Article Highlights:

  • Explore rare marine life in the Galapagos Islands archipelago on guided Galapagos tours.
  • Spot elusive jaguars and pink dolphins in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest during the dry season.
  • See pumas and condors amid Argentina and Chile’s Patagonian steppes from November to March.
  • Discover sloths, monkeys and toucans year-round in Costa Rica’s (in Central America, yes) vibrant cloud forests.
  • Trek the Andean Mountain range to encounter llamas, vicuñas and high-altitude condors.

 

 

South America is a continent of extremes: towering mountains, dense jungles, volcanic islands and sweeping grasslands. For wildlife enthusiasts, it offers some of the most diverse and thrilling opportunities to see animals in their natural habitats. Whether you’re birding in the cloud forests of Costa Rica or swimming with sea lions in the Galapagos archipelago, every region has something wild to offer. Here’s a guide to the best places to see wildlife across the continent, along with when to go and what you might encounter.

 

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

The Galapagos Islands archipelago is one of the most iconic wildlife destinations in the world, and for good reason. These volcanic islands, scattered 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, are home to species found nowhere else on Earth. You’ll encounter giant tortoises, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, flightless cormorants and playful sea lions, all up close and often unafraid of humans.

Wildlife lovers can book Galapagos Islands tours that offer hiking, snorkeling and kayaking excursions across islands like Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristobal. The best time to visit is from June to November when the Humboldt Current brings nutrient-rich waters, making marine life sightings particularly spectacular.

Global Rescue was recently called to action in the area when a member suffered serious injuries while biking on Isla de San Cristobal. Swift intervention and medical transport ensured she received surgical care without delay, highlighting the need for robust travel protection, especially in remote areas like the Galapagos.

 

Amazon Rainforest, Brazil and Peru

The Amazon rainforest stretches across nine countries, but Brazil hosts the largest section, offering unrivaled access to its jungle wildlife. Travelers can expect to see jaguars (if they’re lucky), sloths, pink river dolphins, macaws, howler monkeys and poison dart frogs. Boat tours through flooded forests and nighttime jungle treks increase your chances of encountering both predators and prey.

The dry season (June to November) is the best time to explore the Amazon, as lower water levels make wildlife more visible. During one trip through the Amazon region of Brazil, a Global Rescue member experienced sharp chest pain while on a boat tour. With no helicopter or floatplane access, Global Rescue coordinated ground transportation and cardiologic care, ultimately helping the member return safely home. It’s a stark reminder that even an epic wildlife adventure in the Amazon requires preparation for the unexpected.

 

Costa Rica

Though technically in Central America, Costa Rica belongs on any list of top wildlife experiences for travelers exploring the broader region. With more than 25 percent of its land protected as national parks or reserves, Costa Rica is a biodiversity powerhouse. You’ll see three-toed sloths hanging from trees, capuchin monkeys swinging through the canopy and resplendent quetzals flashing their iridescent feathers in the cloud forests.

Costa Rica’s wildlife is on full display year-round, but the dry season (December to April) offers the best conditions for hiking and photography. Global Rescue was instrumental in saving a traveler who suffered sudden cardiac arrest while visiting San Jose. The member needed an emergency pacemaker and was later escorted home by a Global Rescue medical team. It’s a powerful example of what happens when expert support is on your side, even in highly developed eco-tourism destinations.

 

Patagonian Steppes, Argentina and Chile

For a truly remote and rugged wildlife experience, head south to Patagonia. Spanning southern Argentina and Chile, the Patagonian steppes and mountains offer stunning backdrops for spotting guanacos, foxes, Andean condors and even elusive pumas. Torres del Paine National Park in Chile and Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina are ideal launch points for wildlife safaris and trekking expeditions.

Summer in the Southern Hemisphere — November through March — is the ideal time to visit. Clear skies, longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures make wildlife watching more accessible. Puma tracking tours in Torres del Paine have become increasingly popular, offering rare glimpses of South America’s top predator in its native habitat.

 

Andean Mountain Range

Running like a spine down the continent’s western edge, the Andean mountain range cuts through Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. This high-altitude region is home to an impressive cast of mountain-dwelling animals, including spectacled bears, chinchillas, llamas, vicuñas and condors. In Peru, condors soar above Colca Canyon, while in Bolivia, flamingos gather in surreal high-altitude lagoons.

May through September is generally the dry season, offering the best conditions for trekking and wildlife photography. Whether you’re climbing Incan trails or exploring colonial towns nestled in the Andes, encounters with wildlife are often unexpected and awe-inspiring.

 

Pantanal Wetlands, Brazil

Often overshadowed by the Amazon, the Pantanal is one of the best places on Earth to see jaguars in the wild. This massive tropical wetland in western Brazil is also teeming with caimans, giant river otters, capybaras and hundreds of bird species, including the jabiru stork and hyacinth macaw.

July through October, during the dry season, is prime time for jaguar spotting along the riverbanks. The open landscape of the Pantanal makes wildlife easier to observe than in the dense Amazon rainforest. Lodges and river-based safaris offer immersive multi-day experiences perfect for serious wildlife photographers and birdwatchers.

 

Iguazu National Park, Argentina and Brazil

Famous for the thundering Iguazu Falls, this national park is also a biodiversity hotspot. The surrounding Atlantic rainforest is home to coatis, toucans, howler monkeys and even jaguars. Elevated walkways and boat rides offer a unique perspective on both the falls and the fauna.

Visit from April to June or August to October for the best mix of weather and lower crowds. The falls are in full force, and wildlife tends to be more active during cooler periods. The park’s infrastructure makes it more accessible than some remote wildlife destinations, but the thrill of seeing a toucan swoop past the falls remains unforgettable.

 

The Global Rescue Connection

Wildlife adventures in South America promise jaw-dropping scenery, rare animal encounters and unforgettable stories, but they also come with inherent risks. Whether you’re trekking through the Patagonian steppes, cruising deep into the Amazon rainforest or pedaling across San Cristobal in the Galapagos, access to timely medical care is never guaranteed.

Global Rescue has helped members in each of these iconic destinations, delivering emergency care after a bike accident in the Galapagos, arranging a complex field rescue in the Amazon when air transport wasn’t possible and ensuring a safe medical escort home from Costa Rica following a life-threatening cardiac event.

With a Global Rescue membership, you’re not just protected, you’re connected to a global network of medical and security professionals who are ready to respond anytime, anywhere.