This Insight Travel Guides highlights top places to visit when traveling to South America. We have listed the top destinations below.
This website has been helping travelers find their way around the continent and we believe it can also be of great assistance to you.
South America covers an area of 17 840 000 square kilometres and is located in the Southern Hemisphere with a portion in the Western Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. The continent consists of three regions and twelve countries. South America has a lot to offer ranging from sightseeing to going on different tours offering a variety of exciting activities.
The continent also has several islands in different countries so you enjoy the sandy beaches and spotting different creatures in the sea. South America is home to some of the world’s natural wonders such as the world’s highest uninterrupted water fall, the Angel Falls, the Atacama Desert which is the driest place on earth, Salar de Uyuni which is the largest salt flat in the world and the Amazon Rainforest which is the largest tropical rainforest in the world just to mention a few of the many natural wonders of South America
South America in short
South America is a patch work of stunning landscapes with its snow capped mountains, treacherous jungles, surreal deserts and spectacular mountain ranges.
South America is one of the most diverse places on earth! Travel here and you could be cruising along the Amazon through the dense Brazilian jungle, trekking through the awe-inspiring scenery of Patagonia’s national parks, discovering the fascinating ancient history of the Incas at the ruins of Machu Picchu, riding across the pampas with local gauchos in Argentina or practicing your salsa steps in a steamy bar in Colombia. Dragoman runs overland trips throughout South and Central America all year round.
Whether you’re looking to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, relax on a Caribbean beach or take an epic trip from Colombia all the way to Tierra del Fuego and Ushuaia, all our itineraries are designed to make sure you have an unforgettable adventure travel experience.
The further south you go, the more seasonal the climate, with the latitude around Buenos Aires and Santiago experiencing hot summers and chilly winters. Further south, think more Scandinavian weather conditions – cooler summers, more storms, and deep snow in winter.
Here are the top 10 travel destinations in South America:
SALAR DE UYUNI, BOLIVIA
Salar de Uyuni is a salt flat located southwest of Bolivia. It is the largest salt flat in the world covering an area of 10 582 square kilometres and is over 10 meters thick in its centre. Salar de Uyuni is covered by a salt crust which contains 50% to 70% of the world’s lithium resource which are used in the production of batteries. Wildlife is very little with only about 80 species of birds which visit. When it rains and the salt flat is covered by water, it tends to look like an enormous mirror and can also look like the sky because of the reflection. Salar de Uyuni tours are available of which Red Planet is the most recommended and has the most experienced guides for that type of tours. These tours range from jeep safari excursions to motorcycle tours across the salt flat.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
Rio de Janeiro is a large seaside city in Brazil. The city has several amazing things to see such as its wonderful beaches, fascinating architecture and the famous Sugar Loaf Mountain among other things. Prainha has the most impressive waves. If you like to surf, Prainha is a must visit so you take on the incredible waves or watch others do so. For an amazing view of the city, make a turn at the one of a kind Sugar Loaf Mountain. The Imperial Palace and the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil are some of the biggest historical buildings in South America. For those with an interest and are curious about the history of Rio de Janeiro, make sure to visit those sites to learn about Rio de Jainero’s contemporary culture and its past. You can also take official walking tours to learn about the city’s past and present. Some exciting outdoor activities to do are hang gliding, trekking, jeep riding, paragliding and going on boat tours.
THE RIVER OF FIVE COLOURS, COLOMBIA
The River of Five Colours also known as Caño Cristales is located in Serrania de la Macarena in the province of Meta. The River of Five Colours is about 100 kilometres long anb over 20 metres wide. The five colours of the river are black, blue, yellow, red and green. This colourful view is caused by a red aquatic plant that grows at the riverbed, black rocks, yellow algae, the green sand and the water which is blue. The fascinating colours of the river can be viewed from July to November. The river has no fish so visitors can enjoy a good swim in the natural relaxing pools. Caminantes del Retorno is the most recommended and experienced tour company for an excellent trip at The River of Five Colours.
ANGEL FALLS, VENEZUELA
Angel Falls is a waterfall located in the Guayana highlands in Venezuela. Angel Falls is the highest uninterrupted waterfall in the world with an unbelievable height of 979 metres. You can go on boat or canoe rides, go hiking and take walks in the jungle which has a great display of distinctive rocks, Venezuelan animals and plants. You can swim in the small natural pools which are formed bellow the falls if the flow of the water is pleasant. Tours to Angel Falls are mostly popular from June to December during the rainy season. For an air view of the magnificent Angel Falls, you can go on a helicopter tour, perhaps you would also be interested in skydiving or be adventurous and have the greatest experience by jumping off the highest waterfalls in the world.
THE DEATH ROAD, BOLIVIA
The Death Road, also known as North Yungas Road is 56 kilometres northeast of La Paz in the Yungas region. The road climbs at about 4 650 metres and slowly descents to 1 200 metres. The Death Road is said to be the most dangerous road in the world taking between 200 and 300 lives every year. As scary as this road may seem to be, it attracts over 25 000 mountain bike riders each year. Mountain bike riding is the most common activity on this road with a 64 kilometres downhill bike ride route. Bike riders have to either be experienced mountain bikers or be bold and adventurous to ride on that route. One of the best biking companies in Bolivia is the Gravity Assisted Mountain Biking. On the other hand, Gravity Bolivia which is a cycling tour company provides riders the chance to experience a unique excursion at the waterfalls. The road is also used as a transportation route by the locals.
ATACAMA DESERT, CHILE
The Atacama Desert is a plateau located south of the Andes Mountains. Atacama Desert covers an area of 1 000 kilometres and is the driest place on earth. Atacama Desert receives very little rainfall of about 15 millimetres each year. The desert blossoms with pink flowers after heavy rainfall. The blossoms typically occur once every 5 to 10 years. These pink flowers cover the hillside. Purple, orange and yellow flowers may also be viewed and let’s not forget the green grass. The flowers eventually start to dry up and die, usually at the beginning of November. The best times to visit the Atacama Desert is from March to April when tourists are few or from October to November. Make sure to bring a sun hat and sunscreen to protect yourself from the drastic heat.
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires the capital of Argentina. Buenos Aires is one of the largest cities in South America, divided into 48 districts and is said to be one of the most populated urban areas in the world. If you fancy arts and crafts, make sure to make a turn at the Caminito pedestrian street in La Boca. Tango is known to be the national dance of the Argentinian people. For the best tango experience, visit the Milonga where dancers perform a type of tango dance known as milonga. If you are interested in learning to dance the tango, you can do so by attending group lessons at any of the many studios or one of the most favoured schools at the Centro Cultural Borges which offer such lessons. Parrilla Tour Buenos Aires conducts food tours various neighbourhoods where participants get to taste traditional Argentinian food at four distinct restaurants.
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, ECUADOR
The Galapagos Islands are located about 575 miles from the coast of Ecuador. Galapagos Islands are an extraordinary destination, some would go as far as saying it’s the greatest paradise. The islands have warm and welcoming sea wildlife such as sea tortoises and sea lions which you can actually play with. For an opportunity to see most of the sea wildlife, the best way would be by going on cruise trips on a small yacht or on boat tours. It is recommended that you book for such tours months in advance to avoid not being able to get a boat. Some of the activities you can do on the islands are hiking into the highland for a spectacular view of vegetation diversity, diving at the best dive spots, kayaking, surfing, and wildlife watching of cause where you can view the 14 animals that are unique to Galapagos Islands.
TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK, CHILE
Torres del Paine National Park covering an area of 2 400 square kilometres is located in the Magallanes region of Chile. Torres del Paine National Park came into existence in 1959 and was declared a world biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1978. The park is a thrilling destination for sightseeing, viewing wildlife and water sports. Torres del Paine National Park consists of rivers, lakes, lagoons, waterfalls, forests and fascinating wildlife. Other activities to do at the park are fishing, trekking, white water kayaking, climbing, ice trekking and getting information on environmental education. Wildlife that can be viewed at the national park are guanaco, puma, huemul deer, foxes, cara cara, andean condor and rhea of which some can only be found at Torres del Paine National Park and nowhere else on earth. The Towers are breath-taking granite spikes in the park which are said to be the highest with a height of 2 900 metres.
AMAZON RAINFOREST
The Amazon Rainforest is the largest tropical rainforest in the world covering an area of 5.5 million square kilometres. It is said to be the “lungs of the planet” since it produces over 20 percent of the oxygen in the world. The Amazon Rainforest covers about 40 percent of South America. The rainforest covers parts of eight different countries of South America namely Brazil covering the largest area of 60%, Peru covering 13%, Colombia 10% and Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname with smaller portions of the rainforest within their borders. The rainforest has about 30 million species of plants and animals. For an experience of a lifetime, go on the Delfin Cruise at the Amazon River where you’ll get the opportunity to swim with the unique pink dolphins. For those fascinated by snakes, visit the Amazon during the dry season to view the famous anaconda.