Argentina
The second largest country in South America, Argentina is dominated by relatively featureless flat grasslands, but fringed by an incredible array of remarkable landscapes, from bucolic winelands, to extreme high altitude deserts and the great ice-sheets and glaciers of the deep south. The country is easy to get around and offers a fabulous range of places to stay.
Peru
Set on the west coast of South America, Peru is a remarkably diverse country, dominated by coastal deserts, the Andes Mountains and the Amazon Rainforest. The ancient history here is on a par with Egypt. The Inca ruins of Machu Picchu are almost new compared with the ancient civilisations of the coast. Travel infrastructure is well established in the more popular areas, but there are also lots of fabulous lesser-known places to explore.
Brazil
The largest country in South America, Brazil is a vast tropical land, dominated by the Amazon Basin and a seemingly endless tropical coastline. The two most popular areas are the iconic Rio de Janeiro and the fabulous Iguacu Falls, whilst the best area for wildlife is the Pantanal.
Chile
Set on the west coast of South America, Chile is an extremely long and skinny country which contains an incredible range of climates and landscapes from searing deserts to enormous glaciers. It’s a very friendly country, with excellent travel infrastructure and some great lodges. Also the best puma viewing in the Americas.
Ecuador
Set in the northwest of South America, Ecuador is a small but ridiculously diverse country, centred on the gorgeous high valleys of the Andes Mountains, flanked either side by the Amazon Basin and the tropical Pacific coastline, to combine with the fabulous islands of Galapagos.
Galapagos
Set on the equator, 1000 km (600 miles) off the coast of Ecuador, Galapagos is a remarkable group of young volcanic islands, renowned for their unique flora and fauna, as well as being the inspiration for Charles Darwin’s discovery of evolution.
Los Glaciares
Set in the south of Argentina, Los Glaciares is a substantial national park which contains dramatic mountain peaks, vast glaciers and stunning lakes. There’s a wide selection of outdoor activities, including some great hiking and horseback riding, plus some wonderfully remote and authentic estancias.
Salta
Set in the far northwest corner of Argentina, the Salta region is a relatively little-visited part of the country, with an incredible range of landscapes, including sub-tropical cloud forests, Mediterranean-style winelands and outrageous volcanic scenery in the high Andes. Best visited by means of a private guided overland safari for at least a week.
Pantanal
Set in the south of Brazil, Pantanal is one of the world’s largest wetlands and one of the prime wildlife-viewing areas in South America, best known for its incredible jaguar sightings and with other highlights including giant anteaters, giant otters and capybaras.
Manaus Amazon
Set in the heart of the Amazon Basin in Brazil, Manaus is a major city and the main hub for riverboat explorations of the world’s largest rainforest. Highlights include lost cities, pink dolphins, endemic primates, superb bird-watching and authentic indigenous culture.
Bolivia
Set in the heart of South America, Bolivia is an incredibly diverse country, which ranges from the vast glacier-covered volcanoes of the high Andes, all the way down to the tropical rainforest of the Amazon Basin. Usually best visited by private guided overland safari.
Torres del Paine
Set in the far south of Chile, Torres del Paine is a substantial national park and one of the most strikingly beautiful places on earth, with dramatic mountain peaks, vast glaciers and stunning lakes, fabulous lodges, superb hiking and some truly remarkable puma action.
Cusco
Set high in the Andes Mountains around 700 km southeast of Lima, Cusco is the historic capital of the Inca Empire, a fascinating place to explore, with a remarkable range of historic hotels. It’s also the main point of access for the Valle Sagrado, Machu Picchu and the trekking areas.
Buenos Aires
Set in the northeast of Argentina, Buenos Aires is the capital city and the main transport hub for the country. Whilst some travellers want to get through here as fast as possible, it’s actually quite an interesting place to explore, especially if you are into tango, steak and football. There’s some rather cool little hotels too.
Isla de San Cristobal
Set in the east of Galapagos, Isla de San Cristóbal is a large island with a significant human population and an international airport. It is therefore the start and end point for many trips. Its ecosystems may be less than pristine, but there are still some locations of significant interest.
Isla Baltra
Set in the centre of Galapagos, Isla Baltra is a small island which is home to the main airport and, although there is a good population of land iguanas, is rarely considered anything other than a transit location.
Quito
Set high in the Andes Mountains of northern Ecuador, Quito is the historic capital city and the main flight hub for the country. It’s a rather pleasant place to explore, with both Inca and Spanish origins. The city also contains some interesting boutique hotels.
Santiago
Set at the foot of the Andes Mountains in central Chile, Santiago is the capital city and the main transport hub for the country. Whilst some travellers want to get through here as fast as possible, it’s actually a rather pleasant place that’s a pleasure to explore in more detail and with some rather cool hotel options.
Machu Picchu
Set high in the Andes Mountains to the west of the Valle Sagrado and Cusco, Machu Picchu is an iconic Inca citadel and arguably the most important archaeological site in South America. Of course it can get very busy during high season but there are still a few smart ways to visit.
Valle Sagrado
Set between the Inca capital of Cusco and its primary religious centre at Machu Picchu, Valle Sagrado (Sacred Valley) was the agricultural engine room of the great mountain empire. It’s a lovely place to relax and acclimatise, offering a wide range of historical, cultural and outdoor activities.
Tambopata Amazon
Tambopata is the section of the Amazon Basin which lies in the southeast of Peru and is most commonly combined with areas like Machu Picchu, Cusco and Lago Titicaca. It forms the heart of the largest uninhabited unhunted section of rainforest in the world and offers some remarkable wildlife viewing.
Punta Arenas
Set in the far south of Chile, Punta Arenas is a remote but substantial port city, the main transport hub for this part of Patagonia, the starting point for some of the best coastal cruises and with some interesting penguin colonies and other birding opportunities in the vicinity.
Rio de Janeiro
Set on the Atlantic Coast in the southeast of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro is one of the most iconic cities in South America. The vast majority of visitors to the country spend around 3-4 nights here, taking in the highlights, whilst staying in an hotel along the famous beaches of Ipanema or Copacabana.
Lima
Set on the central coast of Peru, Lima is the capital city and the main port of entry for the country. Virtually all travellers end up spending at least one night here. There are some good hotels in the upmarket southern suburbs, some impressive colonial architecture, several superb museums and a seriously trendy food scene.
Bariloche
Set around 1000 km southwest of Buenos Aires in Argentina, Bariloche is the nation’s Alpine region. With a temperate climate and stunning mountain scenery, the area is often compared to Switzerland. It offers a very wide range of outdoor activities, including skiing in winter. There’s also some very strong horse-riding estancias.
Mendoza
Set at the foot of the Andes Mountains in western Argentina, Mendoza is a substantial and historic city, the capital of the country’s wine-producing industry, with a good range of high quality rural lodges out amongst the vineyards. The area also contains a significant ski resort and is the base for trekking the continent’s highest mountain, Aconcagua.
Yasuni Amazon
Yasuni is the section of the Amazon Basin which lies in the east of Ecuador and is most commonly combined with other parts of the same country and Galapagos. It’s a vast conservation area of rivers and rainforests, offering some wonderful wildlife and cultural experiences.
Lago Titicaca
Set in the far southeast of Peru, Titicaca is a very large, deep and scenic lake, the highest navigable body of water in the world, sacred amongst the Inca, with some beautiful islands, fascinating archaeological sites and attractive cultures to explore.
Los Lagos
Set around 1000 km south of Santiago in Chile, Los Lagos is the nation’s lake district. With a temperate climate and stunning mountain scenery, the area is often compared to Switzerland. It offers a very wide range of outdoor activities which, in winter, include skiing, snowboarding and dog sledding.
Costa Verde
Set on the Atlantic Coast to the south of Rio de Janeiro, Costa Verde is a beautiful stretch of coastline, with mountains cloaked in Atlantic rainforest, remote islands with wonderful beaches and hiking routes, as well as peaceful and authentic historical ports. The accommodation options may be rather simple, but this is a surprisingly cool area to explore.
Puerto Natales
Set in the far south of Chile, Puerto Natales is an historic working port, previously a major centre for the sheep farming industry, with a couple of high class hotels, mainly offering opportunities to explore the local fjords and glaciers by boat.
Arequipa
Set in the south of Peru, Arequipa is an historic Spanish town which is renowned for its fabulous white-stone colonial architecture and is encircled by three impressive volcanoes. Commonly combined with the dramatic Colca Canyon, there are onward road and rail links from here up Lago Titicaca and Cusco.
Atacama
Set in the north of Chile, the Atacama Desert is one of the driest locations on Earth. It‘s also one of the most spectacular, with martian landscapes, geyser fields, multi-coloured soda lakes and remote archaeological sites. The remote oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama is the main hub for visitors and contains some excellent lodges.
Salvador
Set on the central Bahia Coast of Brazil, Salvador is the bustling and vibrant former capital of Brazil, a hectic and entrancing place, which is a major epicentre for Afro-American culture. The handful of boutique hotels in the city are often combined with the tropical beach lodges to the north and south.
Iquitos Amazon
Set in the remote northeast of Peru, Iquitos is the gateway to the Amazon River and the Pacaya Samiria Reserve, an area which is largely explored on small, high quality live-aboard cruise boats. Certainly a much easier experience than the Tambopata area further south, but with a lesser focus on major wildlife sightings.
Cotopaxi
Set high in the Andes Mountains of northern Ecuador, Cotopaxi is the world’s second highest active volcano and the centrepiece of an impressive area of high-altitude scenery. A handful of rustic lodges provide opportunities for some serious mountain climbing, hiking, horse-back riding and mountain-biking.
Peninsula Valdes
Set on the east coast of Argentina, Península Valdés is renowned for its prodigious marine wildlife, with highlights including orcas taking seal pups from the beaches and enormous bull elephant seals fighting over their harems. The best accommodation is in a handful of remote estancias.
Santiago Winelands
Lying within a radius of 200 km of the capital of Chile, the Santiago Winelands is a scenic region with a sunny Mediterranean climate, where fine wines have been produced for almost five hundred years. A handful of very swish lodges offer a chance to relax and explore both the viticulture and the greater area.
Iguazu Sur
Set in the northeast of Argentina and straddling the border with Brazil, the Iguazú Falls is one of the great natural wonders of South America, a really popular hub for visitors to the continent. There’s a good range of hotels and a wide range of activities in the area.
Salar de Uyuni
Set in the southwest of Bolivia, Salar de Uyuni is a vast salt pan, one of the most truly extraordinary places on the continent. Featuring in almost every trip to this part of the world, there are some really interesting accommodation options, including hotels which are actually built of salt.
Isla Santa Cruz
Set in the centre of Galapagos, Isla Santa Cruz is both geographically and economically at the heart of the archipelago, being home to the majority of the human population and the main research centre. The island contains a wide range of sites of interest and tends to feature in virtually every cruise itinerary.
Bosque Nuboso
Set high in the Andes Mountains of northern Ecuador, Bosque Nuboso is an area of scenic primary cloud forest, where the biodiversity is truly extraordinary. Superb for bird-watching and one of the best locations in South America for spectacled bears.
Porto Seguro
Set on the central Bahia Coast of Brazil, Porto Seguro is a relatively small coastal town, whose airport serves as the main point of access for Trancoso, arguably the coolest and most attractive beach location in the country.
Chachapoyas
Set high in the Andes Mountains to the northeast of Peru, Chachapoyas is the historic capital of the Cloud People and is in easy reach of the historic citadel of Kuelap, the cliff-side mausoleums of Revash and the world’s third highest waterfall at Gocta.
Ushuaia
Set in the far south of Argentina, Ushuaia is a remote but substantial port city and the capital of Tierra del Fuego. Although there is a substantial ski resort here, the place is not incredibly attractive in its own right, but it is the starting point for cruises to both Antarctica and around Cape Horn to Punta Arenas in Chile.
Guayaquil
Set on the coastal plateau of western Ecuador, Guayaquil is a sprawling industrial port, centred on an attractive historic quarter. It usually features in trips as a connecting point for flights out to Gaapagos and occasionally in road trips out to the little-visited coastline around Puerto Cayo.
Easter Island
Set in the South Pacific, over 3500 km west of South America, Easter Island is a truly remote and remarkable place, best known for its 900 massive moai statues, but with a far greater story to tell. There are regular flights from Santiago in Chile and a handful of decent places to stay. Particularly strong for hiking.
Valparaiso
Set on the coast around 100 km northwest of the capital Santiago in Chile, Valparaiso is an historic city and an important commercial port, renowned for its colonial architecture, gloriously run-down appearance and bohemian atmosphere.
Cuenca
Set high in the Andes Mountains in southern Ecuador, Cuenca is a very attractive and historic place, one of the most pleasant and best-preserved of the great Spanish colonial cities. It usually features as part of an overland trip from Quito down to Guayaquil.
Otavalo
Set high in the Andes Mountains of northern Ecuador, Otavalo is an attractive rural area, a major centre for Quechua-speaking peoples and their artisanal crafts. A handful of historic haciendas serve as superb rural retreats. An alternative to staying in Quito.
