Some travelers have the motto, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," and return to their favorite destinations over and over again. Other travelers, however, continue to expand, country-count and see as many places as this wide, beautiful planet has to offer. For those who want to not only country-count but perhaps start continent-count, why not tackle the epic challenge of seeing every single country on a single continent? South America is a great place to start, and here are 10 reasons to finally fully explore the South American continent.

10 There Are Only 12 Sovereign Nations

The first reason is the most obvious one: out of the major 6 continents (excluding Antarctica), South America holds the least amount of UN-recognized nations. The 12 nations recognized are Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Uruguay, Suriname, Peru, Venezuela, and Bolivia. Comparative to Africa, which has 54 nations, 23 in North America, 48 in Asia, 37 in Europe, and 14 in Oceania, South America has the least number of nations to complete the feat of traveling to every country on a continent.

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9 Most Nations Do Not Require A Special Visa (For Most Passports)

Needing a visa to visit particular countries is dependent on the passport-holder, but for those traveling with some of the world's more powerful passports, i.e., United States of America, Singapore, Japan, Germany, etc., most nations in South America do not require a special tourist visa, meaning travelers can arrive, and typically be granted 90-day entry. These countries typically include Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Chile, and Peru, but as always, do research prior to travel to ensure all travel requirements are met, as everyone's situation is different.

8 For Tougher To Visit Countries: It's A Fun Challenge

One of the toughest countries in the world to visit is Venezuela due to stringent visa requirements and the current political and economic crisis occurring in the country. While Venezuela might be labeled as a "dangerous" country, those, who want to complete the challenge of visiting all 12 South American sovereign nations, take on the challenge of obtaining the tough visa and visiting a place that most travelers dare not trek.

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7 Traveling From One Country To The Next Is Fairly Easy

Traveling between nations in South America, generally speaking, is fairly easy. For example, Uruguay can be seen in just a short day trip from Argentina, and Paraguay can be walked into from nearby Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile, sharing the eclectic and beautiful border near the Atacama Desert and Uyuni Salt Flats. Chile and Argentina share one of the most sought-after regions on the continent: Patagonia. Not to mention, flights between nations are frequent with airlines such as LATAM and Avianca.

6 Some Countries Can Be "Seen In A Day"

As mentioned above, some nations can be ticked off of that South American bucket list in just one short day. While there are arguments and debates over what constitutes truly seeing a country, those who are short on time walk from Paraguay to Brazil (and vice versa) on the Friendship Bridge, which connects Ciudad del Este and Foz do Iguaçu. For those visiting Patagonia, crossing between Argentina and Chile is fairly easy on a road trip. Iguazu Falls connects Brazil and Argentina. A day trip to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, can be done from Buenos Aires, Argentina. The list goes on and on, but it's safe to say it's not the most difficult thing in the world to see a South American country in a day.

5 Break Stereotypes Of "Unsafe Regions"

South America is notoriously labeled as unsafe. Robberies, muggings, and violent crime allegedly riddle the country, and therefore, many travelers might feel deterred from visiting. Those who have ignored these warnings (or taken them into consideration but went anyway) can confirm that South America is full of friendly, warm people. Take the same precautions that should be taken anywhere, and remember, bad things can happen all around the globe. Break those stereotypes that this vivid, colorful continent is unsafe by visiting every crevice of it.

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4 The Food (& Wine) Is Some Of The Best In The World

One major reason people travel is to try local cuisine, and it can be a disappointment when it's not what we dreamed it to be. This will likely never be an issue when traveling through South America. The continent has some of the best cuisines in the entire world, from street arepas in Venezuela to churrasco in Brazil, to Asado in Argentina and Uruguay, not to mention the fresh fruit that can be found all over. For those who want to indulge in some libations, Chile and Argentina have some of the most profound wine regions in the entire world.

3 Diverse Nature

It's no secret that South America has one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. The Amazon Rainforest, which is thought to be home to 10% of known species on earth and notoriously the largest rainforest in the world, covers much of Brazil and parts of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, and Colombia. Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia are picturesque and out-of-this-world naturally stunning. The Atacama Desert in northern Chile is the driest place on earth. Patagonia in the south is full of mountains, lakes, glaciers, ice caves, and more. Angel Falls in Venezuela is the tallest waterfall in the world. It's safe to say there are many naturally stunning places on this diverse continent.

2 Most Nations Are Generally Affordable

Trying to see every country on a continent sounds fun, challenging, and perhaps, above all? Expensive. With South America, it doesn't have to be, though. Most of the nations here, according to Western standards, are overall affordable thanks to favorable exchange rates and generally lower pricing. For example, crossing from Brazil to Argentina near Iguazu Falls is only a $4 bus ride or the average of a $30 taxi. Hotels in popular areas of Rio de Janeiro can run as low as $20/night, and travelers who want to stay in hostels can expect to pay as low as $2/night when their cards are played right.

1 It's An Aspirational, Bucket-List Tick!

Many travelers have bucket lists, and what's a more aspirational bucket list tick than saying, "I've been to every single country on a continent?" Not only is it a bragging right, but it is a proud accomplishment to have taken on the challenge of fully exploring an entire continent, and with South America providing, generally, fewer challenges than others, why not go for it and start planning an every-country-in-South-America adventure?