12 Must-See Important Landmarks in South America for Every Traveler

South America is famous for its amazing landscapes, incredible scenery and iconic beaches. It boasts almost more than 10 countries and there are numerous attractions and landmarks to explore in this stunning continent.

Also, there are more than 60 UNESCO world heritage sites in South America with Brazil having the most sites. More than that, South America is famous and most explored continent among travel enthusiasts.

Let’s discover 12 important landmarks in South America one by one in detail. Keep reading!

1. Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu world normally originates from “Quechua language” which means old mountains. Machu Picchu in Peru is considered as one of the most famous ancient sites in South America.

It is located at the high altitude of 2,430 meters. Every year, around half of million visitors visit this ancient’s historical landmark to make unforgettable memories.

Best Time to Visit:

• For trekking: April to October
• Other than trekking, you can visit during winter & dry season

2. Iguazú Falls, Argentina

The second name to Iguazú Falls is Iguaçu Falls, knowns as one of the largest waterfall systems all over the world. This historical landmark is located on the border of Argentina & Brazil.

When you want visit and explore this waterfall, don’t forget to bring a raincoat. The biggest portion of this stunning waterfall is curtain of water, normally known as “Devil’s Throat”.

Best Time to Visit:

• For hiking & cycling: March to August
• Other than hiking & cycling, you can visit between December to February.

3. Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina

It is located in Patagonia, Argentina, famous for massive ice field. Perito Moreno Glacier is also considered as Argentine’s largest freshwater lake.

The interesting fact about this glacier is that it cannot shrink due to global warming but grows and the reason behind this interesting fact is not understood and defined.

Best Time to Visit:

• You can visit between November to March.

4. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

It is located in Southwestern, Bolivia and known for world’s largest salt flat. On this salt flat, there are many layers of salt totally covered by sediments.

Under salt crust, there are various lithium deposits (metal) that can be used in various electrical components. If you want see mirror effect of this salt flat, you should visit during the months of March and April.

Best Time to Visit:

• To see clear mirror effect, December to February is the best option.
• You can visit during June to August also.

5. Torres Del Paine, Chile

From vast glaciers, blue lakes, stunning mountains and ancient forests, you can explore anything in Torres Del Paine.

It is one of the best and breathtaking national parks that you should explore once in your life. In this beautiful, you can enjoy various activities like bicycling, kayaking and horse-riding to enjoy pleasant time.

Best Time to Visit:

• September, October & November.

6. Atacama Desert, Chile

This amazing desert stretches around 41000 square miles. Also, it’s famous for landscapes, mountains, smoking volcanoes and desert flats.

The estimated population around Atacama Desert is nearly one million which are populated around desert’s coastal edges. If you are photographer and want to capture scenic desert views, this place is for you.

Best Time to Visit:

• September to January

7. Easter Island

This island is considered as third most isolated land on the Earth, also known as Rapa Nui. Easter island is famous for moai statues and colossal stone sentinels.

At Easter Island, one of the renowned villages that you should visit is “Orongo ceremonial village” where you would enjoy artisans work and explore different types of rock formations.

Best Time to Visit:

• If you don’t want to face crowds, May to September is the ideal time. 
• Also, you can visit between October to December.

8. Cotopaxi, Ecuador

This volcano is unique shaped volcano i.e., snow-covered and cone shaped volcano in Ecuador. Cotopaxi lake stands above sea level with more than 19,000 ft height.

You can find this landmark in national park where you can see birds, wildlife scenes and llamas. According to research, almost 0.2 million visitors visit this historical landmark every year.

Best Time to Visit:

• June to September

9. Amazon River Valley, Brazil

This river valley is known as the “lung of the earth” and is also considered the second longest river. Amazon River is about 4000 miles long with beautiful scenic views and crystal blue water.

Do you know Brazil is one of the popular countries with vast biodiversity and the largest freshwater reserves? Also, this country is famous for its scenic trails.

Best Time to Visit:

• July to December is the ideal time to explore this landmark.

10. Huaca Pucllana, Peru

This is one of the famous and historical landmarks in South America that you should visit once in your life. Huaca Pucllana in Peru is located in Lima’s center and originated back in 500 AD.

This historic landmark is all about archaeological and historic architecture. Near this landmark, you will find restaurants, gift shops, and museum exhibits.

Best Time to Visit:

• May to September when the least amount of rain there.

11. Mendoza Wine Valley, Argentina

This valley is famous for its amazing and picturesque location with vineyards. Not only this, Mendoza is also one of the popular valleys that is considered as top wine-producing valley all around South America.

The reason most the travelers want to explore this country is to taste different types of wines with scenic valley views.

Best Time to Visit:

• October to April
• December, January, and February are the peak months.

12. Angel Falls, Venezuela

Angel Falls in central Venezuela is considered one of the highest waterfalls with approximately more than 3100 ft. in height. It’s not easy to go to these waterfalls as they are located in the middle of deep forest where not everyone can easily go. Yes, if you are passionate enough to explore this landmark on your own, you can go but with proper advisory guidelines.

Best Time to Visit:

• August to September during the rainy season

Wrapping Up!

South America is a continent enriched with stunning landmarks. From the inspiring Iguazu Falls to the mysterious Easter Island statues, each destination offers a unique experience of the continent’s cultural history and breathtaking beauty.

Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a nature lover, or simply an adventurer seeking new experiences, South America has something for everyone.  So start planning your trip and get ready to be amazed by these 12 important landmarks in South America!

FAQs:

1. What are the three famous landmarks in South America?

The most popular and famous landmarks in South America are Iguazú Falls, Perito Moreno Glacier, and Salar de Uyuni. When you want to explore South America’s famous landmarks, don’t skip out on any of these.

2. What is the most famous landmark in America?

There are various famous landmarks in America but if you just want to know about the most famous one, then it would be the Statue of Liberty. This landmark is more than history, tradition, and beauty.

3. What are the 4 major landforms in South America?

Normally South America is divided into three physical regions:

• Coastal plains
• Mountains & highlands
• Rivers and basins

When going to South America, you can see river basins in an east-west direction and coastal plains or mountains in a north-south direction.