Lima
Peru · capital
-12.0464, -77.0428
Reference map
Map of South America
Major South American cities, capitals, and economic hubs on one map.
Andean
7 locationsBogotá
Colombia · capital
4.7110, -74.0721
Quito
Ecuador · capital
-0.1807, -78.4678
La Paz
Bolivia · seat of govt
-16.5000, -68.1500
Caracas
Venezuela · capital
10.4806, -66.9036
Medellín
Colombia · 2nd largest
6.2476, -75.5709
Guayaquil
Ecuador · port
-2.1709, -79.9224
Argentina
3 locationsBuenos Aires
Argentina · capital
-34.6037, -58.3816
Córdoba
Argentina · 2nd largest
-31.4201, -64.1888
Rosario
Argentina · Santa Fe
-32.9442, -60.6505
Brazil
8 locationsSão Paulo
Brazil · largest
-23.5505, -46.6333
Rio de Janeiro
Brazil · iconic
-22.9068, -43.1729
Brasília
Brazil · capital
-15.7942, -47.8822
Salvador
Brazil · Bahia
-12.9714, -38.5014
Belo Horizonte
Brazil · Minas Gerais
-19.9167, -43.9345
Recife
Brazil · Northeast
-8.0476, -34.8770
Porto Alegre
Brazil · south
-30.0346, -51.2177
Curitiba
Brazil · Paraná
-25.4284, -49.2733
Chile
2 locationsSantiago
Chile · capital
-33.4489, -70.6693
Valparaíso
Chile · port city
-33.0472, -71.6127
Other
2 locationsMontevideo
Uruguay · capital
-34.9011, -56.1645
Asunción
Paraguay · capital
-25.2637, -57.5759
South America at a glance
12 sovereign states plus French Guiana (French territory).
- Largest by area: Brazil — and the only Portuguese-speaking country
- Most-visited: Argentina, Brazil, Peru
- Andes mountains run the entire western length
Travel highlights
Bucket-list trips abound in South America.
- Machu Picchu (Peru) and the Inca Trail
- Iguazú Falls (Argentina/Brazil border)
- Galápagos Islands (Ecuador)
- Patagonia (Chile/Argentina)
Pro tips
A few things experienced travelers know.
- Buenos Aires + Iguazú + Rio is a popular 2-week loop
- Altitude sickness is real in Cusco and La Paz
- Carnival (Brazil) is February/March; book a year ahead
Frequently asked questions
How many countries in South America?
12 sovereign states.
Largest country?
Brazil — 8.5 million km², over half the continent.
Most-spoken language?
Spanish (most countries), then Portuguese (Brazil).
Highest peak?
Aconcagua, in Argentina, at 6,961 m.
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