Introduction
The natural wonders of South America are world-class attractions, with perhaps the most iconic, the Amazon rainforest covering a number of South American countries; the Amazon River itself is far and away the largest river on Earth.
At the join of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, the Iguazu Falls dwarf Niagara. You'll find the world's highest waterfall, Angel Falls in Venezuela though and Kaieteur Falls in Guyana, the world's largest one-drop falls by volume receives far less visitors than either.
The Pantanal wetlands in Brazil are the largest wetlands in the world. In Ecuador, the Galápagos Islands need no introduction for their rugged beauty and remarkable wildlife, whilst Cotopaxi is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world.
Continuing south, Alpamayo in Peru is 'the most beautiful mountain in the world', the Colca Canyon is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, whilst Lake Titicaca, spilling over the altiplano between Peru and Bolivia, is the highest navigable body of water in the world. Bolivia is also home to the Salar de Uyuni, a spectacular salt flat that is impressive at any time but even more so during the rainy season when a shallow pool covers the surface and mirrors the sky completely. Laguna Colorado elsewhere in the country is a shallow, algae-rich lagoon that's home to flocks of flamingos.
In Chile the Atacama Desert is a surreal landscape whilst the Torres del Paine are muscular mountains that define Patagonia. Over the border, the Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina is breath-taking. Aconcagua, the highest summit on South America stands on the Argentina/Chile border and rises to 6,962m. Tierra del Fuego at the tip of the continent is a wind-lashed wilderness.
These are just a handful of the options available though. You can also tailor-make your natural world holiday to South America by adding a city stay, wildlife holiday or other excursion to your itinerary; talk to a destination specialist to see what we can do for you.