South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere.
It can also be described as a southern subcontinent of the Americas. This part of the world is blessed with some of the most dramatic and enchanting landscapes on earth.
Here are some of the continent’s beautiful spots tourists are always drawn to all year round.
Machu Picchu, Peru
Nestled high in the mist-shrouded Andes Mountains, Machu Picchu is one of Peru’s most famous and iconic sites. Built sometime around the mid-15th century, this Incan citadel was abandoned after the invasion of Spanish conquistadors in the early 16th century.
Its ruins were not rediscovered until American explorer Hiram Bingham stumbled upon it in 1911. Today, Machu Picchu can be accessed easily by train, though the more adventurous traveler can hike to this site via the Inca Trail.
Traversing more than 50 miles from Cusco at altitudes of up to 14,000 feet, it isn’t a journey for the fainthearted, but the sight of the stunning Incan ruins at the end makes it more than worth it
Santuario de las Lajas, Colombia
Built into a canyon of the Guáitara River in remote southwestern Colombia, Santuario de las Lajas – unsurprisingly referred to as ‘a miracle of God in the abyss’ – is an architectural jewel of South America. Perched 328 feet above the river below, this beautiful Gothic Revival-style church was built between 1916 and 1949, though its inspiration goes back much further.
According to legend, in 1754, local woman María Mueses and her daughter Rosa took shelter in the canyon during a terrible storm and witnessed an apparition of the Virgin Mary in the rock face. The church remains a popular pilgrimage destination today.
Easter Island, Chile
You won’t find many destinations that are as far-flung as Easter Island. Located more than 2,000 miles off the coast of Chile, it’s one of the world’s most remote islands, but its beautiful landscape, mysterious statues, and Polynesian culture are more than worth the trek. Easter Island’s best-known landmark is its Moai statues, of which there are almost 900 scattered across the island.
There are many other things to see and do here, from the volcanic craters and beautiful sandy beaches to the Tapati Festival, a two-week-long celebration of local Rapa Nui culture that takes place each February.
Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
Scoffing in the face of global warming, unlike many of the world’s glaciers the stunning Perito Moreno Glacier (located in Patagonian Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park) is actually growing.
The glacier stretches three miles in length and rises 200 feet above Lago Argentino.
Visitors during the spring and summer months (that’s November to early March for non-Southern hemisphere residents) can witness parts of the glacier breaking from the safety of adjacent observation decks.
For a truly exhilarating experience, adventurous travelers can hike across Perito Moreno during its more stable winter months.
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Southwest Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni, which at just over 4,000 square miles in size is the world’s largest salt flat, is one of South America’s most surreally beautiful landscapes. During the rainy season, a layer of water covers its surface and creates a mirror effect, making it hard to tell where the land ends and the sky begins.
On the edges of the flats near the town of Uyuni lies a train cemetery, which is home to the rusting hulks of several antique trains formerly used to transport the region’s rich minerals. A trip out to the middle brings visitors to Isla Incahuasi, a rocky outpost and former island home to giant cacti and hiking trails.
Lençóis Maranhenses, Brazil
A beautiful national park located in Maranhão state, in northeastern Brazil, Lençóis Maranhenses is composed of a series of large, white, undulating sand dunes. Although it appears to be a desert, it actually isn’t and is subjected to a regular rainy season, as it lies just outside the Amazon basin. The beautiful lagoons are at their fullest between June and September.
Iguazu Falls, Brazil/Argentina
Located on the border of Brazil and Argentina, the stunning Iguazu Falls are a series of 275 waterfalls – some as high as 260 feet tall – on the river of the same name.
On both the Brazilian and Argentinian sides, Iguazu Falls can be accessed by a series of catwalks, or visitors can get up close to the waterfalls on a boat trip. There are advantages to viewing the falls from both sides.
Argentina has a larger section of the falls and a catwalk taking visitors directly over its most dramatic waterfall, the Devil’s Throat, but the Brazil side offers some absolutely breathtaking panoramic views.
The Atacama Desert, Chile
As the driest non-polar desert in the world, Chile’s Atacama Desert is a truly unique ecosystem, and one of the most surreal landscapes in the whole of South America.
It has often been compared to Mars or the surface of the Moon and, as such, has featured prominently as a stand-in for those planets in films and TV series. It is also one of the best places for stargazing on our planet!
