Best photography destinations in South America
Best photography destinations in South America
Vast high-altitude salt flats and colorful mountain valleys in South America
A vast salt flat becomes a giant mirror during the wet season, creating one of the most surreal landscapes available to photograph anywhere on earth, while ancient mountain ruins elsewhere offer a completely different, more historically layered kind of composition.
The destinations on this list range from vast, otherworldly salt flats that depend heavily on seasonal rainfall for their mirror effect to ancient mountain ruins photographed best in the soft light of early morning before crowds and cloud cover arrive.
Timing a salt flat visit around the wet season specifically matters enormously, since the mirror effect that makes it famous only appears for part of the year. Local guides familiar with the seasonal effect can save considerable trial and error.
Lists by region
Waterfall
Iguazu Falls
Breathtaking waterfalls spanning two countries
These falls are about 2.7 kilometres wide, more than twice the width of Niagara Falls. They are also taller. The Brazilian side has the broadest panoramas of the whole cascade. A walkway reaches the base of Devil's Throat, where spray creates rainbows on sunny days.
Beach in Rio de Janeiro
Copacabana Beach
Lively iconic Rio shoreline
The black and white wave pattern of the beachfront promenade is a photo subject on its own. Roberto Burle Marx designed the mosaic in 1970. The beach curves for about 2.5 miles towards Sugarloaf Mountain. Arpoador rock at the Ipanema end gives silhouettes at sunset.
Monument in Rio de Janeiro
Cristo Redentor
Iconic guardian of Rio's skyline
Builders worked from 1922 to 1931 to place this 98 foot statue on Corcovado peak. Its soapstone skin reflects light that shifts hour by hour. Clouds often drift around the figure, so patience pays. From the platform at 2,300 feet wide views take in Sugarloaf, Guanabara Bay and Rio's beaches.
National Park in Argentina
Iguazú National Park and Reserve
Epic Waterfalls and Wild Rainforest
Almost 80 percent of the falls lie on the Argentine side, in the rain forest of Misiones province. Catwalks lead to the edge of Devil's Throat. Upper and Lower circuits offer close views of many smaller cascades. Toucans, coatis and butterflies add subjects along the jungle trails.
Island in Ecuador
Galapagos Islands
The Wildlife Paradise of Ecuador
Park rules ask visitors to stay on marked trails and keep about six feet from wildlife. Sea lions, blue-footed boobies and marine iguanas ignore cameras, so close portraits come easily. The Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz has tortoises to photograph. Snorkelling trips add underwater shots of turtles and rays.
Town in Argentina
El Chalten
Hiking Capital of Argentina
Hiking season runs from October to April, with red beech forests adding colour in March and April. Fitz Roy rises 11,171 feet above the village. On clear mornings its granite spires turn orange at sunrise. The trail to Laguna de los Tres leads to the classic viewpoint.
National Park in Argentina
Los Glaciares National Park
Where glaciers meet towering peaks
Argentina created this park in 1937. UNESCO listed it in 1981. Perito Moreno Glacier has a wall of ice about 70 metres high and five kilometres wide. Walkways face the front, so photographers can watch blocks of ice crash into the lake. Boat trips pass floating icebergs on Lake Argentino.
National Park in Brazil
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
Otherworldly dunes with turquoise lagoons
Lagoa Azul fills with clear blue rainwater between white dunes from the rainy season. The park was created in 1981 and covers about 580 square miles. Lagoons are fullest from June into September. Golden evening light turns the ripples of sand into patterns. Scenic flights from Barreirinhas give top-down views.
National Park in Venezuela
Canaima National Park
Tepui Peaks and Angel Falls Wonder
Mist and thunder fill the air around Sapo Falls, where a trail passes behind the curtain of water. The lagoon glows a tea red from natural tannins. Angel Falls drops 3,212 feet from Auyán-tepui, the tallest uninterrupted waterfall in the world. Small planes give aerial angles on the flat topped mountains.
Island in Chile
Easter Island
Mysterious Moai and Volcanic Landscapes
About 2,200 miles off the coast of Chile, this is one of the most remote inhabited islands on Earth. Close to 900 moai statues stand on its slopes. Fifteen of them line up at Ahu Tongariki, where the sun rises behind the row. Rano Raraku quarry shows dozens of unfinished figures.
Salt Flat in Bolivia
Salar de Uyuni
World's largest surreal salt mirror
Salt crunches underfoot on the dry white crust of this flat. It gives endless space for forced perspective shots. After rain a thin layer of water turns the ground into a mirror. Isla Incahuasi has giant cacti. The night sky is rich with stars at about 12,000 feet.
Other lists you may like
Discover
Top photography destinations and scenic landscapes
A genuinely photogenic destination offers more than one good shot: it has the light, the composition and enough variety of conditions to reward repeat visits at different times of…
Read more
Discover
Best photography destinations in Africa
Vast desert dunes in southern Africa turn a deep, almost impossible orange at sunrise, drawing photographers specifically for that brief window of light each morning. East African…
Read more
Discover
Best photography destinations in Asia
High-altitude desert landscapes in northern South Asia sit under some of the clearest skies on the continent, while terraced rice fields elsewhere create an entirely different,…
Read more
Discover
Best photography destinations in Europe
Volcanic landscapes and waterfalls in the North Atlantic have become some of the most photographed terrain in Europe, while whitewashed island architecture against a southern sea…
Read more
Discover
Best photography destinations in North America
Narrow desert canyons in the American Southwest create light patterns that have become some of the most recognisable images in landscape photography, while glacial lakes further…
Read more
Discover
Best photography destinations in Oceania
Dramatic fjord scenery in New Zealand combines with consistently changeable weather, while a vast desert formation in Australia changes colour through the day in ways that have…
Read more
What other users say about travelfilters
“travelfilters made it easy for me to find ski areas and compare what else they offer, so that I could find the best place for my personal travel style.”
Chris
Snowboarding & Onsen trip to Japan
“I love how transparent the data feels. There is no pushy upsell, just honest information and settings I can tune to my own travel style.”
Maria
After booking her 2027 winter escape
“The level of detail for each destination and how well those are displayed, make planning feel confident instead of overwhelming.”
Mina
Planned a week in New York City
“We used travelfilters for our planning from start to end. The trip turned out even better than expected, thanks to all their tools and customisation options.”
Allan & Etienne
Trip to Japan to see autumn foliage
“Thanks to travelfilters, I found some hidden gems to see. Being able to filter for exactly your interests is a game changer for my travel planning.”
Michael
Tour through the old cities of Northern Italy
“The customizable filters helped me find a quiet beach town with good wifi and low season crowds in under five minutes.”
Diego
Weekend Escape to Llanes, Spain
“The airport connection map saved me hours by showing good flight options from my home airport to lesser-known cities.”
Nguyen
Planning a 2027 trip to France
“The website is clean, fast and focused on the search itself, which makes travelfilters feel more like a professional tool than an ad-heavy booking site.”
Hassan
Christmas Market trip, Germany
