The 20 Best Places To Live Off the Grid in South America

Are you looking for a place to live that is off the grid? If so, there are some amazing areas in South American that can guarantee your privacy and provide you with the peace you’re looking for. Some of the larger cities in the continent are densely populated, but you might be surprised by the places you can find to get away from development and modern society. Here is the 20 best places to live off the grid in South America.

20. Patagonia, Argentina/Chile

Chimu Adventures recommends Patagonia as an off-the-grid location to set up a new independent way of life. This is a mountainous region that is beautiful and filled with wonders as well as remote areas that are isolated from the rest of the world. You will find yourself in a region that extends for more than a million square kilometers for building a life away from the trappings of modern society.

19. Cabo de la Vela, Colombia

Cabo de la Vela is more of a tropical climate that provides a secluded and remote region for anyone tired of living life in the rat race. This is a small fishing village where not much is going on. It’s situated in the La Guajira peninsula where you can find plenty of open space to disappear from modern life and come back to town to restock your supplies. The beaches are beautiful and you can catch all the crab and lobster you want to sustain a decent lifestyle.

18. Atacama Desert, Chile

The Atacama Desert has some of the most beautiful landscapes on the planet. It’s a remote area that offers many places of repose and relaxation for those who are weary of the hustle and bustle of modern society. The skies are not as alive as any other place in the world when darkness falls and the stars seem close enough to reach out and touch. It doesn’t get much more remote than the Atacama Desert.

17. Gran Sabana Mountains, Venezuela

Paste Magazine recommends the Gran Sabana Mountains of Venezuela if you’re looking for a remote place to live. This is a region that is filled with wonders, all waterfalls, tabletop mountains, and a wilderness that you can lose yourself in if that is your desire. This is the home of Angel Falls, the tallest waterfall in the world.

16. Santuario de las Laja, Colombia

The outlying areas of Santuario de las Laja in Colombia is a remote area where you can wander into the wilderness and set up your lifestyle off of the grid of modern society. It’s not far from larger cities where you can trade for any essentials while you’re creating your unique lifestyle. This is a beautiful area that features beautiful scenery and natural resources from the earth with rich soil if you’re into growing your crops.

15. Outlying areas of Montevideo, Uruguay

Montevideo is the capital city of Uruguay which is one of the least crowded South American countries. Although this is a large city, the outlying areas are remote locations. You can choose from the serene beaches, or head out through the mountainous regions where there are many off-the-grid places you can disappear from the modern world and begin a new self-sufficient life.

14. The Amazon of Ecuador

If you’re not squeamish about snakes, monkeys, crocodiles, and tarantulas, this is a region of Ecuador that you can find plenty of remote places to get away from the modern world. Ecuador is next to the smallest country in the South American Continent. The landscapes are diverse and there are dangers, but also some of the most beautiful hills and valleys in the world. There is also a rich history associated with the region that goes back to the 1500s.

13. Altiplao Highlands, Bolivia

This part of Bolivia is as remote as it gets when you’re looking for a place to go off the grid and start a new life. Here you will find landscapes that are untouched by modern civilization. There are lush jungles but also some of the most dangerous mountains and cliffs in the world. This is a place that is intended for those who are well equipped with top-notch survival skills. It’s not for the faint of heart, but if you have a sense of adventure, Altiplano Highlands may be the best choice for you. If you’re looking for a good way to make a living in this locale, the photography opportunity is immense with one-of-a-kind vistas and viewpoints that you won’t find anywhere else in the world.

12. Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

The Travel points out that Fernando de Noronha in Brazil is a good starting point for taking a walkabout and moving your life off the grid. The city is good for finding medical help or stocking up on necessary supplies but the surrounding mountain regions and beaches beneath offer amazing natural landscapes teeming with resources. For solitary enjoyment, you can watch the sea turtles, reef sharks, and dolphins swim. The waters are crystal clear and you can see a lot from a higher viewpoint. The climate is warm and it’s an ideal place to find solace from the hectic rat race of city living.

11. Cafayate Wine Town, Argentina

According to Frommers, Cafayate Wine Town, Argentina is a small village that is located in the Northwest part of Argentina. While there are many lovely family-run businesses in the local wine industry there, on the outskirts of the small village, you’ll find a host of diverse landscapes for going off-the-grid. You’ll have your choice of red rock desert on one side and mountain ranges with multiple colors on the other side. This is a lovely place to visit if you get lonely, but more than that, it’s a starting point for losing yourself in the mountains where you can build the life of your dreams away from civilization.

10. Isla del Sol, Bolivia

This is a chain of villages that are located on the Island. The best thing about Isla del Sol is that there are only a few thousand inhabitants in the area. It’s a remote place that has no automobiles and very few telephones. Llama traffic is the problem at rush hour. You might turn into local llama herders now and then, but when you want to be alone it isn’t hard to find remote locations where nobody bothers you. This is an area that is relatively untouched by the modern age. Living on Isla del Sol is like stepping backward in time to a different age before things became complicated and modernized.

9. Porto de Galinhas, Brazil

Porto de Galinhas is a small village in Brazil that is made up of just three streets. It’s situated in the heart of the most beautiful white sand that human eyes have ever seen. This is a paradise on the beach where you can wade into the surf and let the waves wash over you without worrying about who might be watching. The climate is always warm and the are plenty of tropical fruits and vegetables to enjoy a healthy diet. There are also ample crab and fishing spots to catch your daily fare. This is an idyllic little village that has a sparse population and there are plenty of remote areas for you to go off the grid and build the perfect life.

8. Morro de Sao Paulo, Brazil

If you don’t mind being near a sleeping little village to enjoy the amazing beaches, Morro de Sao Paulo is the perfect place to enjoy a stress-free lifestyle. There are no cars in this part of the country so you won’t be bothered by the sounds of vehicles whizzing up and down the streets. This is the perfect place for anyone who wants to be near a village for the amenities it offers while getting away from the hustle and bustle of metropolitan life. The setting is ideal with deserted beaches and plenty of solitude when you want to enjoy your privacy.

7. San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

If you’re into quaint adobe brick settlements then San Pedro de Atacama might b the best choice. you’ll need to beef up on your knowledge of desert living because the most remote areas of this region are dry and hot. There are some of the most remote regions in the world just outside of San Pedro de Atacama. It’s a place where people settle who are in search of a mellow lifestyle with a hint of New Age spirituality.

6. Pucon, Chile

Pucon is a region of Chile that features an active volcano that still belches out puffs of smoke now and then. Pucon is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. You have your choice of beaches, taking a swim in the lake, or enjoying the multiple amenities of the town of Pucon when you’re hungry for some entertainment and human companionship. This is a place where you can disappear into the surrounding area and forge a life that is off-the-grid with lovely forest areas, but it’s not that far from civilization.

5. Vila de Leyva, Colombia

Villa de Leyva is a good place to start when you want to prepare to go off the grid. It’s an old town that was founded 500 years ago by Spanish explorers. The city is mostly unspoiled by modernization and it offers a look into the distant past of the region. The town itself is alive and well with plenty of amenities and modern living, but just to the outside, you will find remote locales where you can escape the modern world and strike out on a new life of your own, free of the hustle and bustle of civilization. You’ll find plenty of solitary activities to keep you busy such as nature walks through the desert, or repelling from tall mountains, or kayaking through the rivers. The region has a diverse landscape.

4. Otavalo, Ecuador

Otavalo is a small town that is made up mostly of locals who work as artisans who sell their goods at the local market. It’s situated near Cuicocha Lake, Mojanda Lakes, Condor Park, ad the Peguche Waterfall. There are plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy nature in this small indigenous town. The population is sparse so it isn’t difficult to find a remote place to settle to take your life off the grid and live it on your terms.

3. Ollantaytambo, Peru

Ollantaytambo is a village in Peru that is situated in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The surrounding countryside is nothing short of breathtaking with a gorge lined by farming terraces near the Urubamba River. Here you’ll find temple-fortress ruins that overlook the ancient town with plenty of remote places to steal away and take your life off the grid until you’re ready to resurface.

2. Colca Valley Villages, Peru

When you’re looking for a remote place to settle, the Villages of Colca Valley are ideal. Colca Canyon is the home of Chivay, which sits on the rim of the canyon as the main town of the valley. It’s little more than a market town, but the hot springs that lie on the outer part of the area are known for their therapeutic benefits. This is a collection of colonial villages that were founded during the 16th century. There are plenty of remote locals in the area to set up a new life and take it off the grid.

1. Merida, Venezuela

Merida is a small college town that might be a little too lively for your tastes, but it’s a great launching point if you truly want to go off the grid. it’s local between two pine of the Andes Mountains. There are plenty of remote locations for you to settle near Merida Venezuela that are hidden from the prying eyes of neighbors, yet there is a town not far away if the need arises to take a trip in to restock your supplies.