Travel insurance for South America
Key takeaways
The average cost of worldwide travel insurance is £99.95
^ Travel insurance protects you from medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost luggage, and more
If you are planning on doing higher-risk activities such as hiking or white water rafting you may need an adventure sports add-on
Do I need travel insurance for South America?
Holiday insurance is not a legal requirement. But without it you will be personally responsible for paying all the costs if something goes wrong with your trip.
Travel insurance can financially protect you if your holiday to South America is unexpectedly cancelled, you need medical treatment while travelling, or your valuables are lost, damaged or stolen.
According to the latest data from the Association of British Insurers:
British residents had to make 574,000
^ claims on their travel insurance in 2023The average claim amount was £972
^ and the average medical claim £1,750^ In contrast, you can find worldwide travel insurance from just £6.53
^
What type of travel insurance do I need for South America?
🚩 The UK government advises against all travel to parts of Venezuela. That means travel insurance will not cover you if you visit these areas.
Most South American countries are covered under worldwide travel insurance policies.
The specific type of policy you need depends on your travel plans:
One trip to South American countries
Whether you are visiting a single South American country or several, single-trip travel insurance can cover you as long as:
You don't head home in-between countries. For that you need multi-trip insurance.
You are not away for a long time (policy dependent, but usually a month).
If you are planning to spend more than 30 days in South America you'll likely need backpackers’ insurance, which is designed for long-stay trips.
Several holidays throughout the year
You might save money by selecting an annual multi-trip travel insurance policy.
This will also cover you for staycations in the UK.
Travelling with a medical condition
You can get travel insurance with a pre-existing medical condition, but it may be more expensive than a standard policy.
How much is travel insurance for South America?
The table shows the average prices paid by our customers for holidays this year. Average price means 51% of customers paid this amount or less. Cheapest price means 10% of customers paid this price or less.
Cheapest Price | Average Price | |
|---|---|---|
Worldwide single-trip | £6.53 | £99.95 |
Backpackers | £67.08 | £182.50 |
Can I get last minute travel insurance for South America?
Yes, it is possible to get last-minute travel insurance up to the day of your departure, although not all insurance providers will offer this.
Is it cheaper to buy travel insurance closer to my departure date?
No, it is usually more expensive to buy travel insurance last-minute.
If possible you should buy your holiday insurance as soon as you book your trip. That way you'll be covered if you have to cancel your holiday to South America.
What should my travel insurance policy for South America include?
🚩Different travel insurance policies have different inclusions and exclusions. You should always read your documents and check what you're covered for.
Standard travel insurance will usually cover:
Illness and accidents
Trip and activity cancellations
Lost luggage (including your passport)
Theft including pickpocketing
Repatriation (bringing you home if you are seriously injured, ill or dead)
Personal liability (you are responsible for accidentally harming someone or their property)
What isn't covered by travel insurance for South America?
Typical exclusions include:
Undeclared pre-existing medical conditions
'Unforeseeable' disasters including terrorism, war, strikes and natural disasters
Alcohol and drug-related incidents
Travel to areas advised against by the government (found on the FCDO website)
Adventure or winter sports
💡 Top tip: You can upgrade your insurance to include add-ons like winter sports, gadget cover and travel disruption cover.
Remember your excess!
Your excess is the amount of money you must pay towards any insurance claim you make. It is a fixed amount regardless of the claim size and it is set in advance when you take out your policy.
Increasing your excess can lower the cost of your policy, but make any claims less affordable.
Medical care in South America
British citizens will be required to pay for medical care if they need it while visiting South America.
That’s why it’s important to have travel insurance, which can cover these costs and more. You won’t be able to use a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) here.
Can I get travel insurance for South America if I have a pre-existing medical condition?
Yes, you can get travel insurance cover with a pre-existing medical condition, but it may be more expensive than a standard policy.
A pre-existing condition is any medical issue for which you had symptoms, medication, medical advice, treatment, or tests before you took out your insurance policy. It includes mental health conditions and disabilities.
You must disclose all pre-existing medical conditions. If you don't, your insurer can refuse to pay out for a claim.
Will travel insurance cover altitude sickness?
Yes, usually. However, if you are doing activities above a certain height you may need to have specialist cover. For example, adventure sports cover is often needed for hikes above 2,000m. Some of the most popular hikes in South America will take you far above this limit. For example, Dead Women's Pass, the highest point of the Inca Trail, is 4,215m.
Do I need a visa to visit South America?
🚩 Visa requirements for a country can change. For the most up-to-date information, check the UK government’s foreign travel advice website.
Most South American countries do not require British tourists to have a visa if they have a full UK passport and are not staying for more than 90 days.
However, the rules are different for each country, so it’s important to check what the entry requirements are for the countries you’re visiting.
Do I need vaccinations to visit South America?
🚩 Vaccination recommendations may be different for individuals with specific health conditions. We recommend speaking to your doctor before travelling.
The NHS Fit for Travel website recommends that your regular vaccinations are up to date before you travel to South America, including your flu and Covid-19 vaccines if you are eligible for these.
You will need to check the requirements of all the countries you’re visiting when it comes to vaccinations.
In Peru, for example, Hepatitis A and Tetanus are recommended and some tourists also have vaccinations for Diphtheria, Hepatitis B, Rabies, Typhoid, and Yellow Fever. While in Chile, there are no recommended vaccines, but some tourists have Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, and Tetanus.
What travel insurance do I need for white water rafting in South America?
Your standard travel insurance policy will not usually cover you high-risk or adventurous water sports, which usually includes white water rafting.
However, every policy is different so you will need to check what is, and what isn’t, covered with yours. If you’re not covered for water sports, you will have to buy an adventurous sports add on.
What travel insurance do I need for trekking in South America?
You may need to buy trekking and hiking cover if you're hoping to explore the hiking trails of Patagonia or head off into the Amazon. Standard travel insurance policies often will not cover more extreme activities like rock climbing, mountaineering or trekking above a certain height or in riskier locations.
Insurers often bundle this type of insurance into an adventure sports package, which you may be able to add to your existing travel insurance for a fee.
How do I claim on my travel insurance?
Report the incident you want to claim for to your insurer as soon as possible
If something is stolen, report it to the local police within 24 hours and get a report
Keep records of what has happened, including photos or videos and the contact details of anyone involved
Read our guide to making a claim on your travel insurance.
Find cheap travel insurance for South America with MoneySuperMarket
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Author
Rebecca Goodman
Personal Finance & Insurance Expert
Rebecca is an award-winning financial journalist with over a decade of experience writing for print and online media. Her mission is to take the jargon out of personal finance and to help everyone...
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Beth Leslie
Senior Insurance Content Editor
Beth is an experienced writer and editor who specialises in financial and economic content. She is currently the Senior Insurance Content Editor for MoneySuperMarket. Beth is passionate about making...
