Top 10 Places to Visit in South America
- Aliki
- Sep 27, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 20
I traveled around South America in total for a year so here is my summary of the absolute best places you must visit!
Short on time, here are MUST DOs in South America:
Iguazu Falls - Brazil & Argentina
Uyuni Salt Desert - Bolivia
Amazon (In Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, or Brazil)
Patagonia - Chile & Argentina
Salento - Colombia
Machu Picchu - Peru
Rainbow Mountains - Peru
Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
Death Road - Bolivia
Colca Canyon - Peru
My TOP 4 of South America
It is really hard for me to say which is my absolute favorite place in South America so I have my TOP 4! I noticed that all 4 places have something in common - they are very unique and specific only to South America. I think that is why they were so special to me because I had never experienced anything similar.
One of my top 4 of South America is Iguazu Falls. The most epic natural beauty I have ever seen. The Iguazu Falls were so powerful and incredible. Absolutely spectacular scenery. Iguazu Falls is actually the biggest waterfall system in the world and is shared between Brazil and Argentina. If possible, please try to visit Igazu Falls from the Brazilian side and also from the national park in Argentina. Seeing Iguazu Falls from both sides will give you a much better perspective.
Another place in South America that is extremely unique is the world's largest salt flat Uyuni Salt Desert. Imagine being surrounded by kilometers of salt, you constantly walk through the salt flats. Extraordinary trip. There you also can stay in a hotel that is completely made from salt!
For the next one, I think no comments are needed. The AMAZON! You can't travel around South America and not visit the Amazon Rainforest. I went on a 3-day expedition in Ecuador - Cuyabeno area. With abundant wildlife and lush forests, the Amazon Rainforest is a must visit in South America for nature lovers.
And as a final one - Patagonia. I think it is one of the most beautiful places in the world. A true gem for all the hiking lovers, featuring raw beauty. One of my favorite activities was the Glacier Cruise in Los Glaciares National Park during which we saw one of the biggest glaciers in the world.
Other amazing places to visit in South America
I think Colombia as a country is one big adventure with vibrant culture but I want to highlight one exceptional place - Salento. Have you seen the cartoon 'En Canto'? If yes, then you will understand. It is an enchanting village that features the amazing Cocora Valley. A remarkable place in South America full of the tallest palm trees in the world! Also, Salento is part of the coffee triangle, so this is the place to enjoy one of the best coffees in Colombia!
Interesting Fact: Turns out Colombia exports all the best coffee they make to Europe, so apart from very boutique cafes, 99% of the time you will get 2nd tier coffee in Colombia which is not as good as the one you can get in Europe!
Another must-do in South America is world famous Machu Picchu! BUT here I really want to highlight that you will truly appreciate visiting Machu Picchu only if you have learned about Inca culture before by visiting other sites around Cusco. Cusco's old town is a lovely place to learn more about the deep history of Peru. Also, I believe the whole visit will be extra special if you do a trail to Machu Picchu. The most special one is the Inca Trail. One of the most adventurous and at the same time hardest hikes to Machu Picchu is the Salkantay Trail. I did the Salkantay Trail and absolutely loved it! It was such a great buildup to the Machu Picchu visit.
Another incredible place to visit in Peru is Rainbow Mountain. It is a popular day trip to do from Cusco, the same place from where you most probably will get to Machu Picchu, so you can combine these 2 things on one trip. Just note that Rainbow Mountain is very high up in the Andes Mountains, more than 5000 meters above sea level, so make sure you have acclimatized before going there so you do not get a bad case of altitude sickness. Also very important, when you will be visiting make sure to ask your guide to take you to the red valley too!
If I have to name my absolute favorite city in South America then it is definitely Rio de Janeiro. I loved everything about it! It is not only a big city with loads of going on but also it has an amazing coastline offering some great beaches. Don't miss out on the awe inspiring views of Rio de Janeiro from Sugarloaf Mountain.
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Another great memory I have from South America is about the Death Road in Bolivia. It was the most exciting bike ride I have ever had! Absolutely exhilarating experience and a must-do if you are around the La Paz area in Bolivia. While in La Paz, make sure you explore the city with a cable car. La Paz was definitely the biggest culture shock for me in South America.
The most amazing and at the same time the hardest hike I had in South America was in Peru whilst trekking through the Colca Canyon. The views were breathtaking but the hike was extremely hard, especially on the final day when you need to make your way up to the top of the canyon. The most popular are 2 or 3-day trekking trips.
The most fun place in South America is definitely Banos in Ecuador. Any adrenaline seeker will love this place. You can do rafting and canyoning there, Dangle over a cliff on a giant swing over the city, and enjoy crazy adventure parks offering loads of fun and extreme activities.
