Google Maps offer a fun & easy way to navigate satellite imagery. It has been quite the buzz in North America and, now, Google has more detailed satellite images available for South America. However, the detail is better for the cities than the rural areas. The imagery of Buenos Aires is actually quite good. As is this view of Rio and you can still zoom in for more detail.

I went looking for some nice natural destinations, but the imagery just wasn’t that good. Iguazú Falls should provide something great, but it didn’t through Google Maps. Also, I thought that the Nazca Lines in Peru might be worthwhile but the imagery is too high level. The same with Machu Picchu and Cuzco. You can browse around and look at those areas for yourself but it’s not much different than looking at a map.

I have an interest in volcanos and Google Maps do provide a good view of volcanos in South America. Check out the volcano maipo in Chile for an impressive sight. Also, further south in the Patagonian Andes is the sight of multiple volcanos. That’s Lanin on the lower right and Villarica in the upper left.

The glaciers are always popular; the image is of the Perito Moreno Glacier. Zoom out a bit and move up to the north around the lakes and see if you can find the even larger Upsala Glacier.