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Best forest destinations in South America

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Manaus
Amazon's gateway to lush rainforest adventures
7.5
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.
Highlights:
  • 🕍 Tour historic Santo Antônio Cathedral and local markets
  • 🌊 Visit Meeting of Waters confluence at sunrise
  • 🚡 Explore Amazon rainforest canopy via aerial tram
Yasuni National Park
Untamed rainforest, ancient wildlife sanctuary
7.6
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.
Highlights:
  • 🏕️ Camp overnight beside the Putumayo River, stargazing included
  • 🐆 Spot jaguars and giant otters in their natural habitat
  • 🪂 Explore the Amazon canopy via guided zip‑line tours
Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve
Amazon wilderness teeming with life
8.1
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.
Highlights:
  • 🐬 Spot pink dolphins swimming in the lagoons
  • 🛶 Take a canoe ride on serene waterways
  • 🌳 Explore dense jungle trails with expert guides
Manú National Park
Pristine Amazon biodiversity wonderland
7.3
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.
Highlights:
  • 🚤 Cruise down the Madre de Dios River at sunrise
  • 🦜 Spot macaws and toucans at a clay lick hide
  • 🌿 Take a guided jungle trek through the Amazon rainforest
Canaima National Park
Tepui Peaks and Angel Falls Wonder
7.7
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.
Highlights:
  • 🗻 Explore the unique tabletop mountains called tepuis
  • ⛰️ Hike the summit of Auyantepuy tepui for breathtaking views
  • 🌊 See Angel Falls, the world’s highest uninterrupted waterfall
Kaieteur National Park
World's Most Powerful Single-Drop Waterfall
7.7
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.
Highlights:
  • 🐦 Spot rare Guianan cock-of-the-rock bird nearby
  • 🥾 Hike rainforest trails to panoramic waterfall viewpoints
  • 🌊 Witness the majestic Kaieteur Falls, tallest single-drop
Iguazú National Park and Reserve
Epic Waterfalls and Wild Rainforest
7.9
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.
Highlights:
  • 🌿 Walk the Upper Circuit trail to view multiple cascading waterfalls
  • 🛶 Take a jungle boat ride through the mist of the falls
  • 🌊 Stand before the breathtaking Iguazú Falls at Devil’s Throat
Villa la Angostura
Patagonia's Hidden Gem
7.5
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.
Highlights:
  • 🏞️ Relax along the tranquil shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi
  • ⛷️ Admire panoramic views from the Cerro Bayo ski resort
  • 🌲 Hike the enchanting trails of Los Arrayanes National Park
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