One of the crucial learn articles on World of Wanderlust has at all times been our roundup of the 25 locations you need to go to in South America, a listing that’s stayed standard since we first printed it again in 2016. It received us questioning: which nations in South America are literally pulling in essentially the most guests lately, and has that modified a lot through the years? Because it seems, fairly a bit has shifted, most notably Colombia, which has climbed dramatically up the rankings up to now couple of years. Right here’s the present image, nation by nation.
Publish up to date July 2026.
Probably the most visited nations in South America
1. Argentina
7.4 million guests
Argentina holds onto the highest spot, again to roughly the identical customer numbers it noticed earlier than the pandemic. Buenos Aires stays the apparent start line, a metropolis with sufficient vitality and character to simply fill a number of days by itself, earlier than heading out to the nation’s pure showstoppers like Iguazú Falls and the glaciers and mountains of Patagonia.
One factor value understanding earlier than you e book: Argentina went by way of critical financial turbulence between 2022 and 2024, with inflation peaking above 100%, which pushed costs for meals, motels and on a regular basis fundamentals as much as ranges comparable with cities like Paris. Inflation has since eased considerably, however the days of Argentina being a notably low cost vacation spot are behind it, so finances accordingly slightly than assuming the discount repute nonetheless holds.
2. Colombia
Approx. 6.5 million guests (2025, a document yr)
Colombia is the true story on this rating. A decade in the past it barely registered on most travellers’ radars, weighed down by its repute from the Escobar period. That’s modified dramatically, and Colombia has posted record-breaking customer numbers, climbing properly previous the place it sat even a number of years in the past. Bogotá and Medellín have grown into genuinely main, trendy cities, whereas the colonial outdated city of Cartagena stays one of the crucial photogenic corners of the continent. When you haven’t thought of Colombia earlier than, now may be very a lot the second.
3. Brazil
5.9 million guests (2023, a document yr for Brazil)
Brazil’s pull stays apparent: Rio de Janeiro’s seashores, nightlife and that iconic Christ the Redeemer view over the bay, alongside São Paulo’s scale and vitality and Búzios’ quieter coastal attraction. Brazil really posted a document yr for worldwide arrivals in 2023, and momentum has continued because the nation leans additional into tourism as a progress business.
4. Chile
5.2 million guests (2024, up 40% year-on-year, additionally a document)
Chile posted one of many greatest tourism jumps anyplace in Latin America in 2024, and it’s simple to see why when you take a look at what’s on supply. That is arguably essentially the most geographically numerous nation on the continent, from the otherworldly Atacama Desert within the north to Patagonia and Torres del Paine within the south, with Easter Island sitting far out within the Pacific for these wanting one thing fully totally different. Santiago makes a simple base, with Valparaíso’s artsy hills and the Andes’ ski fields each inside attain.
5. Paraguay
Approx. 4.5 million guests (2023)
Paraguay’s quantity appears surprisingly excessive subsequent to a few of its extra well-known neighbours, and there’s a easy cause: a big share of those arrivals are day-trippers crossing the border from Argentina and Brazil for cheaper buying, slightly than travellers staying for a full vacation. That mentioned, Paraguay genuinely rewards those that go additional, with far fewer vacationer crowds, epic day hikes, cultural markets and a number of the greatest worth meals within the area for travellers eager to get properly off the overwhelmed path.
6. Uruguay
3.8 million guests (2023)
Uruguay stays the continent’s slower-paced, extra understated choice, and it constantly ranks as one of many most secure nations in Latin America to go to. Punta del Este attracts the jet-set seaside crowd, whereas the countryside estancias supply horseback driving and a real step again in time. If you’d like South America with out the depth, that is it.
7. Peru
3.3 million guests (2024, up 29% year-on-year, although nonetheless under its 2019 peak of 4.4 million)
Peru is recovering strongly however hasn’t but climbed again to its pre-pandemic numbers, which makes proper now an unusually good time to go to earlier than crowds inevitably construct again up additional. Machu Picchu stays the headline draw and for good cause, however Iquitos and the Amazon River are properly definitely worth the detour for travellers wanting one thing wilder and significantly much less photographed.
8. Ecuador
1.26 million guests (2024, down barely from 1.42 million in 2023)
Ecuador sits smaller on this listing than its pure drawcards would counsel. Small nation, large highlights: the Galápagos Islands are the apparent headline for wildlife lovers and divers, however the Amazon rainforest, towering volcanoes and Andean nature reserves round Quito all deserve extra consideration than Ecuador tends to get in contrast with its neighbours.
Regularly Requested Questions
Which nation in South America will get essentially the most vacationers? Argentina at present receives essentially the most worldwide guests in South America, with round 7.4 million arrivals in 2024, although Colombia has posted the quickest progress of any nation on the continent and is closing the hole rapidly.
Why is tourism to Colombia rising so quick? Colombia’s improved safety state of affairs, rising world curiosity in cities like Medellín and Bogotá, and its espresso area, seashores and colonial structure have all mixed to shift its repute dramatically over the previous decade, transferring it from an ignored vacation spot to one of many area’s fastest-growing.
Is Argentina nonetheless an inexpensive place to go to? Not as low cost as its repute suggests. Argentina went by way of extreme inflation between 2022 and 2024, pushing costs for meals and lodging as much as ranges just like Western Europe. Inflation has eased since, nevertheless it’s not a finances vacation spot the way in which it as soon as was.
What’s the most secure nation to go to in South America? Uruguay constantly ranks because the most secure nation in South America and one of the crucial steady in all of Latin America, making it a very good choice for first-time guests to the continent who need a gentler introduction.
Like this? Now learn:
The 25 Locations you Should Go to in South America
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This one time I went to La Paz Bolivia
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