Tom South America is a tourist hotspot and most avid travellers aspire to visit the subcontinent at least once. If you’re in that group of tourists, then you’ll need to learn about the most popular travel experiences in South America. Otherwise, you can easily end up missing out on some great activities and places in the region. Here are the four most popular travel experiences of South America.
1. Visiting the World’s Largest Mirror, Salar de Uyuni
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to stand in the middle of a 10,000 square kilometre mass of emptiness? At the Salar de Uyuni, you can experience this feeling. The area is covered in hexagonal salt blocks, and it turns into the largest natural mirror in the world when it’s covered by a thin layer of water. Salar de Uyuni is undoubtedly one of the most interesting sites in the world. That is why it is now the biggest tourist attraction in Bolivia.
2. Cycling down the Death Road Bolivia
The La Paz to Coroico Road in Bolivia is dangerous in every sense of the word, which is why tourists love it. The locals don’t even use the road anymore because of the risk. Hundreds of deaths used to be reported on this street every year, and this reputation ironically attracted fun-loving tourists from all around the world. These days, the road has been made a lot safer since being named ‘the world’s most dangerous road’ in 1995. All you need to do is to make sure that you rent an adequately maintained bike. If you survive the 61-kilometre cycle, you will receive a t-shirt that acknowledges your achievement!
3. Watching the Clear Skies at the Valle del Elqui
You don’t have to be a certified astronomer or stargazer to enjoy the clear skies at Elqui – many people who camp in this vast desert don’t have any idea which stars are supposed to appear first. The point of visiting this valley is simply to enjoy the peace of staring at a clear sky. As noted by Wendy Wu Tours, this Chilean desert is also the best place in South America to witness the solar eclipse, which takes place on 2nd July 2019.
4. Visiting the Ancient Cities of Peru
Peru used to be the home of many ancient civilisations. Close to the coastal town of Trujillo lies the largest mud-built city of the pre-Hispanic era. The Chimu people built this city at around 850AD, and although they were later conquered by the Incas, their city remained intact. Other great historical sites to check out in Peru include Uros Island, Kuelap, and Cajamarca. You should also make a point of visiting Cusco. This particular city used to be the capital of the Inca Empire, and its walls are still standing today.
Conclusion
South America is made up of 14 countries, and each of them has something to offer. However, the most popular tourist attractions in the subcontinent are Salar de Uyuni, the world-famous Death Road in Bolivia, the Valle de Elqui as well as the historical cities of Peru. Hopefully, this list has inspired you to book your next trip to the region! 🙂
