South America is known for a tantalizing variety of things, from divine cuisines to passionate culture and nightlife. But one of the great constants no matter which country you visit is the love and care shown towards the natural world. Latin America’s national parks are some of the best you’ll ever come across, and with over 300 national parks to choose from, it’s going to take you a long time to see them all. To help you get started and plan your trip we have handpicked the best national parks in South America for you.

1. Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

When you think of South America’s national parks, one that immediately springs to mind is the stunning Torres del Paine National Park. Found down in the Patagonia region of southern Chile, this vast expanse of nature is best known for its range of landscapes and unique jagged mountain peaks. Exploring Torres del Paine, you’ll be taken from breathtaking fjords to mountains, forests, and glaciers, all combining to create a place of raw natural beauty. With so much to see, it’s little wonder that this is one of Chile’s largest national parks and a great place for long overland treks.

2. Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil

Proving that Brazil is home to much more than just the Amazon, Lençóis Maranhenses National Park showcases one of Brazil’s many fascinating landscapes. With a visit to this protected area in the country’s northeast, you’re treated to an endless expanse of gleaming white sand dunes that separate rippling teal lagoons. While you get to see this unique landscape in its entirety from the air, visitors also often hike and journey on horseback through Lençóis Maranhenses, cooling off in the freshwater as they go. Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is easily one of the top 10 national parks in America, North and South.

3. Lauca National Park, Chile

Sitting up in the high reaches of Chile’s altiplano among the Andes Mountains is Lauca National Park. Located at the very northern end of the country, Lauca features an arid landscape of high-altitude lakes, mountains and volcanoes. Despite how inhospitable this region can seem at times, it’s home to a precious diversity of wildlife, from condors and flamingos to llamas, alpacas, and even cougars. Although a popular place for hiking, thanks to sights like Parinacota Volcano, it’s best to remember that this national park is thousands of meters above sea level where the air is much thinner.

4. Chapada Diamantina National Park, Brazil

To see a fantastic display of what Brazil has to offer visitors, simply head to Chapada Diamantina National Park. Situated in the country’s eastern state of Bahia, this national park is home to a splendid array of landscapes. Mountains, plateaus, highlands, and waterfalls are all on the menu here, but it’s really the rock formations of Chapada Diamantina that make it stand out. The park features some magnificent caves, like Torrinha Cave and Lapão Cave, as well as beautiful underground rivers that you can swim in. Just know that this park is immense, so don’t be disappointed that you won’t see everything in one visit.

5. Iguazu National Park, Argentina

The Iguazu Falls are widely known to be one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world, but did you know that they’re part of a national park as well? Iguazu National Park in Argentina includes not only the famous waterfalls, but also the rainforest around them on the Argentinian side of this landmark. It should be no surprise that the national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but the honor extends beyond the waterfall to the diverse wildlife that calls the park home, including jaguars, tapirs, and ocelots.

6. Tayrona National Park, Colombia

For an exotic dose of jungle and beach by the Caribbean coast, head for Tayrona National Park in northern Colombia. Hidden away behind mountains about an hour’s drive up the coast from Santa Marta, Tayrona is a popular destination for swimming, hiking, and camping. While beaches like Cabo San Juan and La Piscina offer beautiful beaches and sheltered water, much of the coast is far less tame, but still strikingly scenic. Then there’s the dense rainforest and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range, which is home to a great diversity of flora and fauna, including the enᴅᴀɴԍᴇʀed cotton-top tamarin.

7. Itatiaia National Park, Brazil

Holding the honor of oldest national park in Brazil is Itatiaia National Park, which was established back in 1937. But Itatiaia has a lot more going for it than just that. Located among the Mantiqueira Mountains in the country’s southeast, it’s a rugged place full of superb scenery over an impressive range of altitudes. The park’s varying elevation allows for all sorts of environments and landscapes, including rainforest, alpine meadows, lakes, and rivers. It also also offers up one of the highest points in all of Brazil with the Pico das Agulhas Negras. Popular activities here include trekking, mountaineering, and birdwatching.

8. Tierra del Fuego National Park, Argentina

Often dubbed as the “End of the World,” Tierra del Fuego National Park is one of the most mesmerizing of Argentina’s national parks. Sitting among the archipelago of islands at the very bottom of South America, this national park covers the Argentinian side of the island of Tierra del Fuego. This remote location gives Tierra del Fuego National Park a quiet and dramatic atmosphere that’s only amplified by its stunning scenery. Glaciers, waterfalls, and subantarctic forest are all in great supply, as are local critters like the Andean fox and beavers. Of course, with such a wild and beautiful place to explore, the park is a popular hiking destination for tourists.

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