South America attracts travellers in search of adventure, a change of scenery and spectacular landscapes, from the peaks of the Andes to the beaches of Colombia, from colonial cities to the jungles of the Amazon. Yet while the region offers unforgettable experiences, the costs associated with flights and accommodation can sometimes pump the brakes on many plans.
The good news? Your reward points can become a real lever for travelling further, more often, and at a lower cost. But you need to know how to use them wisely.
In this article, we show you how Canadians can optimize their credit card points to explore South America in 2025, by focusing on the most rewarding programs, strategic itineraries, and the best travel tips.
Even though South America has fewer direct connections compared to other continents, several reward programs offer efficient access, especially from major Canadian cities.
The Aeroplan program is an excellent option for planning a trip to South America, thanks to its extensive network of Star Alliance partners, including Avianca, Copa Airlines, United Airlines and Air Canada. These airlines make it easy to reach popular destinations such as Bogotá, Lima, Buenos Aires or Santiago, often with just one stopover from Canada, or even with direct flights.
One of the major advantages of Aeroplan is the possibility of adding a stopover of up to 45 days for just 5,000 extra points on a one-way trip. This gives you the opportunity to visit two South American cities on the same trip, while maximizing the value of your points. For example, you could make a stopover in Panama City, Lima, or Bogotá, before reaching your final destination.
The cost in points depends on the distance travelled, according to Aeroplan’s Flight Reward Chart between the “North America” zone and the “South America” zone.
Here are some concrete examples of routes and distances, illustrating typical one-way prices:
These distances directly influence the cost in points. Shorter journeys to the north of the continent (such as Colombia or Peru) are therefore more economical at around 30,000 points for a one-way economy flight, while flights to Argentina or Chile, further south, require more points.
For travellers looking for more comfort, business class flights to South America are relatively affordable via Aeroplan. Fares start at around 50,000 points and vary according to distance and availability.
As Air Canada uses dynamic pricing, it may be better to find flights on partners such as Copa Airlines or Avianca to pay a fixed price. However, it is sometimes possible to find good fares with Air Canada, if you are flexible about your dates, as dynamic pricing can work both ways.
Copa Airlines serves several secondary cities in South America from its hub in Panama City. This can be a great way to explore less touristy areas or combine several destinations.
Did you know that it’s possible to fly with Emirates between Miami and Bogotá thanks to a 5th freedom flight? This route, operated by a Boeing 777, can be booked using Aeroplan points, even though Emirates is not part of Star Alliance.
This segment between Miami and Bogotá is one of the few opportunities to experience Emirates’ renowned service without leaving the Americas. It features both business class and the famous first class!
This option remains significantly more expensive than traditional Star Alliance partners for a short 3.5-hour flight, but it may be worth the splurge for a luxury experience without having to travel to Dubai.
Thanks to its pricing structure based on zones and distances, the Aeroplan program sometimes allows for surprisingly advantageous combinations. This is what we call geographic arbitrage. It’s not possible everywhere, but it can be done for a trip to South America involving countries in the north-west region of the continent.
Let’s take the example of a trip to Colombia:
However, if you slightly adjust your itinerary so that Bogotá becomes a stopover and your final destination is Panama City (which is considered in the North America zone according to Aeroplan), you then change the fare zone:
For the return journey, you can book PTY-YUL, a North American intrazone route of less than 2,500 miles, at 12,500 points in Economy or 25,000 points in Business.
So, your round trip to Colombia, with an extended stopover (up to 45 days) in Bogotá, costs you 40,000 points in economy (27,500 points + 12,500 points, including the stopover cost) or 65,000 points in business compared to 60,000 to 100,000 points at standard pricing. For a family of four, this can amount to up to 140,000 points saved compared to booking this trip to Colombia in a linear fashion.
This trick is based on the fact that, although you shouldn’t theoretically be able to stop in another tariff zone, the Aeroplan system currently allows you to.
Please note: the Air Canada flight between Montreal and Bogotá does not usually offer true business class (more like premium economy). On the other hand, Copa Airlines and Avianca offer “armchair” business class (not flat beds) on segments such as Bogotá-Panama, which explains the “mixed cabin” references when booking.
To earn the number of points required for an award ticket to South America with Aeroplan, you have several options:
The Avios programs (British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways) and AAdvantage (American Airlines), both members of the Oneworld alliance, offer interesting options for reaching South America, especially by combining a short trip to the United States with a long-haul flight using points.
The Avios program operates with a distance-based pricing chart, making it a cost-effective option for short and medium-haul flights. However, the program is not as advantageous for business class flights on American Airlines and LATAM.
Here are a few concrete examples:
One of the major advantages of the Avios program is its ease of accumulation for Canadians. You have several options:
American Airlines and LATAM cover a wide range of South American destinations, particularly from their hubs in Miami, Dallas, or New York. Although LATAM is no longer a part of Oneworld, they have maintained their partnership with Avios, allowing you to use your points through programs like British Airways Club or Qatar Airways Privilege Club. LATAM has a strong presence in South America, making them a valuable option to consider for intra-continental flights.
The AAdvantage program still offers a degree of fare stability thanks to its semi-dynamic schedule. This means it’s possible to get good redemptions, especially in economy or business class, on flights operated by American Airlines to South America.
Some examples of AAdvantage mileage awards:
Availability is generally good, especially from Miami, and award tickets are often bookable at the last minute too.
The AAdvantage program is accessible in Canada mainly via RBC Avion points, which are transferred at a rate of 10,000 Avion = 7,000 AAdvantage miles. Although there is no Canadian AAdvantage card, this partnership allows you to fund the program, especially for booking flights with American Airlines or LATAM.
For Canadians wishing to use their points to fly to South America, Delta SkyMiles and Flying Blue (Air France-KLM) are two accessible programs, notably for booking flights operated by Delta, AeroMexico or LATAM, although they are not the most advantageous for this region. Delta serves South America via its US hubs (Atlanta, New York, Miami), with award tickets available via SkyMiles and sometimes via Flying Blue.
Copa Airlines, although affiliated to Flying Blue, offers more limited availability than Aeroplan. For its part, LATAM, although no longer part of SkyTeam, remains accessible via SkyMiles, subject to availability. Finally, Aerolineas Argentinas is now the only official SkyTeam member in South America, which limits the alliance’s presence in the region compared with Star Alliance or Oneworld.
The best values with SkyMiles are often for economy class flights operated by Delta or LATAM. Business class tickets, on the other hand, are often expensive in points. Here are some fare examples:
Both SkyMiles and Flying Blue apply dynamic pricing. The number of points required depends on demand, season, class of service and booking dates. It is therefore recommended to book several months in advance to benefit from the best fares.
Although Flying Blue allows you to book Delta flights, availability is limited, as Delta releases few award seats to its partners. It is sometimes possible to find a flight between Atlanta and São Paulo, but less frequently from Montreal. Additionally, Flying Blue often offers itineraries on Air France or KLM via Paris or Amsterdam, which unnecessarily extends the journey to South America.
Delta also organizes flash sales, sometimes poorly advertised, covering the USA, Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and occasionally South America. So it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for these promotions, especially if you’re flexible about departure dates or airports.
Delta does not yet offer a co-branded credit card in Canada, but Canadian travellers can accumulate SkyMiles through American Express Membership Rewards points.
This program enables holders to transfer their points to SkyMiles at the following rate: 1,000 Membership Rewards points = 750 SkyMiles.
As in other regions of the world, “statement credit” programs are an excellent way to book a trip to South America with complete flexibility. These programs allow you to apply your points directly to your credit card statement to reimburse a travel-related purchase, such as a flight ticket paid for with cash.
This is particularly useful when:
Unlike airline loyalty programs (such as Aeroplan or Avios), travel points are not tied to an alliance or partner network. So you’re free to book a flight with the airline of your choice, including those with little or no representation in the major rewards programs. This offers significant flexibility, especially for exploring regions in South America where award flights are less frequent or poorly served by airline partners.
This allows you to take advantage of the best prices available on search engines such as Google Flights or Skyscanner, without the constraints of limited availability in points.
Here are some of the most popular travel points programs in Canada:
These programs generally reimburse travel purchases at a fixed rate, often providing a high degree of transparency on the value of your points.
As an added bonus, as the ticket is paid for in cash, you also earn airline points (Flying Blue, Aeroplan, etc.) on this flight.
Choosing the most best points program to book a flight to South America depends on a number of factors, depending on your personal priorities and travel style.
However, in most cases, Aeroplan stands out as the simplest and most advantageous solution, particularly due to its availability, flexibility, and competitive rates. While it’s also possible with SkyMiles, Flying Blue, Avios, and AAdvantage, as demonstrated in this article, Aeroplan generally offers easier access and better value.
Plus, with the option of adding a 45-day extended stopover for just 5,000 points, you can link several South American cities within the same award ticket. By combining good planning with a little flexibility on dates, Aeroplan often offers excellent value for money.
That said, here are a few key points to consider:
Travel points (NBC Rewards, Scene+, CIBC Aventura, TD Rewards, etc.) are also worth considering if you spot a particularly attractive cash fare, or if points availability is limited.
As always, it’s essential to compare options. A program like Aeroplan may seem ideal on paper, but if award tickets are unavailable on the dates you want, or if another company offers better rates at the time of booking, this is the reality that will guide your final choice.
To make your search easier, tools like Roame and Google Flights can help you quickly locate options and points availability according to your travel dates, so you can compare options between several programs.
Just like with flights, you can use your points to significantly reduce your accommodation expenses in South America. The Marriott Bonvoy program, in particular, is an excellent option thanks to its extensive presence across the continent, with establishments conveniently located in major cultural capitals and tourist regions.
Whether you want to explore the Andean peaks, Brazilian beaches or the historic districts of cities like Lima, Bogotá or Buenos Aires, Marriott offers a range of hotels from affordable to high-end.
Here are a few examples of Marriott establishments accessible with your points:
With the fifth night free when you book five nights with your points, you can maximize the value of your Marriott Bonvoy points, especially if you stay multiple days in the same city.
What’s more, if you have the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card or the Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card you’ll receive an Annual Free Night Award certificate, redeemable at hotels that are often worth far more than the cost of the card.
For travellers seeking authenticity or more direct contact with local communities, South America has a wealth of independent hotels, posadas, ecolodges, hostels, and Airbnbs nestled in spectacular settings: the Amazon jungle, Andean villages, hidden beaches, or vibrant colonial centers.
In this case, travel points programs such as NBC Rewards, TD Rewards, Scene+ or CIBC Aventura are particularly useful. As with flights, these points work on the principle of statement credit, allowing you to use your points to reimburse, in full or in part, any travel purchases charged to your card.
This approach offers maximum flexibility, especially if you’re exploring areas with less major hotel chains or booking at the last minute.
In addition to booking your flights with points, you can also enhance your stay in South America by using your credit cards or rewards programs to book tourist activities, excursions or guided tours. Several platforms allow you to do so while earning points or using those already accumulated.
G Adventures is a Canadian company specializing in responsible, small-group adventure travel. They offer a wide range of tours throughout South America, from trekking to Machu Picchu to discovering Patagonia and the Amazon jungle. I’ve just been to Patagonia with this company.
Payments on G Adventures qualify as travel expenses under many travel points programs (such as National Bank, Scotia or CIBC). This means you can book a tour, then apply your points as a statement credit for reimbursement.
Civitatis and GetYourGuide are two popular platforms for booking guided tours, local activities and VIP tickets in most major South American cities. You can find:
Bookings made via the Civitatis and GetYourGuide platforms are also considered travel purchases by most credit card issuers. You can therefore apply your “statement credit” points to reimburse these expenses, or take advantage of promotions by paying with certain premium cards.
It’s a great way to add value to your trip without spending more, while offering you an enriching experience on site.
When you travel to South America, it’s important to travel with the right insurance. Whether it’s for medical emergencies, flight cancellations or lost luggage, good coverage saves you from high costs and major hassles.
Some credit cards include travel insurance coverage when a certain percentage of your trip is paid for with the card.
Here are the main coverages generally included:
However, it’s very important to check the precise conditions of your card: some require that the entire trip be paid for with the card, others impose age or eligibility limits, or do not cover adventure sports.
Before you leave, read the terms and conditions of your contract carefully, and call the insurer associated with your card for any clarifications.
If your card doesn’t offer sufficient coverage, or if you want total peace of mind, you can opt for specialized travel insurance like SoNomad.
SoNomad is a Canadian company offering affordable travel insurance, particularly for long stays, multi-destination trips and digital nomads. SoNomad often offers better value for money than insurance offered by traditional agencies or airlines.
So start by checking the coverage offered by your credit card. If these aren’t enough, turn to an independent solution like SoNomad for comprehensive coverage, often at a reasonable cost.
South America is more accessible than ever for Canadian travellers who know how to leverage their points. Whether you choose a direct itinerary or a creative arrangement with multiple partners, you can embark on an incredible adventure while significantly reducing your costs.
Use programs like Aeroplan, Avios, Flying Blue or even travel points according to your profile and preferences. And don’t forget to optimize your accommodations with Marriott points or travel credits.
South America awaits you; it’s up to you to plan wisely to enjoy it without breaking the bank.
Savings are here (if you don’t see the sign-up form, please click here):
