The most iconic natural areas in Latin America
Travel Designer Karen introduces her personal top 12 iconic natural sites in Latin America:
“For more than 40 years I have been devoted to Latin America and have made many adventure tours there, from rugged Patagonia to Venezuela, Colombia, colorful Ecuador and most recently (October 2024) in Chile and Easter Island. The continent continues to overwhelm: what amazingly kind and crazy people and what fantastic landscapes and nature. Indeed, it is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, with the dense jungle of the Amazon to the rugged Andean mountains and the arid Atacama Desert, with iconic animals such as jaguars, sloths and a vast array of colorful bird species. The seas around the continent are also rich with sea lions, whale sharks and orcas. It is my pleasure to show you my most iconic natural areas of Latin America.” Where the world can’t find you…
1. Iwokrama Forest (Guyana)
The pristine Iwokrama rainforest in Guyana is my top priority! The forest is rarely visited, but it is home to an abundance of wildlife and is one of the few places on earth where you can actually spot an anteater, jaguar or puma. During the day, bird watchers can enjoy themselves here, and during exciting river trips you can look out for as many as four species of caiman. Iwokrama is home to the Makushi; this people play an important role in protecting the area and they often act as guides.
2.Yasuní National Park (Ecuador)
Considered the most biodiverse place on earth, the Yasuni rainforest has to be my second recommendation. Here you will find an immense diversity of amphibians, birds and mammals. In fact, the Yasuni bat is only found in this park, as well as the pygmy marmoset: one of the world’s smallest primates. This is also an interesting area for lovers of unusual flora, including more than 4,000 species of vascular plants. The local communities living there, such as the Tagaeri and Taromenanedie, still have very little contact with the outside world.
3. Pantanal (Brazil)
The Pantanal is the largest wetland in the world. It is a real hotspot for nature lovers for good reason, with a great concentration of flora and fauna. We often get the comment that a wildlife safari here can almost be compared to one in Africa. The ancient ecosystem of the Pantanal has exceptional diversity with 3,500 species of plants, more than 650 species of birds (including the endangered blue hyacinthara parrot), 400 species of fish, about 100 species of mammals and 80 species of reptiles. Iconic species include the jaguar, caiman, maned wolf, giant otter, capybara and lowland tapir.
4. Peninsula Valdes (Argentina)
At Peninsula Península Valdés – one of the world’s largest marine reserves – numerous marine animals seek rest to mate or give birth. It is possible to observe colonies of sea lions, elephant seals and penguins at relatively close range. Spectacular phenomena can be seen at any time of the year, such as the sometimes bloody battles between male elephant seals or hunting orcas attacking large breeding colonies of sea lions from the sea. A truly unique attraction takes place from June to December: Southern right whales – rare whales – and their calves congregate in large numbers in the waters around the peninsula. South of Península Valdés is also home to the largest penguin colony outside Antarctica: Punta Tombo.
5. Galapagos (Ecuador)
The Galapagos archipelago is unforgettable: nowhere in the world do you get so close to giant tortoises, marine iguanas and sea lions. Thanks to its isolated location, the Galápagos is a living laboratory of evolution, with many endemic species that have managed to survive here untroubled. You may already have heard of the famous Darwin’s finches, but do you know of the Galapagos frigate bird with its red throat pouch? Did you know that as many as ten different species of giant tortoises live in the Galapagos Islands? The iconic blue-footed booby is not endemic, but it is inseparable from the landscape of the Galapagos. That landscape is varied – from volcanic rock formations to beautiful beaches and clear blue waters – and offers fantastic opportunities for snorkeling, diving and hiking.
6. Torres del Paine (Chile)
Torres del Paine in the southern part of Chilean Patagonia is for me one of South America’s most beautiful national parks, in part because of its many hiking opportunities. The beautiful landscape is dominated by the Pache massif with its granite towers (torres). Along the “Sendero de la Fauna” you will find guanacos (a llama species), foxes and many birds. Although not easy to spot, there are exclusive opportunities to spot the puma. Scour the sky and peer through binoculars at sheer cliffs in search of the king of the Andes: the mighty condor.
7. Tambopata national reserve (Peru)
East of the Andes is the gigantic Amazon rainforest, which covers as much as half of Peru’s total area. The Peruvian Amazon includes several nature reserves, including the wonderful Tambopata National Reserve. It is the southernmost gateway to the Amazon and boasts exceptionally high biodiversity. Cruising along meandering jungle rivers, you can search for caimans, monkeys, giant otters and perhaps the predator of South America: the jaguar!
8. Los Glaciares N.P. (Argentina)
How contrasting the nature of South America is is evident when we make the leap from the Amazon to Los Glaciares National Park in Argentine Patagonia, on the border with Chile. What a rugged landscape with impressive glaciers, huge lakes and icebergs… The national park is home to no fewer than 47 large and some 200 smaller glaciers, including Perito Moreno, the fastest-moving glacier in the world. High above the landscape, eagles and condors glide through the air seemingly effortlessly. With a wingspan sometimes exceeding three meters, the Andean condor is the undisputed king among birds of prey.
9. Corcovado National Park (Costa Rica)
Much of the Osa Peninsula is occupied by Corcovado National Park, also called the Amazon of Costa Rica. According to National Geographic, this is “the most biologically intense place on earth” with 140 species of mammals – including Bairds’ tapir – and no fewer than 500 species of birds. A fantastic destination for anyone who loves untamed nature, but an absolute “must” for bird lovers! Look for species such as Bairds’ trogon, Turquoise and Yellow-billed Cotinga, Manakin, Red-tailed Tawny, Red-tailed Thrush, White-throated Tawny Tawny and many species of parrots and toucans.
10. Los Llanos (Colombia)
Speaking of top destinations for birders, Los Llanos in Colombia is among those absolute best. In any case, Colombia is the very best destination for bird lovers, as it has the most bird species in the world: a whopping 1,900! This is nearly 20 percent of the world’s bird species, including many endemic species and migratory birds. Although the Red Ibis and Andean Rockcock are the most iconic species, you can also discover hundreds of species of Hummingbird, Flycatcher and Tanager in the vast tropical rainforests and Andean mountains.
A sample wildlife & birding trip can be found here.
11. Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (Mexico).
Every fall, billions of Monarch butterflies fly from Canada and the United States to Mexico, where they winter on the steep slopes of the Sierra Madre. The most impressive time to visit this UNESCO Biosphere is between October and February. Large areas of the forests then turn orange-black because of the various colonies, each consisting of many millions of Monarch butterflies. Surreal, fairytale-like, it is an unreal experience to behold.
12. The Barrier Reef (Belize).
The Barrier Reef of Belize is, after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, the longest coral reef in the world, making Belize is one of the most beautiful diving destinations in the world. Underwater, the coral forms a mysterious world that is home to countless fish and other sea creatures, a true paradise for divers and snorkelers. The water is usually calm and tropically warm, ideal for exploring this wonderful world, that of brightly colored fish, as well as sea bass, the nurse shark, turtles and large rays that seem to float in the water.
