2023 Travel Guide to South America

2023 South America Travel Guide
From the mystical Andes to the dense jungles of the Amazon and the glaciers of Patagonia, South America is one of the most geographically diverse continents in the world, and because of this, many countries also offer cultures and histories all their own. Check out this slideshow to learn about some its best destinations, unique attractions and to learn why South America is so famous for adventure travel.

Best Destinations
Following the latest FIFA World Cup win by Argentina, it’s safe to say that the country will garner more attention this year, and not just by soccer fans. It’s one of the wealthiest and safest destinations on the continent to visit, and is home to attractions such as Iguazu Falls (which it shares with Brazil), the Pampas, the vast Argentinian plains where travelers can discover the rich heritage of horsemanship in the country, and its cultural capital of Buenos Aires, home to the Argentine tango and some of South America’s most beloved literary greats and artists.

Uruguay should also be on top of the list this year as a lesser-visited but no less incredible destination: it’s less touristy than other popular South American destinations yet offers plenty of its own attractions, from one of the largest groundwater reservoirs in the world (and therefore some of the biggest hot springs), many scenic vineyards and estancias, traditional working farms with a rich history of gauchos, or cowboys.

One other popular destination is most notable for its breadth of geographic diversity, from its glaciers and volcanoes to the driest desert in the world: Chile. Travelers can enjoy vineyard tours, hot springs retreats, hikes in ancient forests, stargazing under some of the clearest skies in the world, learning about Chilean Polynesia on Easter Island, climbing up glaciers and seeing penguins all while visiting a single country!

Best Attractions
South America offers several world-famous attractions that draw millions each year, from Peru’s Machu Picchu to Patagonia to the Galapagos to Iguazu Falls, the Amazon Rainforest and more. These are all expected to once again be popular attractions this year, but we encourage travelers to step outside of the realm of the super popular and visit the Argentinian Pampas; the world’s largest salt flats in Bolivia, the otherworldly Uyuni Salt Flat; the coffee plantations of northern South America and, in places like Chile, the numerous protected parks and natural areas that offer something no one else can find anywhere else in the world, from 1,000-year-old trees to glaciers and more.

Must-See 2023 Events
South America’s most notable yearly event is Carnival. It’s celebrated in style throughout the continent during February, from the world’s largest Carnival celebration in Rio de Janeiro to other large celebrations in cities like Barranquilla, Colombia or Montevideo, Uruguay.

Other religious festivities are celebrated throughout the year, both for major Christian events and for Indigenous events, such as the Inti Raymi festival, which will be held on June 24, 2023 to celebrate Inti, the Incan god of the sun in Peru. While this festival is largest in Cusco, it’s also celebrated across other countries along the Andes mountain range.

Best Places for Families
The best destinations in South America for families are those that are safe and encourage discovery and learning, whether it be for other cultures and languages or for the natural world. Luckily, many destinations in this part of the world offer just that! Argentina is the safer choice than Brazil to visit key attractions like Iguazu Falls, the park of which offers accessible opportunities to experience part of the Amazon Rainforest and one of the world’s grandest natural wonders. Families can spot colorful butterflies, spider monkeys, toucans and other jungle natives if they look closely.

Patagonia, located in both Argentina and Chile, is another great natural destination for active families, offering opportunities for kids to spot colonies of penguins and learn about glaciers. Cultural experiences abound, no matter if you’re heading to Buenos Aires or Cusco, though we recommend checking out less-touristy destinations for learning experiences, such as the unique Chiloé Island in Chile or an estancia in Uruguay or Argentina.

Best Places for Couples
South America can be a romantic destination in which to enjoy a variety of couples vacations, from wellness retreats to adventure trips and even expedition cruises! Argentina and Chile are both where many Antarctic expedition cruises depart from or return to, both offering experiences to enjoy before or after the cruise. Couples wanting a more warmer-weather cruise trip can find a cruise to the Galapagos a great way to reconnect or celebrate milestone events in their relationships.

Buenos Aires has long been known as a romantic capital of the world due to its rich tango heritage, literary and foodie culture, and it’s also a welcoming place for members of the LGBTQ community. For a longer road trip-style trip that’s perfect for young couples on a budget or those willing to strengthen their bond should consider starting in northern Chile and working their way south to Patagonia together.

Best Places for Group Travel
Group travel can be enjoyed anywhere, be it a girls trip, family reunion or a vacation with friends, though groups heading to South America should have a rough idea of the kind of experiences they’d like to try and any notable attractions they’d like to see prior to planning their travel journey.

Smaller groups might find that a cruise to Antarctica, the Galapagos, or a river cruise down the Amazon might be the perfect expedition-style trip for them, while groups looking for calmer trips might find Buenos Aires or a trip to Chile’s wine region a more fitting trip style. Most of the time, group trips to this continent will be heading there to see something in particular, though, and that will likely inform the group about their destination: for example, groups wanting to climb to Machu Picchu are going to be heading to Peru.

Best Places for Solo Travel
Solo travelers are commonly concerned most about safety and price when choosing where to go on their own. That’s why we recommend destinations that consistenly rank as the safest on the continent and offer great experiences for both short vacations and longer workcation-style trips, like Santiago, Chile or Buenos Aires, Argentina. Cruising and touring with a reputable tour operator are also safe ways to experience South America, though some cruise operators do charge extra single supplement fees. We also recommend learning a bit of Spanish wherever you decide to go, especially if you’ll be traveling on your own.

Best Foodie Destinations
Foodies, you’re in luck! South America as a continent is a huge foodie destination. Think: wine, thousands of kinds of potatoes, chocolate, coffee, tropical fruits, barbecue meats, cheese, olives, fish and more! Wherever you go in South America, you’ll be sure to find something special to enjoy eating, from arepas de queso to famous Argentinian barbacoa and other South American staples.

The food isn’t just the only unique part about the continent’s gastronomy: the drinks are, too. From local spirits and wines to some of the best coffee in the world and yerba mate, a caffeinated herbal tea commonly drunk from gourds, there’s plenty to discover here. If you’re a foodie with dietary restrictions, do your research to find which destinations offer the most for you to eat; for example, dishes with shellfish are most likely to be found along the coast or near water, so travelers may want to avoid or limit their time spent along a coastline or major river.

Best Places for Adventure Travel
Adventure travel abounds in South America, and it’s a major reason why travelers from across the world flock there. From Patagonia to the Andes and the Amazon Rainforest, there’s so much to discover that it’s impossible to list all of the best destinations for adventure travel in South America.

Some of the most popular adventure destinations remain Machu Picchu (or the wide Andes, which offers other Incan ruins that can be accessed only by hike), the Atacama Desert, which can be enjoyed by adrenaline-fueled travelers as much as by star-loving slow travelers and Patagonia, accessed in both Argentina or Chile, a bucket-list destination that can include hiking, glacier climbing, nature photography and much more.

Best Places for Sports Enthusiasts
South America is where soccer, or football, reigns king in the sporting world. You can easily find soccer matches in any of these countries, though Argentina remains ever the victor as the best destination to watch soccer matches, since they are the reigning champions of the latest FIFA World Cup. The city of Buenos Aires alone offers several different stadiums and clubs to enjoy, and the residents make a day of celebration on game days. El Monumental is the biggest soccer stadium in the city and holds 64,000 people. Besides soccer, travelers can enjoy local sports in each destination, ranging from Argentina’s countryside cowboy culture, complete with demonstrations of horsemanship, to everything from tennis to cricket and more.

Unique to South America
South America is home to a fascinating history, multiple indigenous cultures whose heritage remains preserved in practice as well as in historical sites, and some of the most geographically wondrous sites known to man. From Iguazu Falls to the Amazon Rainforest to the Atacama Desert to Patagonian glaciers and the vast Argentinian plains, there are so many different and beautiful natural places and wonders to discover in South America, with equally incredible breadth of biodiversity. That’s truly why the continent is the adventure capital of the world: you can find it all here.

Safety Index Check-In
As with every continent on this Earth, there are some countries that are safer than others. Uruguay, Argentina and Chile consistently rank as three of the safest countries in South America to visit. They offer relatively high levels of safety for travelers when compared with other countries in the continent. Argentina and Chile also consistently rank as some of the wealthiest countries in South America, therefore offering higher levels of infrastructure and English-speaking people, which is great for the majority of U.S. travelers who don’t know Spanish. Peru is generally pretty safe, too, but the State Department currently warns travelers to avoid heading there due to recent political escalations.