South America is a traveller’s dream. There is something to interest everyone whether you are an ecological activist or a casual vacationer. You can explore, shop, indulge yourself in history among the lost cities of ancient civilizations, and treat your taste buds to different cuisines all over the continent. Here’s an overview of the best places to visit in South America:
- Salvador, Brazil
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Salvador da Bahia, also known as just Salvador, has many things to offer. The city is one of the oldest in the Americas as it was founded by the Portuguese in 1548. It is also Brazil’s third largest city and used to be a slave port. Its past is still reflected in Pelourinho, the historic centre named after the whipping post where slaves were beaten. Salvador’s annual carnival celebration is one of the world’s largest parties.
- Ushuaia, Argentina
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If going to remote places excites you, you should add Ushuaia to your bucket list. It is the capital of Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego and is the southernmost city in the world. Situated quaintly among the mountains, Ushuaia is a beautiful place, unless it’s cloudy or windy. It has got a museum and is also a good place to watch penguins and seals.
- Tayrona National Park, Colombia
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If you are an ecologically aware and responsible traveller and have an interest in contributing to the environment, you should head towards Tayrona National Park in Colombia. It is located on the Caribbean coast and is the second most popular national park of the country. It is also a protected marine reserve, and you’ll find a great diversity in flora and fauna in the region. Apart from the incredible wildlife, Tayrona is known for its beaches that are backed by mountains and ornate with coconut palms. The beaches offer picturesque views, but most of the hem is not appropriate for swimming due to strong currents.
- Atacama Desert, Chile
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The Atacama is the driest non-polar desert in the world, where it rains once every four years on an average – The Atacama Desert is a spectacular place. It’s spread across 1,000 miles along the coast of Chile and has the Andes on one side while the Pacific Ocean on the other. The region has been used to shoot the scenes of Mars in several films as the soil here is comparable to that of the Red Planet. The desert is also replete with blue lagoons and active geysers.
- Easter Island, Chile
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It can be time consuming and expensive to reach Easter Island as it is an extremely remote inhabited island and the nearest inhabitants are about 1,300 miles away from the island. Travellers visit the island to look at the 900 primitive statues carved by early Polynesian inhabitants. These spectacular statues that are called moai have been dated to about 1,000 years back in the history. Most statues are made from volcanic ash and obsidian.
- Amazon Rainforest
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The Amazon Rainforest covers about the ¾ of the Amazon River basin and is the world’s largest tropical rainforest. The real estate is divided amongst Brazil, Peru and Colombia with bordering countries having small shares. The forest is laden with diverse flora and fauna and hundreds of billions of trees. There is no dearth of reasons why this should make your bucket list.
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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There’s no way you visit Rio de Janeiro and come back without learning the Samba. You must take samba lessons while you are there. The city is known for its carnival, the bossa nova, and Copacabana Beach. The most famous thing about Rio de Janeiro, however, is the Christ the Redeemer statue that stands tall on the top of Corcovado Mountain. If you are a Soccer enthusiast, you must know that it is extremely popular here and the Maracana Stadium is one of the largest in the world.
- Machu Picchu, Peru
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Machu Picchu in Peru is a testimony to the Incan civilization before the Spanish arrived. It is situated within the Andes mountains, and it used to serve as a palace for the emperor in ancient times. It was also a fortress and a place where religious ceremonies were conducted. Machu Picchu was abandoned after the Spanish conquest and was discovered by an American professor in the early 1900s. You get to witness classical Incan architecture and marvel at the spectacular views that it offers.
Travel Insurance for South America
While most of these destinations are staggeringly beautiful, the difference in climate and health conditions are also significant. Therefore, it makes sense to insure your trip with comprehensive travel insurance, which can not only cover your cost of health but also, theft and loss of luggage, among other things.
Best travel insurance in India offers insurance for your home and any family members that may be staying behind. With these policies you can not only ensure that any mishap while you are out there is provided for, your family back home is looked after.
The insurer will assist you in monitoring their health and even help your family members book doctor’s appointment for any medical treatment they may need.
You can compare and buy the best travel insurance plans in India completely online. The whole process takes only minutes to complete. However, don’t forget to check for the benefits useful for your trip.
