The best beaches in the world
South America has a coastline along two oceans and the Caribbean Sea, so it’s no surprise that the continent is home to some amazing beaches. From the legendary beaches of Brazil to tiny islands and everything in between, South America’s beach scene has something for everybody.
Many South American nations border the Caribbean Sea, including Colombia and Venezuela. Smaller countries—Surinam, Guyana, and French Guiana—share a shoreline with the sparkling sea. All of these countries have beautiful beaches that rival the better-known Caribbean locales. You can expect to find white-sand beaches and resorts along the shore, just as you would in Jamaica or Aruba.
Not far from Caracas, Venezuela, the tiny islands of Los Roques Archipelago National Park are home to some truly spectacular beaches. These Caribbean beaches are part of the largest marine preserve in the Caribbean, which protect coral reefs, mangrove forests, and wide stretches of white sand. Underneath the water, brilliantly colored marine life is waiting to be discovered by snorkelers and scuba divers.
The South America beaches of Brazil are located along the Atlantic Ocean—in total, the country has more than 4,500 miles of coastline home to some truly spectacular beaches. Many of these beaches help make the coastal city of Rio de Janeiro one of the top seaside destinations in the world. Ipanema Beach, made famous by the bouncy song “The Girl from Ipanema” is packed with people enjoying the sun, watersports, and volleyball games. Copacabana Beach is the other major beach in this area.
Along the Pacific Coast, South America has some truly beautiful beaches as well—Ecuador, Peru, and Chile each boast a long coastline with many beaches along the way. As part of the Southern Hemisphere, the high season for beaches is December through April, providing a much-needed retreat from the winter-weary travelers from the US and Canada.
Lima, Peru, is home to several of these beaches. Lima’s Miraflores District, home to gardens and beaches, as well as great shopping and restaurants, all in view of the Pacific Ocean.
Brazil beach hotels are located over a vast landscape across many states. There are several popular beach resort cities and towns that are ideal for visitors looking for the quintessential Brazilian experience on the country’s beaches. These include Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paul, Recife, Fortaleza, and Florianopolis. The common denominator of these interesting and exciting [...]
The best beaches in Venezuela are located along the longest Caribbean coastline of any country in the Americas. There are beaches to suit every taste and interest, including everything from romantic secluded beaches to beaches filled with resorts and nightlife. And if that’s not enough, you will find a number of islands just off the [...]
The best beaches in Peru are located up and down a Pacific coastline of nearly 1,500 miles in length. There are no truly world-famous or spectacular beaches, as in Brazil or Uruguay, but the sheer length of the coast means you have a choice of hundreds of beaches, many of which are excellent. You will [...]
The best beaches in Ecuador may well be found more than 500 miles offshore in the Pacific Ocean. These are the unspoiled beaches on the vigorously protected Galapagos Islands. However, there are many fine beaches along the Pacific Ocean coast of Ecuador, especially the northern coast, as well as tiny little stretches of sand at eco [...]
Punta del Este beaches are among the most popular in Uruguay. The resort city of Punta del Este is about 90 miles to the east of Montevideo, capital city of the country. In addition to numerous visitors from abroad, locals from Montevideo flock to these beaches, and this is where the residents of Buenos Aires [...]
Mar del Plata beaches stretch for more than ten miles both north and south of this major resort city located about 250 miles south of Buenos Aires. In addition to being one of the premier resorts among the beaches in Argentina, the city is also one of the country’s major fishing ports. It offers great [...]
Few cities are as associated with beach pleasures as Rio de Janeiro. Here, your trip will be just as full of sun and surf as it will be of cuisine and culture. When planning Rio de Janeiro vacations, it is best to keep in mind the fact that beaches here in this part of Brazil [...]
Praia do Forte Brazil is located in the large state of Bahia north of the capital city of Salvador. This small resort area is defined by cobblestone streets, traditional Brazilian pousadas, or inns, and an abundance of Brazil hotels. With roughly 55 lodging options, visitors have many options in various budgets to choose between. Praia [...]
Porto de Galinhas is defined by more than 100 miles of stunning Brazilian beaches spanning the Atlantic Coast. To the north is Recife, a quintessential Brazilian city featuring many of the country’s top attractions, namely the beaches, which include Galinhas, Calhetas, and Carneiros. This area is encompassed by the state of Pernambuco of which Recife [...]
Morro de Sao Paulo beaches sit along the shores of Tinhare Island in the Brazilian state of Bahia. Bahia is one of the biggest of all Brazil’s states, housing a huge expanse of coastline and many excellent Brazil beaches. Morro de Sao Paulo Brazil is about an hour south of Salvador, from which a majority [...]