We have barely begun to scratch the surface of the fascinating continent of South America. So far, we’ve only visited Aruba and Bonaire however we dream of visiting Peru, Venezuela, Brazil, and many other South American nations.
A Brief History of South America…
Believe it or not, South America is thought to have first been inhabited by humans as far back as 9000 BC. Civilizations in this region have always been known as agrarian communities. There is evidence that the natives began domesticating llamas, vicunas, guanacos, and alpacas as early as 3500. These animals have a long history of being sources of meat, wool, and transportation.
Pre-Columbian cultures include Canaris, Chimu, Inca, and other ancient people. These cultures created vast cities and thrived until the age of European colonization. In 1494 Portugal and Spain began claiming the land as their own. With them, they brought infectious diseases such as influenza, measles, typhus, and smallpox which wiped out much of the natives.
One of the Spaniard’s main goals was to convert the natives to Christianity. They destroyed many native artworks, melted down their gold and silver sculptures, and tried to wipe out any ceremonies that they deemed as pagan. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to completely wipe out the culture.
Sadly, the Europeans enslaved many of the indigenous people. The Europeans discovered that Africans had a stronger immune system to the European diseases and began importing them to South America. Slavery existed on the continent until 1888.
A list of countries and territories
- Argentina
- Aruba
- Bolivia
- Bonaire
- Bouvet Island
- Brazil
- Chile
- Columbia
- Curaçao
- Ecuador
- Falkland Islands
- French Guiana
- Guyana
- Paraguay
- Peru
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- Suriname
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
The islands that are in bold are ones that we have had the opportunity to visit over the years. As we publish articles about these destinations, we’ll add information about the island(s) below.
Aruba
Aruba is located in the Southern Caribbean, just north of South America. In fact, it’s so close that you can see lights from Venezuela once the sunsets. What surprised me most about Aruba was its terrain. I was expecting lush green hillsides, much like the rest of the Caribbean. However, much of the island is actually a desert. Although it does have beautiful beaches, the island is completely different than any other Caribbean I’ve been to. Aruba is a charming little island with tons of adventures waiting to be had!
Bonaire
Bonaire is a tiny island municipality of the Netherlands located just off the coast of Venezuela. Although it is located on the South American continent, it is often considered to be part of the Caribbean. It is surrounded by a stunning reef and fabulous beaches making it truly one of the most gorgeous places on our planet. Bonaire, along with the rest of the ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire & Curacao) is truly magical. Click to read more about Bonaire.
