Planning a trip to South America? It’s a huge and diverse continent, with lots to see and do, so it can be difficult to decide where to go.
In this article, I share my personal picks of the top 10 destinations that I think are worth visiting in South America. Some of these are well-known cities, while others are a bit more off the beaten track.
I will caveat this list to say that it’s not based on scientific data. Rather, these are simply my personal recommendations of where to visit in South America based on my own travels and experience.
If you’re planning a trip, you may also be interested in our ultimate guide to visiting South America.
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Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu is considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, and with good reason. This lost city of the Incan empire is a historical wonder surrounded by incredible natural beauty.
The ancient city itself is largely still intact, and is an incredible sight to behold. The journey to Machu Picchu is also a very interesting one. After flying into the city of Cusco, you travel by bus and train through the Sacred Valley (which is also worth visiting) to Aguas Calientes, the tourist town at the base of Machu Picchu itself. From there, you can either walk or take a short bus ride up to Machu Picchu, where many guided tours are available.
If you have a decent level of fitness, you have the option to climb up one of the two mountains on either side of Machu Picchu – Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain – from where you get an incredible view. Or if you’re really feeling adventurous, you can skip the train and hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu – a journey that takes around four days.
While Machu Picchu is definitely worth a visit, its popularity does sometimes work against it. To avoid overcrowding, the Peruvian authorities have started to impose daily visitor limits. You’ll probably have a better experience – even though it’s more likely to rain – if you travel during the low season between November and March.
If you have a bit more time after visiting Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, you could consider heading south from Cusco to Puno and the floating islands of Lake Titicaca.
Patagonia, Argentina & Chile
I would consider Patagonia to be one of the most naturally stunning parts of the world that I’ve visited. Located in the southern parts of Argentina and Chile, it’s home to vast forests, deserts, glaciers, wildlife and the Andes mountain range, which acts as a natural divider between the two countries it encompasses.
I travelled last year to the Argentinian side of Patagonia, flying into El Calafate.
I first spent a couple of days in El Calafate, a charming town, and visited the nearby Perito Moreno Glacier.
I then took a bus to El Chaltén. At some points along the way, I felt like I was in the south island of New Zealand… except that the signage was in Spanish.
This was an absolutely incredible trip. The landscapes were stunning, and the people I met along the way were incredibly friendly. The highlight for me was a hike from the town of El Chaltén to Laguna de los Tres at the base of Fitz Roy Mountain.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires is sometimes dubbed the “Paris of South America”. I don’t think that’s quite accurate, but there are some subtle similarities.
South America’s second largest city, Buenos Aires, is a vibrant melting pot of culture, history and excellent food. I’ve really enjoyed my visits.
Buenos Aires has one of the best metro systems in South America (called “Subte”), so it’s easy to get around. The city is also just really beautiful, with plenty of trendy neighbourhoods and parks. The people are friendly and welcoming to tourists, it’s relatively safe and the nightlife is lively.
If you enjoy steak, make sure you visit at least one steakhouse while you’re there (I recommend ordering “ojo de bife”, or ribeye) and enjoy it with some excellent Argentinian wine.
Iguazu Falls, Brazil & Argentina
If you’re visiting Argentina or Brazil, it’s worth making the detour to visit Iguazu Falls. These are on the border between the two countries, and you can visit from either side. (If you have the time, why not do both sides as the experience is quite different on each.)
Iguazu Falls is the largest broken waterfall in the world. It’s a spectacular natural wonder that you need to experience yourself to truly appreciate.
As it happens, Iguazu Falls is also very close to the border with Paraguay. From the Marco das Três Fronteiras (three borders landmark) you can see Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay at the same time.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro is one of the most famous cities in South America for good reason. Famous for its incredible beaches, you can also enjoy a spectacular view of the city from Sugarloaf Mountain or the Christ the Redeemer statue – another New Wonder of the World.
Famous too for samba, Rio has an energy unlike anywhere else in the world. I was lucky to once visit during Carnival, and there was just such a positive vibe. Everyone from lawyers to cleaners were dancing in the streets and enjoying life.
While São Paulo is Brazil’s largest city, it’s more of a metropolitan business city. Rio is the place to go if you’re on holiday.
The city has a bit of a reputation for being unsafe. Personally I’ve never had a problem, but it would be a good idea to stick to the safe parts of the city and to take sensible precautions like not walking alone at night.
Salvador, Brazil
If you’re visiting Brazil, it’s also well worth heading to the northeast part of the country. Many people visit for the excellent beaches and warm weather. You can also experience great nature and adventure sports.
My personal favourite city in the northeast of Brazil is Salvador, in the state of Bahia. The city itself has a rich history, lots of colour and I loved the food there. I also found the people very friendly, although you could say the same thing about most places in Brazil. 😉
Medellín, Colombia
Medellín is Colombia’s second-largest city after the capital Bogotá. Once infamously home to Pablo Escobar and one of the highest homicide rates in the world, the city has transformed completely over the past few decades. It’s now a safe, welcoming and trendy place with lots of expats and international visitors.
Surrounded by mountains, Medellín has nice weather year-round and lots of green space. It also has good public transport, including a network of cable cars that are part of the regular metro system.
The city is rich in culture. There are lots of cool restaurants, bars and cafés scattered throughout the city. There are also plenty of charming towns and villages nearby, as well as coffee plantations, that you can visit on a day trip.
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat and another very popular place to visit in South America. This stunning Insta-worthy landscape stretches over almost 11,000 square kilometres in southwest Bolivia.
The easiest way to get there is to take a bus or tour from La Paz, which is also worth a visit.
As an alternative (or in addition – there are buses between the two spots), you could also visit the Atacama Desert in Chile, which has its own stunning salt flat.
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
The pristine Galapagos Islands, located right on the equator off the coast of Ecuador, are a dream destination for nature lovers. Home to unique wildlife and excellent diving, these islands boast excellent weather almost the entire year.
While you could visit some of the 13 islands independently, you would need a tour guide when visiting the National Park. Many people opt to take a cruise; there are options at many different price points – obviously with varying quality.
Just beware that, in a continent where travel is typically very affordable, the Galapagos Islands are one of the more expensive destinations.
Montevideo, Uruguay
The capital of Uruguay, Montevideo is an intriguing and surprisingly progressive city. The people are laid back and you’ll often find them drinking maté in the streets.
It has an interesting mix of colonial architecture and street art, as well as great food – especially at Mercado del Puerto, where you can enjoy delicious steak and with “medio y medio”, a Uruguayan version of sparkling wine.
My most memorable experience in Montevideo was joining a candombe street parade on a Sunday evening. It’s a traditional style of music and dance with lots of drumming, and it was quite a party.
If you’re visiting Buenos Aires, you can get to Montevideo by ferry in just a few hours. It’s worth the detour.
