South America's Top 50+ Beaches

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  • Anakena // Chile

    Anakena
    © Jesse Kraft

    It's not often you get to mix up a day at the beach with a viewing of some of the world's most iconic archaeological monuments, but this is exactly what you get at Anakena beach on Easter Island. 

    Anakena is home to a set of moai; these are the huge carved stone figureheads that Easter Island is famous for. The Ahu… read more »

  • Zapallar // Chile

    Zapallar
    © David Zipper / CC BY

    The small town of Zapallar is located on Chile's Central Coast a few hours drive north of the capital, Santiago. This is where Chile's wealthy and famous like to spend a weekend by the sea in any one of the fabulous old villas which cling to the hillside overlooking the beach. As a result visitors are particularly well catered for… read more »

  • Caleta Cóndor // Chile

    Caleta Cóndor
    © Jfbustos / CC BY

    Sitting at the mouth of the Río Cholguaco river in the Los Lagos region of Southern Chile is what is possibly the most stunning beach in the country. A crescent of bone white sand meets the turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean, all backed by thick, lush forest. Caleta Cóndor certainly has the appearance of a paradisical tropical beach, however the temperature… read more »

  • Baia do Sancho // Brazil

    Baia do Sancho
    Hans von Manteuffel

    The volcanic archipelago of Fernando de Noronha off the north eastern coast of Brazil is home to many fantastic beaches. However, it is Baia do Sancho that takes the crown of, not only the finest beach on the island, but possibly the best beach in Brazil. That's pretty good going considering there are well over 2,000 other great beaches in… read more »

  • Ipanema Beach // Brazil

    Ipanema Beach
    Juliana Lopes

    The mere mention of the name Ipanema Beach conjures thoughts of a perfect tropical setting, beautiful bronzed bodies, acres of powder-white sand and the alluring ocean blue. You won't be disappointed, except for the setting, because Rio's southern latitude - just north of the Tropic of Capricorn - means it is merely sub-tropical. However, that never stopped anyone and Ipanema… read more »

  • Vina del Mar // Chile

    Vina del Mar

    The coastal resort of Viña del Mar is home to a number of Chile's best beaches. Within easy reach of the capital, Santiago, Viña del Mar is a popular spot for weekends and the summer break when it really comes to life.

    The weather in Viña del Mar is often described as Mediterranean, meaning it is generally warm and dry.… read more »

  • Isla Damas // Chile

    Isla Damas

    The beaches on Isla Damas are quite unusual for Chile and you could be mistaken for thinking you had mistakenly landed on an island somewhere in the Mediterranean. The landscape is arid with low shrubs clinging to the sandy soil. There are two beaches on the island; La Poza and Las Tijeras both of which have fine white sand and… read more »

  • Playa Tunquén // Chile

    Playa Tunquén

    Despite being within day trip distance of Valparaiso the beach at Tunquén is still relatively undeveloped and retains its wild character, unlike virtually any other in the region. This is a good-sized beach measuring around 2km in length and even if it ever did get busy (which it doesn't) there would be plenty of space to avoid the crowds.

    Behind the beach is… read more »

  • Bahía Inglesa // Chile

    Bahía Inglesa

    Bahía Inglesa is a small resort village in the north of Chile with the Atacama desert to one side and the Pacific Ocean the other. There are a number of beaches in the immediate area but it is the stretch of beach directly in front of the village that is best known - and allegedly one of the most photographed… read more »

  • Morro de São Paulo // Brazil

    Morro de São Paulo
    Edwiges Lopes Tavares

    On arriving at this idyllic island destination just south of the city of Salvador, first time visitors may well think that little can have changed since the mid-1530s. This is when colonial explorers first landed on the virgin beaches of Tinharé Island in Bahia and realised the enormous strategic importance it held for the region.

    Situated on the northeastern… read more »

  • Playa Reñaca // Chile

    Playa Reñaca
    © Pablo Rodríguez / CC BY

    The city beach of Playa Reñaca is a place for fun. It has fantastic parties, crowds, and a lot of fun activities. This is a tourist hot spot in the north of Chile, and lives up to its other name of "Long beach", being a long stretch of fine golden sand. In fact the beach is divided into six sectors,… read more »

  • Playa El Canelillo // Chile

    Playa El Canelillo
    © Warko / CC BY

    With its white sandy beaches and turquoise waters, Playa El Canelillo is a beautiful slice of paradise for relaxing. The water is generally calm, so you can enjoy a swim in the shallow waters. It can be a little chilly (!) though. Given this is such a lovely beach it can get busy here during the summer months.

    To the back… read more »

  • Playa Blanca // Chile

    Playa Blanca
    © Christian Córdova / CC BY

    With its white sand and crystal clear waters, Playa Blanca is one of the most beautiful beaches in Chile. Located in the little town of Tongoy, near Coquimbo, this picturesque crescent of sand is backed by hills. One of the most notable features is the huge sand dune at the northern end of the bay.

    Being Chile, the water is fairly… read more »

  • Playa La Rinconada // Chile

    Playa La Rinconada
    © Municipalidad Antofagasta / CC BY

    Playa La Rinconada is set in the stunning surroundings of the Atacama desert. It has fine white sand that stretches out to the clear waters, and it is warm enough to swim in the summer months (from December to February). This is a uniquely beautiful location, and there is plenty of interesting flora and fauna including fish, crabs, gulls, and… read more »

  • Playa de Ramuntcho // Chile

    Playa de Ramuntcho
    © Daga / CC BY

    Playa de Ramuntcho is situated on the Hualpén peninsula near the town of Talcahuano. It is about 15 to 20 minutes hike from the area's main beach of Caleta Lenga. This is definitely the most beautiful beach within easy driving distance of the city of Concepcion and feels a million miles from the hustle and bustle of urban life.

    The… read more »