South America is becoming a popular destination for tourists in recent years and continue growing with 4%, according to the World Tourism Organization. In 2015, Latin America was visited by nearly one hundred million foreign tourists, the highest figure in a decade.

Photo credit: Embajada de EEUU en Paraguay / Wikipedia

Asunción, Paraguay

Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay. It is one of the oldest known settlements in South America. Asunción is off the beaten path as it lacks well known tourist attractions. There are many interesting sights within reach of 1 or 2 days tours from Asunción.

You will discover an authentic South America city that has managed to preserve interesting sights and monuments of its rich history and colonial past. A city with a rich cultural scene with interesting museums, theaters and art galleries, an active nightlife and some excellent hotels and restaurants.

Photo credit: mike / Flickr

Belém, Brazil

Belém, located near the mouth of the Amazon River in northern Brazil, and it is also known as the gateway to the Amazon River.
Belém is located 100 ml south of the equator, but the sun is particularly strong year-round, so travelers should apply sunscreen on a daily basis. The city is a mix of the culture and the history of Pará and the Amazon with native Indian influence in the food and culture.

Some of the city attractions include places, such as Mercado Ver-o-Peso, Estação das Docas, Teatro da Paz, Churches, Muse. The Amazon river splits into many branches and forms countless channels, fluvial islands.
Marajó Island is one of the reasons the city is getting more popular in recent years. It is the largest marine-fluvial island in the world, has an ancient civilization that was famous for its ceramics.

You can find hundreds of bird species on the island, such as egrets, flamingos, herons, parrots, ducks, hawks, toucans and the graceful scarlet ibis with its long curved beak.

Patagonia, Chile

Patagonia is a sparsely populated region at the southern end of South America, shared by Argentina and Chile. The name Patagonia comes from the word patagón, which was used by Magellan in 1520 to describe the native tribes of the region. Chilean Patagonia stretches over 1,000 miles north to south and includes the regions of Aysén, Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, and Los Lagos plus the province of Palena.

The rugged coastline, winding roads, dense forests, exciting outdoor activities, seasonal wildlife spotting, and enormous icefields are attracting an increasing number of visitors.
A great way to get an overview of the region for the first time visitors of the Chilean Patagonia is a road trip from Puerto Montt to Villa O’Higgins.
The region is home to some of the most impressive sights in the Southern Hemisphere. Patagonia attracts with its ancient forests, glaciers, lakes, rivers and fjords, and fauna including guanacos, flamingos, condors, foxes, and pumas.

Photo credit: Mill 1 / Wikipedia

Baños, Ecuador

Baños is a city in the eastern Tungurahua Province of Ecuador, between the central Andes and the Amazon. It is known as the adventure capital of Ecuador. You can do all kinds of activities from rafting, kayaking, canyoning, horseback riding, paragliding, trekking to rock climbing, biking tours, zip-lining and jungle tours from 1 to 5 days and more.
A mystical town with dozens of waterfalls, hot springs, and surrounding rivers. The population is only around 20,000. The town’s full name is Baños de Agua Santa, which translates to “Baths of Sacred Water.”

Baños is not just well-known for its adventures, but also for Healing and Health. Baños is also excellent for those wishing to relax in the many thermal baths and experience. The city is named after the hot springs located around the city which have a reputation of having healing properties.

The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

The Galapagos Islands are located at the Pacific Ocean at the confluence of three ocean currents, West coast of Ecuador in South America. The Archipelago is a group of 19 islands, 13 large and 6 small. The Galápagos Archipelago spread over 17,000 sq mi of ocean. The largest of the islands, Isabela, measures 2,250 square miles.

It features some of the world’s most unique and endemic wildlife species, wonderful beaches that continually rank among the world’s best.
The Galapagos Islands are UNESCO World Heritage Site and it is home to many species that are found nowhere else in the world.

The volcanism is still active on the Galápagos Islands and the volcanoes at the west end of the archipelago are in general, taller and younger.

Photo credit: Pedro Szekely / Flickr

Cusco, Peru

Cuzco is a beautiful city with well preserved colonial architecture, evidence of rich and complex history. Cuzco is a Unesco World Heritage Site and is one of Peru’s most visited cities. From here tourists can begin visits to Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and other Inca sites in the region – it represents the center of indigenous Quechua culture in the Andes. The city was the historic capital of the Inca Empire from the 13th until the 16th-century.

The city is surrounded by a number of ruins, the most impressive being Sacsayhuaman. To access the main archaeological sites of Cusco and its surroundings, the Cusco Tourist Ticket is required.

Photo credit: Pierre Doyen / Flickr

Sucre, Bolivia

Sucre is the capital of Bolivia. Its center is a UNESCO world heritage site. The city offers travelers specific attractions in the form of historic buildings and renowned theatre as well as indigenous culture and prehistoric sites in the surrounding towns and countryside. It features a great relaxed atmosphere.

In the surrounding countryside, you can find many other attractions, from traditional villages to dinosaur footprints to trekking through the mountains of the Cordillera de las Frailes.

Quito, Ecuador

Quito is the second tallest capitol in the world. Quito’s Old City is the largest in the Americas. It has undergone a huge restoration and revitalization program.
The historic center of Quito is one of the largest, least-altered and best-preserved in the Americas. The city was among one of the first World Cultural Heritage Sites declared by UNESCO.

Quito is situated on the eastern slopes of Pichincha Volcano, an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains. Quito’s surrounding valleys offer great weekend getaways, where you can try some excellent local Ecuadorian cuisine or enjoy some great outdoor eco-tourism opportunities.

Punta Arenas, Chile

Punta Arenas is located in the South point of Chile. It can be reached by air, land, or sea and it is the most populous southernmost city in Chile and in the Americas. Punta Arenas is the launching point for various expeditions to nearby Antarctica – it’s also called the gateway into Antarctica.
You’ll notice the clean air and sophisticated European architecture. With port and sheep-breeding history, will captivate

Iguazu Falls, Argentina

Iguazu Falls are located within the Iguazu Falls National Park, which is a protected area spread over 67,720 hectares in Northern Argentina. Iguazu Falls was declared National Park by UNESCO. Iguazu Falls receive millions of travelers each year and it’s one of the most astonishing places you can visit in South America.
The Park comprises a series of 275 waterfalls at the heart of the Paranaense Rainforest.

The falls divide the river into the upper and lower Iguazu. The Iguazu River rises near the heart of the city of Curitiba. This river runs through smooth geography until it reaches a series of faults, and suddenly an 80 m. canyon in the Devil’s Throat. The area is home to many rare and endangered species of flora and fauna.

Don’t forget to check some of our other travel resources and destinations in South America category.