South America is a continent made up of sovereign states such as Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. From its stunning geographical points of interest (like the Andes and the Amazon) to its rich culture and history, this is a wonderful spot to consider when planning a getaway.

While different areas of South America offer up different activities and sights, there are many spots that can be described in one word: mythical. The legends surrounding them, the religious tones they have, the way they are used today, the beliefs people have about them… These unique monuments, structures, places, stories, people, rituals and landmarks belong on everyone’s must-see list!

To further explain why travelers should plan trips to this continent, we have rounded up and explained in detail 20 of these mythical and mystical spots around South America. They all have interesting origins and traits, and seeking out any or all of them would make for a wonderful vacay!

20 Easter Island’s Monuments

Easter Island is known for its statues, the moai, which were created during 1100–1680 AD. There have been 887 of these statues found, and while they may just look like heads, they actually have torsos, too. This island also has other myths associated with it, such as tangata manu (the Birdman cult) and aku-aku (guardians of the sacred family caves).

19 The Pyramids Of Teotihuacan

The ancient city of Teotihuacan is known for its Mesoamerican pyramids; the pyramids of the sun and the moon were built due to the worshiping of these two celestial bodies. And the Pyramid of the Sun is actually the third biggest pyramid on the planet, and at the top of it, human sacrifices used to take place.

18 Nazca Lines’ Significance

Another spot to see in South America, which also has religious ties, would be the Nazca Lines; these are geoglyphs that can be found in the soil of the Nazca Desert in Peru. They have been around since between 500 BCE and 500 CE, and some of them make up shapes such as plants and animals.

17 Tulcán’s Cemetery

Tulcán, which is in Ecuador, boasts things like hot springs and a topiary garden cemetery that spans across three acres. This is the New World’s most elaborate topiary, and it all came about in 1936.

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Not many people can say they have seen a cemetery quite like this.

16 The Monster Of Lake Tota

The biggest lake in Colombia is Lake Tota, and a legend surrounding this body of water has to do with The Monster of Lake Tota; some people believed a diablo ballena ("devil whale") lived here, and it was described to look like “a fish with a black head like an ox and larger than a whale."

15 The Details Of San Agustín Archaeological Park

Something else to consider is The San Agustín Archaeological Park. This place houses Latin America’s biggest collection of religious monuments/sculptures and is the biggest necropolis on the planet.

It is assumed that these monuments are funeral statuary, placed around as a way to protect people during the afterlife.

14 Mythical Museum Ramón Elías’ Artifacts

Of course, the Mythical Museum Ramón Elías is on this list, as well, since it is a mythology museum that’s located in Paraguay. Since myths are such a big part of this culture, an entire museum exists, to educate more people on the topic!

13 Machu Picchu’s Grandeur

Perhaps the most notable landmark in South America is Machu Picchu in Peru; it is an Inca citadel from the 15th century, and it is believed that it was built as an estate for Pachacuti, the Inca emperor. There are also areas here that were used for religious and ceremonial purposes.

12 Peru’s Ushnus

An ushnu is like a terraced pyramid that was used for Incan ceremonies. In particular, it was utilized during rituals in which liquids were offered up in sacrifice, as it seems to translate to "the place of stones where the water filters."

11 Pisac’s Celebrations

Písac, a Peruvian village, is another mythical place to think about seeing in South America, with ruins and with Willka Raymi; this is a feast that takes place each year on August 24th. Nearby, there is also the sanctuary of Huanca, where pilgrims visit each September.

10 The Origin Of Isla Del Sol

Isla del Sol, which is part of Bolivia, means Island of the Sun, since the Incas thought the sun god was born here. There are also more than 80 ruins on this island, and many of them can be traced back to the Inca period.

9 Salt Cathedral Of Zipaquira’s Spirituality

For an even more unique destination, there is The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá. As the name suggests, this church is built underground, in a salt mine in Colombia. From the hand-carved details to the fact that 3,000 people go to church here each Sunday, this is definitely a sight to see.

8 The Llamuqa Of The Andes

Llamuqa is a mountain in the Andes. Located in Peru, it boasts archaeological remains. And the word llamuqa translates to “a black stone consisting of iron with curative powers.”

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This is also tied to the word apu, which is a mountain spirit or rocks/caves that protect people.

7 Colombia’s Legends

Colombia alone has so many legends, meaning it has so many reasons to visit: There is El Hombre Caimán, The Alligator Man of Plato. There is El Silbón, a lost soul. And there is The Tunda, a shapeshifting, female-looking figure that draws people to the forest.

6 The Intrigue Of Pedra Pintada

It is clear how Pedra Pintada got its name, as this means “Painted Rock." Found in Brazil, this large rock has pictograms inscribed on it! Thinking about where they came from, who put them there and what they could mean could lead to a very fun adventure.

5 Patagonia's City Of The Caesars

The City of the Caesars is a mythical city, which is said to be located in Patagonia. People have heard about it for two hundred years, yet no one has found anything.

So, some people may want to head to the Andes, between Chile and Argentina, somewhere in this region, to see if anything can be discovered.

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4 The Remains Of Tiwanaku

Another archaeological site can be found in Bolivia: Tiwanaku. Its modern name may be tied to the term taypiqala, which means "stone in the center," so people may have thought that this was the center of the world.

Nevertheless, it has ceramics, monuments and other historical artifacts to see.

3 Shamans Of The Amazon

Shamanism is about reaching altered states of consciousness, about interacting with the spirit world and about channeling energy. And on this continent and specifically in the Amazon, shamans can be found. In fact, ayahuasca tourism is popular, and it involves a brew used as a spiritual medicine.

2 Bogotá’s Monserrate Sanctuary

The biggest city in and the capital city of Columbia is Bogotá, and here, guests can see something special: the Monserrate Sanctuary. It came to be between 1650 and 1657, and it is quite impressive, sitting up high above everything else in this area.

1 The Mystery Of El Dorado

And, of course, there is El Dorado. This legend actually started out as a man who covered himself in gold and went into Lake Guatavita. Then, people thought it was a city. After that, it was thought to be a kingdom. And now, the belief is that there is an entire golden empire out there, waiting to be found.

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