Most impressive natural wonders in South America

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South America is a truly impressive place, and given it’s expanse and variety, it’s next to impossible to visit all the interesting places of this continent in one trip. The first and greatest advantage of South America is the fact that it is naturally beautiful.

Of course, man-made structures such as those built by ancient South American civilizations, or the modern structures built from the 20th century onwards are another sensible reason why this continent is such a great place. There is virtually no country in South America that doesn’t have its share of tourist attractions, be they more or less well-known. Today’s post will focus on some of Mother Nature’s gifts to this amazing continent.

The Amazon

The Amazon is just one of those landmarks that doesn’t even need an introduction anymore. The sheer size and length of this river makes it unique among its kind, but it has other important features as well, such as the flora and fauna living in and around the river. The vast rainforests of the Amazon areas are not what you’d call a regular tourist attraction, but parts of it can be visited nonetheless by those who feel up to such an adventure.

Manaus, in Brazilia, is a gateway for organized trips into the jungle. If you’d prefer admiring the river from the safety of a boat, you could take a cruise on Rio Solimoes, one of the most navigable stretches of the Amazon, entering Brazil from the direction of Peru.

Atacama Desert

Eco trips to this vast expanse of desert are becoming more and more popular among tourists visiting Chile. Geysers, altiplanic lagoons, the Valley of the Moon and petroglyphs are only a few of the amazing things you can see on a trip to the Atacama.

Day trips into the desert will allow you to see the most mystical and enchanting landscapes in the world. There are several routes that can take you into and out of Atacama, and tours range from air-conditioned luxury journeys to rough treks.

Iguazu Falls

The awe-inspiring waterfalls of the Iguazu River are one of the best natural sights in Brazilia. You can admire the watery wonder from both sides of the waterfalls: from the Brazilian city of Foz de Iguacu or the Paraguayan town of Ciudad del Este. The falls are surrounded by a beautiful forested park which are a great place for a bit of hiking.

Tierra del Fuego

Tierra del Fuego is an archipelago off the southern coast of the continent, shared between Argentina and Chile. The most famous island of the group is probably Cape Horn, the most southerly point of South Africa.

The archipelago’s name is rather ironic, considering the extremely inhospitable climate, but don’t let the cold scare you off. Hiking up glaciers, cruises and general exploration are the main things to do in this amazing place.

Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca, located on the border beetween Bolivia and Peru, is the largest fresh-water lake in South America. Sailing on the lake is the most obvious thing to do while there, but the small settlements around the lake (although they don’t qualify as natural wonders) are just as fascinating as the lake itself.

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

[…] weather.Isla del Sol Trek, BoliviaIsla del Sol, photo by ydnammmm on FlickrThe Inca believed that Isla del Sol in Lake Titicaca was the cradle of humankind, and a harsh cradle it would have been: rocky, hilly and rather […]

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