All the direct flight routes from Europe to Central and South America

Last week, we looked at all the new airline routes connecting Europe to Canada. Now we thought it was time to look slightly further south – more specifically, at Central and South America.

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According to the World Tourism Barometer by UN Tourism, both regions saw growth in 2025, with South America up 7% and Central America up 5% year on year.

Destinations in the Americas seeing a big uptick in visitors include Brazil, up a mega 37%, and Guyana, up 24%.

While many airlines offer routes from Europe to these countries via the US, there are still some options for those looking to fly direct.

The best connected airport for travelling to these regions is undoubtedly Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, with airlines flying from here including Iberia, Air Europa, LATAM and more.

Here, we outline your options in order of the most-to-least visited countries.

Brazil

South America’s largest country had a record-breaking year in 2025, with some 9.3 million international tourists choosing Brazil for their vacation.

It’s little wonder – whether you’re looking to explore the wildlife of the Amazon or party the night away at the Rio Carnival, Brazil has something for everyone.

The country’s most populous city, São Paulo, is home to the best connected airport for those travelling from Europe.

LATAM flies to São Paulo from Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, Paris, Amsterdam, Paris and London Heathrow, while TAP Portugal flies there from Porto and Lisbon.

Lufthansa serves this route from Frankfurt and Munich; KLM from Amsterdam; British Airways from London; Air France from Paris; SWISS from Zurich; and Turkish Airlines from Istanbul. Air Europa and Iberia also fly from Madrid.

For those looking to visit Rio de Janeiro, TAP Portugal flies from Lisbon and Porto; Iberia from Madrid; Air France from Paris; Lufthansa from Frankfurt; KLM from Amsterdam; ITA Airways from Rome and British Airways from London. Gol also flies from Lisbon.

Colombia

Known for its wildlife, beaches and colonial architecture (and its coffee), Colombia saw 6.2 million international visitors in 2025.

The capital Bogotá will most likely be your main point of entry. There, you can make your way through the culinary wonders of Colombia, explore the street art scene and climb Cerro de Monserrate for spectacular views, or head out of the city to Chingaza National Park.

Avianca flies to Bogotá from Madrid, Barcelona, Paris and London Heathrow; Air France from Paris; Lufthansa from Frankfurt; Edelweiss Air from Zurich; KLM from Amsterdam; and Turkish Airlines from Istanbul.

Alternatively, Cartagena with its UNESCO-listed fortress and walled city is served by airlines including Plus Ultra and World2Fly, which both fly from Madrid; Neos from Rome and Milan; KLM from Amsterdam; and Edelweiss Air from Zurich.

Chile

Another country bursting with things to do, Chile is known for its dramatic Patagonian landscapes, its stargazing spots in the Atacama Desert, and its volcanoes, with six million tourists descending on its attractions last year.

You can fly direct to the capital Santiago with Iberia from Madrid and Barcelona; from Paris with Air France; from London with British Airways; and with LATAM from Madrid.

Argentina

Last year, 5.7 million tourists headed to Chile’s next-door neighbour Argentina for its diverse landscapes and as a jumping off point for visits to Antarctica.

You can fly to the capital Buenos Aires with Aerolineas from Madrid or Rome; with Lufthansa from Frankfurt; with Air France from Paris; with KLM from Amsterdam; and with ITA Airways from Rome. Air Europa, Iberia and Plus Ultra also fly there from Madrid.

Peru

A bucket list destination for many thanks to Machu Picchu, Peru offers lots for history lovers, with Inca, Chavín, Moche, and Nasca sites for you to discover alongside Spanish colonial architecture. Around 3.4 million tourists visited last year.

You can reach the capital Lima with Iberia from Madrid and Barcelona; with Air France from Paris; and with KLM from Amsterdam. Air Europa, LATAM and Plus Ultra also fly from Madrid.

El Salvador

Some 3.4 million people chose to visit El Salvador last year, thanks to its archaeological sites, brilliant beaches and volcanoes.

You can fly to San Salvador with Iberojet and Iberia from Madrid, and with Iberojet from Barcelona.

Costa Rica

Another popular choice for wildlife lovers, Costa Rica is known for its national parks and protected areas, with the country containing some 5% of the world’s biodiversity. Around 2.9 million tourists arrived in 2025.

You will most likely fly into the capital San José, which is served by Iberia and Iberojet from Madrid; Edelweiss Air from Zurich; Air France from Paris; Lufthansa from Frankfurt; KLM from Amsterdam; and British Airways from London.

Guatemala

Some 2.5 million tourists headed to Guatemala last year in search of its Mayan archaeological sites, Lake Atitlán and colonial architecture.

You can fly direct from Madrid to Guatemala City with Iberia.

Uruguay

Boasting beautiful beaches and a quieter pace of life compared to its larger neighbours, 2.5 million people headed to Uruguay in 2025.

You can reach the capital Montevideo from Madrid with Air Europa, Iberia or Plus Ultra, and from Barcelona with Iberia.

Panama

Beyond the Panama Canal, Panama offers beaches, snorkelling opportunities, spectacular waterfalls and awe-inspiring hikes, with some 2.3 million visitors discovering the country last year.

You can fly direct to Panama City with Air Europa and Iberia from Madrid; Air France from Paris; KLM from Amsterdam; and Turkish Airlines from Istanbul.

Paraguay

More waterfalls await in Paraguay, along with UNESCO-listed Jesuit missions, and little chance of overtourism, with two million visitors in 2025.

Your only option to fly direct is from Madrid with Air Europa.

Ecuador

Best known for the Galápagos Islands, where Charles Darwin came up with his theory of evolution, Ecuador offers wildlife in abundance for visitors (including the 1.3 million visitors who came here in 2025).

From Madrid, Air Europa, Iberia and Euroairlines fly direct to the capital Quito, while KLM flies here from Amsterdam.

Bolivia

Around 1.1 million were drawn in by Bolivia’s attractions last year, such as the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat, the ruins of Tiwanaku and the UNESCO-listed city of Potosí.

Both Air Europa and BoA (Boliviana de Aviación) fly direct from Madrid.

Honduras

Getting firmly into the underexplored part of the region, Honduras welcomed 920,000 international tourists in 2025 who came for the coral reefs, beaches, and archeological sites.

Two cities have direct flights from Europe: Comayagua, which you can fly to with Iberojet from Madrid or Barcelona, and San Pedro Sula, which is served by Air Europa from Madrid.

Guyana

Just 290,000 people visited Guyana last year, but those who did make the journey were rewarded with Georgetown’s unique food scene and the spectacular Kaieteur Falls.

KLM flies direct to Georgetown from Amsterdam.

Suriname

Just next door, Suriname offers jungle exploration for those who come here, including the 220,000 people who visited in 2025.

You can fly direct from Amsterdam to Paramaribo with KLM or Surinam Airways.

French Guiana

Last but not least, just 70,000 international tourists made it to French Guiana last year. The overseas department of France is perhaps currently best known for being home to the Guiana Space Centre, the European Space Agency’s spaceport, but it also offers an opportunity to explore the country’s dark past at Devil's Island, a former penal colony.

You can fly to Cayenne from Paris Charles de Gaulle with Air France, or from Paris Orly with Air Caraïbes.

Top tips for planning your trip

While many routes mentioned above are served daily, you can use websites like flightconnections.com to see which days of the week different airlines operate the flights on, and this website will also flag if a route is seasonal.

If you’re planning on flying with Iberia, don’t forget the Spanish flag carrier offers a stopover programme that will allow you to spend up to 10 days in Madrid before or after your trip.

Be sure to check travel advisories for the country you are planning to visit. Many countries are currently telling citizens to avoid trips to Venezuela, for example, but there are also alerts in place for parts of Ecuador, Colombia and others.