Laying within the tropics, subtropics and temperate zone, South America is like a world on its own. The Caribbean coasts and islands of Colombia and Venezuela, the lush shoreline of Brazil, the untouched volcanic Easter Island and the legendary Galapagos Islands all boast some of the most unique snorkeling spots in the world. Whether you’re willing to explore an extended coral reef or simply want to get up close and personal with friendly sea turtles or sea lions, South America may be the best opportunity to truly immerse yourself in nature.

Snorkeling destinations in South America

French Guiana

(1 spot online)

Despite warm waters and a high density of fish, the coasts of French Guiana are almost not suitable for snorkeling. Underwater visibility, altered by sediments dumped by the Amazon basin, is most of time nearly zero in the region. To have a chance to snorkel in French Guiana, you will have to be luc (...)
Galápagos Islands

(11 spots online)

Home to marine life found nowhere else in the world, the Galápagos archipelago is a legendary snorkeling destination. This chain of 19 islands and dozens of islets in the Pacific Ocean, about 600 miles off South America, existed mostly untouched for millions of years. Due to a lack of natural predat (...)
Venezuela

(1 spot online)

With nearly 3000km of coastline and 72 islands bathed by the Caribbean Sea, Venezuela offers a great diversity of marine environments, still secluded. If there are few sites for snorkeling on the continental coast, the Venezuelan islands are home to coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves that prom (...)
Easter Island

(1 spot online)

Although Easter Island (also called Rapa Nui) is not a leading snorkeling destination, this tiny island located seemingly at the end of the world, at the foot of the moai, offers unforgettable snorkeling experiences. In the absence of coral reefs, there are few snorkeling spots on the island- that c (...)

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