Best boating destinations in South America

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South America's boating offer is shaped by the continent's extraordinary variety of coastal, river and lake environments, from the Patagonian fjords and channels of the far south and the vast Amazon river system to the high-altitude lakes of the Andes and the mangrove coastlines of the tropical north. The most compelling boating destinations combine exceptional natural settings and wildlife encounters with the particular access that water-based travel provides to otherwise unreachable environments.

River boating across the continent's major waterways offers some of the most immersive slow travel experiences available, with multi-day journeys through jungle landscapes where water remains the primary means of transport and riverside communities and wildlife form the core of the experience. Liveaboard diving operations across the continent's most significant marine environments deliver access to remote underwater ecosystems inaccessible from shore.

Weather in the far south is highly unpredictable and seasonal timing is a critical planning factor for Patagonian boating itineraries. Licence requirements for self-skippered motor charter vary by country and checking requirements before booking is essential. Your money goes a long way making extended river and coastal boating itineraries practical on modest budgets.