My brother and I are planning a South American trip for sometime this summer/Fall/Winter (from the US). We're both a bit cash poor, but are not going to let a little thing like money stand in the way of some much needed travel

So currently, the plan primarily revolves around visiting Machu Picchu and then working in whatever else we can over a total of 2-3 weeks. I'm wondering what you would recommend we try to fit in as well as where you would recommend we try to open-jaw back out of (Quito? Santiago?) Oh, and if it makes a difference, we'll be using award miles for the flight.

I'd like to fit in Easter Island possibly. Some place a off the beaten path like French Guyana sounds like a good story. Columbia and Venezuela frankly make me nervous. Antarctica would be awesome but obviously not this trip. Basically, just looking to hit what we can in the region on as an affordable but memorable introduction to the region. I totally understand we simply won't have time for any 'deep' vacationing.

What's cheap to fly to from Lima? What's worth spending the time to get to? If we go south the Chile, we'll have to make it back to Peru or Ecuador for the flight out as our tickets won't get us into or out of Chile. Whatever your thoughts, I would very much appreciate it.