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Discover South America:where to start?

Discover South America:where to start?

Do you want a change of scenery, different cultures with fascinating civilizations, unparalleled panoramas with extraordinary nature? So plan a road trip in South America. Be careful, your future trip will be a bit expensive. You must therefore leave long enough to discover the maximum wealth that these countries have to offer. Here are the main nations of South America to discover first.

Brazil

Brazil is the largest country in South America. It shares a border with all the other Latin American countries except with Chile and Ecuador. Its capital is Brasilia, but not the best known which is the famous city of Rio de Janeiro. The biggest since Sao Paulo comes to rob him of the first place. Rio is known for its famous carnival and for the Corvado which is the statue of Christ dominating the bay of Rio and offering you a 360° panoramic view given for one of the most beautiful in the world. Do not miss to visit the Iguazu Falls in the heart of lush nature. On site, you will discover 275 falls and the Bird Park which is a real sanctuary. Then leave for Salvador in the region of Bahia with African influences. You can attend the famous Capoeira dance, taste African cuisine and admire preserved colonial architecture. If you miss the islands, Ilha Grande will be a real little paradise on earth with its golden sandy beaches with clear waters, its waterfalls and its preserved jungle. If you want to discover a wild and disturbing nature, go to the Pantanal. This large marsh is home to caimans, monkeys, capybaras, lizards, but also impressive anacondas. With a bit of luck, you may see jaguars roaming free. Also to be seen:

  • Ouro Preto, 18th century village during the gold rush
  • Jericoacoara, a small fishing village with one of the most beautiful beaches in the world
  • Fernando de Noronha, volcanic archipelago of 21 islands with heavenly beaches
  • The Bonito region and its superb national park
  • The Inhotim institute on contemporary art surrounded by nature in an exceptional setting
  • Excursions in the Amazon rainforest, etc.

Argentina

Argentina is a large country in Latin America, bordering Chile, Paraguay, Bolivia, Brazil and Uruguay. This country owes its name to the Genoese or Venetian navigators who came during the time of the conquest for silver objects. Its capital is the famous megalopolis of Buenos Aires. When you come there, start by discovering the very cosmopolitan capital with all the riches it has to offer. Visit the neighborhoods of La Boca, Palermo, San Telmo and attend frenzied evenings of Tango animating the streets in the evening as well as the café terraces. Also to be seen:

  • The Casa Rosada Presidential Palace
  • Plaza de Mayo
  • The Colon Theater and its exceptional interior
  • The Japanese Gardens and La Recolta Cemetery

You can continue your trip to the famous Iguazu Falls and the Devil's Throat. In Argentine Patagonia, you can go to the Perito Moreno glacier at the end of the Andes chain and take a walk in the sea to better observe it. In the Nahuel Huapi National Park, you can find landscapes of breathtaking beauty with its glacial lakes, immense forests and high mountains. If you are in love with exotic fauna, go to Esteros del Ibera composed of large ponds where you can go on a 4x4 safari to discover caimans, monkeys, deer and many colorful birds. Indulge in a road trip on the famous route 40 which is one of the longest in the world. Over 5,000 km, you will go from Bolivia to Patagonia. Also worth knowing:

  • The 7 lakes route
  • Pucara de Tilcara and its archaeological site with pre-Inca fortifications
  • Salta at the foot of the Andes
  • The valleys of Cachaquies with magnificent picturesque villages
  • The Cueva de las Manos or the Cave of the Painted Hands dating back to 1,200 BC
  • Ushuaïa city in the far south of Argentina in Tierra del Fuego

Peru

Peru is a beautiful country bordering Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Bolivia and Chile. Its capital is the beautiful city of Lima, but its historical capital is the city of Cusco. This country has a great biodiversity and an extraordinary cultural heritage. There are many places to see, the most emblematic of which is Machu Picchu, which is also one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. There are several ways to discover this incredible place, but unique is the trek leading to the Porte du Soleil early in the morning to discover these extraordinary ruins at the top of this majestic mountain. You can then discover the colorful mountain Vinikunka or the mountain of seven colors. The accumulation of several sediments has thus produced an incredible rainbow picture of beauty. Go to Cuzco at 3,400 meters above sea level to discover this city, the cradle of the Inca civilization. At Lake Titicaca, you can admire the Uras floating islands which are made of reeds and built by the Paramis. On site, you will be thrilled by the many colors offered to your eyes by the women's clothing or the dwellings and canoes resembling large floating corncobs. Do not miss the Salines de Maras, which is one of the most beautiful landscapes in the country. These ancient salt pans are right in the middle of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and are a perfect place for photo enthusiasts. Going to Peru also means making a mandatory visit to the Valley of the Incas. You will find magnificent archaeological remains with stone blocks and circular terraces. The Nazca Lines are still a mysterious place in the country. You have to see them by flying over them. You will thus discover geometric figures or perfect designs that cannot be seen from the ground and which are 2,500 to 1,500 years old and of which we still do not explain what they were used for and why they are the. Peru is still:

  • The oasis of Huacachina in the middle of a sandy desert
  • The Ballestras Islands home to penguins, cormorants, sea lions and other pretty animals
  • The Mausoleums of Revash in cliffside rock
  • Chan Chan with remarkably well-preserved earthen buildings
  • The Gocta Cataract and its 771 meter high waterfall
  • The beaches of Punta Sal on the Pacific coast, etc.

Colombia

Colombia is still a beautiful country in South America. It borders Brazil, Peru, Venezuela and Ecuador. Its capital is the city of Bogota. The diversity of its landscapes and cultures makes it an exceptional country that remains to be discovered. This country has many extraordinary regional parks, the most beautiful of which is certainly Tayrona Park. It is home to heavenly beaches with turquoise waters bordered by white sand. Go visit the Lost City where you can discover the various ruins and famous terraces built by the Taironas. Then go to the most beautiful city in Latin America called Cartagena de los Indias. Its unique charm will not fail to seduce you with its fortifications and its colonial historic center. From here you can see the archipelago of Rosario and San Bernardo with incredible beaches of beauty and preserved corals of magnificent color. Do not miss to visit the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira. One hour from Bogota, you can see a unique site in the world built by hundreds of miners who extracted salt there in their time to give today, the largest underground cathedral. The Tatacoa Desert allows you to visit astronomical observatories, because the place is located far from pollution. You will be able to see extraordinary stars in a landscape reminiscent of Colorado.

Still to be seen:

  • Guatape, colonial village with colorful alleys and its lake
  • San Augustin with sculptures and tombs over 1,500 years old
  • The Amazon, its exceptional fauna and flora
  • San Andres and Providencia, exceptional islands in the Caribbean Sea, etc.

In South America, you can also visit Ecuador, Bolivia and Venezuela, to name just a few among many others, each as exceptional as the next. You will walk in the footsteps of ancient Native American cultures, which have now completely disappeared, and you will be able to admire sumptuous landscapes. It's up to you to organize your trip as you wish according to your preferences.