From diverse cultures and ancient ruins to larger-than-life landscapes and world-class wine regions, South America is home to 12 countries and 3 overseas territories, each equipped with its own unique heritage. Foodies and wine connoisseurs alike will fall in love with hotspots like Bogotá, Buenos Aires, and the Mendoza wine region while zealous backpackers thrive visiting sites like the Tierra del Fuego, or land of fire, in Patagonia - and you can't forget about the abounding wildlife found in the Galápagos Islands.
Though the continent is filled with a dozen independent countries, there are a select few that push South America right over the rainbow. Read on to unpack which countries received the GayTravel stamp of approval.
Fast Facts:
Where is South America?
Who said you can’t be in three places at once? South America is located in the Western and Southern Hemispheres with just the northern part of the continent in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s considered a continent of extremes as it is home to both the world’s longest river, the Amazon which is 4,345 miles long, and the world’s driest place, the Atacama Desert.
What languages are spoken in South America?
The predominant languages are Spanish and Portuguese.
How has climate change affected South America?
The climate of South America is rapidly changing. Precipitation patterns have been shifting, temperatures continue to rise, and certain areas are experiencing changes in the frequency and severity of extreme weather with impacts ranging from heavy rains and melting glaciers to devastating floods and droughts.
Argentina
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© Hector Ramon Perez
Bewitchingly beautiful and brimming with eye-catching intensity, Argentina seduces with its street-side tango, sweet-smelling grilling culture, and the mighty Andes as a backdrop for all kinds of fun. All together, Argentina is one all-encompassing cocktail of wanderlust.
Coming onto the scene in Buenos Aires is comparable to the kind of rush you'd feel jumping aboard a moving train; the modern metropolis whizzes by, alive with street life stemming from busy sidewalk cafes and vibrant parks carpeted in blooms of purple and pink. Fashion-forward porteños, or residents of Buenos Aires, have a tendency to savor public life, whether that manifests through sharing mate, a tea-like beverage and regional delicacy, spending a Sunday in the park, or indulging in gelato under gorgeous early-20th-century stone facades.
Alternatively, from the vigorous Iguazú Falls in the subtropical north to the thunderous advance of the Glaciar Perito Moreno in the south, Argentina is also home to a vast natural wonderland; with diversity playing a big role in it. The captivating country that boasts the Andes' highest snowbound peaks just so happens to also be home to rich wetlands, rust-hued desert, deep blue lakes, lichen-clad forests, and Patagonia's arid grasslands. In this vast country, stunning sights abound and big adventure awaits.
ARGENTINA:
If you are after private, personalized high-end tours, look no further than the GayTravel Award Winning Tour Operator, Voyemo. Equipped with a team of luxury travel planners and expert consultants, Voyemo is at your service to choose the perfect destinations, find stunning accommodations, organize specially designed retreats for you and your family and friends, and select the unique services you crave all while making sure your customized travel experience is absolutely marvelous!
The aforementioned Voyemo Travel Design also offers tours to Ecuador and Peru.
Brazil
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© Agustin Diaz Gargiulo
One of the most magical countries in the world, Brazil is a place of powdery white-sand beaches, jungle-like rainforests, and rhythm-filled metropolises. With its attractions extending to otherworldly vistas of red-rock canyons, thunderous waterfalls, and coral-fringed tropical islands, Brazil is a treasure trove of natural wonders.
By way of adventure, Brazil offers big adventures for all kinds of travelers no matter the budget. There's horseback riding in the Pantanal, kayaking flooded forests in the Amazon, surfing stellar waves off the palm-lined beaches of Buzios, or spending a day immersing yourself in the multicultural city of Rio De Janiero, recently chosen as the most popular gay destination in the world. Likewise, the country has plenty of cultural experiences to enjoy. The world-famous Carnaval, cheekily considered the gayest non-gay festival, is reason enough to visit, while São Paulo’s annual Pride Festival is rumored to be the largest in the entire world.
Chile
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© Olga Stalska
Curiously thin and unusually long, Chile stretches across South America, reaching from the earth's driest desert to vast glacial fields. Diverse landscapes unfold across 2700 miles: dry dunes, fertile valleys, tremendous volcanoes, ancient forests, and massive glaciers. With wonder in every detail and nature on a colossal scale, each soul that travels through will find solace surrounded by such wild wilderness that is miraculously perfectly intact.
Bookended by the Andes and the Pacific, Chile's close borders do a tremendous job of fostering intimacy; one of the first things you'll notice is the magnitude of Chilean hospitality. Buena Onda, meaning good vibes, allows locals to put forth a welcoming attitude and helped rituals of relating develop that have since become so integral to the fabric of local life that in one day's time the country will start to feel like home.
GAY TRAVEL APPROVED® HOTEL IN CHILE:
Just 1,000 feet from Parque Arauco Mall, the Santiago Marriott Hotel is one of the city's highest buildings. It offers 5-star rooms with LCD TVs and mountain views, 3 restaurants, and an outdoor pool. Situated in a prominent district of Las Condes, guests can enjoy superb dining and the best Chilean wines every day, while all rooms are tastefully furnished and include cable TV channels, a minibar with a coffee machine, and a sitting area.
Colombia
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© Saul Mercado
Soaring summits, unspoiled coastlines, bewildering jungles, and an abundance of multicultural communities, Columbia boasts all of South America's allure and more. The equatorial positioning of Colombia affords it a diversity of landscapes matched by a few countries; with just a slight adjustment in altitude, you can go from the sun-toasted sands of the Caribbean to the emerald-green hilltops of the Zona Cafetera. Continue to climb north and you'll reach Bogotá, the bustling capital city, and (throw in another thousand meters) and you'll find snowcapped peaks, high-altitude lakes, and the eerily unique vegetation of the páramo, or high-mountain plains.
Colombia's varied terrain is fertile ground for outdoor adventurers to dive, climb, raft, trek, and soar. The town of San Gil is the country's undisputed adventure capital, but there is alfresco fun in all corners of Colombia. In fact, some of the continent's most sought-after voyages are here: Ciudad Perdida is a multi-day jungle trek to the ancient ruins of the Tayrona Civilization, while numerous ascents inside Parque Nacional Natural El Cocuy place intrepid hikers among the highest reaches of the Andes. For any aquaholics, Providencia’s world-class reef is heaven for scuba divers while whale-watchers can head to the Pacific coast to see majestic humpbacks in the wild.
GAY TRAVEL APPROVED® ACCOMMODATIONS IN COLOMBIA:
The W Bogota rewrites luxury in Colombia through authentic and attentive service and a modern interpretation of the El Dorado legend with a bold, dramatic touch; providing the perfect escape to connect with the locals and explore the secrets of the vibrant and forward-thinking capital city of Bogotá. Located in the iconic neighborhood of Usaquén, traditional colonial architecture mixes with great restaurants, bars, and shopping options. Find your treasure in spacious, luxurious rooms with A/C, cable TV, and WiFi. Perfect to electrify your stay, celebrate, or just re-energize after a busy day.
The GayTravel Approved tour company, OUT in Colombia, invites vagabonds to Travel with style, sophistication, and care. Whether you’re a shameless foodie, a luxury bon vivant, or a fearless adventure seeker, their team of experts will create a one-of-a-kind experience for you. As gay travelers themselves, they understand that your sexuality isn't the only thing that defines you, but it can change your travel experiences. For that reason, they have curated personalized cultural experiences for you to not only live your most authentic self but enrich the well-being of local communities as well.
Ecuador
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© Jaime Serrano
Postcard-pretty villages, waves splashing on white-sand beaches, the Amazonian rainforest, and the breathtaking Andes - a dazzling array of wonders is squeezed into this compact country. Wander the cobblestone streets amid Spanish colonial architecture or head beyond the historic centers and see how the Ecuadorian landscape unfolds in all its startling variety. There are Andean villages renowned for their colorful textiles and sprawling markets and remote settlements in the Amazon where shamans still harvest the traditional rainforest medicines of their ancestors.
Tour Company in ECUADOR:
Tour company My XO Adventures presents an immersive, hands-on trip that happens to be the perfect way to experience Ecuador. Across the span of 11 days and 10 nights, this tour honors the people of Ecuador's heritage celebrates their biological diversity and makes a difference in the everyday life of the indigenous people of this magical land.
Peru
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© Willian Justen de Vasconcellos
Peruvians proudly claim three things that their country is known for history, sightseeing, and food; but they might be selling themselves short with that. Although this South American country does in fact boast an abundance of archeological sites, a multitude of museums, and just about every dining experience you can imagine - Peru is so much more.
The champion in environmental diversity, Peru possesses 84 of the Earth's known 103 ecosystems across three climate zones - the coastal plateau, the Andes mountains, and the Amazon jungle. As a whole, the country is a melting pot of cultures, religions, and ethnicities with its capital city, Lima as diverse and cosmopolitan as any major global metropolis. With 11 million Peruvians calling it home, Lima is massive with its ethnic and cultural diversity largely stemming from the transplanted Asian communities as well as the indigenous peoples.
GAY TRAVEL APPROVED® ACCOMMODATIONS IN PERU:
Get the celebrity treatment with world-class service at JW Marriott Hotel Lima - a modern hotel featuring luxury accommodations with a stunning Pacific Ocean view and outdoor swimming pool. Situated in the most vibrant District, this hotel is only minutes away from upscale shopping, dining, nightlife, and some of the most popular attractions in all of Peru. Soak up the sun and the sweeping 300 rooms with ocean views while at Playa Costa Verde Circuit, treat yourself to a shopping spree at Larcomar, and immerse yourself in the local culture at nearby Parque Kennedy.
Uruguay
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© Jared Schwitzke
Wedged between Brazil's gargantuan thumb and Argentina's long finger, Uruguay has always been something of an underdog. Yet after two centuries of living in its neighbor's shadow, South America's smallest country is finally getting some well-deserved recognition. Progressive, safe, politically stable, and culturally sophisticated, Uruguay offers visitors opportunities to experience everyday 'not made for tourists' moments: whether you get caught in a cowboy-caused traffic jam on a dirt road to nowhere or stroll alongside maté toting locals on your way to the beach.
Visitors will find plenty to do in the cosmopolitan city of Montevideo, picturesque Colonia, and party-till-you-drop Punta del Este; but it pays to dive deeper. Go wildlife-watching along the Atlantic coast, hot-spring-hopping up the Rio Uruguay, or horseback riding under the big sky of Uruguay's interior towns, where vast fields spread out like the ocean that lines the country's coast.
