From tropical beaches to wind swept plains, South America really has it all. The following list aims to highlight some of the most memorable places I've visited and inspire you to go check them out yourself. Trust me, you wont be sorry.
Laguna Colorada, Bolivia
Laguna Colorada’s surreal colors come from various sediments and a certain algae. Usually part of the standard Salar de Uyuni packages, Laguna Colorada and the other lakes of the Bolivian Altiplano are top destinations in their own right.
Iguazu waterfalls, Brazil/Argentina
The mightiest waterfalls in the world, Iguazu are one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature and justly so. Situated on the border between Argentina and Brazil they are a majestic display of nature’s brute force. The area is so big that you actually need two days to do it justice, especially if you’re interested in doing some activities like jumping in a speed boat and getting up and close to the beast.
Chapada Diamantina, Brazil
Chapada Diamantina is a gem of a national park with its table top mountains, numerous waterfalls and spectacular canyons.
Titicaca lake, Bolivia/Peru
There’s something magical about the Titicaca lake, which you feel immediately after taking a boat ride to one of its islands and getting to know the indigenous people living there.
Cafayate, Argentina
Nature loves to play tricks with water and earth in Northeastern Argentina and one of the best places to see its creations is in the area around Cafayate, where you’ll get treated with a selection of good white wines as well.
Cuzco, Peru
Image source: Martin St-Amant – Wikipedia – CC-BY-SA-3.0
Cuzco, the seat of the once mighty Inca empire is a traveler’s favorite and the usual stop en route to Machu Picchu. Many a tourist gets stuck there for various reasons. I personally got dragged into its fun nightlife, which I continued to enjoy for a week and never even made it to South America’s arguably most famous site, Machu Picchu. Nope, still not feeling sorry :).
Buenos Aires, Argentina
You probably heard it before but it’s true, Buenos Aires feels like you’re in Europe. And after travelling for a while in South America, that can be a welcoming thing. Make sure to swing by La Boca, the city’s famous working class neighborhood.
Volcanoes in the Atacama, Chile
The Atacama desert in Chile blows your mind. Climbing one of its volcanoes is an awesome experience, but do make sure you go with a reputable agency as ascending over 5000m (and less) can be potentially dangerous due to altitude related issues. I tried it out myself and while I was in quite a decent shape at the time, I still found it difficult and came back down with a massive headache. At the end of the day it was worth it, just look at the view once you reach the top. You can read more about the experience in my Climbing Lascar volcano amid Atacama’s surreal landscape post.
El Chalten, Argentina
El Chalten is famous for being Argentina’s hiking capital, with the vistas of mighty Fitz Roy and Torre mountains looming in the background. This was my favorite of all the best places to visit in South America. In fact Argentina is currently my favorite country in the world and you can read more about it in my 13 Great things to see & do in Argentina post.
Torres del Paine, Chile
Get ready to be gobsmacked! The Torres del Paine hiking trails offer some truly inspiring views of surreal azure lakes, blinding glaciers and all the crisp air you can breath in. Situated near the tip of South America, the park is literally approaching the end of the world. Do yourself a favor however and try to visit it in the shoulder season as the trails get incredibly busy during January, when I was there.
Paraná Delta, Argentina
An easily done day trip from Buenos Aires, the Parana Delta around Tigre is a weekend home to many well of residents of Buenos Aires. This mellow setting offers a relaxing escape from the hustle and bustle of the big city next door. I’m definitely sorry that I didn’t spend more time there, just taking it easy and exploring the channels in a kayak or a canoe.
Islas Ballestas, Peru
So many birds! So many sea lions! Islas Ballestas may not exactly be Galapagos, but it’s extremely affordable and a worthy sight by all accounts.
Siete Lagos, Argentina
The Siete Lagos or the Lakes District as it is known in English, puts Switzerland to shame. The glacial lakes that were carved out are one of Argentina’s main tourist draws and for a good reason.
Sierra de las Quijadas, Argentina
Definitely not one of the better known sites in South America, this natural park is in my opinion a must see. Not only are there vast canyons to get lost among dinosaur bones, but due to it being unknown and slightly more difficult to get to, it is virtually devoid of tourists. When we traveled there with my wife, we saw 4 people in the entire time.
Salvador, Brazil
Famous for its joie de vivre, Salvador its reaping at it seems with life. Be it the parties, poverty or its cultural heritage there is bound to be something for you to get impressed by.
Cajas National Park, Ecuador
A truly fairy tail-esque destination with all its mini lakes, dwarf forests, wild animals and birds. Cajas National Park in Ecuador is a perfect place to get lost in space and time and become one with nature.
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
So flat, so salty, so white! Well white is debatable if you happen to go there in December, like I did 🙂 White or grey, this is one of those places that will be stuck with you for the rest of your life.
Rio de Janerio, Brazil
Seriously Rio de Janiero? Could a city be located in more spectacular surroundings?
Peninsula Valdes nature reserve, Argentina
Whales! Who doesn’t love whales? Even the Japanese do! Peninsula Valdes will most certainly satisfy your hunger for these giants. Inappropriate jokes aside, there’s also penguins, sea lions, seals and other marine life such as orcas. We just narowly missed the killer whales 🙁 Damn you cruel reality!
Bonito, Brazil
Snorkeling in a river in a jungle? Oh yes, that’s exactly what you get in Bonito! Due to specific mineral composition, the Rio da Prata and Rio Sucuri are incredibly clear and sometimes offer visibility over 30m. Now I took a bunch of photos with my GoPro, but not one of them turned out to be any good :(. Maybe I should invest into a newer model. This video I took however does a slightly better job of illustrating what’s it like.
Perito Moreno glacier, Argentina
Glaciers are mesmerizing, but this one also crumbles before your very eyes with huge pieces tumbling into the lake beneath. Don’t worry however, Perito Moreno is one of the rare Patagonian glaciers that is actually not receding, since it’s forming at the same rate up top as it is disappearing at the bottom.
Mendoza surroundings, Argentina
Mendoza is widely renowned for its vineyards that produce world famous Malbec and as if that wasn’t a big enough of a reason to visit, its surroundings are absolutely spectacular. Be it on an organized daily tour or renting your own wheels, a drive up to Aconcagua National Park offers some of the best views to be had anywhere on the continent.
Llamas & Alpacas, Bolivia/Peru
I saved the best for last! In all honesty, you might just skip all of the above mentioned highlights and come to South America just to laugh at these sorry excuses for god’s creation.