Best countries to visit in South America: travel guide to the top five

South America is where the planet shows off. Volcanoes hiss beside glaciers, ancient cities hum with modern rhythm, and rainforests sing from sunrise to starlight. Whether you’re planning an epic trek, a laid-back South America honeymoon, or the kind of adventure that turns strangers into storytellers, this continent will spoil you.

If you’re deciding which adventure fits you best, these are the best countries to visit in South America: five destinations that prove how wild, warm, and wonderful the continent can be.

If South America were a novel, Peru would be the chapter everyone keeps rereading. Every page hums with mystery, altitude, and colour—the kind of place where even the air feels sacred.

The mountains of Peru cradle Machu Picchu, the Incan citadel that needs no filter. In Cusco, music drifts between cobbled streets and lively markets, while the Sacred Valley rolls out in layers of terraces and llamas. Venture east, and the Amazon trades cool mist for thick, green heat. When your legs beg for mercy, drift across Lake Titicaca and watch sunlight bounce off the water’s edge.

Before you lace up your boots, it’s worth planning ahead. Start with our top Peru travel tips and how to stay healthy and safe while travelling in Peru.

Before setting off, check the best time to travel to Machu Picchu and the Galápagos and look over Peru’s visa requirements. Then tick off your complete packing list for Machu Picchu so nothing important stays behind.

Peru is one of the best countries to visit in South America for travellers who crave history mixed with altitude. It’s also a surprisingly romantic South America honeymoon choice — ancient ruins by day, candlelit pisco sours by night.

Why it stands out: Peru is a living history you can hike through. Few places capture the spirit of the best South American destinations quite like Peru, and many still consider it the best place to visit in South America when adventure and wonder are equally valued.

The breathtaking ruins of Machu Picchu, perched high in the Peruvian Andes.

Brazil doesn’t do quiet. It sings, dances, and tosses sunlight around like confetti.

Rio de Janeiro tops nearly every list of the coolest cities in South America. Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer keep watch while locals play football on Copacabana. Down south, Iguazu Falls thunder between Brazil and Argentina. To the north, the Amazon breathes under an endless green canopy.

Brazil is one of the best countries to visit in South America for travellers chasing colour and sound. It’s also a favourite South American honeymoon pick where beach sunsets meet rainforest mystery. For many, it's the best country to travel to in South America if you want both rhythm and rain.

A stunning aerial view of Christ the Redeemer overlooking Botafogo Bay in Rio de Janeiro.

Argentina is theatre in national form, famous for big gestures, big steaks, and even bigger skies.

Buenos Aires captivates visitors with its vibrant cafés and late-night dance halls. Beyond the city, Patagonia stretches toward Antarctica, glaciers creaking like old doors. The Andes rise westward to Mount Aconcagua, the tallest peak in South America and a magnet for climbers.

Wine lovers often call Argentina the best South American country to visit, while trekkers claim it’s the best place for wilderness and wind.

Why it stands out: Argentina does everything with feeling. It might just be the best country to travel in South America for those who love open roads and endless skies.

Iguazu Falls are on the border of Argentina and Brazil.

Chile looks slim on a map but enormous in person. Every 100 kilometres feels like a new world.

In the north, the Atacama Desert glows gold by day and turns into an observatory at night. Far south, Torres del Paine reflects granite spires in turquoise lakes. Between them lie vineyards, volcanoes, and Santiago with snow on the skyline.

Chile consistently ranks among the safest places to travel in South America, and it’s often named the best place in South America to visit for hikers and variety lovers alike. It's a paradise of contrasts and one of South America's best places to go for scenery that changes by the hour.

A guanaco in the Atacama Desert, Chile, with dry plains and distant mountains in the background.

Colombia proves joy is renewable energy.

Cartagena glows coral and gold beside the Caribbean Sea, while Medellín reinvents itself with art and innovation. Inland, coffee farms quilt the hills in green, and Caño Cristales shimmers with seven colours.

Colombia is one of the best countries to visit in South America for tourists who love beaches and mountains in equal measure. For couples, it’s a hidden gem of a South American honeymoon destination that never feels crowded.

Beautiful streets in Cartagena, Colombia.

Stretching for over 7,000 kilometres, the Andes form the longest mountain range in the world and therefore the longest mountain in South America.

On any South America Andes mountains map, you’ll see the range curving through Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Colombia. These mountains in South America shape the weather, cuisine, and even beliefs. Mount Aconcagua touches the sky, while volcanoes in Ecuador puff quietly beside pastureland.

Hike them, photograph them, or simply stare until the air feels thinner. They’re the reason every trip through South America feels unforgettable.

Trekkers hiking in the Andes on the Inca Trail en route to Machu Picchu in Peru.

Travelling through the continent is easier than ever and twice as rewarding. Buses connect remote towns, budget flights hop borders, and every guesthouse seems to know someone’s cousin who can plan your trek.

If Peru’s on your route, browse our Peru adventures for inspiration.

Anyone travelling to South America for the first time should add buffer days for altitude and curiosity. Season matters: it’s summer south of the equator when it’s winter in Europe. Pack layers, patience, and the willingness to learn a few Spanish words beyond hola. A slow trip through South America rewards you with everything from tango to toucans.

Choosing the best country to travel in South America is like picking a favourite dessert: impossible and delicious.

Peru feeds your sense of wonder. Brazil gets your feet moving. Argentina steals your heart and possibly affects your diet. Chile humbles you with its scale. Colombia proves warmth can rebuild a nation.

Together, they create a list of "South America's best places to go"—a collection of stories rather than stops. Whether you wonder where to visit in South America first or just crave a reason to pack a bag, you’ll find endless answers here.

There isn't one best place to visit in South America because every border hides a new favourite, but one thing's certain: a single trip through it will never be enough.

So pack curiosity, sunscreen, and an appetite for the unknown. Llamas are waiting for their close-up, the wine’s already breathing, and somewhere above the clouds, a condor circles, waiting for you to look up.