South America tours have a lot to offer in terms of history, landscapes, culture, and nature. There is certainly a lot to see, but sometimes it can be difficult to choose between all of these highlights. In order to help you plan your trip, here are our best places to visit in South America. You should definitely include them in your first trip to this beautiful continent.
It is one of the world’s greatest jungles where you can see some of the most wonderful and diverse wildlife. You may spot black caimans, jaguars, anacondas, macaws, and even fish piranhas. Peruvian Amazon is famous for numerous kinds of birds.
There is one highlight that you shouldn’t miss while visiting the Amazon: the meeting of the waters in Manaus. There you can see the Rio Negro (a river with dark water) and the Rio Solimoes (sandy-colored water) run side by side without mixing for 6 km (3.7 mi). This phenomenon is due to the differences in temperature, speed, and water density of the two rivers.
There are different ways to visit the Amazon Rainforest. You can choose to take a cruise on the Amazon river or just stay on a Lodge and do some excursions to visit your surroundings, or you may even want to try out both.
It is one of the biggest architectural wonders in the world and since 2007 one of the New Seven Wonders! Machu Picchu is not only unique for its outstanding architecture but also because of its natural beauty and its wonderful surroundings.
This ancient citadel is nested in the lush cloud forest of the Andes mountains that make beautiful scenery. You can even trek to admire the view from various places. Its impressive architecture and beautiful landscape make it without contest one of the best places to visit in South America. You have to just experience it yourself to see and understand the beauty of this magical site.
A trip to South America is not complete without visiting one of its most famous cities! With all of its landmarks and beautiful landscapes such as Christ the Redeemer on top of Corcovado Mountain, the outstanding view from the Sugarloaf mountain and the famed beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro is without a doubt one of the best places to visit in South America!
Whether you want to relax on the beach, learn more about Brazilian cuisine or admire the beautiful view of the city, Rio has it all. There is different tours in Rio you can opt for depending on your interests.
The Galapagos Islands are a group of islands located in the eastern Pacific Ocean and that belong to Ecuador. There you will be able to meet creatures that you cannot see elsewhere.
You can swim with the wonderful Galapagos tortoises, snorkel in beautiful blue waters with sea lions and other amazing marine life.
You can take a cruise around those islands and discover impressive Island retreats – often far away from any civilisation – where you will be able to rest and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Another way of touring Galapagos Islands is so called island hopping. You stay at a hotel on one of the islands and have day tours by boat to see the wildlife.
When you think about waterfalls you might think first about Niagara falls in Canada or the Victoria falls in Africa. However, the Iguazu Falls are as impressive, not to say even more! They are located in a tropical jungle near the three-way border between Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Iguazu falls have been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
To enjoy even more the beauty and power of the falls it is possible to take a boat trip on the Iguazu River and get as close as possible to the falls. The falls are surrounded by beautiful subtropical forests that are worth at least a day of exploring. You can see toucans, parrots, and many other beautiful jungle birds as well as monkeys and butterflies. If you have time, you can trek around the Argentina side to get closer to the falls and enjoy its different views.
The Iguazu Falls are one of those places that need to be seen to be believed and therefore one of the best places to visit in South America!
