Latin America is a top destination for adventurous travelers. These exciting destinations are not only considered safe to visit but also offer spectacular scenery and often more affordable costs too.
Chile
Chile is an incredibly diverse country located along the South American west coast stretching from the tropics in the northern region, almost down to Antarctica in the south. It’s also considered to be one of the safest destinations in all of Latin America. While it’s certainly worth visiting cities like Santiago, you may want to explore Chile’s wild natural beauty, found in spots like Torres Del Paine in Patagonia, lush with forests, glistening lakes, a maze of fjords and inlets, as well as the Atacama Desert, the world’s driest non-polar desert.
Argentina
South America’s second-largest country, which shares its borders with Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay, is known for its natural beauty and wealth of cultural attractions. Popular tourist destinations include Buenos Aires, the nation’s capital. The capital is renowned for the tango and ranks high when it comes to shopping and festivals. Be sure to visit the Palermo area where you can spend an entire day strolling through the Botanic Garden and Bosques de Palermo. For outdoor adventurers and scenery lovers, Argentina offers numerous national parks that host waterfalls, rainforests, glaciers, and an abundance of wildlife. In the southernmost regions, penguins can even be observed in their natural habitat right alongside sea lion colonies.
Uruguay
Located along the southeastern Atlantic coast between Argentina to the west and south, and Brazil to the north, Uruguay is known for its wide expanses of beautiful beaches, picturesque fishing villages, and wildlife, including sea lions, seals, penguins and whales. There are natural thermal baths to soak in, cobblestone streets to stroll and gaucho culture to experience. This spectacular land is also considered to be one of the safest nations to visit in all of Latin America. Even the capital of Montevideo is safe and fun to visit, with its colonial charm, one of the world’s longest river walks, a bustling market, and picturesque green spaces. Just a two-hour drive along the coast and you’ll reach Punta del Este, often referred to as the St. Tropez and the Monte Carlo of South America.
Costa Rica
This Central American country bordered by Nicaragua in the north and Panama in the south, nestled between the Pacific Ocean on its west coast and the Caribbean to the east, is home to a lot of volcanoes, including seven that are active. Provided you stay away from Arenal if it starts to erupt, you’re likely to be totally safe. Costa Rica enjoys a wonderful, warm climate year-round and also hosts a multitude of beautiful beach towns, rainforest, and exotic wildlife. It’s ideal for outdoor enthusiasts, with outstanding opportunities for surfing, hiking, horseback rides on the beach, whitewater rafting, zip line tours through the jungle and much more.
Cuba
Cuba is considered to be another one of the world’s safest countries – in fact, it’s so safe that it’s even ideal for solo travelers. This island nation is also fast becoming one of the hottest travel destinations on the planet, so you should plan to go sooner rather than later if you hope to see it before it changes when Walmart and McDonald’s inevitably roll in and those classic cars on Havana’s streets are a thing of the past. Surrounded by the Caribbean, you can enjoy fabulous snorkeling with access to one of the biggest coral reefs on Earth at Treasure Island, including swimming among friendly sea turtles and even exploring the wrecks of pirate ships. Another highlight is walking the Malecón, a five-mile-long seawall that runs along Havana’s Atlantic-facing coast that’s at its best around sunset when the golden light that touches the buildings providing an especially surreal look.
Peru
Peru is home to one of the world’s most impressive ruins, Machu Picchu, perched high atop the Andes. Adventure seekers and truly, just about anyone visiting Peru, shouldn’t miss it. If you join the Inca trail trek, which involves a three-day hike to get there, just be sure to bring a good pair of hiking boots and don’t panic if altitude sickness sets in. Wherever you go, and whatever you do, don’t miss sampling the country’s most famous dish, ceviche, washed down with a pisco sour, of course.
Paraguay
Paraguay may be landlocked, but it offers plenty of scenic landscapes, lakes, rivers and waterfalls, along with a wealth of attractions in its major cities. The steamy capital of Asuncion, set along the banks of Rio Paraguay, is easily walkable, offering the chance for a pleasant stroll along its two-mile riverfront walkway as well as the chance to browse the many shops and market stalls. Check out the train museum, located in the oldest train station on the continent, to get a glimpse at Latin America’s illustrious train travel past, and after dark, take part in the vibrant nightlife which gets hopping just as the sun goes down and temperatures begin to cool.
Ecuador
Ecuador may be small, but it’s not only safe, with some of the lowest crime rates on the continent, but it also offers an astounding array of wonders from its charming colonial center to the lush wildlife-filled Amazonian rainforest and the jaw-dropping heights of the Andes. Of course, Ecuador also boasts the incredible Galapagos Islands, situated about 600 miles off the mainland in the Pacific. As the islands were never linked to the mainland, species had to have floated, swam or flown in – and as larger mammals at the top of the food chain couldn’t make the journey, the lack of predators allowed wildlife to thrive, making it one of the best places on Earth to view animals. Many of the creatures that live here have never learned to fear humans, and almost seem tame – visitors can snorkel right alongside the marine iguana and walk quietly among the resident sea lions and the Galapagos giant tortoise, which can live to be 150 years old or more.
