Two and a half miles of the most famous beach in Brazil means Copacabana will feature heavily in anyone's idea of the best beach in South America. Its is a hive of activity with large family groups playing soccer, vendors selling food and couples taking romantic strolls through the surf.

Just off the beach the Avenida Atlantica allows visitors the ultimate people watching opportunities with bars and restaurants catering to every taste. Why not dine on Feijoada (a famous Brazilian black bean stew) and sip on Caipirinha cocktails then burn off lunch with a leisurely cycle ride skirting the beach towards sugar loaf mountain?

On Sundays the authorities close off the boulevard to traffic giving a slower paced feel to the iconic beach, or if you'd prefer your experience to be dialled up a notch try visiting on New Year's Eve when the beach hosts one of the largest celebrations on the planet, bringing together three million people for the world renowned firework display.

Just a short flight from Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, will take you to long shingle beaches that seem to go on forever, crystal clear waters and sandstone cliffs that fall into the ocean. Your company for the day will be fur seals, penguins, seabirds and even the odd armadillo as you stroll the sea shore scouting for whales off the coast.

Aim to visit between June and December when you could witness a true natural phenomenon; the resident Orca pod on the peninsula are believed to be one of only two in the world that will beach themselves in order to catch their prey.  

The vastness and tranquillity of Peninsula Valdes makes for a truly unique South American beach experience.

Anakena beach is the best beach on Easter island in more ways than one. Its idyllic white sand and warm waters are unlike the rocky volcanic shores found elsewhere on the island, and its true uniqueness comes from its cultural significance to the people of Easter Island.

Over a thousand years ago Hotu Matu'a, the first king of the Rapa Nui, disembarked on this very beach and built the first settlement of this mystifying civilization. Still known today as sacred land by locals and rated as one of the best beaches in South America, it's a must see for any Easter Island itinerary.  

Try to visit in the morning for a chance of a one-to-one with the Moai statues and then enjoy a barbeque lunch under swaying coconut palm trees brought over from Tahiti.

Need a digital detox? How about getting closer to nature? Or what about simply relaxing on some of the loveliest South American beaches? Then Tayrona National Park could be the place you have been looking for.

Being arguably the best national park in Colombia, Tayrona is a fantastic place to visit if you're needing white sand beaches and the brilliant blue waters of the Caribbean combines with a jungle interior teeming with wildlife. Walk through dinosaur egg sized boulders getting the sand between your toes and listen to the call of the monkeys, birds and perhaps even the elusive jaguar.

One particular beach should be the destination in mind and that's the mirrored beach at Cabo San Juan. Here two beaches reflect each other when viewed from the hilltop above giving visitors incredible photo opportunities. Easily tagged onto almost any Colombia trip, take the time to bring the relaxing Caribbean to your larger South America adventure.

The sleepy coastal town of Paracas is often overlooked when planning a trip to Peru. Of course everyone should witness the scale of Machu Picchu and call of the wild in the Amazon, but this fishing town is quickly gaining a reputation. With the flora and fauna of Isla Ballestas on its doorstep and a host of luxury hotels springing up on its coastline, Paracas is creeping more and more into the minds of visitors.

Being en route to the historic city of Arequipa, Paracas will give you a great opportunity to slow down, get some R&R and experience the slower pace of life away from the tourist hubs; something that wealthy Limeños have been coming down from the capital to enjoy for a while now.

Praia do Forte should be treated as a peaceful limbo between the dizzying excitement of Rio, the spectacular Iguaçu Falls and the Afro-Caribbean pulsating heart of Salvador.  

The beach is one of the most beautiful and pleasant spots in the north-east of Brazil; everything is within walking distance and night or day you are never far from the lapping waves or delicious restaurants. You can walk along the beach looking for sea life in the tide pools, or even pay a visit to the TAMAR project, a vital sea turtle preservation centre. Here they educate visitors in the importance of keeping these beautiful creatures in the teeming waters just off shore where they belong and it's a great experience for families.

Tortuga Bay beach, voted one of the best beaches in the world, is famous for its pristine shoreline that slides gently into the Pacific Ocean. Take a 45 minute walk through forests of cactus to the southern part of Santa Cruz island to relax and soak up the sun with nothing but marine iguanas for company.

This recreational area can be reached without the need for a guide making it popular with hikers and nature lovers alike. Explore the lagoons at your own pace and gain a great insight into the richness of the marine life in this beautiful corner of the Galapagos Islands.

When you include the City of Roses in your holiday to Chile it gives you the perfect chance to slow down in an enchanting town with a sweeping lakeside promenade and magnificent views of the distant volcanoes. The rocky beaches are better suited to long strolls and skimming stones rather than laying down catching the sun, but the activities on water will rival any a coastal town has to offer.

Just two hours’ drive from Montevideo, the Capital of Uruguay, lies the lively and glamorous beach resort of Punta del Este. Popular with locals and visitors alike who head here for the world class cuisine, casinos, nightlife and long, sandy beaches, Punta del Este is Uruguay’s most well-known resort.

Easy to navigate, you can spend your days with large areas of beach to yourself, combined with trips to local vineyards, art installations (look out for 'Los Dedos', a giant hand in the sand) and have just enough time to watch the sun set over the Atlantic.

Beautiful Ilha Grande is the traffic free island paradise your trip to Brazil could need! It's done an excellent job of welcoming visitors to its lush surroundings without feeling overrun by tourism, and it's secluded coves are often referred to as some of the best beaches in South America.

A two hour transfer south from Rio de Janeiro will bring you to secluded jungle, waterfalls and desert island beaches. Paraty was a key stop over for the gold laden Portuguese on the way home until the 1800's when a new road bypassed the town and it became stalled in time. Mostly abandoned until the 1970's, this charming town will give you utterly jaw dropping beaches with a town packed full of heritage.

Having arrived from either Rio or Ilha Grande, Paraty is best accessed on foot as motor vehicles are banned.

For more inspiration, take a look at our Central & South America Holidays pages.