When we talk about America we mostly think about the USA, but it’s more than that, there’s North, Central, and South America; all with fascinating cultures, beautiful views and countless things to offer.

Central America is composed of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama while South America includes Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Both of these regions are mostly influenced by Europe, particularly Spain and Portugal.

List of Visa Free Countries in Central and South America for Filipinos

With our Philippine Passport, we can enter only 1 out of 7 countries in Central America without a visa, while in South America we can enter 6 out of 12 countries visa-free. Visa-free countries in the Americas are about 36% which is slightly better than Asia’s percentage 23% (11 out of 47), Oceania 21% (3 out of 14), and Africa 7% (4 out of 54). When visiting Europe, you need to have a visa. I’ve been to all of these countries and they are indeed gorgeous.

Here is the list of Visa Free Countries in Central and South America for Filipinos, make sure to prepare your notebook to list to help you in your itinerary.

Central America

Costa Rica

Visa-Free Days: 90 days, 30 days on arrival, can extend to 90 days
Capital: San Jose
Language: Spanish

There are 800 miles of coastline in Costa Rica, which means Rich Coast, between the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Aside from beaches, there are also 121 volcanic formations in this country, 7 are active. A quarter of Costa Rica’s land is national parks and refuges for wildlife. Though Spanish is the official language, people can speak language due to a flock of tourists.

What to do:

Witness a turtle egg hatch at the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge
Hike to at least one of these volcanoes; Arenal, Irazu, Poás, Irazu, Rincón de la Vieja, or Turrialba Volcanoes
Attend a Eucharistic celebration at Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Los Ángeles
Beach hop at Conchal Beach, Manuel Antonio Beach, Tamarindo Beach, Flamingo Beach, and a lot more
Pick between these UNESCO Sites: Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, Cocos Island National Park, and Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserve National Park,

South America

Bolivia

Visa-Free Days: 90
Capital: Sucre
Language: Spanish

Bolivia is named after the Venezuelan leader that helped declare this place its independence; Simón Bolívar. Sucre is its capital city, but the government headquarters is in La Paz, and the biggest one is Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Prepare your “Buenas Dias” since most people likely greet each other.

What to do:

Explore Salar de Uyuni, the biggest salt flat in the world
Be in awe of Madidi National Park, the world’s largest butterfly sanctuaries
Look out for pink dolphins at Rurrenabaque
Discover ancient ruins at Tiwanaku
Go to Lake Titicaca, catch the sunset or go to Islands like Isla del Sol or Isla de la Luna

Brazil

Visa-Free Days: 90
Capital: Brasilia
Language: Portuguese

Brazil is South and Latin America’s largest nation in making it 5th in the world. Rio de Janeiro has initially been Brazil’s capital but is shifter to Brasilia, but the largest city is São Paulo. Brazil is full of biodiversity; it has 60% of the Amazon’s rain forest and the largest number of species of plants, mammals, and fishes. Brazilians are known to be hospitable and love to share their food. Plus they are huge soccer fans; you should see a game when you’re there.

What to do:

Tram up to be near the iconic Christ the Redeemer
See a UNESCO World Heritage site, the stunning Iguazu Falls
Book an Amazon River Cruise
Snorkel or scuba dive at Fernando de Noronha
Appreciate the architecture of Cathedral of Brasilia or the altar of São Francisco Church

Colombia

Visa-Free Days: 180 days, 90 days on arrival and can extend another 90 days
Capital: Bogota
Language: Spanish

Do you remember El Dorado, the mythical city of Gold? It was said to be in Colombia. This place was also named by Christopher Colombus, the famous explorer. It is the second most biodiverse country in the world, next to Brazil. Everyone is sweet in Colombia, don’t have conversations about Ms. Universe okay? They might remember Pia and Steve.

What to do:

Visit Caño Cristales, the River of Five Colors or Liquid Rainbow, and witness it change colors
Check out the streets of Bogota or Cartagena
See some gold from Ancient Colombia at the Gold Museum
Hike at Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona or Cuidad Perdida (the Lost City) to discover some ruins
Get a mud bath at Totumo Volcano

Peru

Visa-Free Days: 183
Capital: Lima
Language: Spanish

Peru’s name was Pelu, meaning river, which probably mispronounced. If you’re a fan of old stuff, you will appreciate this country; Peru is home to the Inca Empire whose ancient cities are preserved. The national dish is Cuy, which is a roasted guinea pig, you should try it (but I think I’ll pass). Anyways, Lima is the food capital of this continent, so you better prepare your stomach for Peruvian cuisine.

What to do:

Walk the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and see the Sacred Valley
Learn to Surf at Máncora, Cabo Blanco or Los Organos
Sand surf at the Sechura Desert
Tour around the ancient city of Caral-Supe
Attend mass Cathedral of Lima, Basílica y Convento de San Francisco or Cusco Cathedral

Suriname

Visa-Free Days: 90
Capital: Paramaribo
Language: Dutch

Suriname was formerly Dutch Guiana as Dutch settled during the 1600s. It is the smallest nation in South America, and 80% of it is tropical rain forests. 50% of the population is also located in its capital. One fantastic thing in this country is that religions co-exist peacefully; you can see synagogues, mosques, temples, and churches.

What to do:

Walk around the historic inner city of Paramaribo
Check the home and breeding ground of turtles, Galibi Nature Reserve
Book a tour on the Suriname River
Trek in Mount Kasikasima
Attend mass at St. Peter and Paul Cathedral

You will surely be in awe of these countries and won’t regret it. Though they are a bit far from our home, the plane ride will be worth it. You will be welcomed by amazing people, discover ancient ruins, get to swim on another sea, check out the marvelous architecture of churches and houses, trek mountains offering different scenic views, and meet wildlife you’ve never seen before. When you go home, you will have countless stories to tell.

Remember with our Philippine passport; you can go to 7 visa-free countries in Central and South America. Should you want to check all the countries on this continent, it would be a bit hassle, but not impossible. With perseverance and patience, you can reach your goal. I have been to 136 countries already with our simple Philippine Passport; if I did it, surely you will too? Now, which of these countries will you visit?