Top Beaches of South America

We could say that South America is blessed to have the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and the Caribbean Sea to itself. That explains why several of the most gorgeous beaches in the world are found in South America. Apart from the beaches, the continent has also an abundance of bright sunshine, lush wildlife, and friendly, easygoing folks.

Ipanema is a famous beach that even inspired a popular Bossa nova ballad. For jet-lagged visitors, who go to Rio de Janeiro whether, for business or pleasure, Ipanema is quite near to the city. There you can swim, surf, and just relax.

Probably Uruguay’s most famous beach, Punta del Diablo has come a long, long way from being a sleepy fishing village to one of the prime beach destinations for Uruguayans as well as Argentines. In fact, it has become considerably commercialized that Punta del Diablo is no longer the little secret it used to be, but it still retains its idyllic beauty and we hope it will stay that way.

A national park in Colombia, Tayrona offers a lot of natural delights that are wonderfully preserved. Pretty white-sand beaches, crystal-clear water, lush and intact wildlife and verdant hills, Tayrona is a picture of unspoiled beauty.

Anakena Beach is the only beach in the entire South American mainland with unique monolithic sculptures. If those sculptures seem familiar to you, it’s because Anakena is also part of the Easter Islands. Not only can you take pleasure in Anakena’s natural beauty, but enjoy these strange and fascinating thousand-year-old monolithic heads that bring a historical spin to this beach.

Having the official name of simply Corn Island, it is 43 miles east of Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast. Because of its remoteness, it is one of Nicaragua’s best-kept beach secrets. Being miles away from the mainland, most people there speak English rather than Spanish which is the language of its mother country. Despite the presence of a few hotels and lodgings, Little Corn Island is virtually an unspoiled paradise.

One of the reasons why you should go to Baia do Sancho is because of its distinction of being one of the best beaches on the planet. The waters’ delightful hues of blue, the amazing coral reefs, and the serene atmosphere make Baia do Sancho a heaven on earth for beach-seekers

Punta del Este is the ultimate beach for the wealthy crowd and jet-setters. It has the best of both worlds: the natural beauty consisting of white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters, and then next is the bustling city scene and nightlife with exclusive parties. Summer is the peak season for Punta del Este when it enjoys an influx of Uruguayan as well as international tourists. It’s also a good spot for celebrity watching.

Galapagos Beach

This hidden gem is located on the Santa Cruz island, one of the Galapagos Islands. A 20-minute commute from the town of Puerto Ayora, Galapagos Beach is teeming with different types of wild animals (birds, marine iguanas, sea lions, etc.) who seem used to seeing humans. You can swim, hike, kayak, and snorkel in this beautiful natural “playground.”

This beach is beyond incredible. Soft white sands, pristine turquoise waters, very few people, an utter lack of commercial activity, and a serene atmosphere makes Cayo de Agua an isolated paradise. If you’re going to have a honeymoon this place should be it.

Lopes Mendes Beach

One of the most stunning beaches in South America, it has velvety white sands (you can also find some wild crabs burrowing on those sands), warm blue waters, and lots of waves (which are sometimes quite fearsome). The views are worth a good hike from Abraao.

A lot of tourists say that Praia dos Carneiros is the most beautiful beach in Brazil. Pure white sands, crystal clear waters, and its virtual seclusion have attracted many tourists looking for true beach bliss. It’s quite lonely though especially at night, but that makes Praia dos Carneiros truly special. Check out for the tides to be able to enjoy the beach’s natural pools.

This beauty is located at the northernmost tip of Peru, where everything is sunny and bright. Its windy conditions make Mancora ideal for surfing, but when summer sun hits, tourists come to Mancora simply to swim and sunbathe. However, this great beach is often overlooked in favor of Machu Picchu, but many think Mancora also deserves a good bit more attention.

Bocas del Toro (located off the coast of Panama) is so peaceful and secluded that it makes you feel a bit sleepy but in a good way. However, Bocas del Toro features amazingly lush tropical vegetation and biodiversity. It’s like you’re in a different world.

Rio de Janeiro has several of the best urban beaches in the world, which include Ipanema and Copacabana. Copacabana is one of the world-famous beaches which boasts of having long stretches of pale-colored sand and azure waters. Aside from the natural beauty, the beach is also teeming with a lot of beautiful people — but really, this beach is for everyone. High commercial activity, bustling city life, and exclusive parties are the norm in Copacabana as well as the usual beach activities like swimming, sunbathing, surfing, and volleyball.