Which South American Country Should You Visit? ▷ Our Honest Take

In a nutshell

Planning a trip to South America but not sure which country to choose? We share our honest, personal take on which destination suits which type of traveler.
Having spent over a year traveling South America, we’ve been to all the major destinations — and we’ll tell you exactly what to expect from each one.
We break it all down by category: best for first-timers, safest countries, best beaches, hiking, food, and more — so you can find your perfect match.

Which Country in South America Is the Best Fit for You?

Depending on what kind of traveler you are and what matters most to you on a trip, some countries will suit you perfectly — and others, not so much.

We haven’t been to every corner of South America (sorry Paraguay, Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana, and the island nations), so we’re only covering the countries we’ve personally visited:

Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Ecuador
Colombia
Peru
Uruguay

We break down our personal take using these categories:

Best countries for first-timers
The cheapest countries
The safest countries
Beach vacations
Hiking
Hospitality & warm culture
Delicious food
The Amazon
Cool cities
Our personal favorite countries

Note: All of our tips are subjective. You may very well see things completely differently.

The Best Countries in South America for First-Timers

Stunning view of Machu Picchu — Peru with Machu Picchu is a great destination for first-timers

Our picks:

Peru and Colombia are our top recommendations if you’re heading to South America for the first time. In both countries, you can experience everything the continent has to offer within just a few weeks: towering mountains, ocean, culture, desert, and the Amazon.

The tourism infrastructure in Peru and Colombia is also well developed, so getting around is straightforward. We always felt safe on the main tourist routes in both countries.

The Cheapest Countries in South America

Cable cars in La Paz — Bolivia is a super affordable travel destination with amazing highlights — like the metropolis of La Paz

Our picks:

Want to keep costs as low as possible? Then Bolivia is your best bet — it’s seriously one of the most affordable countries on the planet. A set lunch typically costs just 2–3 euros. Accommodation and everything else is very budget-friendly too.

South America in general is cheaper than Europe. In Argentina, Peru, and Colombia, prices are also very low. Ecuador and Brazil are a bit more expensive, but still very manageable.

Only Chile and Uruguay tend to be pricier — costs there are almost on par with Western Europe.

The Safest Countries in South America

Uruguay is considered the safest country in South America

Lago Nordenskjold on the W Trek — Patagonia in Chile is a very safe region

Blue Lake near San Martin — This also applies to the Argentinian part of Patagonia

Our picks:

If your biggest concern is safety, Chile and Uruguay are your best options. They’re statistically the safest countries in the region, and we felt really comfortable in both.

For a Beach Vacation

For a Caribbean vacation in South America, it's best to travel to Colombia — For a Caribbean vacation in South America, it’s best to travel to Colombia

There’s always something going on at Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro

Coast of Punta del Diablo — You’re better off going to Uruguay to relax

Our picks:

Love the beach? South America will more than deliver. In our opinion, Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay have the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the region.

In Brazil, you’ll discover a unique and incredibly cool beach culture unlike anything else in the world — we absolutely love it there.

For picture-perfect Caribbean beaches, Colombia is the place to go.

Uruguay is still something of an under-the-radar pick in South America — its long sandy beaches are especially popular for relaxing and surfing.

For Hiking

Small mountain lake shortly before the Salkantay Pass — After you have completed the first part of the ascent, you will pass this beautiful mountain lake

The Cotopaxi volcano in Ecuador — You can climb snow-capped volcanoes in Ecuador

Our picks:

South America is truly the perfect destination for hikers. We’ve witnessed some of the most spectacular mountain scenery of our lives here.

We were especially blown away by the towering volcanoes in Ecuador and the highlands of Peru (Huaraz and Cusco). Patagonia — with El Chaltén in Argentina and Torres del Paine National Park in Chile — is absolutely breathtaking too.

Countries with the Most Welcoming People

We quickly took the Brazilians to our hearts - especially at Carnival, it's all happening here (© A.Paes) — We quickly took the Brazilians to our hearts – especially at Carnival, it’s all happening here (© A.Paes)

Colorful street in the Getsemaní district — Colombians are also extremely hospitable

The market hall in San Telmo Buenos Aires — Argentinians always seem to be in a good mood (© Carolina_J)

We found South Americans in general to be much warmer and more laid-back than what we were used to back home.

This really stood out in Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina. People there were just incredibly welcoming — we were even invited into locals’ homes on multiple occasions. Honestly, it was one of the highlights of our travels.

In Peru, Chile, Bolivia, and Ecuador, we found people to be a little more reserved — though of course that always varies.

Delicious Food

Peruvian ceviche — Ceviche tastes simply delicious in Peru

Typical Argentinian stuffed pastry called empanada arranged on a wooden board — Empanadas taste nowhere as good as in Argentina

Llapingachos are deep-fried potatoes and are typical of Ecuador

Our picks:

The food scene varies a lot across South America. Our personal favorite was Peru — especially along the coast. The ceviche is absolutely incredible.

We’re also big fans of Argentine cuisine — the steak, empanadas, and pizza are all seriously good.

Ecuador is also super tasty. The ceviche there isn’t as famous as Peru’s, but it’s still amazing. The freshly squeezed juices and llapingachos are among our favorites.

In Chile and Colombia, the food was our least favorite — we found it a bit bland and repetitive.

The Amazon

Our picks:

If you want to explore the Amazon, we’d point you toward Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil. Colombia and Bolivia also have jungle — but it’s not as easily accessible as in those three countries.

We personally experienced the Amazon in Ecuador (in Cuyabeno), because you can get there very easily from the capital Quito without needing to fly.

Cool Cities in South America

Botafogo district and Sugar Loaf Mountain — A place like Rio de Janeiro only exists once

Panorama of Medellín by night — Medellín looks particularly beautiful at night

The obelisk in Buenos Aires (© evelyndutraneves.gmail.com)

Our picks:

If you’re a city person at heart, you absolutely cannot miss Buenos Aires, Medellín, and Rio de Janeiro. These cities are just unbelievably cool — seriously some of the best urban experiences we’ve had anywhere.

While traveling, we also met quite a few people who did a city-hopping trip across the continent — basing themselves in one city and taking day trips from there. That’s a really great way to explore South America too.

Two major cities that didn’t win us over were Lima and São Paulo. We wouldn’t rush back to either — okay, maybe Lima, but only for the food!

Our Conclusion

Which South American country is right for you is ultimately something only you can decide.

The best approach is to think carefully about what matters most to you and let that guide your choice. Or just go with your gut feeling — that works too.

For us personally, the people matter most — they’re the reason we truly fall in love with a place. That’s why Brazil and Argentina are our favorites. We simply love the culture there.

And since we’re total hiking junkies, we’d keep coming back to Peru, Chile, or Ecuador for any adventure-focused trip.