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Best natural wonder destinations in South America

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San Pedro de Atacama
Mars-like Landscapes and Starry Nights
7.5
Salt flats and geysers surround San Pedro, set within the driest nonpolar desert on Earth. Valle de la Luna's eroded terrain resembles a lunar landscape at sunset. El Tatio's geysers steam most actively at dawn, drawing early visitors each morning. Clear night skies here have made the region a hub for astronomy.
Highlights:
  • 🌕 Explore the otherworldly landscapes of Valle de la Luna
  • 🧂 Float effortlessly in the salt-rich Laguna Cejar
  • 🌅 Witness sunrise at the geysers of El Tatio
Galapagos Islands
The Wildlife Paradise of Ecuador
8.5
Giant tortoises roam the Galapagos, some living more than 150 years in the wild. Marine iguanas, found nowhere else, dive into the sea to feed on algae. Blue-footed boobies perform their courtship dance on several of the islands. Darwin's studies here helped shape his theory of evolution.
Highlights:
  • 🦩 Walk among blue-footed boobies on North Seymour Island
  • 🐢 Spot giant tortoises roaming freely in the highlands
  • 🐢 Snorkel with sea lions and turtles at Isla Lobos
Foz do Iguaçu
Where three nations meet waterfalls
7.7
Nearly 275 individual waterfalls make up the Iguazu Falls system along the Brazil-Argentina border. Devil's Throat, the tallest section, sends spray high enough to form rainbows below. Walkways lead close to the falls, drenching visitors in mist from the roaring water. Rainforest surrounds the falls, home to toucans and coatis.
Highlights:
  • 🚤 Take a thrilling Macuco Safari boat ride near the falls
  • 🦜 Explore Parque das Aves, Latin America’s largest bird park
  • 🌊 Visit the breathtaking Iguazu Falls and Devil’s Throat
Torres del Paine National Park
Epic Landscapes and Untamed Wilderness
8.1
Three granite towers rise sharply above Torres del Paine, giving the park its name. Glaciers feed turquoise lakes scattered across the park's windswept Patagonian terrain. Guanacos and condors move freely across the open steppe below the peaks. The full circuit trek circles the towers over several days.
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
Canaima National Park
Tepui Peaks and Angel Falls Wonder
7.7
Angel Falls drops nearly a kilometre from a flat-topped tepui, the world's tallest waterfall. Mist rarely lets the water reach the ground as a single unbroken stream. Flat-topped mountains called tepuis rise across the park, isolated for millions of years. Dugout canoes carry visitors upriver through dense rainforest towards the falls.
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
Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve
Amazon wilderness teeming with life
8.1
Flooded forest fills much of Cuyabeno during the rainy season, navigable only by canoe. Pink river dolphins surface near black-water lagoons scattered through the reserve. Caimans and anacondas move through the wetlands alongside the reserve's canoe routes. Indigenous communities guide visitors through the rainforest's dense, biodiverse terrain.
Highlights:
  • 🐬 Spot pink dolphins swimming in the lagoons
  • 🛶 Take a canoe ride on serene waterways
  • 🌳 Explore dense jungle trails with expert guides
Chapada Diamantina National Park
Waterfalls, Caves and Diamond History
7.7
Waterfalls drop through canyons across Chapada Diamantina's high sandstone plateau. Poco Encantado's underground pool glows blue when sunlight strikes the clear water just right. Diamond mining once drove the region's economy, leaving old trails still used today. Caves and rock formations dot the park's rugged interior terrain.
Highlights:
  • 🕳️ Explore the vast Lapa Doce Cave with guided tours
  • 💧 Swim in the crystal-clear waters of Poço Azul
  • ⛰️ Hike to the top of Morro do Pai Inácio for panoramic views
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
Otherworldly dunes with turquoise lagoons
6.9
White sand dunes stretch across Lencois Maranhenses, pooled with rainwater during the wet season. Turquoise lagoons form between the dunes, some deep enough for swimming. Fish appear in the pools despite the desert-like surroundings, arriving through underground channels. Dunes shift shape gradually as wind reshapes the landscape each year.
Highlights:
  • 🌅 Watch the sunrise reflect on the mesmerizing lagoons
  • 🚙 Take a thrilling 4x4 ride across the vast dunes
  • 💧 Swim in the turquoise lagoons after a hot dune trek
Los Glaciares National Park
Where glaciers meet towering peaks
8.4
Perito Moreno Glacier advances steadily, one of the few glaciers still growing worldwide. Massive chunks of ice periodically break free, crashing loudly into the lake below. Walkways offer close views of the glacier's blue-tinged, jagged face. Mount Fitz Roy rises nearby, its jagged spire drawing climbers from around the world.
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
Manú National Park
Pristine Amazon biodiversity wonderland
7.3
Manu spans multiple ecosystems, from Andean cloud forest down to lowland Amazon rainforest. Macaw clay licks draw dozens of colourful parrots each morning to feed on mineral-rich soil. Jaguars and giant otters move through the park's remote, roadless wilderness. Researchers consider Manu among the most biodiverse protected areas on Earth.
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
Pantanal Matogrossense National Park
World's largest tropical wetland paradise
7.6
The Pantanal floods seasonally, forming the world's largest tropical wetland across central Brazil. Jaguars hunt along the region's rivers, easier to spot here than in dense rainforest. Caimans and capybaras gather in large numbers near the water's edge. Hyacinth macaws nest in palm trees scattered across the wetland.
Highlights:
  • 🐎 Experience horseback riding across flooded plains and trails
  • 🛶 Take a boat tour through the Pantanal’s winding waterways
  • 🐆 Join a guided wildlife safari to spot elusive jaguars
Tayrona National Park
Where Jungle Meets Turquoise Caribbean
7.5
Rainforest meets the Caribbean along Tayrona National Park's rocky, palm-lined coastline. Boulders scatter across several beaches, remnants of the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains. Howler monkeys call through the jungle behind the park's popular coves. Indigenous communities still consider parts of the park sacred ancestral land today.
Highlights:
  • 🦜 Spot howler monkeys and exotic birds along forest paths
  • 🌴 Swim in crystal-clear Caribbean waters surrounded by palm trees
  • 🏝️ Hike through jungle trails to the stunning Cabo San Juan beach
Kaieteur National Park
World's Most Powerful Single-Drop Waterfall
7.7
Kaieteur Falls drops in a single sheer plunge nearly five times the height of Niagara. Dense rainforest surrounds the falls, reachable mostly by small aircraft. Golden frogs live only in the bromeliads growing near the falls' spray. Few visitors reach the site, keeping the surrounding jungle largely untouched.
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
Fernando de Noronha
World's Best Beaches and Dolphins
8.5
Dolphins gather each morning in Baia dos Golfinhos, an archipelago bay named for the species. Clear water surrounds Fernando de Noronha, ranked among Brazil's best diving destinations. Sea turtles nest on beaches protected within a marine national park. Volcanic peaks rise steeply above the islands' scattered beaches.
Highlights:
  • 🛥️ Take a boat tour to spot dolphins and sea turtles
  • ⛰️ Hike to the Morro Dois Irmãos viewpoint for stunning vistas
  • 🤿 Snorkel vibrant reefs at Baía do Sancho, world’s top beach
Rio de Janeiro
The heartbeat of Brazil's coast
8.1
Sugarloaf Mountain rises from Rio's harbour, reached by cable car in two stages. Christ the Redeemer overlooks the city from Corcovado's forested peak. Tijuca Forest surrounds the statue, one of the largest urban rainforests in the world. Granite peaks and beaches line the coast along Rio's dramatic shoreline.
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Relax on the iconic sands of Copacabana Beach
  • ✝️ Stand before Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado Mountain
  • 🚠 Take the cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain for breathtaking views
San Carlos de Bariloche
Argentina’s Alpine Wonderland
7.4
Lake Nahuel Huapi stretches beneath the Andes near Bariloche, framed by forested peaks. Chocolate shops line the town's alpine-style streets, a legacy of Swiss and German settlers. Cerro Catedral rises above town, among Argentina's largest ski resorts. Waterfalls and glacial lakes dot the surrounding national park's hiking trails.
Highlights:
  • 🏘️ Explore the Bavarian-style Centro Cívico and museums
  • 🥾 Hike the scenic trails of Nahuel Huapi National Park
  • 🚡 Take a cable car to Cerro Otto for panoramic views
Machupicchu Pueblo
Gateway to the Inca wonder
7.7
Machu Picchu's stone terraces and temples sit perched on a ridge above the Urubamba River. Clouds often drift through the ruins, thinning to reveal the Inca citadel below. Huayna Picchu's steep peak rises behind the site, open to climbers with permits. The town below serves as the main gateway for visitors arriving by train.
Highlights:
  • ⛰️ Climb Huayna Picchu for breathtaking panoramic views
  • 🏯 Explore ancient Incan ruins including Temple of the Sun
  • 🌄 See Machu Picchu from the iconic Guardian’s House viewpoint
Easter Island
Mysterious Moai and Volcanic Landscapes
8.1
Nearly nine hundred moai statues stand across Easter Island, carved by the Rapa Nui centuries ago. Rano Raraku's quarry still holds unfinished statues abandoned mid-carving. Volcanic craters dot the island's remote Pacific landscape. Ahu Tongariki lines up fifteen moai in a single row facing inland.
Highlights:
  • ⛏️ Explore the Rano Raraku volcanic quarry of moai
  • 🏖️ Relax on the white sands of Anakena Beach
  • 🗿 Visit the massive moai statues at Ahu Tongariki
Puerto Pirámides
Whale Watching on Wild Patagonian Shores
7.2
Southern right whales gather each year in the bay near Puerto Piramides to breed. Orcas hunt sea lion pups along the beach using a rare intentional stranding technique. Penguins and elephant seals gather on nearby stretches of the Valdes Peninsula. Boat tours launch directly from the town's small beach.
Highlights:
  • 🐾 Visit the Punta Piramides sea lion colony viewpoint
  • 🛶 Kayak around Golfo Nuevo and spot sea lions
  • 🐋 Go whale watching to see southern right whales
San Martin de los Andes
Patagonian Paradise by Lake Lácar
7.1
Lake Lacar stretches beside San Martin de los Andes, ringed by dense Andean forest. Lanin Volcano's snow-capped cone rises nearby, visible across much of the region. The Seven Lakes Route winds south from town past a chain of alpine lakes. Waterfalls and hiking trails wind through nearby Lanin National Park.
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Relax and swim at Playa Quila Quina beach
  • ⛷️ Ski or snowboard at Cerro Chapelco Resort
  • 🛣️ Drive the scenic Route of the Seven Lakes
Villa la Angostura
Patagonia's Hidden Gem
7.5
Arrayanes Forest holds a rare grove of cinnamon-coloured trees found in few other places. A short boat ride or trail leads visitors into the grove's unusual reddish bark. Lake Nahuel Huapi laps the shore near town, framed by Andean peaks. Waterfalls and forest trails wind through nearby Los Arrayanes National Park.
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
Pucon
Volcano Views and Adventure Bliss
7.6
Villarrica Volcano looms over Pucon, its crater occasionally glowing red at night. Hikers climb the volcano's slopes for views into the active crater above. Hot springs near town warm visitors after a day in the surrounding mountains. Lake Villarrica sits at the volcano's base, framed by forested hills.
Highlights:
  • 🚣‍♂️ Kayak on Lake Villarrica to private, serene beaches
  • ♨️ Soak in the soothing waters of Termas Geometricas hot springs
  • 🌋 Climb the active Villarrica Volcano and enjoy crater views
Sacred Valley
Ancient terraces echoing timeless Andean rhythms
8.3
Inca terraces climb the hillsides of the Sacred Valley, still farmed using centuries-old techniques. The Urubamba River winds through the valley beneath snow-capped Andean peaks. Salt pans at Maras have been harvested by hand since Inca times. Pisac's ruins and market sit above the valley's patchwork farmland.
Highlights:
  • 🛍️ Stroll through Pisac market, shop woven textiles
  • 🗿 Explore Ollantaytambo ruins, climb fortress walls
  • 🏔️ Hike to Machu Picchu via the Inca Trail
Falkland Islands
Untouched wilderness with abundant wildlife
8.6
Penguins, including rockhoppers and king penguins, nest in large colonies across the Falkland Islands. Albatrosses breed on remote cliffs, rarely disturbed by passing visitors. Elephant seals haul out on beaches near several small coastal settlements. Windswept moorland covers much of the islands' open, treeless terrain.
Highlights:
  • ⚓ Stroll along Stanley Harbour and visit the museum
  • 🎖️ Take a battlefield tour of the 1982 conflict sites
  • 🐧 Watch king penguins at Volunteer Point
Cusco
Gateway to the Incan Empire's Heart
8.4
Sacsayhuaman's massive stone walls rise above Cusco, built without mortar by Inca engineers. Some interlocking blocks weigh more than one hundred tons apiece. Rainbow Mountain's mineral-striped slopes lie a steep hike from the city centre. Andean peaks ring the valley, visible along Cusco's narrow cobbled streets.
Highlights:
  • 🏛️ Stroll through Plaza de Armas and admire colonial architecture
  • 🏔️ Take the train or trek to the awe-inspiring Machu Picchu
  • 🧱 Visit the ancient Inca site of Sacsayhuamán overlooking the city
Valle Nevado
Snow‑kissed peaks and alpine serenity
9.1
Andean peaks surround Valle Nevado, among the highest-elevation ski resorts in South America. Snow reliably covers the slopes through the Southern Hemisphere winter months. Views from the resort stretch across dozens of connected mountain peaks. A winding mountain road climbs from Santiago through switchbacks to reach the resort.
Highlights:
  • 🚠 Take a cable car ride for panoramic Andes views
  • ⛷️ Ski or snowboard on world‑class pistes during winter season
  • 🏔️ Hike to the summit of Valle Nevado ski resort
Salar de Uyuni
World's largest surreal salt mirror
Salar de Uyuni stretches across more than 10,000 square kilometres, the world's largest salt flat. A thin layer of water after rain turns the flat into a giant mirror. Cacti-covered islands rise from the salt near the flat's centre. Pink flamingos wade in nearby lagoons tinted red by algae.
Highlights:
  • 🚂 Explore the eerie Train Cemetery near Uyuni town
  • 🌵 Visit Incahuasi Island and climb among giant cacti
  • 📸 Take surreal photos with salt flat perspective illusions
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