Okay, this may cause some controversy!
Obviously, this is just based on my personal experience (travel is, of course, subjective). Someone looking for three weeks of hiking is going to have a very different idea of a good country compared to someone who wants beaches, nightlife and a cheap backpacking route. Not all countries are created equally. I’ve travelled through all 12 sovereign countries in South America (as well as French Guiana) and after doing the whole lot, I definitely have some opinions.
So instead of asking which country is “the best”, I’m looking at the countries from the perspective of someone who wants to optimise their time on the continent. I aim to answer the basics: How easy was it to get around? What did I actually enjoy? Was it good value? How much variety was there? You’ll also find that I’ve taken my own biases into account. I had lived and worked in Colombia before, so I’m probably never going to be completely objective about that one. I had my backpack stolen in Peru, got stuck in a protest in Bolivia … There are just so many personal experiences that will inevitably colour how I remember these places.
I guess that’s the whole point, really. I’m sharing my experiences of travelling through South America rather than a scientific or analytical approach overall.
Disclaimer: Some links earn me a small commission – same price for you, slightly less tragic bank balance for me.
South America countries ranked
Here’s the quick overview before I get into the reasoning behind the scores. And yes, there are definitely some countries here where the score doesn’t tell the whole story.
- Argentina – 7.5/10 – Patagonia, wine, steak
- Brazil – 8/10 – Wildlife + sheer diversity
- Bolivia – 7.5/10 – Adventure + budget travel
- Chile – 8.5/10 – Landlscapes, hiking and road trips
- Colombia – 9/10 – Variety, culture
- Ecuador – 7.5/10 – Wildlife + mountain hikes
- Guyana – 5/10 – Wildlife + Kaieteur Falls
- Paraguay – 6.50/10 – Something different
- Peru – 7.5/10 – History, hiking + landscapes
- Suriname – 6/10 – Off the radar travel
- Uruguay – 7/10 – Slow travel away from Buenos Aires
- Venezuela – 6.5/10 – Huge landscapes + adventure
I didn’t include French Guiana in the rankings because technically, it’s not a sovereign country. It’s an overseas department of France and one of the outermost regions of the European Union. However, it has been included to my list because it’ll be strange to talk about travelling the continent without mentioning French Guiana.
Argentina
Rating: 7.5/10 – the steak we had in Mendoza has probably been the best I’ve ever had
Argentina is another hard country to rank because your experience here depends heavily on timing and what your priorities are. If you’re taking standard vacation time, you could easily spend all of that just in Patagonia alone – especially around areas like Los Glaciares National Park. We spent about a month travelling around, which sounds like a reasonable but trying to see Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Patagonia, the Lakes District, and Iguazú during that time is actually pretty challenging. The long distance buses are useful and there are plenty of domestic flights, but there’s no getting around the fact that you’re going to spend a decent amount of time travelling if you want to see several different parts of the country.
I loved the variety, though. Patagonia was obviously a major highlight, but I also really enjoyed Mendoza. Like Chile, Argentina has the ability to make each region feel like a completely different trip. I had what is probably still the best steak I’ve ever eaten in Mendoza, so that’s definitely going to influence my memories of the country and the wine didn’t exactly hurt either. Argentine Spanish took me a little while to get used to as well. I’d already travelled through Spanish-speaking countries, but the accent and vocabulary are different enough that there were definitely moments where I understood every word but somehow still needed another second to process what had been said.
My advice for Argentina is to narrow it down to specific regions rather than trying to tackle the whole country… unless you really enjoy time on buses and flights?
👉 Read my Argentina travel guides
Bolivia
Rating: 7.5/10 – minus points for getting stuck in a protest
Bolivia is rough around its edges… but it definitely did pleasantly surprise me. Travel in Bolivia still feels very unpredictable and plans have a habit of changing whether you’ll realise it or not. You’ll spend a lot of time conversing with locals trying to figure out routes and timings – which is quite refreshing having to revert back to the old school way of travel rather than Googling something. But I learnt to enjoy it. There was something about travelling through Bolivia that felt adventurous than some of the other countries I’ve visited and if things went wrong, it was still part of the experience.
The landscapes are unreal (especially around Salar de Uyuni) and there’s a rawness to the experience that’s becoming harder to find in more polished destinations. There are other places too that don’t get nearly as much attention. We visited Samaipata and found a hummingbird sanctuary. I’ve also heard there are some interesting wildlife experiences in Bolivian Pantanal and Amazon too.
South America has been a very popular continent to travel amongst backpackers… however while there may be curated touristy experiences found in other countries, you can be sure to find raw and unique experiences unlike much of the other countries. It’s not the most comfortable country to travel but it does deliver on experiences and personally, that’s what I truly enjoyed the most! If you value experience over comfort, Bolivia tends to leave a strong impression.
👉 Read: my Bolivian travel guide
Brazil
Rating: 8/10 – Pantanal is 100000/10.
Brazil is the largest country on the continent. It’s a little unfair to rank because it feels like several countries combined into one. Rio de Janeiro feels completely different from the Pantanal, which feels completely different from the Amazon and then you’ve got beaches, the Atlantic Forest and huge areas that I haven’t even gotten around to visiting yet.
The only reason it doesn’t rank higher for me is mostly practicality. Brazil can be expensive, travelling internally often requires flights (or long buses) and planning a route isn’t always simple. Wildlife experiences here was what really pushed Brazil up my list. Sure, Rio Carnival was an experience but the Pantanal was 100000/10 for me. And I could return in a heartbeat. I think that’s the main thing I’d tell anyone planning a trip to Brazil don’t try to see the whole country. Pick an area and explore that.
Chile
Rating: 8.5/10 – might be one of my favourite countries on the continent?
Chile may be the country that best matches the way I like to travel. I love being outdoors, hiking and a good road trip – all things Chile gives you plenty of opportunities to do! We spent a month travelling the length of Chile and barely scratched the surface. It is a great country to travel and quite easy if you want to experience it all. It’s organised, easy and full of dramatic landscapes. It’s got the iconic Patagonia mountain range as well as places like La Serena, Atacama Desert and Chilean Lakes district. However, in some ways, Chile feels a little more detached than the rest of the continent. It’s hard to explain but when you compare it to its neighbours, there isn’t as much chaotic energy many associate with the continent.
Having a car can make a difference here – particularly in places like the Atacama Desert, Chilean Lakes District and Carretera Austral. Even if you rely on public transport, it’s all still doable, just a different experience. Distances are huge, weather can easily interfere with plans. If you follow our route, you’ll cross into Argentina several times so you need to be somewhat organised. Regardless, Chile is worth the effort.
That being said, transport generally worked, things felt organised, we didn’t have the same level of uncertainty as Bolivia. The main issue I had with Chile was there was too much to see and not enough time.
Colombia
Rating: 9/10 – might be biased since I lived and worked here back in 2019!
I lived and worked there in 2019 and recently spent 2 months travelling around the country. Maybe the bias is talking but I reckon Colombia gets the balance right. It has a bit of everything that makes this continent so addictive: mountain towns, Caribbean coast, jungle, desert, hiking, nightlife, good coffee…. the list goes on. For me, it manages to feel adventurous without being too overwhelming or difficult. You don’t need everything weeks in advance. With so many transport options and connections, you can generally work things out as you go.
I think Colombia still carries a bit of a bad reputation among foreigners because of its history in the 80s and 90s. It hasn’t exactly been helped by the popularity of cartel crime dramas. Like anywhere in South America, you need to be aware of your surroundings and I did meet people who had bad experiences. Personally, I felt safe during my time there. Colombia has come a long way since the days of EscobaR and I think it’s important to recognise that.
The old advice about Colombia being ridiculously cheap and undiscovered is rather outdated. Medellín, Salento and Cartagena have all changed significantly with tourism, although you can still find a very different side of the country away from the more established routes.
If I had to recommend one country that captures the energy of South America particularly well, Colombia would probably be it. Whilst people from every country in the continent are so warm and welcoming, I think Colombians kick it up a notch. The vibe is addictive and you can’t help but feel happy to be alive when you’re in the country!
👉 Read my Colombia travel guides
How to Spend a Few Slow Days in Jardín, Colombia
Las Gachas Colombia: Complete Guide to Santander’s Natural Jacuzzis
Villa de Leyva, Colombia: A Beautiful Colonial Town Near Bogotá
Mendihuaca, Colombia Guide: The Quiet Beach Town near Tayrona
San Andrés, Colombia Travel Guide: Everything to know Before Visiting
Ecuador
Rating: 7.5/10 – shoutout to Mindo and Cuenca
Ecuador often gets overshadowed by Peru and Colombia, which is a shame. It’s a great starter country in South America because it’s relatively compact compared with its neighbouring giants. You’ve still got the Andes, Cloud forest, Amazon, Coast and Galapagos – so you can get an extremely varied trip! That’s what I enjoyed about Ecuador – you can change up your vibe without crossing the entire continent to do it.
While the country is relatively compact and there are several connections – it can still take time navigating around the country if you’re planning to use public transportation. Along the Ecuadorian coast, transportation isn’t as realiable as major cities like Quito, Cuenca, Banos. Mindo was one of my favourite places because I appreciated the amount of birdlife in the area. We got to slow down throughout our time in Ecuador which was something I appreciated the longer I travelled around South America.
Since early 2000s, Ecuador stopped the use of their local currency (Ecuadorian Sucre). They currently use the USD which does make things more expensive compared to their Peruvian and Colombian counterparts. Because of the sheer number of tourists headed to the Galapagos, prices in the country, especially in the capital are quite high.
I wouldn’t necessarily tell someone to spend their entire South America trip in Ecuador, but if you’ve got two or three weeks and want a mixture of landscapes and activities without constantly worrying about how you’re going to get to the next destination, it’s a really interesting option.
👉 Read my Ecuador travel guides
Guyana
Rating: 5/10 – Kaieteur Falls
Travelling through the Guianas is for a very specific type of traveller. I’m going to be fairly blunt about Guyana, sorry. Come for Kaieteur Falls. That’s not the only reason to visit because I think Guyana has the potential for wildlife tourism. However, Kaieteur Falls was the main reason why we visited and it was the highlight of the Guianas.
Similarly to Suriname, Guyana culturally is so different to the rest of South America. Guyana was a British colony until 1966 so unlike its neighbours, English is the official language.It has an undeniably strong Caribbean influence backing up to the Amazon Rainforest.
My main surprise about Guyana was how expensive things were. We stayed in a very average AirBNB (which had roaches, mind) for £50 a night. We paid about £75 for a dinner for two (including 2 mains and 2 non alcoholic drinks). There were plenty of lodges and experiences we wanted to do however, they were more than we wanted to spend. Getting around also takes more planning particularly if you want to explore beyond Georgetown.
Guyana won’t appeal to everyone, but for travellers looking for somewhere different, it may be worth the effort. It’s not necessarily someone I’d try to cram into a short itinerary.
👉 Read my guides about Kaieteur Falls in Guyana
Paraguay
Rating: 6.5/10
Apart from the Guianas, I knew what to expect of most other South American countries. But Paraguay drew a blank. I knew about the Jesuit Missions… and that was it. It is one of the least visited countries in the continent and after travelling there, I kinda understand why. The country isn’t at all packed with bucket list attractions and tourism isn’t its primary focus… and because of that, tourism in the country feels limited. There isn’t a Machu Picchu or an Iguazú Falls pulling everyone into the same place, meaning you’ll need to be a little more interested in the country itself rather than just ticking off a famous attraction.
We travelled overland from Bolivia which involved a 24 hr bus journey to Asunción – that’s definitely one way to make an entrance! If you’re travelling from Iguazu, it’ll be considerably easier. And I’ll be honest, I enjoyed Asunción more than I expected. The Jesuit Missions were a highlight for me, and the Gran Chaco is interesting if you’re looking for wildlife, although organising that kind of trip can become surprisingly difficult and expensive.
That said, Paraguay is probably not the country I’d recommend for a first South America trip unless you already know you enjoy slower, less tourism-focused destinations.
Peru
Rating: 7.5/10 – the ranking is impacted by the incident with my backpack
Peru was actually my first South American country I travelled to. So it’ll always be a special place to me. Whilst I think Colombia captures the spirit of South America, few can beat the landscapes of Peru. Yes, you’ll find plenty of heavily touristy places but there’s a special aura to it.
It’s a country where I don’t think the tourist attractions are overrated. Machu Picchu gets so much attention – let’s be honest, it’s famous for a reason. Add dramatic landscapes, one of the best food scenes and a strong sense of history wherever you go – theres a lot to enjoy.
When I visited back in 2017, independent travel was already well established with the famous Gringo Trail backpacker route. With plenty of sleeper buses and most places being well connected, you don’t need to organise every single detail before arriving. The main thing I’ll take seriously is altitude. Some people aren’t as impacted by it as others. Cusco, Huarez, Lake Titicaca, Rainbow Mountain – all sit at high altitude and can genuinely ruin your trip if you do not take the time to acclimatize properly. I also had my backpack stolen in Puno, which still annoys it. Regardless, I’m not going to let one bad experience completely determine how I feel about an entire country.
Probably the best thing about Peru is that you can build very different trips within the same country. The Classic: Machu Picchu + Sacred Valley Route. Go hiking in the Andes. Visit the Amazon from Iquitos. Have a beach escape along the coast. I’d happily return because there are still plenty of things I’ve yet to see and do.
Suriname
Rating: 6/10
It’s probably one of the countries a lot of people forget exists when talking about South America. I was curious about it because I really didn’t know what to expect. Geographically it’s part of South America but cultural and linguistically, it’s not very similar to the rest of the continent. There are only three independent countries where Dutch is an official language – Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname. For almost 300 years, Suriname was a Dutch colony, hence you’ll see a lot of influences from that. However, you’ll also see influences from Caribbean, Indonesian/Javanese and Indigenous influences. The Javanese influence wasn’t something I was particularly expecting. A real mixbag of influences Suriname was!
The actual travelling around the country proved to be a challenge. Public transportation is limited, you’ll end up relying mainly on collectivos and taxies to get around but they aren’t as affordable as the rest of the continent. We found tours and experiences to be almost on par with European prices. We did do a nature walk at Pepperpot Nature Reserve and saw plenty of wildlife. If you’re there at the right time of year, you’ll get an opportunity to see leatherback and green turtles nesting.
Whilst I thought Suriname was interesting and it’s not somewhere I would necessarily try squeezing into a South American itinerary unless there was something you’re particularly interested in. There’s a bit more effort involved which is part of the appeal if you’re trying to detour from the backpacker route.
Uruguay
Rating: 7/10
Uruguay feelsl ike Argentina’s more chilled cousin to me. It’s relaxed, relatively easy to travel around and easy to pair with Buenos Aires, Argentina – which is probably how I’d recommend doing it. You can slow down, spend time by the coast, wander around the old town, sit in cafés and generally stop feeling like you need to be doing something every five minutes.
The downside is that Uruguay isn’t particularly cheap and I didn’t find the same amount of variety that you get with some other countries. If you’re on your first trip to South America and you’ve only got a couple of weeks, I’d probably spend that time somewhere else. But if you’ve already got Argentina on your itinerary, adding a few days in Uruguay is easy enough, and I liked having that slower section in the middle of a much bigger trip.
👉 Read about the longest running Carnival in Uruguay!
Venezuela
Rating: 6.5/10 – Angel Falls was 1000000/10
From a purely natural beauty perspective, it could easily rank much higher. Places like Angel Falls, the Caribbean coast and Orinoco delta are spectacular. Parts of the country still feel incredibly untouched by mass tourism. A lot of my Venezuelan friends have recommended plenty of cities as well. I was so excited about Salto Angel before visiting and it genuinely exceed my expectations – which doesn’t happen often!
The problem for me was that my overall experience travelling in Venezuela was shaped by the situation of the country at the time. It made things less straightforward. This meant we weren’t able to see as much of the country as we would’ve liked to. I realise my experience is only a snapshot of when I travelled there and it’s consistently changing. And that’s what frustrates me most about Venezuela. I left wanting to come back – I’d love to see Los Roques, Isla Maragrita, Orinoco Delta, Los Llanos. I barely scratched the surface!
And then there’s French Guiana
French Guiana is technically an overseas department and region of France rather than a sovereign South American country, so I’m not going to give it a score and pretend it belongs in the same list as the others.
I have travelled there, though, and if you’re already considering Suriname and Guyana, I’d definitely look into it. The three Guianas work quite well as part of a wider trip because they’re so close geographically but have such different histories, cultures and colonial influences. French Guiana also feels particularly strange in the best possible way because you’re very obviously in South America but then you start encountering French infrastructure, food and € and suddenly you’re having a very different experience from the rest of the continent.
I’d probably plan French Guiana as part of a Guianas trip rather than fly halfway across the world specifically for it but I’m glad I went
👉 Read this for more information about how to travel from Brazil Amazonas through the Three Guianas
Which South American country should you visit?
This is where I think rankings become a bit silly… the answer depends on what you want out of this trip. If you’ve never been to South America before and want a good mixture of landscapes, culture, food and things to do, I’d look at Colombia or Peru. If you’re mostly interested in hiking and mountains, Chile, Argentina, Peru all give you very different versions of that. For wildlife, Brazil would be my obvious choice after my experience in the Pantanal, although Ecuador is also worth looking at. If you want a road trip, Chile and Argentina are the two I’d start researching – pay very close attention to distances before planning the route. And if you’ve only got a couple of weeks, Ecuador is worth considering simply because you can fit a surprising amount into a relatively small country.
Then there are the countries I’d save for a slightly different kind of trip. Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana aren’t necessarily where I’d send someone who has two weeks for their very first trip to South America. That doesn’t mean they’re not worth visiting. In fact, if you’ve already travelled through Colombia, Peru, Brazil and Argentina, I’d probably be much more interested in what the less-visited countries have to offer than doing another variation of the standard backpacker route.
So, which South American country was actually my favourite?
If you were hoping I’d get to the end of this article and reveal one objectively correct answer… not happening, sorry.
After travelling through every country in South America, I actually more convinced that there isn’t one. Colombia is still probably the country I’d recommend to a certain group of people because of the variety, the people, the landscapes and the fact that you can have a really good trip there without needing months. But that’s heavily influenced by my own experience. Someone who wants to spend three weeks hiking through Patagonia might quite reasonably look at my ranking and wonder why on earth Colombia is above Chile.
That’s why I’ve tried not to make this about which country is “best”.
Some of my favourite travel experiences are in countries that aren’t at the top of this list. Angel Falls in Venezuela was mindblowing. The Pantanal in Brazil was one of the best wildlife trips I’ve ever done. Bolivia gave me some of the most chaotic travel experiences I’ve had, but they’re also some of the stories I still talk about. Chile has some of the landscapes I’d most happily spend weeks exploring… The Guianas were an interesting addition.
And then there are the places I still want to go back to because there’s still so much I’d love to see. That’s the biggest problem when it comes to travelling… the more you travel, the more you realise how much you haven’t seen. I’ve travelled through all 12 countries but I wouldn’t be caught dead saying I’ve seen it all or that I’ve done South America.
So, use this ranking as a starting point instead of a checklist. Think about what you actually want from your trip, how much time you have and what your interests are – wildlife, food, hiking, cities, beaches, chaotic travel? Then pick the countries that fit that trip. Obviously it’ll give yourself a nice excuse to come back another time.
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