It is always best to scour the net for amazing deals on cheap flights to South America. Compare prices using discount airlines, consolidators and travel agents.

In general, you can be assured of cheap flights to South America from the US if you:

Book in advance and have a flexible schedule. This applies to all destinations. Advance purchase requirements almost always guarantees a bigger discount. Travelling during low or shoulder season is, logically, cheaper than insisting on travelling during high season.

Consider Flights from Major Gateways. According to the Lonely Planet, flying from Miami is the cheapest option. LA and NY are also one of the major gateways to South America. Cheapest country to get to is Caracas and Lima; and the most expensive are Buenos Aires, Santiago and La Paz.

Note that detailed offers and tips on a per country basis will be discussed in detail later. Watch out for them.