packs in the full spectrum of human experience. Ancient Inca citadels cling to Andean mist, skyscrapers pierce Manhattan clouds, pink dolphins glide through flooded Amazon forests, and blue icebergs calve into Patagonian fjords.
For Australians, the Americas blend the familiar and the utterly foreign. The USA and Canada share our love of the outdoors and our language, yet deliver landscapes you can't find at home. Latin America is a revelation — passionate culture, extraordinary food, mind-bending archaeology, and some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth.
Whether you're road-tripping the national parks, trekking to Machu Picchu, or sipping caipirinhas on a Rio beach, the Americas exceed every expectation. Family-run since 1974, Cooee helps Australians navigate it all.
From iconic cities to wild frontiers — the places that define a journey through the Americas.
Argentina & Chile · End of the World
Granite towers, electric-blue glaciers and the world's great wilderness trekking.
USA · The City That Never Sleeps
Peru · Sacred Valley of the Inca
Canada · Banff & Jasper
Mexico City, Oaxaca & Yucatán
Brazil · Cidade Maravilhosa
The Americas span every climate zone on Earth — timing by region is the difference between good and extraordinary.
Summer is prime for the USA and Canada — national parks open, warm weather, and the Canadian Rockies at their best. New England's fall foliage (Sept–Oct) is world-famous; the West Coast and big cities are great year-round.
The dry season aligns with the Australian winter — ideal for Peru and the Inca Trail. Patagonia shines November–March. The Amazon is year-round, with the highest water (best wildlife by boat) December–May.
Mexico's Yucatán and the Caribbean shine in the dry season; avoid the June–November hurricane window for the islands. Costa Rica's wildlife concentrates near water in the dry months.
Four distinct travel regions, each with its own personality and highlights.
The USA and Canada — world-class cities, legendary national parks (Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Banff) and the ultimate road-trip culture. Easy self-drive, excellent infrastructure. The US uses ESTA; Canada an eTA.
Peru, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil. Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, Torres del Paine's towers, the Galápagos, Buenos Aires' tango and steak, and the sheer scale of the Amazon.
Mexico is one of the world's great destinations — Aztec and Mayan sites, sensational cuisine, and beaches from Tulum to the Riviera Maya. Costa Rica, Belize and Guatemala add extraordinary biodiversity.
Cuba, Jamaica, Barbados and dozens of island nations — the quintessential sun-and-sea escape. Cuba is in a class of its own; the diving (Belize's Blue Hole) is world-class.
The bucket-list moments that make the Americas one of the world's great travel regions.
Trek four days through cloud forest and Andean passes to arrive at sunrise above the Lost City. Permit numbers are strictly limited.
May – SepThe W Trek in Torres del Paine — granite towers, blue glaciers, condors and pumas in one extraordinary park.
Nov – MarThe Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper — turquoise lakes, glaciers and grizzlies at every turn.
Jun – SepSugarloaf, Ipanema, samba in Lapa and the world's greatest party at Carnival — pure Brazilian energy.
Year-roundChichén Itzá, Teotihuacán and Tulum — Mayan and Aztec wonders set against jungle and coast.
HistoryThe High Line, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge and food from every cuisine on Earth.
Year-roundBoat deep into the world's greatest rainforest — pink dolphins, macaws and caimans, by cruise or jungle lodge.
WildlifeDarwin's living laboratory — snorkel with sea lions and meet giant tortoises with no fear of humans.
Year-roundFrom Brisbane, the Americas are surprisingly accessible — particularly the US West Coast, with competitive fares across the Pacific.
Most of the Americas are straightforward for Australian passport holders — but two big ones changed recently, so always confirm before you travel.
| Destination | Visa? | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | ESTA | ESTA (online) | Apply at esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Fee raised in 2025 (~USD $40). Valid 2 years / multiple entries. Needed even for transit. |
| Canada | eTA | eTA (online) | CAD $7, required for air travel, usually approved instantly. Linked to your passport. |
| Brazil | e-Visa | e-Visa (online) | Reinstated April 2025 for Australians (~USD $81). Apply online before travel. Yellow-fever certificate recommended. |
| Peru | ✓ Visa Free | 183 days | No advance application. Inca Trail permits book out months ahead. |
| Argentina | ✓ Visa Free | 90 days | Extendable once. Use official or app-based exchange for the best rates. |
| Chile | ✓ Visa Free | 90 days | Strict biosecurity on arrival — declare all food items. |
| Mexico | ✓ Visa Free | 180 days | Keep your stamped entry record (FMM) — you need it on departure. |
| Colombia | ✓ Visa Free | 90 days | Medellín, Cartagena and the coffee region are outstanding and increasingly popular. |
The Inca Trail sells out up to 12 months ahead, and the site now uses time-slotted entry. Lock in permits and Aguas Calientes accommodation well before you travel.
Get an ESTA before any US flight (even transit), ~USD $40, valid 2 years. Brazil now needs an e-Visa too — apply online before you go.
Cusco, La Paz and Quito sit above 3,000 m. Arrive a day or two early, hydrate, go easy on alcohol, and don't trek straight from sea level.
The Americas are vast — go deep, not wide. Lima → Cusco → Machu Picchu → Buenos Aires → Patagonia works beautifully, or a US city plus a national-parks drive.
Quick answers to the questions Australian travellers ask us most.
Australians don't need a traditional visa but must apply for an ESTA before departure at esta.cbp.dhs.gov. The fee was raised in 2025 (now around USD $40); it takes minutes, is valid for two years, and is required even for a transit stop. See our getting there & visas guide.
Yes — as of April 2025 Brazil reinstated an e-Visa for Australian, US and Canadian passport holders (around USD $81), applied online before travel. A yellow-fever certificate is also recommended for the Amazon and Pantanal. Most other South American countries remain visa-free for Australians. See our getting there & visas guide.
May to September — the South American dry season — is ideal for most of the continent and lines up neatly with the Australian winter, including the Inca Trail. Patagonia is best in the southern-hemisphere summer, November to March. See our best time to visit guide.
From Brisbane, Los Angeles is ~14–15 hours direct; New York ~20–22 hours with one stop; Lima ~18–20 hours via LA; Buenos Aires ~22–24 hours via LA or Santiago. The US West Coast is surprisingly accessible. See our getting there guide.
For a first trip, most Australians choose a US West Coast or national-parks road trip, Peru (Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu), or the Canadian Rockies — all spectacular, well-organised and easy. See our itineraries guide.