South America has knocked my socks off from day one. From my first trip to Colombia 7 years ago to my recent trips to Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, I keep coming back for more.
One week you’re hiking through red canyons in northern Argentina, the next you’re deep in the Amazon or sipping coffee in a Colombian mountain village. Volcanoes, glaciers, beaches, salt flats, jungle…it’s all here.
Over the past 8 years as a travel blogger, I’ve explored 10 countries across the continent, chasing down the places most tourists miss. And while Machu Picchu and Patagonia are incredible, the real magic lives in the lesser-known corners…the towns with no Wi-Fi but world-class food, the landscapes that feel completely untouched.
This list is packed with 12 of the most underrated, absolutely dreamy hidden gems in South America. Places that blew me away – and might just blow up your travel bucket list.
Best Hidden Vacation Spots in South America
Looking to explore hidden gems in South America? From the stunning landscapes of Valle de la Luna in Chile to the serene beauty of Los Roques in Venezuela, South America is packed with hidden treasures.
Stroll through the historic charm of Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay, marvel at the natural beauty of Lençóis Maranhenses in Brazil, or explore the vibrant culture of Cuenca in Ecuador. Whether you’re into nature, history, or local flavor, here are 12 of South America’s most breathtaking hidden gems!
1. Lençóis Maranhenses, Brazil
- 📍 Location: Barreirinhas area, Maranhão
- 🏆 Best For: 🏜️ desert dreamers, 💧 lagoon lovers, 📷 surreal landscape photographers
- 📸 Top Experiences: Swimming in Lagoa Azul, watching sunset over the dunes, riding 4x4s through the park
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: June to September when rain-filled lagoons are at their peak 💦
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Pousada Lençóis Maranhenses – Spacious inn near the dunes with a pool, garden, bar, and free parking.
Lençóis Maranhenses looks like a desert, but it’s actually a rare combo of wind-shaped dunes and seasonal rainwater lagoons. These crystal-clear pools form across white sand dunes, stretching endlessly like a natural watercolor painting that changes with the light.
Most travelers stay in Barreirinhas, the main gateway town with 4×4 tours that bounce across the dunes to stunning lagoons like Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Bonita. For fewer crowds and a quieter vibe, head to Atins, a small fishing village on the park’s edge known for its relaxed pace and kite-surfing beaches.
Hiking barefoot over cool, rippled sand before plunging into a freshwater pool feels unreal. The reflections during sunset can turn the whole landscape gold and pink, like something from a dream. Even though it’s Instagram-famous, it stays surprisingly uncrowded. Each visit feels peaceful, immersive, and perfect for slow travelers and nature lovers alike.
2. San Cipriano, Colombia
- 📍 Location: Near Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca
- 🏆 Best For: 🚉 adventure lovers, 🌴 jungle explorers, 🏞️ freshwater swimmers
- 📸 Top Experiences: Riding the brujita rail carts, swimming in the river, tubing through rainforest scenery
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: July to October for drier conditions and lush landscapes 🌿
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Mama Yeya Raíces – Rustic country house right by the river, free Wi‑Fi, balcony, and top guest reviews
Getting to San Cipriano is half the fun. Since there’s no road access, visitors hop on a brujita, a wooden cart powered by motorcycle, gliding along old train tracks through dense jungle. It feels like a cross between a theme park ride and a rainforest expedition.
Once in the village, you’ll find crystal-clear rivers perfect for swimming and tubing. The pace slows down fast, and the scenery is next-level, with thick vegetation and jungle sounds all around. It’s a slice of Afro-Colombian culture that feels untouched by tourism.
Local guides offer tubing routes and waterfall hikes, and you can grab fried fish and coconut rice right by the riverbanks. The area is community-run, so every peso supports local families. It’s remote, but worth every mile for a peaceful escape into wild, tropical Colombia.
3. Pozo de las Animas, Argentina
- 📍 Location: Along Ruta 222, Mendoza Province
- 🏆 Best For: 🌋 geology fans, 🌬️ thrill seekers, 🌄 scenic roadtrippers
- 📸 Top Experiences: Viewing the sinkholes, hearing the wind hum across the craters, driving Ruta 222
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: November to March for warm weather and clear skies ☀️
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Apart Hotel Quijote – Comfortable suites with kitchenettes
Pozo de las Animas, or “Well of Souls,” is one of Argentina’s most eerie and beautiful natural formations. Two giant sinkholes filled with turquoise water sit side by side, carved by underground rivers and surrounded by the Andes. Locals say you can hear haunting whistles from the wind blowing across the openings.
It’s located just off Ruta 222, one of Mendoza’s most scenic drives. The site doesn’t require a guide or a hike, but the dramatic views and spooky legends make it unforgettable. If you’re into landscapes that blend mystery and raw beauty, this is your spot.
Nearby Los Molles is a quiet mountain town where you can soak in hot springs after a day of exploring. Pozo de las Animas is quick to visit but leaves a lasting impression, especially if you time it with sunset light hitting the highland terrain.
4. Sandoval Lake, Peru
- 📍 Location: Tambopata National Reserve, Madre de Dios
- 🏆 Best For: 🛶 wildlife lovers, 🌿 Amazon explorers, 🐒 eco-travelers
- 📸 Top Experiences: Canoeing at dawn, spotting giant otters, night walks in the jungle
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: May to October for dry-season wildlife watching 🐾
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción – Eco-lodge with guided jungle excursions and riverfront bungalows
Tucked inside Tambopata National Reserve, Sandoval Lake is a quiet alternative to Peru’s more touristy jungle destinations. After a boat ride and short jungle hike, you’ll reach a peaceful oxbow lake where canoeing is the main mode of transport.
Early morning and sunset trips across the lake offer the best chances to spot endangered giant river otters, black caimans, and a rainbow of bird species. The calm water mirrors the trees and sky, making it one of the Amazon’s most photogenic spots.
Many eco-lodges offer packages with guided hikes, canoe tours, and night safaris. It’s low-impact tourism at its best, letting you explore one of the richest ecosystems on earth without the crowds. If you’re into slow nature travel, this lake is a magical and immersive way to connect with the Amazon.
5. Caño Cristales, Colombia
- 📍 Location: La Macarena area, Meta Department
- 🏆 Best For: 🌈 nature lovers, 📸 photo hunters, 🏞️ off-the-grid adventurers
- 📸 Top Experiences: Viewing the river’s red blooms, hiking through Serranía de la Macarena, swimming in natural pools
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: July to November when the river turns vibrant red 🌺
- 🏨 Where to Stay: La Manigua Lodge – Nature-focused stay with eco cabins and tour access in La Macarena
Caño Cristales is often called the “River of Five Colors,” and once you see it in person, the name makes total sense. Between July and November, a rare aquatic plant called macarenia clavigera blooms beneath the water, painting the river in vivid reds, pinks, yellows, and greens.
To reach it, you’ll travel to the remote town of La Macarena, then take guided hikes into Serranía de la Macarena National Park. The trails lead to natural pools, waterfalls, and lookout points with almost surreal scenery. It’s wild, pristine, and protected, with limited visitor numbers to keep it that way.
Local guides are mandatory, but they’re full of knowledge and help you explore responsibly. Caño Cristales isn’t easy to reach, but that’s part of what keeps it special. For travelers looking for raw beauty and a once-in-a-lifetime experience, this river delivers.
6. Hand in the Desert, Chile
- 📍 Location: Near Route 5, Atacama Desert
- 🏆 Best For: ✋ surreal art fans, 🏜️ desert roadtrippers, 📸 quirky photo hunters
- 📸 Top Experiences: Snapping photos of the hand, driving Route 5, exploring the Atacama’s vast silence
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: April to October for cooler temperatures and clear skies 🌞
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Hotel Costa Pacifico – Comfortable rooms with easy access to Route 5 in Antofagasta
Out in the middle of Chile’s Atacama Desert, a massive concrete hand rises eerily from the sand. Known as La Mano del Desierto, this 36-foot sculpture was created by artist Mario Irarrázabal and has become a strange but iconic roadside stop.
The hand appears almost alien against the endless desert backdrop. It’s just off Route 5, so reaching it by car is simple. Most people come to snap creative photos and take in the bizarre contrast between human-made art and the natural stillness of the Atacama.
The area is isolated, so come prepared with water and a full tank of gas. Combine this stop with a road trip through the region’s other-worldly salt flats and rock formations. It’s one of those places that makes you feel tiny in the best way possible, surrounded by silence and sky.
- Read Next: 13 Most Beautiful Places in Chile to Visit
7. Ilha da Queimada Grande, Brazil
- 📍 Location: Itanhaém, São Paulo State
- 🏆 Best For: 🐍 thrill seekers, 🧭 mystery chasers, 🚫 forbidden island enthusiasts
- 📸 Top Experiences: Viewing from a boat tour, learning about the island’s history, spotting seabirds along the coast
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: May to September for calmer waters around the island 🌊
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Ilha de Toque Toque Boutique Hotel – Ocean-view suites and boat tour access in São Sebastião
Known as Snake Island, Ilha da Queimada Grande is one of the most dangerous and fascinating places in the world. It’s home to the golden lancehead viper, a venomous species found nowhere else. Because of the risk, visitors are not allowed on the island without special research permits.
Still, boat tours from the mainland offer views of the jungle-covered island and insight into its eerie reputation. The lighthouse, once manned by a keeper, is now automated and stands alone as a reminder of the island’s isolation.
Despite its reputation, the area is beautiful and oddly peaceful from a distance. Seabirds circle overhead, and the surrounding ocean is crystal clear. For those who love bizarre places with a dark twist, this remote island is unforgettable, even if you can only admire it from the water.
- Read Next: 12 Most Beautiful Places in Brazil
8. Marble Caves, Chile
- 📍 Location: Near Puerto Río Tranquilo, General Carrera Lake
- 🏆 Best For: 🛶 nature lovers, 📸 photography fans, 💙 seekers of surreal beauty
- 📸 Top Experiences: Kayaking through the caves, photographing the marble formations, boating on turquoise waters
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: December to March for calmer lake conditions and vibrant colors 🌊
- 🏨 Where to Stay: El Mirador de Guadal – Lakeside cabins with panoramic views and private cave tour options
The Marble Caves, or Capillas de Mármol, are a maze of swirling blue-and-white rock formations carved by thousands of years of wave erosion. Hidden along the edge of General Carrera Lake, they look like something pulled from a fantasy film.
To visit, travelers usually stay in the small town of Puerto Río Tranquilo, where boat and kayak tours depart daily. Kayaking offers a more up-close experience, allowing you to glide silently beneath arched stone ceilings that reflect the lake’s bright blue tones.
Sunlight bouncing off the water changes the color and intensity of the marble throughout the day. Early morning or late afternoon tours tend to be the most photogenic. Reaching this remote Patagonian spot takes effort, but once you’re floating inside the caves surrounded by glassy water and smooth stone, it feels absolutely worth it.
9. Punta Gallinas, Colombia
- 📍 Location: Taroa Desert area, La Guajira Peninsula
- 🏆 Best For: 🌅 desert wanderers, 🌊 beach lovers, 🧭 extreme travelers
- 📸 Top Experiences: Visiting the northernmost point of South America, sandboarding on the dunes, exploring Taroa Beach
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: December to April for dry weather and desert access ☀️
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Mama Yeya Raíces – Country house with river access, ideal for pre- or post-Gallinas stay
Punta Gallinas is Colombia’s northernmost tip, and getting there is part of the adventure. After traveling by 4×4 through the desert and hopping on a boat past jagged coastline, you’ll land in a landscape of golden sand dunes, dramatic cliffs, and hidden beaches.
This remote region is home to the Wayuu people, who have lived in the harsh desert for generations. Visitors can stay in rustic guesthouses called rancherías, which offer hammock sleeping, home-cooked meals, and cultural exchanges you won’t find in tourist hubs.
At nearby Taroa Dunes, you can climb massive hills of sand that tumble straight into the Caribbean Sea. Sunset here is unreal, casting orange and pink hues across the empty horizon. Punta Gallinas feels like the edge of the world, in the best way, and rewards those who seek adventure far off the beaten path.
10. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
- 📍 Location: Near Uyuni town, Potosí Department
- 🏆 Best For: 🪞 landscape photographers, 🌍 surreal scene lovers, 🛻 road trip adventurers
- 📸 Top Experiences: Taking reflection photos, visiting Incahuasi Island, stargazing on the salt flats
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: January to April for the mirror effect during rainy season 💧
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Hotel de Sal Luna Salada – Salt-block hotel with panoramic views and cozy fireside rooms
Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat on Earth, and standing on it feels like walking through a dream. After rains during the wet season, the flats transform into a mirror so perfect it’s hard to tell where the sky ends and the ground begins.
The town of Uyuni is the usual launch point for multi-day 4×4 tours that include nearby volcanoes, hot springs, and the famous train graveyard. A stop at Incahuasi Island, filled with towering cacti, adds even more magic to the journey.
Dry season brings crisp hexagonal salt patterns and great visibility, while wet season offers the iconic mirror reflections. Either way, the vastness and silence of the salar create an experience that sticks with you long after. It’s one of those places where you can truly feel like you’re standing on another planet.
- Read next: Unique Travel Experiences
11. Kaieteur Falls, Guyana
- 📍 Location: Kaieteur National Park, Potaro-Siparuni Region
- 🏆 Best For: 🌊 waterfall chasers, 🌿 rainforest trekkers, 🦋 rare wildlife seekers
- 📸 Top Experiences: Viewing the falls from above, spotting golden frogs, flying over the jungle
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: May to July or November for full water flow and clear trails 🌧️
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Atta Rainforest Lodge (Iwokrama Reserve) – Roughly 60 miles from Kaieteur, this eco-lodge offers comfortable rooms, on-site dining, and guided jungle activities
Kaieteur Falls is one of the tallest single-drop waterfalls in the world, but it remains one of South America’s best-kept secrets. Set deep in the Kaieteur National Park, the falls plunge nearly 740 feet into the rainforest below with a roar that echoes for miles.
To get there, most visitors take a small charter flight from Georgetown. From the air, the jungle looks endless, and the first glimpse of the falls is unforgettable. Guided hikes at the top bring you close to the edge and offer chances to spot golden frogs and cock-of-the-rock birds.
Unlike many major waterfalls, Kaieteur isn’t crowded or commercialized. You often share the view with just your tour group and nature. It feels untouched and powerful, a place that makes you realize how much of the planet still holds mystery and wonder.
12. Valdivia, Chile
- 📍 Location: Coastal river junction, Los Ríos Region
- 🏆 Best For: 🍻 craft beer lovers, 🏰 history buffs, 🛶 river explorers
- 📸 Top Experiences: Touring riverside forts, watching sea lions in the market, cruising the Calle-Calle River
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: December to March for warm weather and river festivals ☀️
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Hotel Naguilán – Stylish riverside stay with harbor views and walking access to town
Valdivia blends Chilean history, German influence, and a strong river culture into one unique city. Located where several rivers meet the Pacific, it’s known for its scenic waterfronts, friendly vibe, and sea lions that lounge near the bustling fish market downtown.
You can visit 17th-century Spanish forts like Fuerte Niebla, which still stand guard over the coastline. Boat tours float past lush riverbanks, colorful homes, and old breweries that once gave Valdivia its nickname as Chile’s beer capital.
Beyond its quirky charm, Valdivia also feels refreshingly local. You can walk along the riverside, grab a pint at a microbrewery, and explore the riverside museums and gardens. It’s a small city, but it holds a surprising mix of culture, nature, and offbeat experiences that make it more than just a stopover.
