5 Breath-taking Places To Visit In South America

Home to some of the most dramatic, enchanting and geographically diverse landscapes on the planet, South America is a sight to behold. We explore some of the continent’s most beautiful spots.

* 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.

* 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 side, 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.

* 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.

* Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park is a truly stunning slice of southern Patagonia. Covering nearly 1,000 square miles, its most recognizable feature are the three dramatic granite peaks that give the park its name and cut a jagged path across the sky. Here visitors will also find a breathtaking landscape populated by dramatic waterfalls, pristine lakes and a verdant forest. At the beautiful Lake Grey, intrepid explorers can kayak among its glacier and icebergs. Meanwhile nature lovers visiting Torres del Paine National Park might be lucky enough to spot guanacos, pumas and Andean condors.

* Atacama Desert, Chile

Encompassing more than 40,000 square miles in northern Chile (and parts of Peru, Bolivia and Argentina), the Atacama Desert is the driest region on the whole planet — there are even some particularly arid stretches where rainfall has never been recorded. Due to its sheer size, whittling down a list of must-see spots is hard, but the green waters of the Laguna Verde salt lake near the border with Argentina are truly stunning. Mano del Desierto – Chilean artist Mário Irarrázabal’s hand-shaped sculpture south of Antofagasta – is a perfect stop-off for lovers of quirky art. Also home to two major observatories thanks to the region’s high altitude and lack of cloud cover and light pollution, the Atacama Desert is a prime spot for stargazing, too.