Broadly speaking there are three types of beaches in South America, those that touch the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and those on the Caribbean Sea. Discovered by Spanish people and then divided between the Portuguese, South America has inherited a powerful mixture of influences and races between European conquerors and the indigenous people.
Among all of the countries that offer beaches in South America, Brazil is the largest and has the most miles of beaches in South America and all are on the Atlantic Ocean. Brazilian beaches are highlighted by the world-famous landmarks Copacabana and Ipanema in the mythical city of Rio de Janeiro.
Uruguay, despite being a small country, has the largest beach destination in all of South America, Punta del Este in Maldonado, which is even more glamorous during the South American summer. The beaches of Uruguay have a reduced summer (November to March) while the rest of the year temperatures are colder.
Argentina also has a fairly large contingent of beaches on the Atlantic Ocean, but these beaches are usually a little cold. In Argentina, Mar del Plata is a city in the southeast part of Bueno Aires Province that is known as the South American Biarritz.
The beaches of Columbia are the only ones on the continent that share two seas, the Pacific and the Caribbean. Cartagena de Indias , or the City of Cartagena, is a prominent attraction.
Pacific Coast beaches, such as the Chilean Vina del Mar or Valparaiso, are more known for their music festivals and international cinema rather than their beach climate.
Meanwhile, Peru ‘s beaches are world famous for surfing and most notably stands Mancora, an old fishing port with a variety of marine life.
As for the beaches of Ecuador, the stunning beauty of the Galapagos Islands is renowned as one of the more favorite tourist destinations in this area.
In Venezuela, the beaches overlook the Caribbean Sea, and this country benefits fully from the advantages of temperature and crystallinity of the seas in this spectacular part of the world.
Among the more outstanding beaches in Venezuela, Los Roques is a stunning archipelago of clear water where tranquility reigns. However, given the poor infrastructure, Margarita Island is more developed for tourism.
South America has the most heterogeneous cities and stunning beaches. Each country in South America has many beautiful hidden beaches and little-known destinations. The ease of travel to and from, as well as flights interconnecting the countries of South America, makes this a great place to plan your next vacation and to really discover the beauty of the beaches of South America.
