Some of my most incredible travel experiences have been in the enlightening continent of South America. It’s also one of my favourite and most inspirational trips to piece together for clients. With such a richness of unique, colourful cultures and landscapes to explore, I know what an incredible experience is in store.
I was reminded just how diverse South America is when watching the gripping second series of the BBC’s Race Across the World and having visited Peru, Buenos Aires, Iguazú and Rio, it certainly sparked my desire to go back for more.
If you haven't seen it then I highly recommend doing so. It follows five teams racing from Mexico City to Ushuaia in Argentina, the world’s most southerly city. They cover an astonishing 25,000km in two months and pass through checkpoints in Honduras, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil and Chile, with each racer having a modest budget of £1453 (around £26 per day) for the entire trip.
There isn’t a price you can put on some of the nature and wildlife “moments” that are in abundance in South America with the almighty Iguazú Falls, which must be seen from both the Argentinean and Brazilian sides, and the snow-capped peaks of the Andes well-documented highlights.
To tempt the more adventurous, how about hiking the slopes of Ecuador’s Cotopaxi Volcano or meandering along the Amazon on a luxury river cruise?
Chile stretches almost half the length of South America with one side of the country dominated by the Andes Mountains and the other by the dramatic Pacific coastline.
It offers some of the world’s most outstanding, awe-inspiring and varied landscapes from ancient forests, volcanoes and the driest deserts, to the fjords and vast, spectacular, epic wilderness of Patagonia’s glacial fields.
There is a great additional option from here to jump on a boat and head further south for an unforgettable bucket-list wildlife experience, seeing the ice caps and penguins in Antarctica, like my friend Jess from the brilliant Latin Routes did.
Wonderful wildlife is found all over South America. From penguins, whales, capybara, sloths and giant anteaters to jaguars in the Brazilian Pantanal, condors soaring over Peru’s Colca Canyon and the incredible birds in the Andean Cloud Forest.
Or you could choose to follow in the footsteps of Darwin on a Galapagos cruise for one of life’s ultimate wildlife experiences and a major bucket-list tick.
The Galapagos is an archipelago of tiny volcanic islands, found 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean and home to miraculous species of native wildlife, sea-life and vegetation.
It is nothing short of paradise for lovers of the natural world.
Getting up close to large seabirds such as frigates, albatrosses and blue and red-footed boobies will delight birdwatchers whilst the Galapagos giant tortoise is the largest of its kind in the world, in contrast to the endangered Galapagos penguin, the world’s second-smallest and the only of its kind residing north of the equator.
One of the most popular inhabitants is the Galapagos marine iguana, who unlike most lizards, can also forage underwater, an ability well-suited for the environment.
On any Galapagos cruise tour, there is also ample opportunity to swim, snorkel, paddle and sea-kayak as well as milling about on foot, and I can advise the best way and time of year to create this once-in-a-lifetime exploration.
Back on the mainland, this extraordinary continent also provides a profusion of cultural ventures and memorable historic sites and monuments. I can personally recommend a trip to see the mysteries of the ancient Inca civilisation in Peru and sample the atmosphere of the tango-fuelled streets of vibrant Buenos Aires.
Throughout South America, taste buds will be sufficiently stimulated by delicious local cuisine. Foodies will delight in dishes like ceviche, empanadas and if a meat eater then Argentina is home to unquestionably the best steak I've ever experienced, whilst oenophiles will be captivated by the region’s wines, and punchy Latin cocktails will satisfy those who enjoy a more lively tipple.
Beaches don’t come more beautiful than in Brazil. Celebrated for its iconic sandy shores from the infamous electricity of Copacabana and Ipanema to the charming gems of Paraty, Buzios and the island of Ilha Grande in the state of Rio, just 29km in length and ringed by gorgeous sand and which was featured in the earlier mentioned Race Across the World. This place is just perfect for a few days of relaxing after an active South American adventure!
Other countries are home to magnificent beaches, such as Uruguay’s Punta del Este and Punta Del Diablo, Ecuador’s laidback Montañita and Playa Blanca near Cartagena in Colombia.
Over recent years, Colombia has gone from being sidestepped to become one of South America’s most rewarding tourist destinations, hitting the sweet spot between popular and off the beaten track with its location offering diverse landscapes from snow-capped peaks, high-altitude lakes and emerald-green hilltops to white Caribbean sands.
Highlights of a first visit would include seeing the colourful colonial buildings in Cartagena, exploring the engaging and vibrant capital Bogotá and its cultural epicentre La Candelaria, the beauty of Tayrona National Park and the Andean Summits and not least sampling the world-famous Colombian coffee in the very place it's grown.
When it comes to inspiring journeys, the continent of South America is a major competitor. Wildlife, culture, food, wine, waterfalls, mountains, snow, beaches, sunshine, sea, endless adventure and the most pleasant and passionate people.
Allow me to put an adventure together based on your interests because here, anything is possible.
