This list of South America's Best Places could really be expanded to include a lot more, but as popularity, beauty, adventures, exotic, and dramatics go, these are definitely it.
Machu Picchu - Never discovered by the Spanish, but by Hiram Bingham in 1911, the dramatic setting of Machu Picchu makes it one of the worlds most sought after sights. Perched high on a mountaintop in Andean cloud forest, the city is thought to have been a summer retreat for the Inca Pachacutec.
Rio de Janeiro - The mist covered hills, crowded, tropical beaches, wild nightlife, and of course Carnaval make Rio seem like paradise. Although high crime and safety issues are always a concern, the lure that Rio holds on travelers cannot be denied.
Tierra del Fuego - The land of fire, is the island that makes up the southern most tip of the continent in both Chile and Argentina. Home to a wild, barren terrain of lakes, forests, sheep farming, national parks, penguin colonies, and picturesque harbors.
The Amazon - Covering parts of Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and the Guianas. It is both a river and a jungle. The river is the world's largest in volume and sometimes length (depending on who you speak with). It extends from its source in the Peruvian Andes all the way to the Atlantic. The rainforest, often called the earth's lung, has more diverse species of wildlife as anywhere on earth and home to numerous tribes and languages.
The Galapagos - These islands off the coast of Ecuador are the premier wildlife-watching destination in the world. This is where Charles Darwin got the idea for the theory of evolution. The creatures here have evolved in a way of their own and are completely free of large predators, therefore lack most fear of humans.
Salar de Uyuni - The world's largest salt flats located in southwestern Bolivia seem like another planet. They are simply the most exotic landscape you could ever imagine. Think thousands of square miles of salt interspersed with "islands" of cactus and nearby red and green flamingo filled lakes, strange rock formations, and steaming geysers and springs.
Lake Titicaca - The world's highest navigable lake straddling the Peruvian-Bolivian border is home to floating islands, snow covered mountains, and stunning blue water. The communities that live around it and on its islands have cultures, traditions, and identities that have remained unchanged for thousands of years.
