Deserts, wild jungles, ancient glaciers, modern cities, and amazing different local cultures. This incredible region of the world will surprise you with its natural and cultural wonders for sure. Let’s see all you need to know for your South America travel!
Where to travel South America? Let’s see the guide that you can discover in this southern continent!
The capital city of Argentina is ready for you to discover the stunning Obelisco and other historical buildings with their unique architecture. Iconic attractions of Buenos Aires such as the Casa Rosada, the Cabildo, and Plaza de Mayo’s Square along with the high-level exquisite local gastronomy of this city, will for sure make your visit a lifetime memory.
Considered one of the seven world natural wonders, Iguazu Falls steals the heart of every visitor. Breathtaking views of Garganta del Diablo or Salto Bossetti are going to leave you impressed as you can see them close enough thanks to walkways installed all over the Iguazu National Park. Close encounters with local wildlife – such as coatis, multi-colored butterflies, and toucans- within a safe and controlled environment are also guaranteed.
Travel to the land of glaciers and come face to face with the world’s famous Perito Moreno’s Glacier! Walk alongside the glacier’s numerous viewpoints and take a boat cruise up close to the massive ice wall and watch as the ice breaks off and falls into the lake.
Strap on the crampons (spiked ice-shoes) and go trekking on the glacier itself! Feel the ice-cold of the glacier and its water. Crown this memorable experience by sipping a glass of whiskey poured over a genuine piece of ice carved from the glacier.
Try the Malbec wine among other high-level local wines in Mendoza’s vineyards. Not only will you taste delicious wines but you will also be able to enjoy the view of these vineyards located nearby the Andes Range.
Torres del Paine National Park is located in southern Chile and hosts the famous Paine Towers and Paine Horns. For true hiking lovers, this is a great destination: the most famous hiking circuit is known as the “W” circuit, where you get to see all the highlights of the National Park within a 5-day tour.
San Pedro de Atacama is the jumping-off point for your Atacama adventure. Your inner explorer will wake up with all the experiences this destination has to offer: swimming in the Tatio Spring’s rich mineral waters, visiting the geothermal field of Geysers del Tatio, and the Salt Caves, and discovering the peculiar salt gemstones that have formed over centuries from the lack of humidity and the altitude of this zone. To top-up? This is one of the world’s best stargaze points.
Inca citadel, considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is one of the iconic attractions in Peru. Machu Picchu means “Old Mountain” and is a very important archeological site of the Inca Empire. To reach this sacred site for locals, you’ll take a 4-hour train ride where you will also be able to enjoy the landscape and immerse yourself in the natural environment of Peru.
For sure one of the most impressive dazzling landscapes you will ever see in your whole life. Uyuni’s Salt Flats are the widest (6575 miles) and highest (11975 feet over the sea level) gleaming salt flats in the world. During the rainy season (November – March) sky and soil seem to merge into one: a spectacular experience on everybody’s bucket list! Uyuni hosts not only stunning views but also more than 30,000 Flamingoes from 3 different species.
Christ the Redeemer stands on the top of Corcovado Hill with arms wide open, praying for the wellbeing of the city. This gigantic sculpture is one of the many if not the most iconic attractions of Rio de Janeiro, along with the Sugar Loaf, the Selaron’s staircase, and all the paradisiac beaches Rio de Janeiro’s has to offer.
Gastronomy is one if not the best way to learn and experience the local culture of a destination. Let’s see what South America gastronomy offers in our best travel guide!!
Grill
Located in the neighborhood of Palermo, this grill can seem a little bit expensive but the quality of its products and the experience of this grill, considered as one of the best ones in the world, will be worth it at the end of the day.
Av. Santa Fe 760
Coffee / Restaurant
Located inside the majestic Paz Palace, this restaurant offers from breakfast to lunches and dinners with a wide range of high-level food. The best part of this restaurant is the location: inside the 20th century Paz Palace, built by the French architect Sortais. Indeed your meal will be surrounded by a classy and aristocratic atmosphere.
Av. Libertador 963. Tel. (02902) 492590.
Grill / Regionals
One of the most expensive options in El Calafate, still one of the best gourmet restaurants and grills, as they define themselves. It offers a selection of wines with a great variety and Patagonian foods such as trout, salmon, and of course, lamb.
We recommend it for a special night.
7008 Videla Aranda St. – Maipú. Tel: 261 15-341-1729.
Winery / Gourmet
Alejandro Vigil, the winemaker, welcomes wine lovers from all over the world along with the chef Matías Podestá who prepares lunches and dinners accompanied by the seven labels of Premium El Enemigo wine.
994 Independencia St. Jujuy. Tel: (0388) 423-3554
Latin / Argentine
One of the best places in Jujuy to taste local dishes, though this restaurant may not look appealing on the outside. You can order llama meat, lamb, empanadas, and for a truly local food experience you can try humitas (which are made with steamed corn dough and wrapped in a corn husk) and tamales (which are like humitas but filled with meat).
Paseo Ahumada 37
Restaurant
A Completo is a hotdog covered in avocado, tomato, and mayonnaise but this could vary. Dominó is a family business restaurant that has been working in Santiago de Chile for almost 60 years and serves one of the great completo in the city.
José Victorino Lastarria 282
Restaurant / Pub
As a traditional drink, you can try Pisco: an alcoholic drink made of grapes, similar to coñac or brandy. Sounds interesting, right? Chipe Libre offers one of the best Pisco Sours in town, delicious local food, within a relaxed and chill atmosphere.
8 norte Nº65, Playa Acapulco
Restaurant / Seafood
Located on the coast, Tierra de Fuego’s dazzling views of the Pacific Ocean will join the delicious seafood menu they offer. You should try “Machas a la Parmesana ”, a traditional plate of the area!
Magallanes 77
This restaurant is located near the main square of Puerto Natales, and you should try “chupe de centolla”, which is kind of like a delicious soup of king crab (centolla) – you won’t regret it!
Av. Pardo y Aliaga 660
Regional / Asian Food
One of the top-ranked restaurants in the city of Lima, Osaka’s menus include fantastic plates that mix Japanese and Peruvian cuisines.
It is a gourmet proposal for true lovers of this fusion, they say!
Calle Manuel Bañón 260
Natural / Peruvian / Fusion cuisine
This restaurant prepares its dishes with natural ingredients and local Peruvian products. What you must try is the Ceviche, a traditional Peruvian seafood dish, made of raw fish cooked with citric juice, usually lemon or lime juice. It is spiced with chilies and coriander and served with chopped onion, sweet potatoes, or avocado.
Pje. Lloque Yupanqui 103
Franco-Peruvian Food
Delicious traditional Peruvian food can be found in this restaurant located in the village of Aguas Calientes. Ceviche, trout with different sauces made of local ingredients will for sure be a great culinary experience. Vegetarian options are available.
Plaza Regocijo, Cusco 05184
Local Food
Named after the traditional beverage of Peru, Chicha, it is located 5-minutes away from Plaza de Armas. This restaurant offers traditional Andean food served on sophisticated plates.
The chef is the world’s known Gaston Acurio.
Avenida Ferroviaria next to Army base Inside the Tonito Hotel
Café / Pizzería
Located inside de Tonito Hotel, this restaurant offers great pizzas to its visitors.
Av. Potosí 7
Local food
In this restaurant, you can taste traditional Bolivian plates such as charque de llama (llama jerky) and pailita de llama (llama stew)
Av. Potosí #113, Uyuni, Bolivia.
Local Food / Fusion
They define themselves as a “glocal” restaurant, as they serve local plates with a multicultural experience.
Avenida Almirante Silvio de Noronha 365
Grill / Brazilian Food
This restaurant offers high-quality steaks and meats, it is what they call in Brazil “churrascarias”. Enjoy sophisticated plates within a modern decoration and chill environment.
Av. das Américas, 7777
Seafood
Located in Barra da Tijuca’s beach near the coastline, enjoy a great seafood menu for lunch or dinner artfully crafted.
Avenida Atlantica 290
Top-ranked restaurant in the city, located in Copacabana’s beach, Mairus offers a mixture of Brazilian and Mediterranean cuisine. Try its lobster and native fishes species.
Rua Goncalves Dias 32
Coffee / Delicatessen
You shouldn’t leave Brazil without trying “brigadeiros”, small chocolate balls covered in chocolate chips. This is the perfect place to try one as it is one of the historic cafés in Rio de Janeiro as it was founded in 1894.
Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil have their borders opened and are ready to welcome you!
We strongly recommend you check the requirements to enter each of the countries.
The answer is yes! South America is a great destination to travel alone, with friends or family. It is the right choice if you are looking for adventure and discovering new cultures and stunning natural places. If you travel alone, you will for sure find other people also solo traveling that can join you! It is very common, mostly in Machu Picchu, Northern Argentina, or Patagonia to find travelers who are traveling alone.
It is not mandatory as you will find it is not difficult to connect with local people although not speaking its language. In Buenos Aires or Santiago de Chile, most people speak English, especially in hotels, restaurants, or tourist attractions. All places you will visit have experience dealing with explorers and foreign visitors so language will not be an obstacle for enjoying awesome South American travel!
Covid restrictions may include:
Among others, these are the countries you can visit during your South America travel:
When traveling to any destination, you should check which season is the most adequate. For example, traveling to Machu Picchu during Summer is not recommended as it is the rainy season. Regarding local wildlife, you should not touch them or feed them if bumping with any of them in the wild. Try to have a close encounter with them within a safe and controlled environment as it happens in a tour or a safari – this is for sure a spectacular experience! Food and beverage are worth the try, but you should try them always in safe and official establishments in order not to have a stomach ache later and you can continue to enjoy the rest of your one-of-a-kind journey!
South America travel is a multi-generational trip no doubt. This means there are activities for all ages and tastes: nobody stays home! Adventure and adrenaline are guaranteed in your South America travel, and this can for sure spark the fire of interest and excitement in youngs and adults. Rafting, trekking, hiking, back horse riding, canoeing, and much more await the whole family!
Your South America travel hosts activities for everybody, also for your little explorers. Ranches in Chile and Argentina are the perfect combination for toddlers to enjoy the countryside and have close encounters with farm animals, while adults can relax knowing their children are safe and fun!
Iguazu Falls also offer a family-friendly environment with kid-friendly accommodation and many activities such as safaris, local wildlife close encounters and so much more for your little explorer to have the time of his life!
South America is located in the southern hemisphere. For that reason, our seasons are:
Depending on your destination is what you need to pack, but here are the essentials you need to take to your South America travel:
If what you are looking for is an immersive experience where you will not only discover mothers nature’s greatness but also deeply change your soul and mind, South America travel is the right place for you. South America is a wonderland for explorers who look forward to an adventure of a lifetime.
Can you travel to South America by train? Unfortunately, the answer is no! There are no trains that connect the countries in South America, but the sun always shines: amazing road trips await! Stunning views are guaranteed.
Touristic trains are available though. The End of the World train in Ushuaia in the Tierra del Fuego National Park, the Ecological Train in the jungle of Iguazu Falls, Machu Picchu Train in Peru, or the Train to Clouds at 13,842 feet (4,220 meters) in Northern Argentina.
We are committed to several sustainable projects in order to provide a memorable journey to our explorers preserving nature and respecting the local communities we partner with.
In Partnership with Reforestarg, we stand against deforestation, planting and donating trees in damaged zones of Patagonia (consequence mainly of forest fires) helping at the same time to compensate our carbon footprint
You can volunteer yourself on “tree-planting ceremonies” (can be arranged at specific destinations in your itinerary) or you can also donate a native tree for each passenger who travels to Patagonia.
We plant trees to compensate for our CO2 Emissions and so far, between 2018 and 2020 we sowed 60.660.550.
Useful tips to be a responsible traveler:
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