South America, a continent brimming with diversity, has solidified its place as a premier destination for travelers seeking both ecotourism and thrilling adventures over the past two decades. Spanning twelve independent nations, French Guiana, and the Falkland Islands, this vast landmass promises unparalleled experiences.
Imagine exploring nearly 7 million miles of the Earth’s most breathtaking landscapes – the Amazon rainforest, the Pantanal wetlands, the majestic Andes Mountains, and the awe-inspiring Iguazu Falls. One could spend years traversing South America’s sparsely populated heartland and still only scratch the surface of its wonders.
It’s a challenge to encapsulate the entirety of this incredible continent’s allure within a single article. Therefore, consider this list a curated selection of 20 exceptional South America Travel Spots, perfect for crafting unforgettable memories.
ARGENTINA
1. Iguazu Falls
Located on the border between Argentina and Brazil, Iguazu Falls stands as one of the world’s most magnificent waterfalls. With heights ranging from 197 to 269 feet and stretching 1.7 miles wide, Iguazu boasts 275 individual cascades and a staggering average flow rate of 62,010 cubic feet per second. This South American icon is a true spectacle for any bucket list. The falls are enveloped by the verdant rainforest of Iguazu National Park, a subtropical haven teeming with over 2,000 vascular plant species and diverse wildlife, including tapirs, howler monkeys, and elusive jaguars.
2. Peninsula Valdez
Peninsula Valdez, situated along Argentina’s Atlantic coast, has earned UNESCO World Heritage status as a prime location for observing marine mammals in South America. Whale watching is particularly exceptional here. Southern right whales gather to calve from June to November, while orcas are frequently spotted hunting seals and sea lions along the shoreline. Visitors also have excellent chances of encountering elephant seals, Magellanic penguins, and land-based fauna like guanacos (Patagonian llamas) and rheas (emu relatives).
3. Perito Moreno Glacier
Arguably Patagonia’s most compelling attraction, the immense Perito Moreno Glacier extends for 121 miles, towers an average of 240 feet above the water, and remarkably, continues to grow. Part of Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina’s Santa Cruz Province, this glacier is named after a 19th-century explorer. Observation boardwalks and boat tours on Lake Argentino offer surprisingly close views, allowing visitors to hear the dramatic cracks and groans as ice chunks calve into the water. For a more immersive experience, guided ice hiking tours on the glacier itself are also available.
4. Tierra del Fuego
At South America’s southernmost point lies Tierra del Fuego, a region renowned for its breathtaking landscapes. Ushuaia, its capital, is known as “el fin del mundo” (the end of the world) as only Antarctica lies further south. The area offers a wealth of activities, from kayaking in Lapataia Bay and hiking or skiing on Mount Castor to exploring the legendary Cape Horn. A Beagle Channel cruise, lasting half a day, is a popular excursion, providing stunning views of penguins and a rich array of marine wildlife.
BOLIVIA
5. Lake Titicaca
Spanning the border between Bolivia and Peru, Lake Titicaca holds the distinction of being the world’s highest navigable lake, perched at an elevation of 12,338 feet. This region has been inhabited by indigenous cultures for centuries, making a visit a significant opportunity to delve into Bolivia’s rich cultural heritage. Begin your exploration in Copacabana, a town from which you can book lake tours or catch a boat to Isla del Sol or Isla de la Luna. Both islands offer opportunities for immersive homestays with local families, providing a unique cultural experience.
6. Salar de Uyuni
The Salar de Uyuni, the planet’s largest salt flat, presents an otherworldly landscape spanning approximately 4,000 square miles, blanketed by a salt layer several meters thick. This area holds over 50% of the world’s lithium reserves. Despite its mineral wealth, flora is sparse, mainly consisting of giant cacti, and fauna is limited to flamingos. Must-see sites include Laguna Blanca, notable for its white color due to mineral content; Laguna Verde, a green, poisonous lake colored by magnesium and arsenic; and Laguna Colorado, which gets its red hue from algae.
BRAZIL
7. Brazilian Amazon
Despite losing 20% of its area in the last 40 years, the Brazilian Amazon remains vast, roughly the size of the lower 48 US states and encompassing half of the planet’s tropical forest. About two-thirds of the 3 million square mile Amazon Basin lies within Brazil. It’s one of Earth’s most biodiverse regions, harboring approximately 16,000 tree species, 2,000 fish species, 1,300 bird species, over 400 mammal species, nearly 400 reptile species, and 2.5 million insect species. Essential travel gear includes strong bug repellent.
8. Pantanal
The Pantanal, a 75,000 square-mile wetland in southwestern Brazil and eastern Bolivia, is the world’s largest of its kind. During the wet season, around 80% of the region is submerged, but the dry season transforms it into a haven for wildlife enthusiasts, particularly birdwatchers. The Pantanal is home to about 3,500 plant species, 300 mammal species, and over 1,000 bird species. Keep an eye out for hyacinth macaws, harpy eagles, white-banded tanagers, and the elusive jaguars, which are notably abundant here.
CHILE
9. Chilean Wine Country
Chile has cultivated a global reputation for its wine, exporting to Europe since the 1880s. Its emergence as a prominent destination for wine tourism is more recent, driven by the region’s favorable climate and stunning Andean scenery. Chile’s most popular wine regions are the Colchagua Valley, best known for Malbec, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc, and the Maipo Valley, famed for Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, and Merlot. Visiting these regions offers scenic vineyard tours and exquisite wine tasting experiences.
10. Torres del Paine National Park
Torres del Paine National Park, located in the heart of Chilean Patagonia, offers an unparalleled remote wilderness experience. Avid hikers will relish the famed W Trek, which winds through towering rock formations, including the iconic Paine Massif, stunning blue glacier-fed lakes, and vast fields of windswept grasses and vibrant wildflowers. The park’s diverse wildlife, ranging from foxes and guanacos to majestic Andean condors and pumas, adds to its allure.
COLOMBIA
11. Cartagena
Cartagena, a UNESCO-protected port city on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, is a personal favorite. The city is celebrated for its walled Old Town, established in the 16th century, featuring fortresses, vibrant colonial buildings, public squares, and numerous historic monuments. Beyond its historical charm, Cartagena offers beautiful beaches, and the tranquil tropical atmosphere of the Islas de Rosario (Rosario Islands) is just a short 40-minute boat trip away.
12. Tayrona National Park
Remote Tayrona National Park, situated on Colombia’s northern Caribbean coast, approximately 110 kilometers east of Barranquilla, boasts pristine beaches, biodiverse rainforests, and a notable absence of vehicles. Access is not easy; reaching park accommodations requires an hour’s hike. However, it’s one of South America’s most remarkable escapes, teeming with wildlife, from diverse bird species and monkeys to crocodiles, promising an animal-filled adventure.
ECUADOR
13. Galapagos Islands
Located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands are a nature enthusiast’s paradise, packed with unique endemic plants and animals. Designated the world’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978, this archipelago significantly influenced Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. Exploring the islands today reveals a landscape largely unchanged since Darwin’s era, with minimal human presence and incredible wildlife at every turn, including Galapagos tortoises, penguins, sea lions, and many more species.
14. Quito
Ecuador’s capital, Quito, located at just under 9,842 feet above sea level, is breathtaking in both senses of the word. Historically conquered by the Inca and then the Spanish, the city showcases stunning colonial architecture. A cable car ride to nearly 14,000 feet offers panoramic views of Quito and, on clear days, the Cotopaxi volcano. Nearby attractions include Mitad del Mundo (“Center of the Earth”), a monument and museum marking the equator.
PERU
15. Ballestas Islands
Often dubbed “the poor man’s Galapagos,” the Ballestas Islands, located west of Pisco, are home to hundreds of thousands of seabirds, including boobies, large sea lion colonies, penguins, and dolphins. Daily boat tours from the mainland take visitors past the “Candelabra,” a mysterious hillside geoglyph of ancient origin. Between June and August, Chilean flamingos are often seen in the bay’s southern part, adding to the islands’ wildlife spectacle.
16. Machu Picchu
Widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest archaeological sites, Machu Picchu was constructed during the Inca Empire’s zenith in the mid-15th century. Perched atop an 8,000-foot mountain in the Andes, Peru’s most popular tourist attraction welcomes over 500,000 visitors annually. The ancient city’s magnificent architecture remains largely intact, featuring giant stone walls, ancient temples, and lush green terraces overlooking a canyon on the Urubamba River and the surrounding Andes mountains.
17. Peruvian Amazon
The world’s fourth-largest rainforest, the Peruvian Amazon, encompasses approximately 60% of Peru’s total area. This remarkably pristine area is a biodiversity hotspot, home to around 180 reptile species, 262 amphibian species, 293 mammal species, 806 bird species, and 2,500 butterfly species. Plant enthusiasts can discover 700 fern types and over 7,300 flowering plant species. Accessible only by boat, exploring the Peruvian Amazon provides an exceptional small-ship cruise experience.
18. Sacred Valley
Machu Picchu may be famous, but the Sacred Valley holds even more Inca history. For a deeper dive into Inca civilization, explore the lesser-known ruins of the Sacred Valley. Start at Pisac, an Inca agricultural center with mountainside terraces. Discover impressive stonework in Vitcos and Ollantaytambo, the starting point of the Inca Trail, the circular Moray ruins, and Winay Wayna, which resembles a miniature Machu Picchu. The Sacred Valley offers a richer, less crowded Inca experience.
URUGUAY
19. Pampas
Less renowned than other ecotourism destinations on this list, the Uruguayan Pampas still deserve recognition as one of South America’s best places to visit. These fertile lowlands cover nearly 290,000 square miles, including all of Uruguay and parts of Argentina and Brazil. The temperate climate favors regenerative agriculture and supports diverse wildlife such as pampas deer, plains viscacha, puma, maned wolf, pampas fox, and an impressive array of bird species.
These 19 destinations represent just a fraction of the incredible South America travel spots waiting to be explored. From ancient ruins to vibrant cultures and breathtaking natural landscapes, South America promises an adventure for every traveler. Start planning your South American journey today!
