2022 Travel Guide To South America

South America is easily one of the best regions in the world for adventure tourism. The continent is rife with adventure opportunities: Ecuador and Peru's Andes Mountains, Chile's Atacama Desert and Patagonian glaciers, Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia's Amazon Rainforest, Bolivia's Uyuni Salt Flats, the largest in the world, the islands of the Galapagos, the cities of colonialism and revolution, just to name a few. Each country offers diverse environments, breathtaking scenery and cultures and histories both ancient and modern.

Read on to learn everything you should know about traveling to South America this year.

Safety while traveling is always an important factor in choosing a destination. Some countries in South America are safer than others; the U.S. State Department classifies almost all of the South American countries under its Level 3: Reconsider Travel category due to COVID-19, crime and a variety of other activities including but not limited to political instability. Paraguay is the only country in South America under a Level 1 risk level, with only a few destinations considered dangerous due to crime. Venezuela and French Guiana are classified as Level 4: Do Not Travel countries due to crime and kidnapping risks and COVID-19, respectively.

Entry requirements vary by country, but most require at least proof of a negative COVID-19 test, at most three rounds of a vaccine. Please check the U.S. State Department for more information on entry requirements, travel advisories and more, or check out our interactive guide to current entry requirements around the globe.

Currently, Our World in Data reports South America's vaccination rate to be very high; about 65 percent of all South Americans are fully vaccinated, with 77 percent having had at least one vaccine. That being said, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador and Uruguay are the top four with the highest vaccination rates, with 87 percent of Chile's population fully vaccinated. Bolivia, Guyana, Paraguay and Suriname are the lowest four.

Choosing just three of the many incredible destinations South America has is a big challenge, but there are three iconic destinations that are crucial to the fabric of South America.

The country of Peru is synonymous with the Andes mountain range and the ancient Incan civilization. Thousands of travelers visit the country to hike or ride to the ruins of Machu Picchu and walk around the incredibly verdant, terraced landscape that people once inhabited.

The second best destination is the Amazon Rainforest; the rainforest is large and offers plenty of ways to discover it, from Ecuador and Peru to Colombia and Brazil, allowing travelers to choose their desired country of entry without missing out on any of the rainforest's incredible experiences. A visit to the Ecuadorian Amazon, for example, can bring travelers into contact with local Amazonian tribes and some of the forest's most special species of flora and fauna.

A great cultural destination is Buenos Aires, Argentina. The home of great writers and poets like Jorge Luis Borges, this cultural capital has flourished as a multi-cultural city, welcoming immigrants from Spain, Italy, Germany and other places. It's home to beautiful colonial architecture and modern marvels, as well as a thriving dance scene as the birthplace of the Argentine tango. Travelers to the city can enjoy walking through its historic quarters, watching or participating in dancing the tango and tasting delicious foods like asado, empanadas and dulce de leche desserts.

Our honorable mention is another iconic South American natural wonder: the Galapagos Islands. This archipelago off the coast of Ecuador is renowned for being the inspiration of Darwin's theory of evolution, and its biodiversity draws people from across the globe to visit the sea lions, blue-footed boobies and other animal life that call the island chain their home. Travelers can choose from wealth of cruise lines offering expedition cruises to the Galapagos.

South America might be home to some of the best natural wonders in the world, and it's these wonders that are sure to attract many travelers to the continent this year.

The world's largest waterfall system, Iguazu Falls, is one of these wonders. Straddling Paraguyan, Argentine and Brazilian borders, Iguazu is located in Iguazu National Park. Argentina is the best destination to see the falls, since most of them lie on that side of the border, but either way, travelers can enjoy watching the powerful falls and take river rafting excursions, an eco-float tour or even hike through the national park to spot monkeys, colorful birds and perhaps even a jaguar.

The second attraction is Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt flats. Located in the Bolivian Andes, this high-altitude natural wonder becomes the world's mirror after rainfall, creating an incredible, otherworldly environment that makes photography a must.

Third is Patagonia, the southernmost region in Chile. This place, the closest region of the world to Antarctica, offers national parks that include accommodations from camping to luxury hotels and resorts. Travelers can enjoy seeing penguins, hiking glaciers and ancient forests as well as capturing photos of stunning waterfalls.

The fourth best attraction this year is going to be Machu Picchu; this ancient complex above the clouds has captured the imaginations of millions for generations, and that isn't going to stop this year. Travelers can access the ruins in a variety of ways, most popularly by hiking. The well-preserved architecture of the Incan civilization above the clouds will awe anyone who visits.

Lastly, but certainly not least, is the Atacama Desert. This is the driest desert in the world, and it's located in the Chilean Andes. This region is one of the best in the world for astrotourism because its climate offers some of the best stargazing opportunities around and is home to some of the best observatories. It's also great for adventure tourism or for people who love learning about ancient cultures, for the region has been inhabited for thousands of years. The desert is also incredible diverse: it offer salt flats, geysers and even lagoons.

The biggest event in South America that people think of is Rio de Janeiro's Carnival, which is perhaps one of the world's largest parties, complete with a gorgeous, high-energy parade and plenty of nightlife to enjoy.

Other South American countries celebrate their own Carnivals, too, like Barranquilla, Colombia, which can rival Rio's festivities. Religious festivies like Semana Santa, or Holy Week, are celebrated throughout South America, each country with their own centuries-old traditions and ways of celebrating.

Colombia's Feria de las Flores in Medellín during the first week of August is easily one of the largest flower celebrations in the world, with a parade that includes a showcase of silleteros, or flower designs, which are handmade for the event.

Lastly, Buenos Aires hosts the annual World Tango Championship during August, a cultural festival culminating in a competition between the world's most talented tango dancers.

Our tip? If you'll be traveling to any South American country this year, check out the official tourism websites of the country and cities you'll be visiting; they'll offer calendars of events to help you learn more about the best festivities to enjoy while you're there.

South America is known as an adventure destination, so traveling with younger children might be a bit challenging. Traveling with children over the age of ten or so is easier. Depending on what you and your family are interested in doing, there are plenty of destinations that offer family friendly activities.

With so many noteworthy natural wonders, children will enjoy visiting wonders like Iguazu Falls, Patagonia, the Galapagos or the Amazon and experiencing the beauty and the animals that live there, as well as some of the local animal sanctuaries. Older children can enjoy doing more active or cultural experiences, including hiking to Machu Picchu or touring Santiago, Buenos Aires, Cusco or one of the other incredible South American cities, as well as exploring some of northern South America's coffee-growing regions.

One tip, though: some destinations in South America have different sicknesses than we do, like malaria and yellow fever. Make sure to talk to your pediatrician about necessary precautions prior to booking any travel to these regions.

Romance can be found everywhere in South America depending on the couple, but most notably in the southern portions. Argentina's Buenos Aires is known for its romance: how could the city that created the Argentine tango not be romantic? Tasting new foods, wandering around the historic city and experiencing the opera at one of the most beautiful theatres are just some highlights of Buenos Aires' romantic atmosphere.

Another great destination is central Chile, where lovers can enjoy rolling hills reminiscent of Italy, beautiful beaches as well as a thriving wine culture.The Casablanca Valley is one of the most romantic places in Chile, where couples can enjoy the verdant vineyards and take wine tours.

Coffee lovers can enjoy visiting the UNESCO-designated Coffee Cultural Landscape in Colombia, where they'll find plenty of opportunities for romance among the verdant hills, mountains and forests than make up this noteworthy region of the world. Travelers from North American can fly directly into this region through the towns of Armenia and Pereira, making it easy to visit, too.

Group travel can be a fun and memorable way to travel, but it can be daunting and even exhausting to plan. That's why we recommend open communication between each traveler to make sure the group decides on what destinations they'll visit, how they'll travel and what they'll do when they're there. The simplest ways to travel as a group are through a trusted tour operator or a cruise. That being said, South America can be a great group travel destination! Travelers can enjoy touring around the continent or just a single country, experiencing local cultures, ancient structures and plenty of natural wonders.

South America is also the starting point for many expedition cruises to the Galapagos and Antarctica. Travelers heading on a group expedition to Antarctica usually start in Punta Arenas, Chile or Ushuaia or Buenos Aires, in Argentina; all can make exciting pre-cruise destinations.

Plenty of travelers make their way to the southern continent on their own, but it can be a daunting type of travel for some, including women and members of the LGBTQ+ community. That's why our recommendation is to visit a country via a cruise or a trusted tour operator, or at the very least, research the destination or destinations you'll be visiting to know exactly what you'll be getting into, what types of risk you might encounter and ways to stay safe. That being said, travelers to Argentina or Chile can find it easier to enjoy solo travel, especially if they know Spanish. Argentina, especially, is known for being a welcoming destination for the LGBTQ+ community.

One can't visit South America or any of its countries without experiencing its food, which is just as diverse as its natural wonders. Cheesy arepas and empanadas, Colombian coffee, Peruvian ceviche and hundreds of native potato varieties, Argentinian olives, mate and asado, Chilean wine and seafood, Ecuadorian chocolate and the crown of South American desserts, dulce de leche, are just some of the incredible dishes and foods that make up the South American palate. Each country offers something different to taste, so if you're a foodie, you'll be satisfied wherever you visit.

The argument can be made that South America is the best continent for adventure travel, and it's not hard to see why. As seen from the incredibly stunning natural wonders we've already noted in previous slides, South America is pretty special.

The Andes stretches across the western side of the continent, offering plenty of hiking, mountain climbing, stargazing and even skiing opportunities in countries like Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile. The Amazon offers its dose of adventure across many of these countries, as well as in Brazil, while further south travelers can find more temperate rainforests with centenary evergreens and active volcanoes that warm hot springs, like in southern Chile, while Argentina offers plains where South American cowboys retain their centuries-old practices of horsemanship.

Even deeper south lie the Patagonian region, where travelers to both Chile and Argentina can enjoy hiking glaciers, spotting penguins and enjoying a truly unreal landscape. And this list doesn't even exhaust the opportunities for adventure in South America!

While skiing and mountain climbing can be done in the Andes, there's just one sport than dominates all of South America: soccer. Football, as it's called everywhere else but the U.S., this sport draws thousands for each match in these countries, creating a heady environment for sports enthusiasts. Brazil, Colombia, Chile and Argentina are all noted for their national football leagues, but especially Argentina. Fans of Lionel Messi and other players on the Argentinian national soccer team can enjoy watching a live match at Buenos Aires' Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti.

Much of what we've shown here is unique to South America, it's incredible natural wonders. But one part of South America that hasn't been showcased yet in this slideshow is its culture. South America was mostly colonized by the Spanish, and its colonial influence is notable nearly everywhere, but especially so in cities like Quito, Buenos Aires, Santiago and other large cities. That being said, it's also been inhabited since pre-historic times, and while the influence of the different tribes is perhaps less visible, they're no less crucial to the cultural fabric that makes up every country on the continent. The Inca, the Mapuche, the Rapa Nui, the Ona, the Quechua, the Aymara, the Araucanians, the Guaraní and others continue to make to their impact on the culture of the countries in which they once inhabited or continue to inhabit.

If you're considering traveling to South America this year, take some time to search out community tourism experiences that help empower these indigenous communities. Some tour operators are beginning to focus on community tourism, like Intrepid Travel, which offers a wide variety of community tourism initiatives already incorporated into nearly every tour it offers.