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Places to visit in South America

This beguiling continent is made up of 12 countries, each with their own unique quirks, culture, landscapes and history. Our interactive map helps you choose which places to visit in South America, whether you're enjoying an epic overland tour or a relaxing two-week vacation. South America has something to suit all - from wildlife lovers and beach bums, to jungle trekkers and mountain climbers.

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Places to visit in South America

Somewhere on this continent of wonders will offer your perfect mix of pleasures.
Activity and landscape preferences, time available and weather all help decide which places to visit in South America. For example, the Inca Trail and Patagonia are hiking beacons – but couldn't be more different. Distances will also have an impact; best to explore one big country or combine a couple of smaller neighbouring places. In Brazil, many itineraries require internal flights, while Amazon trips usually involve boats. In Argentina and Chile, internal flights are often slotted into shorter itineraries – but overnight buses are affordable and comfortable, with seats that recline into beds. Itineraries anywhere can be disrupted by road problems or bad weather – be adaptable!

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Our South America Vacations

1. Atacama
2. Bolivia
3. Colombia
4. Ecuador
5. Galapagos
6. Guyana
7. Iguazu Falls
8. Inca trail
9. Northern Amazon
10. Pantanal
11. Patagonia
12. Southern Amazon

Atacama

1. Atacama

The world's driest and oldest desert is a 1,000km-long plateau of unique other-worldly beauty – a place of salt flats and emerald lakes, ancient lava fields and far horizons, dotted with 6000m peaks. Atmospheric settlements like San Pedro de Atacama contrast sharply with over 170 ghost towns. In September and October, rare spring rains can spark stunning floral blooms in southern Atacama. Read more in our Chile travel guide

Atacama

Bolivia

2. Bolivia

Ringed by Andean peaks, 3,800m Lake Titicaca is the world's highest navigable lake – deemed the birthplace of the sun, moon and the first humans in Inca myth. But Bolivia is full of such beauty. Sucre and Potosi are ravishing historic towns, contrasted by the tropical Oriente region, the dramatically sparse Altiplano and a vast slice of mesmerising Amazon rainforest. Read more in our Bolivia travel guide.

Colombia

3. Colombia

Forget Colombia's coke-and-conflict past – this is one of South America's more secret jewels. Cartagena's gorgeously preserved old city contrasts with cobblestoned rural villages and a stunning history-soaked Caribbean coast. Inland, the dense jungle of the Darien Gap is a biodiversity mecca that contrasts thrillingly with the dramatic desert vistas of La Guajira. Read more in our Colombia travel guide.

Colombia

Ecuador

4. Ecuador

Crammed into an area the size of the UK, Ecuador's habitats include steamy Amazon jungle, high Andean páramo, bird-filled cloud forest and mangrove-lined coast. Add majestic colonial cities beside snow-capped volcanoes, and the unique wildlife of Galápagos. Ecuador's culture is equally diverse, from the Inca-descended Quichua to lowland rainforest tribes where shamans guide and forest plants heal. Read more in our Ecuador travel guide

Galapagos

5. Galapagos

Isolation 1,000km out in the Pacific from Ecuador has shaped Galapagos' wildlife into a unique menagerie of amazing animals, a living exhibit of evolution bustling amid forest, lava fields and smoking volcanoes. Lack of fear lets you admire these scenes without disturbing their protagonists: giant tortoises, salt-snorting iguanas, penguins and sea lions. Explore in the footsteps of Darwin (and pirates) with our Galapagos travel guide.

Galapagos

Guyana

6. Guyana

Stunning landscapes, awesome biodiversity and charmingly rough-edged, colonial history in the capital Georgetown give Guyana a concentrated blast of draws. Kaieteur National Park features gorgeous waterfalls plus rainforest and savannah, while Rupununi is home to atmospheric cowboy and old mining towns by the Brazilian border. Amerindian villages offer fascinating indigenous culture. Read more in our Guyana travel guide.

Iguazu Falls

7. Iguazu Falls

Straddling the Argentina-Brazil border, the mighty Iguazu Falls stretch 3km and tower higher than Niagara. There are actually over 270 falls, and you’ll need to border hop for the full experience. The Brazilian side has rainforest walks and catwalks above the cascades, while Argentina allows you to cruise upriver on a zodiac – navigating rapids to reach the Devil’s Throat Canyon. Read more in our Iguazu Falls travel guide.

Iguazu Falls

Inca trail

8. Inca trail

This high altitude hike takes brave trekkers through extraordinary Andean scenery, with mountain passes, Quechua villages, Alpine tundra and humid cloud forests. There are several routes to choose from; the 43km classic route is usually completed in four or five days. Most of the trail follows original Incan stone paths, and leads to the "Sun Gate" - the most dramatic entry point to Machu Picchu. Read more in our Inca Trail travel guide.

Northern Amazon

9. Northern Amazon

The vast Amazonian city of Manaus is the leaping off point for tours into the northern region of this rainforest, including the waterfall, wildlife and pristine jungle environment of Jaú National Park. Take a cruise past tropical archipelagos, looking out for pink river dolphins and giant otters. Or encounter true native culture by canoeing to Yanomami and Tukano villages.

Northern Amazon

Pantanal

10. Pantanal

The world’s largest seasonal wetland – and Brazil’s wildlife spotting HQ – is home to 700 bird species and nearly 100 mammals, more easily viewed thanks to the lack of jungle. Choose from night treks, canoe rides and horseback hacks to see capybaras, anacondas, monkeys and hyacinth macaws. Porto Jofre is also the world's top spot to see habituated jaguars. Read more in our Pantanal travel guide.

Patagonia

11. Patagonia

Patagonia would be a unique and wonderful country all by itself. Iconic sealife throngs its long coast: whales and elephant seals, albatross and penguins. Inland, lonely steppe overflown by condors mixes with jewel-like lakes and epic peaks in national parks like Torres del Paine. Rustic mining and ranch towns complement old Welsh settlements and indigenous communities. Read more in our Patagonia travel guide.

Patagonia

Southern Amazon

12. Southern Amazon

While many of the Amazon’s thousands of species stay concealed by dense greenery, guides can help you spot some of the 550 bird species and multiple types of monkey – and if you don’t see howler monkeys you’re sure to hear them, even amid the startling natural crescendo of the world's largest jungle. Capybaras – giant rodents – graze the riverbanks.

Travel Team

If you'd like to chat about South America or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.

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Toll free 1-866-821-6866

Calling us from outside the US?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

Travel times in South America

The following times give you a rough idea of the travel times between the main attractions in South America.

Rio de Janeiro - Salvador (Brazil):
2 hours by plane Rio de Janeiro - Manaus (Brazil):
4 hours by plane The 'W' circuit in Torres del Paine (Chile):
4 days on foot Santiago - Calama (for San Pedro de Atacama) (Chile):
2 hours by air, then 1 hr by car Buenos Aires - Bariloche (Argentina):
2 hours by air Round trip on Salta's 'Train To The Clouds':
13 1/2 hours by train Lima - Nazca (Peru):
6hrs 30mins by road Cuzco - Machu Picchu:
3hrs 15mins by train La Paz - Sucre (Bolivia):
12 hours by bus (sleeper options available) Guayaquil - Galápagos (Ecuador):
2 hours by air Quito - Otavalo (Ecuador):
2 hours 30 minutes by road

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Written by Norman Miller

ABTA member P7085 so you are fully protected

Photo credits: [Page banner: McKay Savage] [Top box: CucombreLibre] [Atacama: Justin Jensen] [Bolivia: Madeleine Deaton] [Colombia: Luz Adriana Villa] [Guyana: amanderson2] [Northern Amazon: A C Moraes] [Southern Amazon: Kevin Jones] [Driving times: Deensel]

Places to visit in South America