South America is blessed with some of the most exquisite natural wonders on earth. While historical sites like Machu Picchu in Peru get all the attention, it is the continent’s nature reserves that should steal the show. The continent’s hundreds of national parks encompass everything from majestic mountains and glaciers to jaw-dropping waterfalls, the renowned Amazon rainforest, and an astonishing array of endemic wildlife. Narrowing the list to just eight of the best national parks in South America is no easy task, but let’s give it a shot.
1. Torres del Paine, Patagonia (Chile)
Torres del Paine is perhaps the most visited national park in South America. It is certainly the undisputed king of Chile’s wilderness. It sits near the southern end of the continent, in Patagonia, and encompasses the best of the region — spectacular granite towers, expansive pampas, glacier-fed rivers, ice fields, and shimmering lakes.
A bona fide outdoor playground, Torres del Paine is traversed by world-famous hiking trails and is a magnet for adventure seekers. But don’t let that deter you if you are a “mere” nature lover and not an athlete. Well-maintained gravel roads and strategically placed miradors allow you to soak up the ethereal beauty of the park without strenuous hiking.
Initially set aside as cattle-feeding land, Torres del Paine was declared a national park in 1959 and has been UNESCO-listed since 1978. Most visitors head here for one reason: to cast their eyes on the splendor of the Paine Massif, towering 6,500 feet above a striking steppe. They soon realize, however, just how much more there is to see and do in the park. Ironically, the best way to explore this enormous and, at times, inhospitable wilderness is on foot. You’ll find innumerable options for day hikes and even more well-structured multi-day hikes (like the famous O and W trails) that allow you to immerse yourself in the landscapes.
If all this bounty isn’t enough, Torres is also home to Patagonia’s highest concentration of fauna. More than two dozen species of mammals and hundreds of birds, including the majestic Andean condor, call this place home. The most common sightings are of guanacos; the least common but still somewhat frequent is the puma.
2. Iguazu Falls National Park, Argentina/Brazil
Blanketing the border between Argentina and Brazil, Iguazu National Park was created to protect its main prize—Iguazu Falls—one of the largest and most impressive waterfall systems in the world. The park is UNESCO-listed and comprises subtropical rainforests home to over 2,000 species of plants and hundreds of bird species, including toucans. Iguazu Falls National Park is a surprisingly fantastic birding destination, although it is the ever-curious coati that hogs all the attention.
The most iconic section of Iguazu Falls is the Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat), a U-shaped chasm that is particularly impressive. It sits on the Argentinian side, where three-quarters of the falls are located. Yet both sides warrant a visit. While Argentina offers a much more immersive experience, with boat rides and boardwalks close enough to the falls to ensure you get completely drenched, the Brazilian side offers awe-inspiring overviews (and helicopter rides) that give you a better impression of how vast the cataracts are. So, if you can, visit both sides on consecutive days.
Insider tip: If you’re short on time, stay on the Argentinian side and visit this side first. You’ll have a full day to explore this much larger area. The next day, spend about an hour crossing the border to visit the Brazilian side. This is a much smaller area and can be explored in under half a day, so including a border-crossing transfer on this day makes for a more time-efficient visit.
3. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
The first nature reserve created in Ecuador and arguably the best national park in South America for animal lovers, the Galápagos Islands are unparalleled. Long considered one of the most biologically diverse corners of our planet, the archipelago hosts the unique wildlife species that influenced Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.
The Galápagos are a remote cluster of volcanic isles floating about 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. Almost all the species inhabiting these isles—the most famous being the giant tortoise, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, and waved albatross—have been cut off from the rest of the world since time immemorial. As a result, they have developed adaptive traits not seen elsewhere in related species, such as finches with unique beaks ideal for their specific food source, the only penguin species adapted to warmer waters, and the cormorant that has literally forgotten how to fly. Cormorants fish for food in the Galápagos and do not hunt from the air. Examples just like this abound.
The islands are fervently protected, and most are uninhabited. The best way to experience them is on liveaboard boat trips, which travel from island to island overnight and offer hiking and snorkeling excursions on a different island every day.
Insider tip: All 13 main Galápagos Islands host unique wildlife, but since the archipelago covers an incredibly vast area, no single cruise visits them all. Instead, you must choose from four standard cruise itineraries: Western, Eastern, Central, or Northern. When choosing your boat/itinerary, do not focus too much on seeing “as many islands as possible,” but opt for an itinerary that doesn’t seem rushed. This offers a much more rewarding and immersive experience overall.
4. Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina
Not to be outdone by its illustrious neighbor, Argentina likewise hosts one of the best national parks in South America in its region of Patagonia. And this time, it is a glorious realm of glaciers.
Home to the largest ice cap outside the Arctic and Antarctica, Los Glaciares National Park is gob-smacking. Aside from boasting more than 350 glaciers, including Perito Moreno (one of the world’s few still-advancing glaciers), the park is also home to Mount Fitz Roy (11,171 ft) and Cerro Torres (10,262 ft). There are two of the most coveted challenges among world-class climbers.
A harsh yet incredibly captivating national park, Los Glaciares is where pristine and extreme nature reigns. The best time of year to plan your visit is between November and (at the very latest) March when temperatures are tolerable, and hiking and climbing conditions are at their best.
Insider tip: If you don’t intend to challenge Jim Reynold’s free solo ascent of Mt Fitzroy or even simply hike extensively, visit Los Glaciares in October or April. The temperatures might be brutal, but crowds—especially around Perito Moreno—will be substantially smaller.
5. Patagonia National Park (Parque Patagonia), Chile
One of newest, largest, and best national parks in South America, the aptly named Parque Patagonia is the most significant conservation project undertaken in the continent in recent decades.
The park covers 300,000 hectares of magnificent Patagonian wilderness, combining two former reserves (Lago Cochrane and Lago Jeinimeni) with one privately owned valley, Chacabuco. The snow-capped mountains, temperate rainforests, wetlands, turquoise lakes, and vast grasslands are incredible visual feasts. An excellent animal-spotting hub, the park is home to guanacos, pumas, Andean condors, and the endangered huemul deer, the national symbol of Chile.
Parque Patagonia began as a bold vision by a determined and wealthy American couple, Kristine and Douglas Tompkins. It has evolved into a remarkable reality that’s difficult to fault, although its creation was not without controversy. The Tompkins faced innumerable challenges over decades but never gave up. Thanks to their efforts, nearly six million hectares of wildlands are now under protection in both Chilean and Argentine Patagonia. Before visiting the region, learn more about this inspiring couple and the legacy they have built in the best national parks in South America.
6. Manu National Park, Peru
Peru has the second-largest portion of the Amazon rainforest after Brazil. Its top reserves, like Manu National Park, are crucial sanctuaries for unique and endemic species not found elsewhere in the Amazon.
The Manu reserve encompasses an astonishing 1.7 million hectares of lush rainforest. It is home to 200 mammal species, over 1,000 bird species, thousands of butterflies and reptiles, and more than 250 exotic trees per hectare. Among Manu’s most revered inhabitants are jaguars, various monkey species, and black caimans.
Insider tip: Manu is in Peru’s remote southeastern region of Madre de Dios. It is accessible by plane from Cusco, so it combines well with a visit to Machu Picchu. The best time of year to visit this park in the Amazon is May-October, when rains are less persistent, and walking trails are accessible. This (almost) coincides with Machu Picchu, which is best visited between May and August, so plan accordingly.
7. Tayrona National Park, Colombia
Colombia has 62 national parks, some of which hide astonishing prehistoric treasures. Among them is Tayrona National Park, which is consistently rated as a top favorite. It certainly makes the cut among the best national parks in South America. If rich biodiversity and sublime Caribbean beaches are the combination that entices you most, then this is undoubtedly the park you should explore.
Tayrona is a sprawling reserve that frames Colombia’s northern Caribbean coast and encompasses the slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The park offers an outstanding blend of pristine beaches, lush jungles, verdant rainforests, and arid deserts, all teeming with endemic and often critically endangered wildlife species, like the cotton-top tamarin. If you can cope with the at-times oppressive heat, you will find innumerable activities that allow you to explore the park.
Insider tip: Head to Arrecife’s pristine reef for world-class snorkeling, tackle the stunning Cabo San Juan hiking trail, and visit El Pueblito to add some historical sightseeing to the mix.
8. Pantanal National Park, Brazil
The Pantanal is the wetlands portion of the Amazon rainforest, and it is considered one of the most underrated national parks in South America. As the largest tropical wetland on earth, it is known for providing exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities. In contrast to the dense vegetation of the Amazon, the Pantanal offers a more open and flat landscape, making it easier to spot wildlife.
Visiting the Pantanal for a few days is like entering a different world. Base yourself in an eco-lodge and join daily excursions on foot, by boat, and even on horseback. When the heat and humidity get too much, find a comfortable spot in the shade, cold drink in hand, and simply wait for the wildlife to stroll by. You might just see capybaras, jaguars, giant anteaters, tapirs, giant otters, and howler monkeys on land, caimans in the water, and toucans and macaws in the air. This astonishing reserve is on par with the Galápagos Islands for wildlife enthusiasts.
Insider tip: The best springboard for adventures in the Pantanal is the town of Campo Grande. For even higher chances of spotting more wildlife, plan your visit between June and October, during the wetlands’ so-called “dry spell.” As water levels recede, more animals are enticed to come out of hiding and congregate around known watering holes.
