10 Beautiful Places to Visit in South America

Got the travel bug? Then this list of the 10 most beautiful destinations in South America is just the thing for you! Here we've gathered all the highlights the continent is famous for: fascinating places full of magical beauty that you simply have to see in South America.

A word of warning: everyone at Viventura loves South America with a burning passion, so of course we're not exactly objective when we say the most beautiful destinations in the world are in South America! Even so, the fact is that there's a huge variety of highlights there. Each one is worth a trip in its own right.

The Salar de Uyuni, covering an area of 10,000 km², is the largest salt flat in the world. In some places the salt layer is even up to 10 metres thick!

This desert-like expanse of salt is a bizarre paradise for nature lovers and photographers. In February, the Salar de Uyuni is an especially tempting destination: for a few weeks, some areas are covered by a thin layer of water, creating a beautiful mirror-like surface and surreal-looking photo opportunities. Especially spectacular are the coloured lagoons, where the salt glitters red, yellow or even purple thanks to mineral deposits.

Some tours lead from the Salar de Uyuni through the desert and across the Chilean border, where a whole different category of wonders is at home. Such a tour therefore combines several of the most beautiful destinations in South America at once.

A little warning: unfiltered salt doesn't taste good at all, so best keep your fingers off it!

If you'd like to experience the unreal beauty of the Salar de Uyuni for yourself, we recommend our great Explorer tour through Peru, Bolivia and Chile. As well as world-famous sights like Machu Picchu (see below!), it takes you to Bolivia and the Salar. In 4x4 jeeps we drive all the way across the desert and even stop at the Hotel San Juan, which is built entirely of salt!

Few cities are so polarising, marked by such strong contrasts and at the same time blessed with such incredible nature. Surrounded by sea, jungle and mountains, it's easy to see why Rio de Janeiro is among the 10 most beautiful destinations in South America.

Discover the slightly faded splendour of times gone by on the world-famous Copacabana beach, visit the impressive statue of Cristo Redentor and meet the fun-loving Cariocas, the people of Rio. Samba, Carnival and the meat restaurants known as “churrascarias” will keep you in Rio longer than you'd expect!

Fancy white sandy beaches and lush green jungle? Off to Tayrona National Park!

On this Caribbean stretch of Colombia's coast you'll find a true paradise – the park is sacred land of the indigenous population. Swing into a hammock, grab a surfboard or let the waves wash around your feet.

If you'd rather follow in the footsteps of Indiana Jones, set off on the adventurous trek to the Ciudad Perdida, the lost city. Deep in the jungle, the traces of ancient civilisations and spectacular mountain backdrops await you.

The Ciudad Perdida in Colombia is by no means the only lost city on this ancient continent: Machu Picchu is probably the number-one sight in all of South America. Hardly anyone has never heard of the once-forgotten Inca citadel, now part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

Without doubt, Machu Picchu is one of the most impressive and best-preserved ruined cities in the world. High up in the Andes of Peru, the city can be reached via the Inca Trail, among other routes. You need an experienced guide, enough fitness and enough time to adjust to the changes in altitude.

As a quick alternative to the demanding hike on the Inca Trail, there's a train from Cusco to the starting point of Aguas Calientes. From there you can attempt an early-morning climb up to the ruins, or reach the famous Inca city comfortably by bus.

The sunrise before this magical backdrop is worth every effort. Definitely one of the ten most beautiful destinations in South America! Our recommendation: if you want to visit Machu Picchu, plan well in advance. The Inca Trail, the train and the climb up Huayna Picchu are often booked out well ahead – because Machu Picchu is far from an insider tip these days!

The Salto Ángel waterfall in Venezuela, with its waters plunging from a height of 979 metres, is the highest free-falling waterfall in the world. The “Angel's leap” got its name from the pilot Jimmie Angel. He rediscovered the waterfall – first recorded in 1910 – more than 20 years later on a gold expedition. Only through a daring dive over the cliff edge did he manage his return. Salto Ángel: this is where Angel leapt.

The spectacular setting lies deep in Canaima National Park. Dense jungle and enormous biodiversity already make the trek an unforgettable experience. You travel up the river through the jungle in a dugout canoe – a must-do and, without doubt, one of the most beautiful destinations in South America!

Few places have played such a decisive role in our understanding of human evolution as the Galápagos Islands.

A boat trip through the shimmering turquoise water, snorkelling with sea turtles – an absolute favourite among our ten most beautiful destinations in South America!

Discover the “enchanted islands”, declared a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, stroll along dream beaches among sea lions and blue-footed boobies, and experience the biodiversity of this huge archipelago in the Pacific off the coast of Ecuador.

Want to relax by the sea, but also hike or mountain bike, see wildlife and discover volcanoes? The Galápagos and Ecuador have it all, from jungle to sandy beach.

Just two hours from Puerto Natales lies a trekking classic and likewise one of our most beautiful destinations in South America: Torres del Paine National Park.

It's named after the three huge, bluish stone towers that gaze out over glaciers and lakes. “Paine” is an old Spanish word for the colour blue.

It's best to allow time for a multi-day trek such as the Big Circuit, which opens in November. If you don't fancy hauling your own tents and heavy rucksacks, we recommend a guide who provides food and equipment.

Has the wanderlust taken hold? On our active tour through Patagonia you can set off on treks through incredible landscapes and canoe through fjords. From Buenos Aires it's over the Andes to the glaciers of Patagonia and all the way to Tierra del Fuego!

The island of Rapa Nui is one of the most isolated and mysterious places in the world. Lying far from the mainland in the Pacific, it officially belongs to Chile and was formerly also called Easter Island. Although Rapa Nui's roughly 6,000 inhabitants live mainly from tourism, the island is the most unusual of our destinations in South America.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it offers fascinating insights into the island's unique Polynesian culture as well as spectacular nature. The highlight, of course, is the Moai statues, built by the indigenous Rapa Nui people as part of their religion to honour their ancestors. These stone giants have survived for centuries and still make a very impressive sight.

The Iguazú Falls are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and border Brazil and Argentina.

They're accessible from both countries and are not only higher than Niagara Falls but also twice as wide. This impressive sight moved Eleanor Roosevelt, on her visit, to offer her condolences to Niagara Falls.

Allow yourself enough time to admire the falls from every side! There are a few excellent walking routes that show you the best viewpoints. Please don't forget the waterproof case for your camera, especially if you want to take a boat trip – because you won't stay completely dry!

The national parks on both sides represent a vanishing part of the Atlantic rainforest and make this natural wonder definitely one of the most beautiful destinations in South America.

The Amazon is more than just any rainforest. It's THE rainforest!

It runs across nine countries, of which Brazil has the lion's share. It also takes up more than half of the world's remaining rainforest area. It's home to many indigenous peoples too and, with more than 16,000 plants and animals, is the most species-rich biosphere.

No wonder, then, that the Amazon rainforest and its lifeblood, the Amazon River, are among the New 7 Wonders of Nature and on our list of the most beautiful destinations in South America.

Nature lovers will get their money's worth here: hikes, birdwatching, canoe trips and a glimpse into the life of the indigenous inhabitants are all on the programme. If you're especially lucky, you might even spot a jaguar or a pink river dolphin.

So, have we awakened the wanderlust in you? Would you like to experience these highlights of South America for yourself? Then take a look at our bestselling tours, which cover several countries and many of these top 10 destinations!

Viventura – we are South America.