Best forest destinations in South America
Best forest destinations in South America
Dense canopy river corridors and high-altitude cloud woodlands in South America
South America's forests are dominated by the Amazon basin, the largest tropical rainforest on earth, alongside the Atlantic forest of the eastern seaboard, the cloud forests of the Andean slopes and the temperate rainforests of the far south. The continent contains a disproportionate share of global terrestrial biodiversity, with primary forest environments supporting species densities that remain unmatched by any equivalent ecosystem elsewhere.
Visitor infrastructure ranges from well-developed lodge networks and guided river and forest programmes in the most accessible Amazon zones to remote wilderness areas requiring serious expedition planning and specialist local operators. Cloud forest destinations along the Andean slopes offer a contrasting experience with exceptional birdlife, orchid diversity and cooler conditions that make extended exploration more comfortable than lowland tropical alternatives.
Heat, humidity and insects are constants in lowland tropical zones and require appropriate preparation. Guided access is strongly recommended across most significant forest destinations where navigation and wildlife identification benefit considerably from local expertise. Deforestation continues to reduce primary forest cover and researching the ecological status of specific destinations ensures visits support conservation rather than undermine it.
Lists by region
National Park in Venezuela
Canaima National Park
Tepui Peaks and Angel Falls Wonder
Angel Falls drops 979 metres from Auyantepui. About 65 percent of this 30,000 square kilometre park is covered by flat-topped tepuis. The Pemon people regard these mountains as the home of spirits. The park protects part of the Guayanan Highlands moist forests. UNESCO listed it in 1994.
National Park in Guyana
Kaieteur National Park
World's Most Powerful Single-Drop Waterfall
A tiny golden frog breeds only in the leaves of one bromeliad species inside this park. Guyana set the area aside in 1929. A 1999 expansion grew it to 630 square kilometres. The forest belongs to the Guianan moist forests ecoregion. An airstrip near the falls makes access quick.
Nature Reserve in Ecuador
Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve
Amazon wilderness teeming with life
Ecuador created this reserve on 26 July 1979. It covers about 5,900 square kilometres of rainforest. Black-water rivers semi-permanently flood parts of the forest. Around 13 lakes dot the area. Two dolphin species and three caiman species live here. Siona and Cofán communities live in and near the reserve.
Town in Argentina
Villa la Angostura
Patagonia's Hidden Gem
Locals call the town the Garden of Patagonia. It was founded in 1932 on the northwest shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi. Los Arrayanes National Park protects a forest of arrayán trees on the nearby Quetrihue Peninsula. Alpine-style wooden buildings and a ski area at Cerro Bayo round out the setting.
National Park in Peru
Manú National Park
Pristine Amazon biodiversity wonderland
Elevations fall from about 4,000 metres in the Andes to the Amazon lowlands. That range supports about 160 mammal species and an estimated 1,000 bird species. Researchers have identified 4,385 plant species. UNESCO named the park a World Heritage Site in 1987. Tourism is limited to a few areas.
National Park in Argentina
Iguazú National Park and Reserve
Epic Waterfalls and Wild Rainforest
Ceibo, lapacho and palo rosa trees fill this subtropical forest in Misiones. Jaguars, tapirs, ocelots and harpy eagles are listed among its threatened species. The park covers 677 square kilometres and was established in 1934 to protect the falls. UNESCO gave it World Heritage status in 1984.
City in Brazil
Manaus
Amazon's gateway to lush rainforest adventures
Two rivers run side by side for roughly 6 kilometres without mixing. The dark Rio Negro meets the muddy Solimões just outside the city. Teatro Amazonas, built from imported European glass and marble, opened in 1896 during the rubber boom. Anavilhanas National Park covers about 350,000 hectares nearby.
National Park in Ecuador
Yasuni National Park
Untamed rainforest, ancient wildlife sanctuary
At least 596 bird species have been recorded here, about one third of the Amazon's native total. The park covers under 0.15 percent of the Amazon Basin. It holds about a third of the basin's amphibian and reptile species. In August 2023, Ecuadorian voters approved halting oil drilling inside it.
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