South America travel: Deserts, Rainforests, and Arctic Wonderlands
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The massive continent of South America has a stupefying number of things to see, much of it defined by its geography. From the beaches of Rio de Janeiro to the flat grassy plains of Argentina's pampas region, and from the deepest nooks of Peru's Colca Canyon to the highest point of Ecuadorian Andes, South America has something to suit all travelers. If you are looking for extremes, then discover its driest deserts, most luscious jungle areas, and absolutely awe-inspiring arctic landscapes.
Desert - Atacama, Chile
The Atacama Desert in Chile is known to be the driest desert on earth, which means it certainly has its fair share of features to boast. The landscape looks completely alien with its craters, geysers, and salt flats. The Valle de la Luna is one of the most popular areas to visit, and a sunset will leave you admiring the golden rush of light as it reflects brilliantly off the ancient land. To see the geysers, go to El Tatio, but take caution as they can erupt quite spontaneously. Finally, Toconao village and its white sillar (volcanic stone) buildings create a scenic gateway to Salar de Atacama where you can explore Chile's most incredible salt lake.
Rainforest - Belem, Brazil
The Amazon Rainforest covers more than 40% of the continent, so a visit to the jungle should be added as part of any Brazil tours. Belem sits at the mouth of the Amazon River which gives life to the entire biome, and is the perfect place to start an Amazon cruise. Manaus and Santarem are the two more popular destinations along the waterway from Belem. If you want to spend some time in the city, visit the Praca de Republica where many shops and public events are held. As well, the beautiful Museu de Arte de Belem is well worth a visit.
Arctic Landscape - Ushuaia, Argentina
As the southernmost city on earth, Ushuaia is a most exotic destination for your Argentina vacation. The bay's colorful boats make for amazing pictures, and hikes in the area can be arranged as part of any Patagonia vacation packages to see the region's marvelous green and white landscapes. If that isn't enough, take an Antarctica cruise to the world's most elusive seventh continent. March to April is the best time to visit due to the sharp autumn colors, wonderfully seen from the top of Cerro Martial which looks down on the famous Beagle Channel.
This article about South America was written by a travel expert at Latin America For Less who specializes in helping you organize best value Brazil tours and fully customizable Patagonia vacation packages.
Category Article America, Arctic, Deserts, Rainforests, South, travel, Wonderlands
