At twice the size of Europe, South America is the fourth largest continent on the planet, and one of the most culturally rich and geographically diverse travel destinations on the globe.

Caribbean beaches, vast expanses of jungle, spectacular Andean peaks, arid deserts and icy plains guard some of the world’s most awe-inspiring splendors; the ruined Inca City of Machu Picchu in Peru; Venezuela’s Angel Falls, the largest in the world, and the buzzing cosmopolitan cities of Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires are just a few of the places that draw floods of tourists from all over the planet.

It’s a fantastic place to get off the beaten track as well; here you can float down narrow rivers deep into the Amazon Jungle, hurtle down volcanoes on a bike at breakneck speed and visit remote mountain villages where the locals still maintain their traditional customs and where tourists rarely venture.

The thirteen countries that make up the continent each have their own local flavor, but their people are some of the friendliest in the world, bound together by their fun-loving, Latino spirit, their love of coffee and colorful festivals, and the ubiquitous concept of mañana.