Quick Summary:

  • South America is a continent filled with breathtaking scenery and endless adventures.
  • It’s where visitors will find Patagonian glaciers, Andean peaks, Incan ruins, Amazonian rainforests, white sand beaches, colonial towns, and vibrant nightlife from one country to the next.
  • An eclectic mix of activities and attractions are featured throughout, from natural wonders like powerful Iguazu Falls and the Galapagos Islands to cultural and historic sites like indigenous markets and colonial towns with cobblestone streets.
  • It’s home to one of the New Seven Wonders of the World – Machu Picchu, the legendary Bolivian salt flats of Salar de Uyuni, Argentina’s stunning Perito Moreno Glacier, and several bustling cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, La Paz, and Cartagena.


  • Updated with new information since originally published.
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  • Our editors recommend these diverse local experiences.

1. Machu Picchu ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Machu Picchu | Places to Visit in South America
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2. Galapagos Islands ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Romantic Islands
Galapagos Islands | Places to Visit in South America
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3. Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires | Places to Visit in South America
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4. Aruba

Aruba | Places to Visit in South America
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5. Banos

Banos | Places to Visit in South America
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6. Bariloche

Category: Food & Drink
Bariloche | Places to Visit in South America
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7. Bogota

Bogota | Places to Visit in South America
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8. Cartagena

Category: Museums & Culture
Cartagena | Places to Visit in South America
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9. Cusco

Cusco | Places to Visit in South America
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10. Easter Island

Romantic Islands
Easter Island | Places to Visit in South America
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11. Iguazu Falls

Category: Activities
Iguazu Falls | Places to Visit in South America
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12. La Paz

La Paz | Places to Visit in South America
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13. Lake Titicaca

Category: Activities
Lake Titicaca | Places to Visit in South America
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14. Medellin

Medellin | Places to Visit in South America
© Courtesy of Luis Echeverri Urrea - Fotolia.com

15. Montevideo

Montevideo | Places to Visit in South America
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16. Nazca Lines

Nazca Lines | Places to Visit in South America
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17. Arequipa

Arequipa | Places to Visit in South America
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18. Perito Moreno Glacier

Perito Moreno Glacier | Places to Visit in South America
© Courtesy of Henner Damke - Fotolia.com

19. Quito

Quito | Places to Visit in South America
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20. Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro | Places to Visit in South America
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21. Santiago

Santiago | Places to Visit in South America
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22. Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo | Places to Visit in South America
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23. Tayrona National Park

Category: Activities
Tayrona National Park | Places to Visit in South America
© Courtesy of jkraft5 - Fotolia.com

24. Torres del Paine National Park

Category: Activities
Torres del Paine National Park | Places to Visit in South America
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25. Ushuaia

Ushuaia | Places to Visit in South America
© Courtesy of saiko3p - Fotolia.com

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