10 exotic places to visit in South America in 2025

1. Cocora Valley, Colombia

Colombia's Cocora Valley is a unique place known for its wax palms, the tallest in the world. These impressive trees stand amid green hills and mountains often covered in mist. You can visit the valley on foot or horseback or simply stop to admire the scenery. The area is quiet and offers beautiful views of nature, with birds and clouds adding to the soothing ambience. It's a perfect destination for relaxing and enjoying an exceptional natural environment.

• Why is it exotic? 🤔
  Surreal landscapes with wax palms, the tallest in the world, rising amidst lush green hills.
• Best time to visit 📅
  All year round, but mornings are ideal to avoid clouds.
• Photography tip 📷
  Shoot from a low angle to emphasize the impressive height of the palms.

2. Chapada Diamantina National Park, Brazil

Chapada Diamantina National Park, in Brazil, is a perfect place for those who love adventure. It is home to large canyons, caves to explore, and waterfalls that form clear pools where you can swim. The park also offers numerous hiking trails through verdant valleys and rocky plateaus, with impressive scenery at every step. You can discover forests, natural pools and even underground rivers. It's an ideal destination for enjoying nature and living unique experiences.

• Why is it exotic? 🤔
  A paradise for nature lovers, featuring stunning waterfalls, crystalline caves, and rugged plateaus.
• Best time to visit 📅
  April to October, during the dry season.
• Photography tip 📷
  Capture Cachoeira da Fumaça waterfall, which appears to vanish before reaching the ground.

3. Tatacoa Desert, Colombia

The Great Blue Hole in Belize is a massive circular marine sinkhole located in the middle of the ocean. Its deep blue color sharply contrasts with the surrounding turquoise waters. With a depth of over 100 meters, it was naturally formed thousands of years ago. This site is particularly popular among divers, who explore underwater caves and discover a rich biodiversity, including fish and coral. Seen from above, it's perfectly round shape makes it especially remarkable and unique. This natural site impresses with its tranquility and mysterious character.

• Why is it exotic? 🤔
  A unique desert landscape with striking red and gray rock formations that create a dramatic contrast.
• Best time to visit 📅
  June to August, during the dry season.
• Photography tip 📷
  Shoot the rock formations at sunset for warm and vibrant colors.

4. Salar de Surire, Chile

The Salar de Surire in Chile is a vast white salt flat located in the Andes, surrounded by mountains. It features blue lagoons where flamingos live, creating a distinctive and recognizable landscape. The area is quiet, with fresh air and minimal noise, aside from the sounds of birds and the wind. You can also spot wildlife such as llamas and vicuñas.

• Why is it exotic? 🤔
  A lesser-known salt flat surrounded by volcanoes and home to flocks of flamingos.
• Best time to visit 📅
  April to November.
• Photography tip 📷
  Use a telephoto lens to capture the flamingos with the mountains in the background.

5. Semuc Champey, Guatemala

Semuc Champey, in Guatemala, is a spectacular natural site. It consists of pools of turquoise water, arranged in cascades, in the middle of dense, verdant jungle. You can bathe in the clear waters, explore nearby caves or climb up to a viewpoint offering an incredible view over the whole of the pools. Birdsong and the sound of water make the place even more soothing.

• Why is it exotic? 🤔
  A series of naturally turquoise pools formed on limestone terraces surrounded by lush jungle.
• Best time to visit 📅
  November to April, during the dry season.
• Photography tip 📷
  Climb to a viewpoint to capture the cascading pools from above.

6. Talampaya Canyon, Argentina

The Talampaya Canyon in Argentina is an impressive site, with high walls of red rock sculpted by wind and water over millions of years. This desert landscape offers unique geological forms that seem to come from another world. You can explore it on foot, by bike or on a guided tour. Along the way, you can observe fossils, ancient engravings (petroglyphs) and wild animals. Talampaya Canyon is a fascinating place, both for its natural beauty and its history, offering landscapes you won't forget.

• Why is it exotic? 🤔
  A spectacular canyon with red cliffs sculpted by erosion, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Best time to visit 📅
  March to November.
• Photography tip 📷
  Use a wide-angle lens to emphasize the grandeur of the rock formations.

7. Chiloe Island, Chile

The island of Chiloé, in Chile, is a unique place full of charm. It is made up of green hills, colorful wooden houses built on stilts and small fishing villages along the water. With its often-foggy mornings, the island offers a peaceful atmosphere and a rich heritage of legends and traditions. You can visit its World Heritage-listed wooden churches, discover its unspoilt beaches or enjoy fresh seafood. Whether you're exploring its tranquil coastlines or discovering its local culture, Chiloé is a welcoming place unlike anything you've ever experienced.

• Why is it exotic? 🤔
  A mystical island with wooden churches, stilt houses, and wild coastal landscapes.
• Best time to visit 📅
  December to March, for milder weather.
• Photography tip 📷
  Capture the colorfulpalafitos(stilt houses) along the waterfront.

8. Madidi National Park, Bolivia

Madidi National Park in Bolivia is a total immersion in the Amazon. It's home to dense rainforests and animals such as jaguars, monkeys and brightly colored birds. Rivers run through the jungle, ideal for canoeing or observing animals on the banks. The area is filled with natural sounds, such as the buzzing of insects and the calls of tropical birds. You can explore its trails, discover the life of local communities or admire the incredible diversity of species that live here. Madidi Park is a wild place, rich in nature and unforgettable.

• Why is it exotic? 🤔
  A pristine tropical rainforest with exceptional biodiversity, including jaguars, monkeys, and rare birds.
• Best time to visit 📅
  May to October, during the dry season.
• Photography tip 📷
  Use a telephoto lens to capture wildlife in their natural habitat.

9. Serranía de Hornocal, Argentina

Argentina's Serranía de Hornocal is a spectacular place nicknamed the “Hill of 14 Colors”. Its mountains feature layers of red, yellow, green and white that stretch as far as the eye can see. The natural patterns change with the light of day, offering unique landscapes at every turn. Located at high altitude, the air is fresh, and the surrounding calm invites you to admire the beauty of the site. Whether you're going hiking or simply contemplating the panorama, the Serranía de Hornocal  is well worth a visit.

• Why is it exotic? 🤔
  The "Mountain of 14 Colors," a natural spectacle of multicolored strata formed by erosion.
• Best time to visit 📅
  May to October.
• Photography tip 📷
  Head to the mirador (viewpoint) to capture the vibrant colors of the mountain.

10. Quilotoa Lagoon, Ecuador

Ecuador's Quilotoa Lagoon is an impressive crater lake located in the Andes. Its brilliant turquoise waters are surrounded by sheer cliffs and mountains. You can admire the view from the summit, hike down to the shore, or even kayak on the lake. The trails around the crater offer incredible panoramas, and the place exudes a tranquility that invites relaxation.

• Why is it exotic? 🤔
  A deep-blue crater lake surrounded by the Andes mountains.
• Best time to visit 📅
  June to September, for clear skies.
• Photography tip 📷
  Shoot from the crater rim to capture the reflections and depth of the lagoon.