The most amazing national parks in South America

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Mount Roraima in Canaima National Park, photo by kevincure on Flickr

There are more national parks in South America than countries in the world, and in the case of countries like Venezuela for example, national parks, reserves and protected areas cover over a fifth of the territory.

But this is hardly surprising on a continent as varied and large as South America, and yet many of the parks go unnoticed by tourists. While Galapagos and Torres del Paine are familiar names to anyone who has traveled to South America, there are countless other parks that are decidedly worth of a lengthy visit.

Some are accessible, some remote, wild and exciting, but without an exception they are all beautiful. So grab your hiking gear and visit some of the most amazing national parks in South America!

Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador

The volcano that lends its name to this beautiful national park, Cotopaxi, is one of the tallest active volcanoes in the world and one of the most stunning too. The ice-capped giant with its huge gaping crater can be climbed, but it is so easy task. It’s a rough hike to the first refuge at 4800 meters, and it takes another strenuous 7 hours to reach the top. The park surrounding the volcano has some stunning views and lots of opportunities for wildlife watching.

Tayrona Natural National Park, Colombia

Tayrona National Park, photo by Micah MacAllen on Flickr

Tayrona is the second most visited national park in Colombia, and the most visited park on dry land. Tayrona is located in the Northern Caribbean region of Colombia, so naturally the beaches are incredible.

Add the highest coastal mountains in the world to the mix, and you have yourself a truly memorable national park with two ecosystems and an extraordinarily rich wildlife.

Canaima National Park, Venezuela

Venezuela has over 40 national parks, but Canaima is nothing if not special. More than half of the park is made up of tepuis, the amazing table top mountains that are home to a stunning array of endemic species of plants and animals. Angel Falls, the tallest waterfall in the world, is located in Canaima’s Auyantepui mountain. Other famous tepui in the park are Mount Roraima and Kukenan.

Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, Chile

Todos los Santos Lake, photo by Tae Sandoval Murgan

There’s no better way to discover the Andes than visiting Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, which is mostly located in these beautiful mountains.

One of the most famous features of the park is the Todos Los Santos Lake and its clear blue waters, with three snow-capped mountains towering over it: Osorno volcano, Puntiagudo and the Tronador.

Manú National Park, Peru

Manú National Park probably has the highest biodiversity encountered in any park in the world, and if you are interested in seeing some very rare species of animals and plants, there’s no more fitting place than this.

But the rich wildlife of Manú is not for the eyes of all – the park is notoriously hard to reach. But once you’re there, you can see hundreds of rare species in a pristine environment.

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The best hikes in South America | The Travel Enthusiast wrote on March 6, 2012:

[…] | MORE |   Top of Mount Roraima, photo by Adalbertop on FlickrWith about three hundred national parks of South America, the continent is bound to be a hiker’s paradise. Dramatic mountain landscapes, barren […]

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