6 Top Countries to Visit in South America

South America, long overlooked as a travel hub, has steadily emerged as an important place for tourism. With an array of attractions ranging from culture to ecology and everything in between, this is a place worth visiting from end to end. From cities like Bogota, Cartagena, Medellin in Columbia to countries like Chile, Peru, and Ecuador, there are quite some choices to pick from, if you are planning on a vacation anytime soon. Given in the list below, are five of the top countries to visit, the next time you land in South America.

1. Colobmia

Sometimes misspelt as Columbia, Colombia is a bustling country in South America known for the cities of Bogota, Medellin, and Cartagena. It’s known for its Spanish heritage as well as diversity of landscape. Colombia is also a country of very friendly people and a visit to this country will leave you wanting to stay longer. Due to the various landscapes the country has, people often have a difficult time deciding whether to visit Bogota or Medellin or Cartagena. I say to visit all three!

2. Chile

Occupying a thin strip of land along the western fringe of South America, it has today become an increasingly important tourist attraction in South America. Known for its predominantly Spanish culture, it offers an interesting example of a country that emerged during the colonial times. From the iconic architecture of the capital city Santiago, to the mighty Andes Mountains and so on, there is something interesting all across the land in Chile.

3. Argentina

Occupying a majority of the southern part of South America, one could say that Argentina is essentially a second Spain in South America. With a population that is largely Spanish in origin, the country is very much identical to Spain in every single aspect, ranging from food habits and culture to their traditions and way of life.

4. Suriname

One of the more interesting and lesser visited countries in South America, Suriname was a country that once was a colony of the Netherlands. Of the many things that can be pointed out in Suriname, that worth mentioning would be a distinctly Dutch flavor in the land, ranging from the language and architectural styles, to the culture of the people. In addition to this, it is also the land with a significant population of Indians, given the many that arrived centuries ago. As a result, one can find an abundance of Indian culture in many places, especially in the capital of Paramaribo.

5. Ecuador

A small country in the eastern part of the continent, it derives its name from the Spanish word for ‘equator’, given that it passes through the heart of the country. There is a lot that can be said about Ecuador. Some of the attractions worth mentioning would be that of the Amazon jungles, Spanish cultural heritage and an array of historical landmarks. Last but not the least, there are also some stunning beaches, located along the Pacific coast of the country.

6. Peru

Peru is a country located just south of Ecuador, and one of the most popular travel destinations in the region. Originally famous for the site of Macchu Picchu, tourists eventually began to explore other parts of the country ranging from its jungles to the coasts and then some. From Spanish and indigenous cultures to amazing foods and a distinct way of life, this is one place you’ll love to check out in South America.

In all, these are some of the best countries to visit, the next time you land in South America. With plenty of jewels and treasures waiting to be discovered, this is one place on earth you’ll remember visiting for a very long time.

I am a techie as well as a travel junkie. I enjoy learning about how to apply technology in travel and building travel apps to make traveling easier. I have travelled to nearly 100 countries with kids and still counting.