Travel Insurance for South America
Explore this continent’s rich tapestry of destinations and promise of adventure
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Getting away from the gringo trail (the tourist hotspots) and discovering a more authentic South America will make for holiday memories that will stay with you long after you return home to Canada. Whether you visit Chile’s Marble Caves, explore Lamas Castle in Peru, or take in the stunning Hill of Seven Colors in Purmamarca (locals call it the Hill of Seven Skirts), South America has an array of experiences for the adventurous traveller.
When traversing this amazing continent, travel insurance can come in handy if unexpected roadblocks are thrown in your path, with a 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team on hand to assist with emergencies and a range of travel insurance benefits.
Read on to find out more about the benefits many of our travellers find helpful when they’re in South America.
- Lost, stolen or delayed baggage cover
- Overseas emergency medical
- 24/7 Emergency assistance
- Adventure sports and activities, although some exclusions apply
What’s covered?
World Nomads offers two travel insurance plans, the Standard Plan and the Explorer Plan, which can support Nomads on their South America journey - benefit limits vary between the plans so it’s worth considering which activities you plan to do and which plan will suit you best.
Lost, stolen or delayed baggage cover
Overseas travel can bring all kinds of unexpected surprises, from the sheer deliciousness of a street vendor’s pao de queijo (cheese bread), to the less-than-welcome surprise of the theft of your wallet and passport while you sleep, or having your luggage lost by your airline carrier. World Nomads travel insurance offers baggage cover that can help keep your holiday on track.
Coverage includes:
- Baggage and personal effects, including sporting equipment, lost or damaged by your transportation carrier
- Stolen bags or personal belongings that are reported to the authorities
- Theft or damage of travel documents such as passports and visas
- Baggage delayed for more than 12 hours
Be sure to keep your receipts as you will need them in order to submit a claim for reimbursement under the policy.
The obelisk on Ave 9 de Julio in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Photo credit: Getty Images / Andrew Peacock
Overseas emergency medical insurance
World Nomads travel insurance plans include cover for emergency medical expenses. Our plans offer cover for emergency medical coverage for injury or sickness, ambulance transportation and emergency medical evacuation.
You must be covered under your Canadian Government Health Insurance Plan (GHIP) for the entire duration of your trip to be eligible for the maximum emergency medical expenses benefit under the policy.
If you are a solo traveller and you’re admitted to hospital for three days or more, your policy provides cover up to the maximum limit for a bedside companion’s travel (round trip airfare) and subsistence (accommodation, meals, essential calls and taxis for up to 10 days).
Access to our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance team around the clock
Canadians have access to our assistance team 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They can help you access medical treatment and assistance and get help if you need it. Note that you must notify our medical assistance team before you have any emergency medical treatment and before any surgery.
The LiveTravel™ service team can also help you with emergency travel problems such as after-hours travel services, rebooking flights, hotel reservations, ground transportation and luggage tracking.
Cover for activities and sports when in South America
South America offers adventures galore. However, if you’re planning to go whitewater rafting on the Mendoza River or glacier walking on the Perito Moreno Glacier, travel insurance could help you if you have an accident by covering some medical expenses.
World Nomads offers cover for more than 150 sports, activities, volunteer and work experiences under both the Standard Plan and the Explorer Plan. When you purchase your policy, be sure to list any activities you think you will be doing to make sure you're covered. Some adventure, sports, work or volunteer activities may require you to pay an extra premium. If something goes wrong while participating in an activity, sport or adventure, the cover that may be available includes:
- Emergency Medical Expense
- Evacuation and Repatriation
- Travel Accident
- Trip Interruption
If you’re not sure if a sport or activity is covered, please contact us to find out.
World Nomads Explorer and Standard policies will cover expenses up to a capped limit, including the cost for a medical escort if you’re severely injured and need to be transported home. Check your policy for details.
What’s not covered?
Understanding what’s not covered is just as important as knowing what your insurance does cover you for.
For example, some things that won’t be covered by the Standard or the Explorer policy include:
- Lost baggage without a theft report
- Gear that was stolen from an unattended car (even if it was locked)
- Medical evacuation or repatriation for any incidents related to drug or alcohol abuse, or that is not pre-authorized by a physician
This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms and conditions of the policy. It is important you read and understand your policy as it contains benefits, conditions, exclusions and pre-existing condition exclusions. If you do not understand your coverage, or if you have questions about your coverage, just ask us.
Safety tip: Try to stick to well-lit areas at all times and avoid travelling alone. This may help safeguard you against armed robbery which unfortunately can be a risk. But if the unthinkable happens, and you are a victim of theft, don’t try to fight off armed attackers. Your life and your safety is paramount; your things can be replaced, you can’t. Contact the local authorities immediately for assistance. In the event of a theft, burglary or robbery, make sure you obtain a copy of the police report as you will need this for any claims you make under your policy.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.
- Explorer Plan: $5,000
- Standard Plan: $2,500
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalised?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Close relative suddenly dies?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Insurance
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
- Explorer Plan: $10 million
- Standard Plan: $5 million
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need meds quick?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation
We’ll get you to hospital or home quickly.
- Explorer Plan: $500,000
- Standard Plan: $500,000
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medivac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Covers the theft, damage or delay of your bags, tech and sports gear.
- Explorer Plan: $3,000
- Standard Plan: $1,000
Protect your gear
- Passport stolen?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Bags delayed?
Help starts here.
- Emergency Medical Expenses
- Emergency Dental for Injury or Sickness
- Bedside Companion Travel and Subsistence
- Emergency Professional Services
- Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation
- Return of Travel Companion/Dependent Children
- Return to Your Trip Destination
- Return of Remains
- Travel Accident
- Flight Accident
- Trip Cancellation
- Trip Interruption
- Trip Delay
- Baggage and Personal Effects Theft or Damage
- Baggage and Sporting Equipment Delay
- Travel Documents Theft or Damage
- Sporting Equipment Theft or Loss by a Common Carrier
- Covered Adventure Sports listed in Policy
Assistance Services Included
- LiveTravelTM Emergency Assistance
- Worldwide Travel Assistance
- Adventure Travel Hotline
- 24/7 Security
- Travel Medical Assistance
- Bag Trak
24/7 emergency assistance
Whether you need medical or dental assistance or advice, emergency evacuation or travel assistance, our team are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
Telephone +1 866 878 0192 (toll-free from Canada and the Continental U.S.) or +1 416 646 3723 (collect from anywhere else in the world)
Contact the team
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.