With coasts on the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Caribbean, South America has thousands of kilometers of beaches oceanic. Some are very popular, others remain hidden and others are true natural paradises.
Choosing the most beautiful ones, then, is a quite complicated task and will depend on the criteria of each tourist. However, the site Tripadvisorbased on millions of opinions, prepares a ranking that has managed to consolidate itself over the years.
In 2023, among the ten chosen, the majority are Brazilian, but there are also beaches from Colombia, Ecuador and Argentina. Here, the list, ordered from tenth to first place, occupied by the one that has also been declared as the best beach in the world.
What are the most beautiful beaches in South America?
10. San Luis (Colombia). The town of San Luis, on the island of San Andrés, preserves wooden houses and also has uncrowded beaches, such as Sound Bay, where the waves hit hard, and Cocoplum Bay, where there are restaurants serving typical island food. . More information here.
9. Geribá Beach (Brazil). A long strip of fine white sand next to cold, choppy waters, ideal for surfers, forms the best beach in the Buzios area, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Ponta do Marisco is worth a visit, where there are ancient rocks that show the separation of the American and African continents. Good gastronomic offer and several inns as accommodation. More information here.
8. Genipabu (Brazil). In Extremoz, 25 km from Natal (Río Grande do Norte), it welcomes tourists with warm waters almost all year round and a landscape dominated by dunes. Esquibunda practice is common here, which proposes going down the dunes to the Genipabú lagoon, with dark turquoise waters, sitting on a wooden board. There are also camel rides. More information here.
7. Tortuga Bay or Bahía Tortuga (Ecuador). This beach is on the island of Santa Cruz, which is part of the Galapagos archipelago. Ideal for surfing, but dangerous for swimming, Playa Brava has very strong currents. Playa Mansa, meanwhile, is an area of mangroves, with a bay where a stream flows. The sand looks like white talcum powder and contrasts with the turquoise blue of the waters. Giant turtles and sea lizards can be seen here. More information here.
6. El Doradillo (Argentina). It belongs to the El Doradillo Protected Natural Area and covers a strip 25 km long and 3 km wide north of Puerto Madryn. Between June and October tourists come here to see the whales. All year round it is an ideal place to watch the sunset at sea. More information here.
5. Pitinga Beach (Brazil). Near Arraial D’Ajuda (Bahía) it is surrounded by reddish rock formations, known as falésias, and from which you can get an unbeatable view of the place. You can also see the coral barrier that forms pools between it and the sand of the coast. The natural pools invite you to a relaxing bath. But it is also possible to practice surfing, kitesurfing and paragliding, among other activities. More information here.
4. Baia dos Dolphins (Brazil). Only accessible by sand, from Centro Beach or Madeiro Beach, when the tide is low, it has calm waters, thanks to a natural pool, at an almost always pleasant temperature. But the most notable thing is that here you can swim among tame and harmless dolphins (golfinhos) that come to the bay to look for food. More information here.
3. Quarta Praia (Brazil). The largest beach in Morro de Sao Paulo (Ilha de Tinharé, Bahia) is 8 km long and features coconut trees, mangroves, clear sand and very calm and transparent waters that allow you to observe the fish when the tide is low. There are some hotels, inns and eco-resorts. More information here.
2. Ipanema (Brazil). In Rio de Janeiro, its white sands stretch for 2 km and are flanked by luxury hotels. One of its sectors brings together the gay community and in another there are fields for various sports. In addition, you can see a statue of the composer Tom Jobin, author of the also famous song Garota de Ipanema. More information here.
1. Baia do Sancho (Brazil). You have to go to the remote Fernando de Noronha island to enjoy this beach, which is part of the Fernando de Noronha National Marine Park and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Highly sought after by lovers of adventure tourism and surfing, from here you have to climb Morro Dois Irmaos to get the best photos. More information here.