South American tourist destinations are growing in popularity and offer the traveler some unique ecological and cultural places of interest. We chose Latin America because we love the food and culture of Latin America.
We started traveling to Mexico in the early 1970s as kids, long before the million dollar condominium projects…or highways for that matter. As adults, we continued to vacation in Mexico and often traveled with our children. It really was a natural extension for us to go further south and include Central and South America in our travel plans.
There are so many great South American travel sites, we’re only including a few here that our family looks forward to visiting. All of these are easily visited by organizing the trip yourself or the tour companies will have them available in their travel packages to South America.
Amazon
Visiting the Amazon is on the list of everyone who travels to South America. Beginning in Peru, the Amazon flows out of the Andes through many South American countries and northern Brazil before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.
The Amazon is one of the most exotic places on earth and is home to a diverse ecosystem that is home to many plants and animals found only there. This is a travel destination not to be missed.
Galapagos Islands
Located nearly 600 miles off the Pacific coast of Ecuador is the Galapagos Archipelago, a chain of some 22 islands that is home to many unique plants and animals found only on these islands.
Giant tortoises, the unique marine iguana, blue-footed boobies, flightless cormorants, and the Galapagos penguin are just a few of the unique creatures you’ll find on the islands and in the seas that surround them.
Access to the islands is controlled by the Ecuadorian government, and the most popular way to visit is through an approved tour operator. They offer many different tours, and they will have something to fit your interests, time, and budget considerations.
Macchu Picchu
For anyone heading to Peru, Machu Picchu should definitely be on their itinerary as it is the most visited tourist destination in Peru. These Inca ruins are located at about 8,000 feet, on top of a steep mountain overlooking the Urubamba River.
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, Machu Picchu is believed to have been built around 1460 and was an important city in the Inca civilization. The remarkable beauty and spirituality of the site attracts visitors from all over the world.
Titicaca lake
Another popular attraction in Peru is Lake Titicaca, the largest in South America and believed to be the origin of the Inca Empire. The lake is 12,500 feet above sea level, 122 miles long, and 35 miles wide.
According to Inca mythology, Manco Capac and Mama 0cllo emerged from the depths of the lake at the sacred rock gate on Isla del Sol to found the Inca Empire. The best-known islands in the lake are the floating reed islands that are maintained by adding fresh reeds to the surface, even as those on the bottom decompose.
Iguazu Falls
Everyone I have spoken to who has visited these falls tells me they are a must see. On the border between Argentina and Brazil, Iguazú Falls is more than twice as wide as Niagara Falls and taller, too.
The falls are protected by Argentine and Brazilian national parks on both sides of the falls, and the falls themselves are part of the pristine rainforest ecosystem.
2/3 of the falls are on the Argentine side, and where you can also find national park tours and jungle walks.
Whatever your interests, there is a South American travel destination to meet your interests. The next time you’re planning a family vacation or extended trip, consider the options South America has to offer.