Best South American Travel Destinations

South American travel destinations are growing in popularity, and offer travel some unique ecological and cultural locations. We chose Latin America because we love the food and culture of Latin America.

We started moving to Mexico as children in the 1970s, way before the million-dollar condo project ... or roads for that matter. As adults we continued to holiday in Mexico and often traveled with our children. It was indeed a natural extension for us to move south and include Central America and South America in our travel plans.

There are many great South American travel destinations, we include only a few here that our family hopes to find. All of these are easily traveled by arranging travel or they will be available in their South America tour packages with the tour companies.

Adventuress

Visiting Amazon is on the list of all those who travel to South America. Starting in Peru, the Amazon made its way out of the Andes through several South American countries and northern Brazil before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.

The Amazon is one of the most exotic places on Earth, and home to a diverse ecosystem that is home only to the many plants and animals found there. It is not a travel destination

Galapagos Islands

The Galápagos Archipelago, located about 600 miles off the Pacific coast of Ecuador, is a wire of some 22 islands home to many unique plants and animals that are found only on these islands.

Giant turtles, unique sea iguana, blue-footed boobies, flightless cormorants and Galápagos penguins are some of the unique creatures you will find in the islands and seas around the islands.

Access to the islands is controlled by the Ecuadorian government, and the most popular way to travel is by an approved tour operator. They offer many different tours, and they will have something that fits your interests, time, and budget considerations.

Machu Picchu

For anyone visiting 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, atop a steep hill overlooking the Urubamba River.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, Machu Picchu was 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.

Lake Titicaca

Another popular attraction in Peru is Lake Titicaca, the largest in South America and believed to have originated from 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 0 Cllo emerged from the depths of the lake at the Holy Rock Gate on Isla del Sol to discover the Inca Empire. The best known islands on the lake are the floating Eid islands which are maintained by putting fresh reeds on the surface.

Iguazu Falls

Everyone I've talked to who has visited these falls tells me it's a must see. On the border between Argentina and Brazil, Iguazu Falls is more than twice as wide and even taller than Niagra Falls.

The falls are protected by national parks of Argentina and Brazil on both sides of the Gir, and the falls themselves are part of the virgin forest ecosystem.

2/3 of the falls are towards Argentina, where you can also enjoy national parks and wilderness walks.

Whatever your interests, there is a South American travel destination to serve your interests. The next time you are planning a family vacation or extended trip, consider the options South America offers.