Beaches in South America

In a word, South America is visceral. The music is unrelenting, the dancing is provocative, and the people just as boisterous. The cuisine is aggressive and exotic, plucked from a lush landscape filled with creatures both seemingly normal and totally bizarre. The history is mythic, with ancient structures of epic proportions littering the continent. And after all that, there are still the beaches.

Environmental Impact

The number of eco-friendly hotels and resorts in major tourist areas is growing. Everything from using organic cotton sheets, to getting food from local suppliers, and even planting trees to offset emissions from incoming flights, large steps are being made to preserve the environment without compromising your vacation.

Traveling to certain areas will also provide more direct help to local eco-systems, with resorts in the Amazon region in Brazil, to the Iguazú Falls and Moreno Glacier regions in Argentina providing financial support to maintain and restore the natural environment in their respective countries.

Top Ten Beaches of South America

Ipanema, Rio De Janero, Brazil

Depending on how you look at it, Ipanema's biggest detriment can also be it's greatest asset; it's one of the most urban beaches in the world. The street shopping, food, museums, and especially night life are epic, and with the neighborhood's grid-like street system and compact layout, you'll be able to experience all of it with a minimal amount of effort.

Praia dos Castelhanos, Ilhabela, Brazil

Ilhabela (Beautiful Island in Portuguese) is a small island roughly 140 miles north of Sao Paulo. Most of the island is a National State Park, preventing any development and leaving the beaches in their most natural state of beauty. On the east side of the island, the bay at Praia dos Castelhanos is rumored to have once been a pirate hideout. Though it's a little tougher to get to compared to other spots on Ilhabela, it's totally undeveloped and very worth the effort.

Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil

A river beach in the city of Natal that sits on the southern end of Via Costeira, Ponta Negra has quickly developed into one of the regions best hot-spots. The water is filled with surfers, the sand is lined with barracas (small huts serving food & drinks), and the neighboring area hosts an impressive cavalcade of hotels, small inns, restaurants, bars, and clubs.

Pinamar, Argentina

A small city hugging the Atlantic coast in the Province of Buenos Aires, Pinamar borders on silence during the winter months with an economy relying most on the tourist boom of summer. A pine forest sits adjacent to the city, adding to it's natural wonder and more relaxed state of being.

Mar del Plata, Argentina

Argentina's most important beach resort is also one of it's major fishing ports. One of the country's larger cities as well, Mar del Plata boasts an impressive night life, hotels, and dining. After Buenos Aires, it hosts the most amount of conventions and theatrical plays at the height of the season if you ever feel like stepping off the sand. Swimming, windsurfing, diving, and sailing are all immensely popular here as well.

Tucacas, Venezuela

Tucacas acts as a gateway to the Morrocoy National Park; a small network of tiny islands with gorgeous beaches and an impressive throng of wildlife and coral underneath the water's surface. A much more family friendly environment if you're going to be traveling with the kids.

Salinas, Ecuador

Sitting next to the Pacific Ocean on Ecuador's coast, Salinas is an important tourist spot for the country's economy. A smaller city with a larger city's sense of culture and activity, Salinas is also a popular spot for whale watching in addition to it's standard beach attractions.

Punta del Este, Uruguay

Sometimes referred to as the St. Tropez of South America, this upscale vacation spot rests on a peninsula on the southern tip of the country. Despite offering 20 miles of beaches, Punta del Este does get fairly crowded during summer, starting in December and calming down near the end of February. Once you see it though, the crowds won't seem like such a big deal.

Valparaiso, Chile

Like Mar del Plata in Argentina, Valparaiso is one of Chile's most important sea ports and bustling cultural centers. With a rich history supplementing it's many beaches, Valparaiso (goes to Paradise) has a nightlife as vibrant as some of the regions biggest tourist destinations.

Punta Sal, Peru

With bright white beaches and seafood of grand stature, Punta Sal is a beach resort on the Northern Pacific coast of Peru. Sports from swimming to canoing can be enjoyed in the crystal clear waters, and fishing in the legendary Cabo Blanco is available as well.

When To Go

The great thing about traveling to South America for residents of North America and Europe is if you plan your trip at the right time, you can have two summers in one year.

Although the busiest and most expensive season for most countries in the region, the summer months(from December to February) are also the most festive and vibrant. And as far as the beaches are concerned, you'll be hard pressed to find a closer definition of the word perfect.

It would be to your advantage to plan early, especially if you're planning a trip to Brazil or Argentina; domestic tourism is also at it's peak during these months, and as a result many hotels and resorts get booked up fast.

For Travel Packages

We've researched travel packages by the subsequent companies, all offering eco-friendly vacations all over South America. What makes these eco-friendly vacations? Read our guide on ecotourism to find out.

* ResponsibleTravel 
* GorpTravel
* Eco Tropical Resorts
* Adventure Life

Helpful Resources:

Use the new Lonely Planet Guide :: South America to Pick & Mix your own personalized travel book. With Amazon rainforests and Andean heights to explore, South America could only be topped off with a Carnaval or three. Here are all the chapters of Lonely Planet's South America on a shoestring guide, ready to download.

* Lonely Planet Guide :: South America
* South America Tourist Information
* South America Travel Blogs
* South America Interactive Map