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Best climbing destinations in South America

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El Chalten
Hiking Capital of Argentina
7.7
This village at 1,300 feet is called Argentina's Trekking Capital and serves as a base for climbers. Cerro Torre and Fitz Roy rise nearby as popular spires. Tommy Caldwell and Alex Honnold completed the first full Fitz Roy Traverse in 2014. It covers about 3 miles with roughly 13,100 feet of elevation gain.
Highlights:
  • ⛰️ Climb steep trail sections for breathtaking mountain panoramas
  • 🌊 Explore Laguna Capri’s peaceful turquoise waters
  • 🏞️ Hike to Laguna de Los Tres for Mount Fitz Roy views
Torres del Paine National Park
Epic Landscapes and Untamed Wilderness
8.1
Chris Bonington and Don Whillans made the first ascent of Torre Central in 1963. Nico Favresse, Siebe Vanhee and Sean Villanueva O'Driscoll freed its roughly 3,900 foot face in 2017. Guido Monzino first climbed Torre Norte in 1958. Armando Aste first climbed Torre Sur in 1963. The towers are granite.
Highlights:
  • ⛰️ Trek the scenic French Valley with mountain views
  • 🛶 Take a boat tour to see stunning Grey Glacier
  • 🥾 Hike to the iconic Mirador Las Torres viewpoint
Patagonia
Untamed Beauty at the End of the World
8.3
Lionel Terray and Guido Magnone made the first ascent of Fitz Roy in 1952 via the Southeast Ridge. Francisco Moreno named the peak in 1877. Its Tehuelche name Chaltén means smoking mountain because clouds often form around it. The Polish Route of 1984 remains unrepeated.
Highlights:
  • 🐧 Explore the diverse wildlife on Peninsula Valdés
  • ❄️ Witness the massive Perito Moreno Glacier up close
  • 🥾 Hike the legendary trails of Torres del Paine National Park
Los Glaciares National Park
Where glaciers meet towering peaks
8.4
Cerro Torre reaches 10,262 feet in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. An Italian team including Casimiro Ferrari made the first undisputed ascent in 1974. Wind driven rime ice forms a mushroom on top that makes the final section hard. The park covers about 1.8 million acres and gained World Heritage status in 1981.
Highlights:
  • 🛥️ Take a boat tour on Lago Argentino to glaciers
  • 🥾 Trek Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre trails
  • 🚶‍♀️ Walk along the Perito Moreno Glacier boardwalks
Bahia
Vibrant coastlines and Afro‑Brazilian rhythms
7.3
Chapada Diamantina offers 50 to 100 boulder problems on sandstone and conglomerate near Lençóis. Bolted sport routes are available too. Conditions are listed as good in every month. An easy 15 minute uphill walk from the car park reaches the boulders. Pico do Barbado, the highest point in Bahia, tops 6,600 feet.
Highlights:
  • 🍲 Taste acarajé and moqueca at local stalls
  • 🎭 Attend a vibrant Afro-Brazilian carnival parade
  • 🏛️ Explore Salvador's historic Pelourinho district
Colombia
Where diverse landscapes meet culture
6.6
Suesca lies about 37 miles north of Bogotá at roughly 8,860 feet. Its sandstone cliffs of the Guadalupe Group rise from 65 to 425 feet. The rock formed roughly 65 to 100 million years ago. Grades run from 5.6 to 5.13. Hundreds of routes are reported, though guides disagree on the exact count.
Highlights:
  • ☕ Enjoy Colombian coffee at plantations in Salento
  • 🥾 Hike to the Lost City deep in the Sierra Nevada
  • 🏰 Wander the colonial streets of Cartagena’s walled city
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