Destinations You Must Visit in South America
South America is a continent with a rich and vast history, probably best known for its rainforests and ancient temples, but there is so much more to South America than just these things, and a trip to South America can redefine the way you look at the world and change your life forever. The cultures of South America are welcoming and hospitable. The food is gorgeous, the landscapes serene and beautiful, and the wildlife unparalleled. A trip to South America is something everybody must do at least once in their life, and there is no better way to spend your vacation.
There are some destinations in South America that absolutely cannot be missed, and if you have the opportunity to, you must see them. Here are some of those destinations.
See Them All on an All-Inclusive Tour
Backpacking through South America and seeing all of the sights can take years. You have likely decided to click here so that you can see them all, and one of the best ways to do that is to take a tour. South American tours can take you by air or sea and enable you to see all of the must-see tourist destinations in half the time it would ordinarily take.
Taking a tour, however, is a little impersonal, and if you really want to get to grips with South America, then you should go out backpacking; that is the best way to meet the locals, and the best way to become familiar with their respective cultures. You should, however, contact your local consulate and ensure that it is safe at that time for you to travel through South America. The continent has proven to be very unstable in recent years, and foreign tourists can be targeted.
The Easter Island Heads
The Easter Island heads are mysterious stone monoliths erected at least a thousand years ago by the Rapa Nui people. Nobody is sure what the reason for their creation was, and while theories are abundant, there is no conclusive evidence. The heads are, unsurprisingly, one of the most visited destinations on Earth, courtesy of their mystique. Excavations on the island have uncovered that beneath every head is a body that has been buried.
Visiting Easter Island in Chile is a brilliant way to spend your holiday and can transport you back to a time long before our own when deities were carved from stone and worshipped.
The Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands, the birthplace of Darwinian theory, are a series of islands set off of the coast of Ecuador, that are abundant with exotic animals and species of plants. The diversity of life on the islands is astounding, and they are still studied to this very day. Tourists seldom set foot on the islands but can take a tour around and see the penguins and other animals. It is a beautiful and fantastic way to spend your vacation and will allow you to truly appreciate the ever-changing wonder that is nature.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is an abandoned 15th-century Incan citadel, most known for its Temple of The Sun. The settlement was built during the Spanish conquest, but amazingly, it was not discovered until 1911, despite locals knowing about it. It is an awe-inspiring settlement built in the typical Incan style. Machu Picchu is at the top of many bucket lists and is the most visited tourist destination in Peru. The Incan civilization is long extinct, and it serves as one of the last remnants of a powerful, ancient warrior civilization. In the jungles around the settlement, more and more Incan buildings are being discovered underneath the thick brush.
The theory is that the settlement was built for the Inca king Pachacuti. Some archaeologists disagree with this, but the majority do not. This is one of many Incan settlements visited every year and is commonly mistaken with the ‘Lost City of The Incas’.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is an absolute must-see destination. It is one of the largest cities in South America and is a beautiful seaside city with miles of white sand beaches. It is probably best known for its Christ the Redeemer statue and Sugarloaf Mountain. Tens of thousands of people converge on Rio de Janeiro every year for its lively festivals and carnivals. However, Rio, unfortunately, can be very dangerous, and you must stay in tourist areas otherwise you risk being the victim of serious violence and robbery.
Those are some of the destinations you must visit in South America if you have the chance. Visiting these destinations can be experiences that you remember for a lifetime, and they are absolutely breathtaking.
