The Caribbean is often touted as having the best beaches in the Western Hemisphere, but I’m here to tell you about South American beaches that beat even the best Caribbean islands.
South America is without a doubt the most geographically diverse continent on earth. While most people might know it for the dense jungles or the towering peaks of both the Patagonia and Andes mountain chains, some of the world’s best beach towns are hidden away.
Every Latin American country has its fair share of paradise beaches, but I’m just going to show you my favorites (including a hidden gem in Peru that most people have no idea about).
If you’re dreaming of scorching heat, dreamy white sand, turquoise blue surf and cocktails under a palm tree, read on; I’ve got you covered.
But why should you ditch the Dominican in favour of the mainland?
When I think of travel, I dream of adventure on a budget. The Caribbean islands are some of the most expensive destinations on the planet; take, for example, Barbados, where the average cost of a holiday is an eye-watering $300 per day.
Getting to these destinations is also cheaper a lot of the time, thanks mostly to huge transit airports like Bogota or Rio de Janeiro being close by. As if this wasn’t enough, there is also vastly more to do, more culture to experience and, in the case of Peru, some of the best food on earth.
You won’t find any of that in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Colombia- Tayrona National Park
Tayrona is quickly becoming Colombia’s prime tourist destination, and YouTube is awash with overproduced, uninformative vlogs about the park. But while a lot of these videos may be slightly misleading, one thing is certain: Parque Tayrona is the real deal.
The coastal park and ecological reserve sits on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, close to Barranquilla and Santa Marta. The latter of which is the town that most backpackers use as a jumping-off point when travelling to the park.
But why should I go there?
Put simply, just take a look at the photos below. All of which were taken on my trip in June 2023.
The area around Parque Tayrona is scorching hot, with average temperatures in the winter hitting as high as 35 degrees. In other words, it’s well hot, might be too hot. Moreover, the beaches and surrounding jungle are truly pristine. The water is crystal blue and on the designated swimming beaches, it is very calm.
What can I do there?
Geographically, the area is very interesting. There is a large mountain range that rises immediately from the ocean; in fact, it’s the tallest freestanding mountain range in the world. So there is a wealth of hiking available in the park if you stay for a few days.
You can also book boat tours that include fishing and scuba diving, which I’ve heard amazing things about but didn’t have the chance to do.
First and foremost, though, spend time relaxing on the beach. Even if you’re like me and don’t particularly enjoy long beach days, the area is so spectacular that you will regret it if you don’t.
Where should I stay in the park?
It is possible to visit the park on a day trip from Santa Marta, but I don’t recommend this. Instead, book accommodation right on the beach. Most backpackers stay at Cabo San Juan, which is the site of the iconic photo of the conjoined beaches with a lookout.
I stayed for 2 nights at Cabo San Juan in a hammock, which cost me approximately $10 a night. The hammocks come equipped with a mosquito net and a locker for a small bag; seriously, the locker is tiny—pack light!
Pro-tip: The hike is 2 hours long and VERY hot; buy some water before you enter the park and pack very light.
My Top-Tips
Firstly, there are no ATMs at all in the park, and card payments aren’t accepted anywhere because of how remote it is. Take out all the cash you’ll need when you’re in Santa Marta; day-to-day expenses will cost you about £40 without booking any tours.
Getting to the park entrance from Santa Marta is easy; you have two options: either a bus or a taxi. Uber doesn’t exist in Santa Marta, so you will have to book a taxi through your hostel. We paid 125k pesos each way to the entrance (pictured below). But I do feel like we overpaid.
Alternatively, you can catch a bus to the park entrance for 15k pesos.
There are two places where you can take the bus from Santa Marta to Tayrona: At the main bus station, outside the city. At the Mercado Publico (Market) | Calle 11 con Carrera 11. Bus Santa Marta-Tayrona: 1 hour
Finally, take a lot of insect repellent and sun cream; the mosquitoes and sunburn here are vicious, and you will regret not buying any when you’re forced to buy some for the outrageous price they charge inside the park.
Panama/ Colombia: San Blas Islands
Situated just off the coast of Panama, the San Blas are an archipelago of low-lying paradise islands. If you imagine an island where an exhiled pirate spends the rest of their days drinking rum in the sun, you’re probably pretty close.
In fact, they featured in the massively popular Netflix show Money Heist (hint: it’s where Tokyo and Rio enjoyed their retirement in season 3).
The islands are inhabited by the local Cunha people; most of the overnight halts are run by Cunhas and give you an amazing opportunity to experience their culture and eat freshly caught fish straight from the ocean.
How much does it cost?
The islands are obviously only accessible by boat and are best done on a multi-day tour. You can book these in either Panama or Cartagena. Tours are normally five days long, with two of them being sea crossings.
I recommend booking in Cartagena with San Blas Adventures; prices depend on the time of year, but they normally cost about £400. This might seem steep, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience with everything bar alcohol included.
What should I pack?
Make sure you take a lot of sun cream and insect repellent, most importantly.
If you’re like me and you want to live out your fantasy of being an exiled pirate living out your days drinking rum on the beach, you should buy alcohol before the tour starts.
My Top-Tips
As the tour starts in Colombia and ends in Panama, you should look into the visa requirements for your entry. In my case as a British citizen, it’s as simple as a visa on arrival; for most nationalities, it should be this simple, but do your research before you book anything.
Brazil: Ilha Grande
Ilha Grande is, as the name suggests, Brazil’s biggest island. More than that, though, it is a true gem of Rio de Janeiro State.
If you visit the island, you can soak in a relaxed party atmosphere while surrounded by thick, pristine jungle, a large mountain in the centre of the island, and most importantly, clean, beautiful beaches.
To get there, just get a bus from the Rio de Janeiro bus station to either Angra dos Reis, Mangaratiba, or Conceição de Jacareí. Then just get a boat to the island!
What can I do there?
As we said, most people travel to the island to enjoy the tropical climate and relaxed beaches—a perfect contrast from the chaos of Rio or Sao Paulo.
However, there is much more to this stunning island. Those with an adventurous spirit should do the morning hike to the summit of Parrot Peak; the views are simply too beautiful to describe. Parrot Peak is actually the second-highest mountain on the island, but its views are by far the best.
You will ascend through the Atlantic rainforest and emerge at 982m above sea level before being greeted by views of the ocean and Brazil’s dramatic coastline.
You can book this tour through Ilha Grande Hiking.
What should I take with me?
As with any getaway in the tropics, insect repellent is an absolute must. Learn from my mistake; the mosquitoes and other biting insects here are ruthless, and you will regret not having any.
Brazil has a moderate risk of yellow fever as well, so get the vaccine before you travel. It’s relatively inexpensive, and your immunity lasts for life!
Finally, take a good camera with you. The views and beaches here are incredible; you need to do the scenery justice when you capture memories for your Instagram feed!
Peru: Mancora
This is probably my favourite from this list; northern Peru is criminally underrated and, crucially, under-visited. The north of Peru is surprisingly scorching hot, even in the depths of winter, which is when I visited.
What can I do there?
Sitting on the Pacific coast Mancora is a Mecca for two things: surfing and seafood. You might think, but there’s seafood everywhere on this list? Well in case you didn’t know, Peruvian food is truly some of the best in the world. There is nowhere better on the continent for foodies to indulge and experiment with new dishes like ceviche or lomo saltado.
Mancora is also one of the cheapest and best places in Latin America to do water sports.
What else should I know?
As I said, Mancora is quite off-the-beaten-track, so you’ll only find hostels up there. But there is a fantastic collection of places for you to stay. Ranging from party hostels to luxurious stays like Selina
To get to Mancora, you can fly from Lima to Piura before getting a 3-hour bus, or you can get an overnight lie-flat bus from Lima.
Finally, make sure you pack sunscreen. It’s really surprising how hot it is; if you don’t wear it, you will be bright red after a few hours on the beach.
Summary
I hope you enjoyed my collection of beaches that beat the best Caribbean islands. If you ever get the chance, visit these stunning locations and immerse yourself in the beauty of the local cultures and food, you’ll thank me later!
