Five Mind-blowing Sites in South America
Mind-tricking salt flats, two of the Seven Wonders of the World, monumental stone statues, world heritage sites galore, (topless) supermodel doppelgangers on (nude) beaches. Where can you find all of this and more on a single—albeit, 6,890,000-square-mile (11,088,380-square-kilometer)—landmass? If you picked South America, then you guessed right. From heavenly beach getaways to earthier, more soul-sculpting experiences, here are five South American jaunts guaranteed to blow your mind.
- Iguazú Falls, Argentina and Brazil
- Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
- Punta del Este, Uruguay
- Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Accurately dubbed “Niagara on Viagra” (it’s both taller and twice as wide) by some clever-minded tourists, this gushing spout spans one-and-three-quarter miles (2.8 kilometers) and boasts 275 cascades. The result of a fissure caused by a volcanic eruption, Iguazú Falls forms a semicircle and is encapsulated by a verdant rainforest that houses more than 2,000 species of wildlife. If you’re lucky, you might just spot a giant anteater, howler monkey, ocelot or jaguar on the horizon. An ecological jungle train travels through the area, passing famous Iguazú landmarks like Devil’s Throat (Garganto del Diablo), the most impressive of the falls. A 6,200-foot (1,890-meter) round-trip catwalk also juts out over the area if you prefer to stroll instead. Located on the border of Argentina and Brazil, the falls can be accessed via Foz do Iguaçu (Paraná, Brazil) or Puerto Iguazú (Misiones, Argentina).
If the name doesn't ring a bell, seeing photos of this optical illusion likely will. The world's largest salt flat, Salar de Uyuni is one of the most photographed sites in the world, with both professionals and camera-toting tourists flocking here to document this marvel to the eye. Traditionally, the dry season (April to October) is the best time to visit as nearly all the major points of interests can be reached at this time; however, during the wet period (November to March), around eight inches of water cloak the flats, creating a mirror effect and reflecting the sky in a dazzling display of patterns and colors. The bulk of organized tours, which take place in 4x4 vehicles and depart from Tupiza or Uyuni, are offered during the dry season, as muddy conditions make it difficult to navigate the terrain when it rains. That said—and unlike other natural attractions like Fish Island and the Galaxy Cave which normally can’t be visited when it’s wet—the Colored Lagoon (Laguna Colorada), with its thousands of resident flamingos, is best taken advantage of in the rainy season. In essence, whenever you choose to visit, you won’t be disappointed.
It used to be that tourists crossed over the Uruguay border while vacationing in Argentina to do a whirlwind day tour of Montevideo and get that extra stamp on their passport. But no longer. Punta del Este, Uruguay's southernmost beach resort town, has not only made a name for itself on the global scene, but is luring travelers who want something—or rather, somewhere—different by way of South American escape. It's also where the glitterati vacation, so keep your eyes peeled for royalty and those who frequent the big screen (celebs like Naomi Campbell even keep second homes there). Just be sure and save some time to visit Isla de Lobos, home to the largest colony of sea lions in South America, which is located off the shore of Playa Brava, as well as Casapueblo, a Parc Guell-esque, open-air sculpture museum and former home of notable Uruguayan artist Carlos Páez Vilaró.
Nature and animal lovers will dig the authentic vibe—not to mention the vast number of native species—of this archipelago scattered along the equator due west of mainland Ecuador. Perhaps most well known for scientist Charles Darwin's study of biology and evolution among the isles, the Galapagos chain is chock full of whales, seals, sea lions, penguins, hawks, boobies, albatrosses, tortoises and reptiles of all types. Because it's not cheap to reach—you must take a flight from either Quito or Guayaquil—and the government places a restriction on the maximum amount of visitors annually, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has managed to preserve its beauty and remain relatively unscathed by tourism. Nevertheless, several of the 19 islands house hotels, though week-long, live-aboard catamaran tours or adventure cruises are by far the more popular way to stay-and-play in the area.
Brazil's most cosmopolitan city and the location for the 2016 Olympics may have the reputation of being South America's party capital, but sunrise clubs and caipirinhas aside, it has much more to offer than just a hangover. How about one of the new Seven Wonders of the World (the awe-inspiring Christ the Redeemer statue), a couple of distinctive mountains (Corvocado and Sugarloaf), plush plantations (Burle Marx estate) and some of the most renowned beaches in the world (Ipanema and Copacabana)? And that's just a start. A Cidade Maravihlosa—the Marvelous City—has a bit of something for everyone. The culture junkie will delight in Santa Teresa's artsy streets and alleyways. The historian will want to pay a visit to Rio's famous favelas, the neighboring shanty towns that formerly housed African slaves. The foodie will be satiated by top-notch cuisine like Espirito Santa or eccentric steakhouse Marius Degustare Those looking to shake their groove thang will be content cutting a rug at the tri-level Lapa 40˚ or antique-store-by-day, club-by-night Rio Scenarium. Plus, the carioca women aren’t bad on the eyes either. So why haven’t you booked your ticket already?
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