If you’re planning a short or – hopefully – long trip to South America, we’ve put together a list of 10 places you should definitely visit. From lively cities to beautiful sceneries, we’ve got you covered!
1. Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel situated on a mountain 2,430 metres high. Machu Picchu is 80 kilometres northwest of Cuzco town.
This is a must-go place if you’re travelling to SA, however be careful: it usually closes in February, entrance is limited to 2,500 visitors per day and entrance to Huayna Picchu to 400 visitors per day.
2. Buenos Aires, Argentina
Capital and largest city of Argentina, “Buenos Aires” means “good air”. Who knows why?
Buenos Aires is the most diverse and European-alike city in America, given its architecture style, cultural life and history.
3. Cartagena, Colombia
A colorful old town, Cartagena is located on the Caribbean Coast. Cartagena’s old town is a Unesco World Heritage site with its cobbled alleys, beautiful balconies and historic churches.
4. Lake Titicaca, Bolivia & Peru
This huge, deep lake in the South America Andes is on the border of Peru and Bolivia. One of the largest lakes in South America and often considered the highest navigable lake in the world, its elevation is 3,812 metres.
5. Iguazu Falls, Argentina & Brazil
You can’t avoid visiting the Iguazu Falls, waterfalls of the Iguazu River on the border of Argentina and the Brazil: they are the largest waterfalls system in the world!
6. Amazon, Ecuador
Although the Galapagos Islands remain Ecuador’s most important visitor attraction, more and more visitors get to visit the world’s largest remaining tropical rainforest.
7. Easter Island, Chile
Easter Island is famous for its 887 monumental statues (moai). Easter Island is reachable by plane via Chile’s LAN Airlines.
8. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Unlike many people think, Rio is not the capital of Brazil (and neither is São Paulo!). Rio de Janeiro is one of the most visited cities in the world and is mostly known for Carnival, Copacabana beach and the giant statue of Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado mountain.
9. Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
The Chilean Patagonia’s national park includes mountains, glaciers, lakes and rivers. Paine means “blue” in the native language – and now you understand why!
It seems the park averages around 150,000 visitors a year, of which 60% are foreign tourists. Will you be next?
10. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
The Galápagos are an archipelago of volcanic islands 906 km west of continental Ecuador. You might have heard of a certain Charles Darwin before? Well, this is where it all started: his research contributed to the inception of his natural selection theory.
Most visitors will travel to Galapagos by air from mainland Ecuador, and you should expect to pay between $380 and $500 for a round-trip ticket.