South America is home to some of the most picturesque lakes in the world. From the crystal-clear waters of Lake Titicaca spanning two countries to the famous Five-Colored Lagoon, the South American continent’s stunning lakes make for some of the most beautiful landscapes on the continent. Here, we take a look at the largest lakes in South America, based on square miles. (For square kilometers, multiply by 2.59.)
These large lakes are sprinkled throughout the continent, from Venezuela in the north to the southern cone of Argentina and Chile. These are the 10 biggest lakes in South America by surface area, though one is looking like a lost cause and will need to be replaced if things don’t turn around.
Presidente Ríos Lake – Chile
This Chilean lake equates to 121 square miles, so we’re starting on the smaller end of the largest lakes. However, its size is no small feat. It managed to stay hidden for quite a long time.
A recent discovery, documented by outsiders in just 1945, it is rumored that the native Chono people discovered the lake far earlier and kept it a secret. It’s in the middle of the Taito Peninsula, in a secluded area not served by roads west of Laguna San Rafael national park and mountains. So you’d need to go on some kind of expedition hike to reach this beautiful lake.
The closest city is Aysen, where there’s a new Explora lodge taking over the former Valle Chacabuco one and the Puyuhuapi Lodge and Spa.
Lake Valencia – Venezuela
Located in northern Venezuela, this 140-square-mile lake resides in the Aragua valley. There are several islands within it, both inhabited and not.
This lake was allegedly formed over 2 million years ago. Lake Valencia is not in great shape, with noted algae from wastewater contaminating it. It’s also been completely dry at certain points in history. So it is not much of a tourist draw even in tourist-depleted Venezuela.
It has long been a lake in trouble: Alexander von Humboldt used it as an example in papers about climate change caused by humans after a visit way back in 1800. With Venezuela’s complete economic meltdown in the past decade and a half, the water quality has continued to deteriorate.
Lake Argentino – Argentina
The 566 square-mile Lake Argentino is located in Patagonia, Argentina not far from the border with Chile. The biggest freshwater lake in the country, Lago Argentino is within the Los Glaciares National Park, a popular tourist destination.
The spectacular lake is fed by two major rivers, the Santa Cruz River and the Chico.
This lake is well-known to visitors as part of it is the setting for one of the most popular places in Argentina, the Perito Moreno Glacier. Calafate has an airport, so this is one of South America’s most popular private jet destinations if you’d like to get here quickly from another location in Patagonia.
We wrote about the area after our Calafate adventure tour in the area with Say Hueque Adventures. You can also walk right to the lake from the estancia we stayed at outside of the city: Nibepo Aike.
To give you a sense of how big this lake is, here’s how our review of Estancia Cristina describes the trip to get there by boat from Calafate, to the lodge inside of Los Glaciares National Park:
The 2.5-hour journey covers 30 miles across Lago Argentina and includes sight-seeing stops at the Upsala Glacier before arriving to the same small bay where Joseph Masters hauled his rowboat ashore so many years ago.
General Carrera Lake – Chile and Argentina
The largest lake in Chile, General Carrera Lake, also known as Lake Buenos Aires, is shared by the two countries. It’s 710 square miles and nearly 2,000 feet deep. It’s a glacial lake and is located in the Patagonian region, its deep blue waters surrounded by rugged mountains, vast glaciers, and lush evergreen forests.
General Carrera Lake is known for its excellent trout fishing, and is a popular spot for water sports like kayaking, as well as for camping and hiking opportunities. It is also a great place to spot wildlife, as the lake is home to a variety of animals, including guanacos, gray foxes, and Andean condors. If you are looking for an adventure or simply want to relax and take in the beauty of the lake and surrounding landscape, General Carrera Lake is an ideal destination.
We don’t feature any hotels on the banks of the lake, but this is a popular waterway for boat tours traveling between Chile and Argentina since the lake spans both countries. If you book a Chile + Argentina Patagonia tour that includes transit by water, there’s a good chance you’ll spend some time on General Carrera Lake.
Mar Chiquita – Argentina
Translating to “small ocean,” this lake is far from small, but it’s difficult to define its surface area because that changes a lot depending on the season. It could be classified as the continent’s largest lake during the rainy season, but then the size drops by two-thirds during drought periods. (There are, confusingly, two lagoons with this name in Argentina, the other smaller one right by the ocean.)
It is a Ramsar-recognized wetlands site and is of international importance for its wetland habitats and a popular tourist destination, particularly in summer, when its beaches and warm, calm waters attract thousands of people. One of the most popular spots near Cordoba, this lake is both beautiful and lively, with food options on the weekends, chair rentals, and more.
The lagoon is home to a wide variety of bird species, including a number of threatened species, and is an important stopover site for migratory birds. The lagoon is also an important habitat for fish species and is a popular spot for recreational fishing.
It is a naturally occurring salt lake and a rather shallow one. Geologists predict that if it continues to lose volume through evaporation and diversion of river water for agriculture, it will eventually become a salt flat like the others found in Argentina and Uyuni, Bolivia.
If staying in Cordoba City, we recommend the Azul Real Boutique Hotel.
Lake Poopó – Bolivia *
This one needs an asterisk because at the moment the surface area of the water is…zero. We’re keeping it on this list of the largest lakes in South America because it was at one time and will hopefully come back alive in the near future.
Located in The Altiplano Mountains in Bolivia, this formerly 1,232 square-mile lake is a conservation site established by the Ramsar Convention in 2002. This used to be South America’s second largest lake but the water level kept dropping until it dried up in 2015, when it was declared dead. This has happened before and the lake has recovered, but after this many years, it’s not looking very likely in the modern age of man-made global warming.
The Bolivian government has been working to reduce the impact of the lake’s depletion by creating a new program to restore and protect the lake, but progress has been slow. Known to have been a saline lake, its salinity was due to the arid climate and shallow depth. For now, this one is an ex-lake, but hopefully it won’t go the same way as the Aral Sea in Central Asia, where fishing boats lie in the cracked dirt.
O’Higgins/San Martin Lake – Chile and Argentina
The deepest lake in South America has two different names: O’Higgins Lake on the Chile Side and San Martin Lake on the Argentina side. It has a maximum depth of 2,743 feet (836 meters). It’s one of the largest bodies of water in Patagonia, with a combined surface area of 391 square miles. By some accounts it is the fifth-deepest lake in the world and may be the deepest on the planet that is fed by glaciers.
Since it shares a border, this is another lake where travelers could potentially move between the two countries by boat. There are excellent glacier views along the way if on the water, with the Andes Mountain Range always in view. Two glaciers feed into the lake, both part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. There are only a few places to stay on the shores of the lake but there is small population at Villa O’Higgins and a few basic guesthouses.
Viedma Lake – Argentina
This Patagonian lake is near the border of Chile, located in Argentina. It is the largest lake in Patagonia and the fourth-largest lake in South America. It is fed by several rivers, including the Río Chico, the Río Maipo, and the Río Puelo.
It is also home to a variety of fish species, including the South American lake trout, the rainbow trout, and the brown trout.
The lake is a popular destination for fishing, boating, and other recreational activities. It is also a popular spot for birdwatching, as it is home to a variety of migratory and resident species, including the Andean condor.
You can see Viedma Lake from the city of Calafate, where you fly into if you’re visiting Perito Moreno Glacier or heading to El Chalten. On the gorgeous drive to Explora El Chalten, the lake is often in view and there are several overlook points from the highway.
Lake Titicaca – Peru and Bolivia
Among the largest lakes in South America, Titicaca might be the most famous one. This Andes mountain lake resides on the border of Bolivia and Peru and is 3,235 square miles. Nearly made up of 2 lakes, the Lago Grande and Wiñaymarka/Lago Pequeño subbasins are connected by the narrow Strait of Tiquina.
It is generally claimed to be the world’s highest navigable lake—commercially navigable that is—at 12,507 feet (3,812 meters) above sea level. It is surrounded by the ruins of the ancient Incan civilization, which can still be seen in the area. Civilizations have lived by and on Titicaca for at least 1,000 years. The other claim to fame is that this is the largest freshwater lake on the continent.
The lake is home to over 530 aquatic species and is an important source of food and water for the local people. It is also known for its picturesque beauty, offering stunning views of the surrounding Andes Mountains, valleys, and plains.
If you stay in Puno on the Peruvian side you can visit the Uru people who live on man-made floating reed islands, a tradition that goes back to pre-Colombian times. There are also several small islands that are natural ones, not made from reeds. See our reviews of the best hotels in Puno linked from that luxury hotels in Peru page. Or for an even more exclusive experience, stay on a private island in the lake at Isla Suasi. There are also some less upscale lodging options on the Bolivian side of the lake.
(c) Eric Mohl
Merín Lagoon – Uruguay and Brazil
Merín Lagoon is a coastal lagoon located on the border between Uruguay and Brazil, near the Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the Río de la Plata Estuary, which is the second-largest estuary in the world. The lagoon is approximately 1,450 square miles.
It is characterized by marshy basins with shallow, brackish water and a wide variety of aquatic life, including shrimp, crabs, and various types of fish. The lagoon is an important habitat for many species of birds who come for this buffet, including herons, ibises, and various species of ducks.
The area is also home to several species of mammals, such as the capybara (the world’s largest rodent) and the marsh deer. The lagoon is a popular destination for birdwatching, fishing, and recreation.
Lake Maracaibo – Venezuela
via Flickr Creative Commons
The largest one on this list, Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela lies at a whopping 5,130 square miles. It is the largest lake in South America and the largest inlet in the world, located in the northwest corner of the country and is connected to the Caribbean Sea by a narrow channel.
The lake is famous for its spectacular lightning storms which have earned it the title of “The Lake of Lightning.” The lake is also home to a wide variety of fish species and is a popular fishing destination.
That’s it for our rundown on the largest lakes in South America. If you’ve visited one, tell us about your experience in the comments!
Story by Luxury Latin America contributing editor Alina Leffel. Photos by Timothy Scott except where indicated.
