South America Tourist Attractions: A Tale of Latin Love

South America is the archetype example of diversity - from man-made monuments of Brazil to unexplored ancient ruins in Peru; one can find a lot of things in the continent that would interest them. The natural sites and mesmerizing landscapes are profusion in Caracas and have always fascinated explorers a lot. The continent is blessed with a lot of diversity that lures travellers throughout the year. Where the environmentalists can enjoy places like Pantanal in Brazil, food lovers can head to Argentina to savour some delicious meals. Its many facets make explorers fall in love with South America.

With so many places to visit in Latin America, it can get a bit tricky when you are crafting your itinerary because there are a plethora of places to visit and none can be missed. Here are our recommendations that a travel package to South America must include:

1. Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu which is situated in Peru is a beautiful representation of the Inca civilization that ruled the place before the Spanish invasion. This place has a long history and if we were to believe the locals and the books, Machu Picchu is a place where the ancient rulers held all the religious ceremonies including human sacrifices to appease the god. What makes it one of the best tourist attractions in South Americais its magnificent location. The ruins of Picchu are nestled in the Peruvian Andes and offer a mesmerizing view of and from the place. Machu served as a palace for the emperor of Peru and was left untouched by the Spanish. It was rediscovered in the early 1900s by an American professor and has been an active South American tourist destinationsince then. While you are visiting Latin America, make sure not to miss out on visiting here.

2. Iguazu Falls, (Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay)

Iguaza Falls, also known as Iguaçu Falls, is one of the largest waterfalls in the world. Stretching across the tri-border of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, this waterfall is made up of 275 small waterfalls. Amongst these, the largest drop is as massive as 80 metres and 2700 metres wide. The elegance and the spell-bounding beauty along the waterfall have made it one of the best tourist attractions in South America and have earned it a spot in the heritage list of UNESCO. Most of the panoramic sites of the waterfall lie in Brazil but do not forget the famous Devil’s throat which is situated in Argentina. If you are planning on visiting this place, it would be better to arrive from Brazil and then move to Argentina.

3. Angel Falls, Venezuela

Venezuela is a peaceful and beautiful country altogether but the sight of Angel Falls is going to make you forget everything else that the country has to offer to the tourists. The highest natural waterfall in the world is the Angels Falls that is situated in the Guyana Highlands of Venezuela. It is one of the most pristine places on earth is also one of the best tourist places in South Americaluring nature lovers, adventure enthusiasts and active explorers throughout the year. 

The water cascades into Rio Kerepacupai Meru from a height of 950 metres from Auyantepu Mountain. The Angle falls is almost 15 times higher than the Niagara Falls. If you are up for a challenging experience, include this place in your itinerary because reaching here involves a plane and a boat ride that is sure to give you an adrenaline rush.

4. Colca Canyon, Peru

The stunning view from the summit of each mountain makes Colca Canyon the third most-visited place in Peru. It interests a lot of adventure seekers and South American explorers each year. The fun fact about this place is that it is one of the deepest canyons in the world; twice as deep as the famous Great Canyon! If you get tired and wish to rest for a while trekking, just raise your eyes - you will find the biggest species of hummingbirds in the sky and the Andes Condors around yourself. There are a lot of small villages that you will cross while trekking and if you wish to buy some local handicrafts then there is no better place than these to do some shopping.

5. Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia

Uyuni Salt Flats is situated in the Andes about 3700 metres above sea level. It is also the world’s largest salt flats situated in Bolivia. Uyuni is a very unusual and interesting place which makes it one of the best places to visit in Latin America. A lot of people come here to capture some breathtaking pictures. During the rainy season, this place looks like a giant mirror which is surely going to leave you stunned with its sheer beauty. Another interesting fact about the salt flats is that it is known to be the breeding place for flamingos.

6. Easter Island, Chile

Eastern Island is one of the offbeat places in South America. It is popular not because of its remote location but due to the existence of almost 900 beautifully carved statues which are known as Moai. The nearest inhabitants to this island are about 1300 miles away which makes reaching here a bit time-consuming. Nevertheless, it is worth paying a visit. Even after all the odds, this place is known to be one of the most popular tourist destinations in South America. According to archaeologists, it is believed that the statues are approximately 1000 years old and they were made by the early Polynesians. The best part about the statues is that they are made out of solidified volcano ash and the black eyes of all these statues are made from obsidian. With all these fascinating facts, do visit this place to get the hang of what it is popular for.

If you were to make a small itinerary of the best places to visit in Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Uruguay, Paraguay and other Latin American countries, you should put these 6 places on the top of your list. Let the ‘grande aventura’ begin!