South America is an amazing place for travellers with a variety of things and places to explore ranging from eco-tourism to large urban centres. There are 10 beautiful countries waiting to show the best things they have. This piece is going to enumerate options that you should check out before choosing your next vacation destination. Here are some of the best places to visit in South America.
1. Cartagena, Colômbia
Cartagena’s location on the Caribbean Sea made the city one of the main commercial ports at that time and it is the first Spanish colony in the Americas. So it was the target of many pirate attacks and attempted invasions. Cartagena led Spain’s emancipation movement, declaring its independence from the rest of the country in 1811. The city looks like an open-air museum and in 1984, Cartagena was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also, it is known as the ‘Jewel of the Colombian Caribbean’.
2. Santiago, Chile
Plaza de Armas is a beautiful place to begin your adventure in Chile, South America, The Chilean capital is a destination full of charm and it was founded in 1541, the place brings together some of the main buildings in the Chilean capital. Other tourist spots that can’t be left out are the Metropolitan Cathedral, Palacio de La Moneda, the seat of the Chilean government. The National Museum of Fine Arts can’t be left out of the tour. Opened in 1880, which makes it the oldest art museum in South America.
There is a long stretch with multicolored artistic interventions that are eye-catching. The street is named after Pedro Chacón y Morales, a well-known merchant from the city.
3. Machu Picchu, Peru
The American professor Hiram Bingham, during an expedition, rediscovered and introduced the world to Machu Picchu in 1911. Machu Picchu, which in Quechua means “old mountain”, is surrounded by puzzles about its creation and usefulness, Archaeologists were able to identify the 3 main structures of Machu Picchu: the Temple of the Sun, Temple of The Three Windows, and the Intihuatana. Intihuatana is a stone that was created by the Incas to be used as a calendar or an astronomical clock.
The place, is declared by UNESCO as Cultural and Natural Heritage of Humanity and receives tourists from all over the world. And also is considered one of the seven wonders of the world.
4. Ilha de Páscoa, Chile
Known for its gigantic statues, called moais, inactive volcanoes, and all the typography that hides caves and trails. Easter Island reveals the heart and imagination of mystery lovers. The popular moais, which are the celebrities of Easter Island. They are made of volcanic rocks and weigh around 80 tons. Some experts believe that the statues were built between 1100 and 1680 BC to honor chiefs, ancestors, and important figures in the community. But the truth is that almost no record has been left of them.
5. Salar de Uyuni Bolívia
Salar de Uyuni is known as the largest salt desert in the world. Located in southwest Bolivia. The formation of the mountain range separated the area from the Pacific Ocean, creating several prehistoric lakes that would later dry up, giving rise to what we now know as the Salar de Uyuni. The landscape of the place is amazing, it is like a gigantic white sea. Most of the year the Salar is completely dry, but the rainy or wet season turns the desert into a large mirror that reflects the sky. It is such a big place and without reference points. It is not recommended to venture alone on the Salar de Uyuni.
6. Ilhas Galápagos Ecuador
Ecuador motivated the great evolutionist, Charles Darwin it could add up to how we got the Theory of Evolution. It is formed by 58 volcanic islands, the Galapagos archipelago, in Ecuador. Well known for its animal species, such as the giant tortoise and the marine iguana. Nowadays, much of the Galapagos tourism potential follows in the footsteps of Charles Darwin. There are museums dedicated to him and his historic achievements such as the Charles Darwin Foundation Museum. The Galapagos Islands are one of the largest reservoirs of life on the planet. In addition, the region is home to one of the largest concentrations of endemic species in the world.
7. Bonito, Brazil
Do yoy wish to study ecological tourism and get to know Brazilian tourist attractions outside Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. The city of Bonito is in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Pole of ecotourism, its main attractions are the natural landscapes, the dives in rivers of transparent waters, waterfalls, caves and dolines. The city is in the middle of one of the Bodoquena plateau valleys that form rivers of transparent waters, caves and waterfalls.
The best known attractions are Gruta do Lago Azul and Gruta de São Miguel, which spreads out over a dry area that houses 650 million years old limestone rocks, which belong to the Precambrian period. The fauna and flora of the place are amazing places to explore.
8. Punta del leste, Uruguay
Punta del leste, Uruguay is seen as one of the most luxurious beach resort in South America. Casapueblo is an admirable place for those who go to Punta del Leste. The place reminds the white houses of the island of Santorini in Greece. Casapueblo was designed and built by the Uruguayan painter and sculptor Carlos Páez Vilaró. The house was modeled by hand and the name Casapueblo was chosen after a conversation between Vilaró and two friends.
9. Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires, South America is a place for those who want to get to know tango, dulce de leche and papas fritas. The Argentine capital is a city for people of all ages. La Casa Rosada is the seat of the Argentine presidency and is one of the symbols of the country and its exterior was painted pink around 1870. The Obelisk is a historic monument created to commemorate the city’s 400th anniversary. It is located at the intersection between Corrientes and 9 de Julio avenues. Avenida 9 de Julio was once considered the widest avenue in the world. Corrientes is considered to be Buenos Aires Broadway due to the numerous theaters.
10. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The best-known Brazilian city abroad is known to have people who like football and samba. Only few people know that it is an amazing city, as the Brazilians say, also has history and was the seat of the colony, home to the Portuguese court and later the capital of Brazil. The most famous tourist spot in Rio, Cristo Redentor, was included as one of the new seven wonders of the world.
Pão de Açúcar should also be on the list of those who visit the city. Copabacana beaches and Jardim Botânico with imperial palms, planted at the behest of Dom Pedro II deserve a visit and for those who want to understand the Brazilian passion for soccer should go to the Maracanã stadium.
