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.
Framed by spectacular Andean peaks and surrounded by verdant jungle, Machu Picchu is an eye-tantalizing tribute to man in harmony with nature. Located high above the clouds, the city's streets,
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In the two-hour flight across the thousand kilometers of Pacific Ocean from the Ecuadorian mainland to the Galápagos archipelago, visitors can expect to be transported to an environment reminiscent
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Torres del Paine National Park is bordered by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, one of the largest glaciated areas in the world outside of Antarctica. Sister park to Yosemite in California, Torres
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Angel Falls, the world’s highest waterfalls at 979 m (3,212 ft), are so high that during dry season the water can evaporate into mist before reaching the bottom. Set in the rainforest of the Guiana
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The name Ciudad Perdida really is fitting as Colombia’s “lost city” went centuries without being discovered by the outside world. Treks to La Ciudad Perdida combine the opportunity to see some
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A chain of pale beaches drape southward along Iquique’s coast. Starting in the city’s center at Calle O’Higgins and Avenida Prat is Bellavista. Here, a broad band of sand is trimmed with ragged
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If the beach in town gets too familiar, try one of the other stretches of sand nearby. The knoll on the right-hand-side of Taganga Bay shelters Playa Grande, an expanse of pale golden arena.
From
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Most visitors to Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona go to the beaches near Cañaveral and Arrecifes in the humid forest zone of the park. On the western end of Tayrona are other less-frequented beaches
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Nothing surpasses the pale sand and warm waters of the Caribbean coast. Santa Marta is no exception. Within the city itself there's a beach along the camellón or seafront. Although a bit dirty, it
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A walk down Av. Francisco de Aguirre from the center of town leads to a quaint lighthouse, the Avenida del Mar and La Serena’s long, popular beach. The beach is not nearly as pristine as others
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Las Bachas is a beautiful white-sand beach on the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island. There isn't much to do there except lounge on the sand, go for a stroll or do some easy snorkeling in the
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To the north of Arica are several bathing and surfing beaches. The two-kilometer-long El Chinchorro is the best place to catch a wave or to take a dip. Along the waterfront boardwalk, families
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Along the coast of San Julián is the Circuito Costero, which visits a variety of natural and historical sites dappled with the constant presence of birds (22 km / 14 mi one way). A small lighthouse
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In the indigenous language Quechua, Cumbe Mayo means fine river, which is a quite fitting name for this ancient aqueduct. It is located about 12 miles southwest of Cajamarca, and stretches on for
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The Nasca Lines can be viewed from a plane weaving the sky above them, or from other, more down-to-earth vantage points. The cerro is a solitary hill in the midst of this vast desert. Climbing to the
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An image carved into the sandstone cliffs along the Pisco Bay is said to be one of the most mysterious archeological sights in South America. It is often called the Candelabra de los Andes, which
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San Ignacio Miní, in its pre-exodus incarnation, was located in the Territorio del Guairá in Brazil’s modern Paraná state. Founded in 1609 by Fathers José Cataldino and Simón Maceta, this was
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Chan Chan, the largest pre-Columbian city in South America, was the capital of the Chimú kingdom. Located five kilometers (3 mi) west of Trujillo, it dates from around 1300 AD. Some archaeologists
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Perched forebodingly in the hillsides rising above Cusco, the fortress ruins of Sacsayhuamán are some of the most impressive and closest ruins in the area. Though few structures now remain inside,
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Characterized by rugged ascents boasting magnificent views of Andean scenery and trails that wind their way through the cloud forest and past ancient archaeological sites, the Inca Trail is perhaps
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In terms of trekking opportunities in the Sacred Valley, this one requires a bit more physical and logistical preparation. The crowning jewel of the Salcantay trek is Nevado Salcantay (6,271 meters),
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Quito’s best-known tourist attraction offers some of the most spectacular and most easily accessible views of the city. There are 18 gondolas that soar up the side of Quito's western mountain range
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Another popular way to explore the Estero del Iberá is by hiking. Near the Reserva Provincial Iberá’s Centro de Visitantes Agua Brillante are three trails. Behind it are the Sendero del Cerrito,
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The alternative trek takes in three more unusual, quieter campsites along the route, largely away from other tourists. On the alternative Salcantay trek, many choose to take transport further along
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If you do not have the time or youthfulness (we are both 65 and my husband has had a knee replacement), the short Inca trail can be a most rewarding way to travel to Machu Picchu. About 11 km, a
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