| South America is a continent of extremes, and there is | | | | the place to see. The massive north-south continent is |
| not just one, but thousands of reasons to explore the | | | | spread through nearly every climate zone imaginable, |
| human and natural wonders of this remarkable | | | | which makes for very dynamic travel. The world's |
| landmass. South America's expansive human history is | | | | highest water fall, Angels Falls, cascades over 3,200 |
| visible through some of the best preserved ruins in the | | | | feet in Venezuela's Canaima National Park. The |
| world. The fusion of Spanish, Portuguese and native | | | | Amazon River, which winds across the north through |
| cultures is evident in the distinctive art, food and music | | | | Brazil, is the largest river in the world by volume while |
| of the 12 independent countries. | | | | the Amazon Rainforest is the largest existing |
| Though it was the last continent to be inhabited, South | | | | rainforest. Travel along the Andes, the world's longest |
| America has a long and delicate history of flourishing | | | | mountain range but make sure not to lose your way in |
| indigenous cultures before European arrival in the 16th | | | | Chile or you might end up in the driest place on earth, |
| century. Archeological sites in Peru reveal the practice | | | | the Atacama Desert. Catch your breath at 3,600 |
| of human sacrifice and other perplexing traditions by | | | | meters while visiting the highest capital city of La Paz, |
| the Moche people who lived there 2000 years ago. | | | | Bolivia. Then, gather your arctic gear and head south |
| South America's most illustrious ancient people, the | | | | to Ushuaia in Argentina, which is - you guessed it - the |
| Inca, held their capital in modern day Cusco and | | | | world's southernmost city! Along the way, stop by the |
| sprinkled the Andes with remnants of their terraced | | | | steppes of Patagonia, which happens to be the |
| farming and architecture. Machu Picchu, at 7,710 feet, is | | | | cleanest place on earth aside from Antarctica. South |
| the best preserved and most breathtaking Inca town, | | | | America is also home to the stunning diversity of |
| well worth the 4 day hike along the Inca Trail (the less | | | | Darwin's Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) and the most |
| eager can opt for the train ride). | | | | remote island on earth, Easter Island (Chile) with its |
| The Sky is the Limit | | | | mysterious stone head sculptures and an inexplicably |
| When it comes to breaking records, South America is | | | | large population of Pacific Islanders. |