South America has a lot of world records: it is the highest, driest, biggest, deepest, strangest, and so on. You get the idea. There are a lot of great things about every place in the world, from Caracas to Tierra del Fuego, so every tourist can find something they’re interested in.
The well-kept Pantanal in Brazil is a great place for nature lovers, and shoppers can choose between high-end shops in Rio de Janeiro and the colorful markets in Andean towns. In this place, you can look for lost cities from old civilizations, enjoy beautiful scenery almost everywhere, or enjoy delicious food.
Top 10 Must-See Destinations in South America
1. Salvador, Brazil
There are a lot of good things about Salvador da Bahia, which is also known as just Salvador. It is one of the oldest colonial towns in the Americas; it was built by the Portuguese in 1548. Pelourinho, the historic center, is full of things from the city’s long history. Its name comes from the whipping post where slaves were beaten.
The first slave port in the Americas was in Brazil’s third-largest city. You can still see signs of this African history in the society, especially in the food. Also, Salvador is a party town; every year, Carnival is the biggest party in the world.
2. Ushuaia, Argentina
Put Ushuaia on your list of places to visit if you like going to faraway places. Ushuaia is the capital of Tierra del Fuego in Argentina and is thought to be the world’s southernmost city. In fact, this is where the train to the end of the world stops.
With its mountains and bay, Ushuaia is a very pretty place to be when it’s not dark or windy, which is most of the time. There is a museum at the site of the old prison colony, and you can see penguins, orcas, and seals there.
3. Colca Canyon, Peru
Colca Canyon has beautiful views, which is why it’s the third most popular tourist spot in Peru. The canyon is more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the United States. It is one of the deepest in the world, but not the deepest in Peru.
Take a break from the beautiful scenery and look up at the sky. You might see Andean condors and the biggest hummingbirds you’ve ever seen. Villages are great places to buy handmade goods from the area.
4. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Salar de Uyuni is the biggest salt flat in the world. It is in the Andes, about 3,700 meters (12,0 feet) above sea level. The salt flat is in the southwest of Peru. It has a thick crust that gives salt and covers a brine.
It’s as flat as it gets on the salt flat, which looks out of this world, especially after it rains and turns into a huge mirror. In South America, this is one of the strangest places to visit. It’s also a major breeding ground for flamingos.
5. Easter Island, Chile
It can take a while to get to Easter Island because it is the world’s most remote habitable island base. The people who live closest are almost 1,300 miles away. But this Chilean region isn’t known for how far away it is. When you get there, you’ll see it: almost 900 simple statues made by the first Polynesians who lived there.
These huge figures, which are called moai, may have been made about a thousand years ago. For the black eyes, obsidian was used instead of volcanic ash, which was used to carve most of the figures.
6. Amazon Rainforest
There are 390 billion trees in the Amazon jungle. You could count them all if you lived that long. This number is definitely mind-boggling, but then the Amazon jungle, which takes up about ¾ of the Amazon River basin, is a really cool place to live.
It has more tropical jungles than any other place on Earth. Sixty percent of the jungle is in Brazil, with large parts in Peru and Columbia. Other countries that are close by only have small parts. Without a doubt, the jungle is full of unique plants and animals.
7. Iguazu Falls, Brazil & Argentina
Iguazu Falls is one of the most beautiful places to visit in South America. Words aren’t enough to describe them. They are as big as their name, which means “big water.” With 275 waterfalls of different sizes, they are the biggest waterfalls system in the world. Devil’s Throat is the biggest.
The Iguazu River runs through Brazil for a big part of its way to the ocean, but most of the falls are in Argentina, which seems like a way for countries to work together.
8. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
You have to take a samba lesson when you go to Rio de Janeiro; even “The Girl from Ipanema” does it. The samba is Rio’s most famous dance. This world-class city is known for more than just the samba. It’s also famous for Carnival, the bossa nova, and Copacabana Beach.
The statue of Christ the Redeemer on top of Corcovado Mountain may be its most well-known symbol. Rio was the site of the 2016 Summer Olympics, but most of the people who live there enjoy soccer: If you want to play soccer, Maracana Stadium is one of the biggest fields in the world.
9. Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu is a beautiful example of what life was like for the Incas before the Spanish came. Machu Picchu was built in the Peruvian Andes and was a palace for the emperor, a fortress, and a place where people were sacrificed to the gods as part of religious rites.
The place was left alone after the Spanish took it over and wasn’t touched by them until an American professor “discovered” it in the early 1900s. Machu Picchu is an amazing example of classical Inca construction. It was built from smooth stones. Machu Picchu is the most popular tourist spot in Peru. It has amazing views.
10. Angel Falls, Venezuela
Angel Falls is the star of the show in Venezuela’s Guayana Highlands. It is the world’s tallest waterfall that doesn’t get stopped. It’s 15 times higher than Niagara Falls, which is shared by the US and Canada. More than 950 meters (3,200 feet) of water fall from Auyantepu Mountain into the Rio Kerepacupai Meru.
In 1937, Jimmy Angel, an American, was the first person to fly over the falls. The waterfall is named after him. To get there, you have to take an airplane and a riverboat.
