Things to Do

Things to Do in South America

There are 1,421 attractions in South America. Machu Picchu, inca citadel perched on andean mountain ridge, is the most popular.

Most Popular By Name
Machu Picchu
1
Machu Picchu
Inca citadel perched on Andean mountain ridge
Ruins
Christ the Redeemer (statue)
2
Christ the Redeemer (statue)
Art Deco statue overlooking Rio de Janeiro
Monument
Iguazu Falls
3
Iguazu Falls
Extensive waterfalls shared by Argentina and Brazil
Waterfall
Galápagos Islands
4
Galápagos Islands
Archipelago of unique endemic wildlife and volcanic islands
Islands
Easter Island
5
Easter Island
Remote Pacific island famed for monumental moai statues
Island
Torres del Paine National Park
6
Torres del Paine National Park
Patagonian park famed for granite peaks and glaciers
Park
Salar de Uyuni
7
Salar de Uyuni
World's largest salt flat in Bolivia
Area
Angel Falls
8
Angel Falls
Planet's tallest uninterrupted waterfall in Venezuelan jungle
Waterfall
Amazon rainforest
9
Amazon rainforest
Vast tropical rainforest spanning multiple South American countries
Nature Reserve
Copacabana Beach
10
Copacabana Beach
Famous Rio de Janeiro beach with lively promenade
Beach
Lake Titicaca
11
Lake Titicaca
High-altitude lake straddling Bolivia and Peru
Lake
Sacred Valley
12
Sacred Valley
Peruvian Andean valley with Inca archaeological sites
Valley
Nazca lines
13
Nazca lines
Ancient geoglyphs etched into desert plains
Archaeological Site
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
14
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Ancient trekking route leading to Machu Picchu ruins
Archaeological Site
Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá
15
Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá
Underground Roman Catholic church carved in salt
Museum
Tayrona National Natural Park
16
Tayrona National Natural Park
Coastal national park with Caribbean beaches and biodiversity
Park
Cotopaxi
17
Cotopaxi
Active stratovolcano within Andean páramo, major climbing destination
Volcano
Historic Center of Quito
18
Historic Center of Quito
Well-preserved colonial center with churches and plazas
Building
Perito Moreno Glacier
19
Perito Moreno Glacier
Large Patagonian glacier known for dramatic ice calving
Spa
El Ateneo Grand Splendid
20
El Ateneo Grand Splendid
Bookstore housed in a historic ornate theatre
Theater
Valdés Peninsula
21
Valdés Peninsula
Wildlife-rich peninsula with marine mammals and penguins
Peninsula
Mi Teleférico
22
Mi Teleférico
Urban cable-car transit network linking La Paz neighborhoods
Area
Atacama Desert
23
Atacama Desert
World's driest nonpolar desert with salt flats
Desert
Colca Canyon
24
Colca Canyon
Deep Andean canyon famous for Andean condor sightings
Canyon
Sacsayhuamán
25
Sacsayhuamán
Massive Inca fortress with impressive cyclopean stonework
Archaeological Site
Vinicunca
26
Vinicunca
High-altitude mountain ridge with multicolored mineral stripes
Mountain
Plaza de Armas (Cusco)
27
Plaza de Armas (Cusco)
Central colonial square surrounded by historic churches
Square
Moray (Inca ruin)
28
Moray (Inca ruin)
Circular Inca agricultural terraces used for crop experiments
Archaeological Site
Chan Chan
29
Chan Chan
Largest pre-Columbian adobe city in Americas
Archaeological Site
Huascarán National Park
30
Huascarán National Park
Andean park containing Peru's highest peak, glaciers
Park
Cusco Cathedral
31
Cusco Cathedral
Colonial cathedral on Cusco's Plaza de Armas
Church
Manu National Park
32
Manu National Park
Biodiverse Amazon reserve protecting wildlife and indigenous communities
Park
Uros floating islands
33
Uros floating islands
Man-made reed islands inhabited by Uros people
Island
Kuélap
34
Kuélap
Fortified pre-Inca citadel perched on Andean ridge
Archaeological Site
Tambomachay
35
Tambomachay
Inca ceremonial baths with precise stone fountains
Archaeological Site
Qenko
36
Qenko
Pre-Inca carved rock shrine near Cusco
Archaeological Site
Pachacamac
37
Pachacamac
Pre-Columbian archaeological complex and pilgrimage center
Archaeological Site
Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park
38
Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park
Island archipelago protecting rich marine biodiversity
National Park
Pantanal Conservation Area
39
Pantanal Conservation Area
World's largest tropical wetland, rich wildlife
Nature Reserve
Sugarloaf Mountain
40
Sugarloaf Mountain
Granite peak overlooking Rio with panoramic views
Mountain
Pelourinho do Poder
41
Pelourinho do Poder
Historical Site
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
42
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
Expansive sand dunes dotted by seasonal freshwater lagoons
Area
Historic Town of Ouro Preto
43
Historic Town of Ouro Preto
Colonial mining town with Baroque architecture
Historical Site
Chapada Diamantina National Park
44
Chapada Diamantina National Park
Highland park of plateaus, caves, and waterfalls
Park
Jericoacoara National Park
45
Jericoacoara National Park
Coastal park with dunes, lagoons, wind sports
National Park
Amazon Theatre
46
Amazon Theatre
Historic opera house in Manaus with ornate Amazonian architecture
Theater
Tijuca National Park
47
Tijuca National Park
Urban rainforest park covering Rio's forested hills
Park
Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda
48
Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda
Colonial town centre with brightly painted Baroque churches
Historical Site
Aparados da Serra National Park
49
Aparados da Serra National Park
National park known for dramatic sea-level canyons
Park
Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park
50
Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park
Highland savanna park with waterfalls and quartz formations
National Park
São Paulo Museum of Art
51
São Paulo Museum of Art
Major art museum with iconic suspended glass galleries
Museum
Obelisco de Buenos Aires
52
Obelisco de Buenos Aires
Iconic city obelisk marking Buenos Aires landmark crossroads
Monument
Tierra del Fuego National Park
53
Tierra del Fuego National Park
Subantarctic park with glaciers, forests, and coastal scenery
Park
Teatro Colón
54
Teatro Colón
Grand opera house renowned for acoustics and architecture
Theater
Quebrada de Humahuaca
55
Quebrada de Humahuaca
Deep mountain valley with colorful rock formations and history
Valley
San Ignacio Miní
56
San Ignacio Miní
Jesuit mission ruins amid Misiones jungle landscape
Archaeological Site
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
57
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
Monument marking the equator with ethnographic exhibits
Monument
Chimborazo
58
Chimborazo
Inactive stratovolcano and Ecuador's highest point
Volcano
Ingapirca
59
Ingapirca
Pre-Columbian Inca stone ruins and temple complex
Archaeological Site
Historic Centre of Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca
60
Historic Centre of Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca
Andean colonial city centre with stone churches and plazas
Historical Site
Quilotoa
61
Quilotoa
Crater lake within volcanic caldera with vivid colors
Mountain
El Cajas National Park
62
El Cajas National Park
High-altitude Andean park with lakes and páramo
Park
Yasuní National Park
63
Yasuní National Park
Biodiversity hotspot protecting Amazonian wildlife and ecosystems
Park
Valle de la Luna (Chile)
64
Valle de la Luna (Chile)
Otherworldly salt-and-rock desert landscape resembling the Moon
Area
Catedral de Mármol
65
Catedral de Mármol
Spectacular marble cave cathedral on turquoise lake
Reservoir
Chiloé Island
66
Chiloé Island
Large island with distinctive wooden churches and folklore
Island
Lauca National Park
67
Lauca National Park
High-altitude park with salt flats and Andean wildlife
National Park
Osorno (volcano)
68
Osorno (volcano)
Symmetrical stratovolcano dominating nearby lakes and ski slopes
Volcano
Moai
69
Moai
Rapa Nui stone statues scattered across volcanic island
Archaeological Site
Isla del Sol
70
Isla del Sol
Island on Lake Titicaca with Inca archaeological sites
Island
Historic City of Sucre
71
Historic City of Sucre
Colonial-era capital with whitewashed architecture and squares
Historical Site
Cerro Rico
72
Cerro Rico
Historic Potosí mountain famed for silver mining
Mountain
Madidi National Park
73
Madidi National Park
Amazon park with exceptional biodiversity and indigenous communities
Park
Noel Kempff Mercado National Park
74
Noel Kempff Mercado National Park
Bolivian park protecting Amazon and cerrado ecosystems
Park
Toro Toro National Park
75
Toro Toro National Park
Park featuring canyons, caves, and dinosaur footprints
National Park
Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos
76
Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos
Baroque mission churches blending European and indigenous styles
Historical Site
Sajama National Park
77
Sajama National Park
High-altitude park with Bolivia's tallest volcano
Park
Los Roques Archipelago
78
Los Roques Archipelago
Venezuelan coral atoll archipelago with rich marine life
Islands
Mount Roraima
79
Mount Roraima
Tabletop tepui straddling Venezuela, iconic plateau summit
Mountain
Morrocoy National Park
80
Morrocoy National Park
Coastal park of keys, mangroves, and coral reefs
National Park
Margarita Island
81
Margarita Island
Caribbean Venezuelan island with beaches and resorts
Island
San Agustín Archaeological Park
82
San Agustín Archaeological Park
Pre-Columbian sculptures and tombs in Andean Colombia
Religious Site
Ciudad Perdida
83
Ciudad Perdida
Ancient ruined city of the Sierra Nevada
Archaeological Site
Gold Museum, Bogotá
84
Gold Museum, Bogotá
Museum housing extensive pre-Columbian gold artifacts
Museum
Rosario Islands
85
Rosario Islands
Caribbean archipelago with coral reefs and beaches
Island
Monserrate
86
Monserrate
Bogotá hill with church shrine and city views
Mountain
Los Nevados National Natural Park
87
Los Nevados National Natural Park
Highland park with volcanoes, páramo ecosystems
Park
San Andrés
88
San Andrés
Tropical Caribbean island famed for beaches and reefs
Island
Torres del Paine W Trek
89
Torres del Paine W Trek
Trail
Salkantay Trek
90
Salkantay Trek
Trail
Pinacoteca de São Paulo
91
Pinacoteca de São Paulo
Major Brazilian art museum focusing on Brazilian painters
Museum
Inhotim
92
Inhotim
Immersive contemporary art park combining galleries and gardens
Museum
Museu do Ipiranga
93
Museu do Ipiranga
Museum commemorating Brazilian independence near São Paulo
Museum
Torres del Paine O Circuit
94
Torres del Paine O Circuit
Trail
Lost City Trek (Ciudad Perdida)
95
Lost City Trek (Ciudad Perdida)
Trail
Fitz Roy / El Chalten
96
Fitz Roy / El Chalten
Trail
Santa Cruz Trek
97
Santa Cruz Trek
Trail
Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit
98
Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit
Trail
Cuenca
99
Cuenca
Historic Andean city with colonial architecture and rivers
Park
Lake Poopó
100
Lake Poopó
Shallow Andean salt lake, often seasonal or dry
Lake