| Brazil's beaches are top of many people's list in terms | | | | location high in the Andes is quite spectacular, as are |
| of South America's highlights. The huge number of | | | | the ruins themselves. Adventurous travellers prefer to |
| bewilderingly beautiful resorts, each with it's own unique | | | | travel to Machu Picchu by way of the Inca Trail, a |
| charms can be staggering and overwhelming. The | | | | legendary 4 day mountainous hike through mountains, |
| Lencois National Park in North East Brazil, just East of | | | | rainforests and Inca sites to the ruins of Machu Picchu |
| Sao Luiz, offer some of the most wonderful | | | | themselves. |
| undeveloped beaches in all Brazil - there's huge empty | | | | Ecuador's Galapagos Islands are expensive, but many |
| beaches backed by shimmering sand dunes that run | | | | people's first choice for a trip to South America. |
| for about 200 km. For those who seek a more | | | | Darwin was so amazed by the natural biodiversity that |
| developed resort, there's also a host of small, chic | | | | he studied the fauna extensively - this is where the |
| options throughout Brazil - Jericoacoara, Pipa, | | | | theory of evolution was born. The amount of wildlife in |
| Florianopolis, Morro do Sao Paulo and Fernando de | | | | the Galapagos Islands is quite staggering - there's sea |
| Noronha are just a few. | | | | lions, penguins, seals, sharks, whales, turtles, tortoises |
| Brazil is huge in size, and its interior has some of the | | | | plus a huge range of birdlife. What makes the |
| worlds best wildlife viewing. The Pantanal wetlands are | | | | Galapagos Islands so special is that the wildlife has no |
| the best option for seeing animals - you'll see huge | | | | fear of humans - the animals treat visitors as if they |
| numbers of birds, as well as larger wildlife such as | | | | were simply another animal, inquisitively approaching |
| crocodiles, anacondas and even the elusive jaguar if | | | | them. There are a lot of concerns that the |
| you are lucky. | | | | environment is being irrevocably damaged in the |
| Brazil's Amazon jungle is also an amazing experience. | | | | Galapagos Islands - if you do visit, check your tour |
| Waking up to the sounds of monkeys screaming | | | | operators responsible tourism credentials. |
| outside your lodge can be quite frightening, but highly | | | | The most beautiful and romantic colonial city in South |
| memorable. There's lots of wildlife that can be seen in | | | | America can be found in Cartagena, in Colombia. The |
| the Amazon, but a visit is more about experiencing | | | | fact that the city is still not overrun with tourists simply |
| quite how enchanting the rainforest can be. | | | | adds to the charm. Cartagena is well away from |
| Iguassu Falls is on the border of Brazil, Argentina and | | | | Colombia's trouble spots, and has long been a safe |
| Paraguay. For many this is South America's number 1 | | | | city to visit. Many cruise ships now make a regular port |
| travel highlight. The roaring waterfalls are truly | | | | of call. While the cities beaches are rather unclean and |
| monstrous in size - visit during the rainy season for the | | | | hectic, the nearby Rosario Islands offer a perfect |
| most impressive views. There's also good birdwatching | | | | beach retreat. |
| and jungle lodges in nearby Argentina. | | | | Some of South America's most spectacularly beautiful |
| Torres del Paine National Park in Southern Chile is | | | | beaches are found at Park Tayrona. The landscape |
| South America's top trekking destination. A wilderness | | | | could be described as an empty tropical beach |
| of spectacular granite peaks and beautiful lakes will | | | | paradise, full of beautiful bays and coves. The fact that |
| amaze all visitors, and there are some fantastic week | | | | there is only one hotel (though lots of camping options) |
| long trekking possibilities. Torres del Paine is remote - | | | | keeps the tourist hordes away - at Park Tayrona you |
| it's 5 hours travel overland from the nearest airport at | | | | can experience a paradise without seeing another soul |
| Punta Arenas, but this is surely some of South | | | | all day. |
| America's most amazing scenery. | | | | Many people travel to Venezuela for just one reason - |
| Chile's Atacama desert is bleakly beautiful. Volcanoes | | | | to visit Angel Falls. At 979 metres in height, Angel Falls |
| spring out of a barren lunar like landscape full of | | | | is the worlds highest waterfall. A flight over the falls is |
| geysers and salt flats. There's also some amazing | | | | a quite spectacular experience, or alternatively canoe |
| pre-Inca fortresses and excavated stone age | | | | trips can be arranged to see the falls at close quarters. |
| settlements to enthral visitors. | | | | The landscape in nearby Canaima National Park is also |
| South America's most frequently visited tourism | | | | quite beautiful - this is where the Last of the Mohicans |
| attraction is the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. The | | | | film was shot. |