Bucket List Ideas for South America - Here Are The Top 10
South America is a diverse and beautiful continent with many incredible experiences to offer. There are many places around the world that offer amazing places to visit, and there is never a shortage of beautiful cities, towns, oceans, and countryside to explore. This time, however, we're heading to South America. Here are ten bucket list ideas for things to see and do in South America.
10. Visit Machu Picchu - Peru
Machu Picchu is an Incan fortress located high in the Peruvian Andes Mountains, above the Urubamba River basin. It is famous for its clever dry-stone walls that fuse massive blocks without the use of cement, interesting buildings that play on astronomical alignments, and panoramic vistas. It was built in the 15th century and afterward abandoned.
Its exact former use is unknown. To get there, use Google Maps and trek the Inca Trail. There are also guided tours as well which can help you on your way and provide valuable insights into the places you see. The scenery and amazing structure will certainly make this one of the best bucket list ideas for South America.
9. Explore the Amazon Rainforest
Of course, we would be remiss, if we didn't mention the Amazon rainforest. Being the largest rainforest in the world, this is a simply spectacular and densely populated area that covers nearly 40% of South America and accounts for just over half the primary forests found across the tropics. It really depends on what you're looking for, but whatever it is, there is no doubt you will find it in the Amazon. There are tons of rare and exotic wildlife for you to explore and so many different species. It is home to one out of every ten known species on the planet, as well as 40,000 plant species, 3,000 freshwater fish species, and over 370 different types of reptiles.
Sadly, without fail or repercussion, large amounts of the forest are being cut down. This is because the forests are being cleared to make room for huge plantations that cultivate bananas, palm oil, pineapple, sugar cane, tea, and coffee. As with cattle ranching, the soil cannot sustain crops for long, and farmers must cut down more rainforest for new plantations after a few years. So, it might be a good idea to check out the Amazon rainforest now, as it is definitely one of the best bucket list ideas for South America.
Want to get involved? Check out the steps you can take to help save the rainforest.
8. Take a trip to the Galápagos Islands - Ecuador
The Galápagos Islands are an archipelago in Ecuador and are home to a variety of different life forms. There are many different tours you can take part in, such as day trips, like Hiking Tour to Sierra Negra Volcano. If you still want more tours and ways to explore the Island, why not consider a tour to Bartolome Island + Bahia Sulivan.
There are a number of geologic formations, which you observe when you go on a tour. Another reason why this is one of the best bucket list ideas for South America is because of Puerto Ayora, Puerto Villamil, Devil's Crown, and Punta Suarez, if you're feeling adventurous.
7. Visit the world-famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
If you're in Brazil for any reason you should really go and check out the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. On July 7, 2007, Christ the Redeemer was added to the list of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
On top of that, there are a number of spots to take some snaps for Instagram. If you're an influencer, then you really should check out this once-in-a-lifetime monument of a statue that is hard to find anywhere else. Without a doubt, the world-famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro is one of the best bucket list ideas for South America.
6. See the Iguazu Falls, one of the largest waterfalls in the world - Argentina
On the border of Argentina and Brazil lies the Iguazu Falls. The Iguazu Falls, also known as Iguaçu Falls, are waterfalls on the Iguazu River on the boundary of Argentina's Misiones province and Brazil's Paraná state. They comprise the world's largest waterfall system. The falls separate the upper and lower Iguazu rivers. One really cool thing you can do is enjoy a helicopter ride. A helicopter ride over the falls will provide you with a stunning bird's eye perspective that you won't be able to get any other way. You can choose between a ten-minute ride and a 35-minute journey that includes Itaipu Dam and Foz do Iguacu.
Many people prefer the front seat of the helicopter because it provides unimpeded vistas, while the back seat might be perfect for photographers. Another fun activity you can take part in is visiting the Parque das Aves. Parque das Aves is a bird park dedicated to wildlife protection. Inside the atriums, visitors can see toucans, hummingbirds, and macaws, among hundreds of other species. There is also a butterfly house and environmental trails on the property. The park's birds are mostly rescued from wildlife smugglers attempting to cross the border. Some of these birds are simply fantastic, and it really shows that the Iguazu Falls are one of the top bucket list ideas for South America.
5. Experience the vibrant culture and nightlife of Buenos Aires - Argentina
Known as the Paris of South America, it might be wise to see what this city is all about. One thing you should do is visit Tigre. If you want to get away from the city for a while, you can take the train to Tigre and spend the day exploring the delta. It's incredibly simple, only about 6 pesos ($0.38 USD), and takes around an hour. Sunday is the greatest day to visit since you can visit the city's Puerto de Frutos, a vast market with crafts, snacks, and artisan furniture. On the main pier, there's also an artist's market, a park, and a few museums. While you're there, you can take a boat tour, hire a kayak, or take a ferry to some of the waterfront restaurants and clubs.
Another thing you can do is check out the Recoleta Cemetery. However, the Recoleta Cemetery is not your typical cemetery. It's a haven for Argentina's wealthy, famous, and powerful. Its impressive, elegant mausoleums are packed snugly in this little corner of the city, where you might spend hours wandering through a maze of family tombs. Although admission is free, you may need to purchase a map to get around. The most "popular" attraction here is probably first lady Eva Perón's mausoleum, where visitors still send flowers and condolences. After you've paid your respects to Evita, taken some frightening photos, and petted a few stray kittens, go inside the Basilica de Nuestra Seora del Pilar next door.
4. See the beautiful landscapes of the Atacama Desert in Chile
The Atacama Desert is one of Chile's most interesting tourist destinations, with magnificent panoramas of salt flats and saline lakes, high-altitude geysers, softly smoldering volcanoes, and lunar rock formations. When you visit San Pedro de Atacama in Chile, you might find it difficult to discover much information about how to view the region's main sights without paying for expensive tours. Make sure you plan ahead of time and rent a car in Calama, the region's largest town, roughly an hour's drive from San Pedro de Atacama.
Another thing you can do is see the Atacama Desert. Being one of the best bucket list ideas for South America, nothing beats obtaining a bird's-eye view of a location, and when I returned to San Pedro de Atacama for the second time in August 2017, you can join a Balloons Over Atacama trip to achieve just that. You will be picked up early in the morning and driven out to the Salar de Atacama, where you’ll watch as your stead (a massive red balloon) is ready for the flight, before climbing in and flying up into the skies for breathtaking vistas. During the tour, you will spend anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour and 30 minutes in the air (depending on the wind and weather), and your pilot will explain what you can see from the balloon.
3. Take a boat trip on the Rio del Plata estuary - Argentina & Uruguay
The Rio del Plata estuary is one of the best bucket list ideas for South America, without a doubt. There is so much local wildlife and exposure to the culture. The Rio de la Plata is a large estuary that separates Argentina and Uruguay. Buenos Aires sits on its southern shore, while Montevideo, Uruguay's booming city, marks the point on the northern shore where the estuary meets the Atlantic.
On the Uruguayan side, the primary attraction is Colonia del Sacramento, the country's oldest city, whose Portuguese and Spanish Barrio Histórico (old town) is a UNESCO World Heritage site. There are many different cobblestone pathways, pastel-colored colonial houses, antiquated cannons, and vintage autos that all transport visitors back in time, while contemporary restaurants and boutiques attract thousands of visitors from Buenos Aires (connected by ferry in under an hour).
2. Visit the colorful and picturesque colonial towns of Cartagena - Colombia
Colombia is famous for numerous things, including aromatic Arabica coffee, high-quality emeralds, and exotic fruits. The Latin American country is also recognized for its passionate people and for holding the best parties. As well as this, there is exotic and local seafood and nightlife for you to explore. So what kind of things can you expect to enjoy here? Well, for a start, you can explore the old city. It features ancient areas of the city and very attractive streets, particularly within the UNESCO World Heritage site called the city (La Ciudad Amurallada).
Another thing to do is visit the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas. Possibly one of the most, if not the most incredible stronghold ever erected by the Spanish in any of their colonies, and it is a landmark in Cartagena. Construction began in 1639, and despite repeated attempts to attack the city, it has never been taken. There are tunnels within it that are specifically engineered to allow even minor sounds to travel well, allowing any intruders to be immediately spotted. being one of the best bucket list ideas for South America, you might want to snap some Instagram pics while you're there. When you come, you can walk into some of these subterranean corridors and along the fort's walls and battlements.
1. Take a trip to the "End of the World" in Ushuaia, Argentina
And finally, we have Ushuaia, located in Argentina. This is the southernmost city in the world. Firstly, you can go for a tour of the museum inside an old prison. The history of Ushuaia is intertwined with those of its historic prison. It was previously a remote incarceration outpost for violent offenders and political convicts brought from Buenos Aires, having opened in the nineteenth century. Following complaints of abuse and negligence, the jail was closed in 1947. Years later, it reopened as the Maritime Museum of Ushuaia, which is still in operation today.
The museum tells the amazing narrative of the region's nautical exploration, shipwrecks, and adventure. It also tells the tale of the former prison. One wing of the structure has been preserved in its original condition, allowing visitors to wander around and witness what life was like for inmates. So, because of this, you should really give Argentina a try, because it is most certainly one of the best bucket list ideas for South America.
Conclusion
These are just a few examples of the many incredible experiences that South America has to offer. Other famous places are the Andes Mountains, Patagonia, Peru's Lake Titicaca, and the Colombian coffee region.
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