South America
South America
Page Updated December 2024
Argentina You hear plenty of talk about gauchos and the tango when you mention Argentina, but for many travelers it's the country's natural wonders that are the primary attraction. Wikipedia.
Argentina Atlas Of Argentina.
Bolivia Landlocked Bolivia is the Tibet of the Americas - the highest and most isolated of the Latin American republics. Some violence has been reported in primitive areas so travelers should take precautions. Wikipedia.
Bolivia Atlas Of Bolivia.
Brazil Through the lush heart of Brazil flows the Amazon, and along its coast is found a dazzling string of great cities: the pulse-pounding resort of Rio; sprawling, metropolitan Sao Paulo; and, further north, the entrancing canals and bustling piers of Recife. Wikipedia.
Brazil Atlas Of Brazil.
Chile Although no one says "no" to a casual meander along its grand urban boulevards, travelers are drawn to this string bean of a country because of its spectacular Pacific coastline and Andean highlands. In the world's longest country -north to south, nature runs the gamut of its most dramatic forms - enormous glaciers, craggy granite spires, and towering volcanic cones dominate the landscape. Wikipedia.
Chile Atlas Of Chile.
Colombia Colombia that you don't hear about is surprisingly relaxed and is inhabited by extremely personable and spirited people pursuing orderly lives. However, the US State Department warns US citizens against travel there. Learn about the decades of violence and uncertainty that the Colombians have dealt with. Wikipedia.
Colombia Atlas Of Colombia.
Ecuador Ecuador arguably has the most intensely varied landscape in South America. You get it all here: the colossal Andes, the Amazon, Pacific beaches and of course the naturalist's paradise of the Galapagos Islands. Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands pack volcanoes, rainforests, rugged Andean mountains and the Galapagos Islands into one country. Quite a variety of adventures and history packed into something the size of Nevada! Wikipedia.
Ecuador Atlas Of Ecuador.
Falkland Islands Controversy exists over the Falklands' discovery and subsequent colonization by Europeans. At various times, the islands have had French, British, Spanish, and Argentine settlements. In April 1982, Argentina attacked these British islands claiming them for Argentina. In a short war, England defeated Argentina and retook the islands – a British outpost in the South Atlantic Ocean. Wikipedia.
Falklands War The conflict lasted 74 days and ended with the Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982, returning the islands to British control. In total, 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British military personnel, and three Falkland Islanders died during the hostilities. Wikipedia.
French Guiana The European Space Centre at Kourou has brought a corner of French Guiana into the modern world. Examine the unique history of this faraway part of the French empire! Wikipedia.
Galapagos Islands The islands, a province of Ecuador, are known for their vast number of endemic species and were studied by Charles Darwin during the second voyage of HMS Beagle, as his observations and collections contributed to the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution by means of natural selection. Wikipedia.
Guyana The country's natural attractions, are impressive, unspoiled and on a scale that dwarfs human endeavor. Guyana has immense falls, vast tropical rainforest and savanna teeming with wildlife. A former Dutch and British colony. Guyana is one of the lesser-known destinations in South America, but it has plenty of prizes for those who wander in. Its great rivers access huge reaches of rain forest and one could spend a lifetime visiting all of its picturesque waterfalls. Wikipedia.
Paraguay Known as a country in South America’s “empty quarter”, has now taken steps to overcome its political, economic and geographic isolation and welcome visitors. Paraguay has been plagued by war, violence and dictatorship and is still not a safe country for travelers. Wikipedia.
Peru You can wander in colonial cities with a Spanish legacy, visit the ancient Incan capital of Cuzco, explore the lost city of Machu Picchu and ponder the enigma of the Nazca Lines. The shadows, canyons and plateaus of the vertiginous Andes hide the remains of one of the world's most extraordinary empires - the Inca - while their eastern slopes are the cradle of the Amazon River itself. Wikipedia.
Peru Atlas Of Peru.
Suriname Long inhabited by numerous cultures of indigenous tribes, Suriname was explored and contested by European powers before coming under Dutch rule in the late 17th century. On 25 November 1975, the country of Suriname left the Kingdom of the Netherlands to become an independent nation. Wikipedia.
The Amazon River The Amazon is the largest river by discharge volume of water in the world and according to most authorities, the second longest in length. It is a vast area of biodiversity and some areas of the interior have yet to be fully explored. Wikipedia.
The Andes Mountains The Andes are the world's highest mountain range outside Asia. The highest mountain outside Asia, Mount Aconcagua, in Argentina, rises to an elevation of about 22,838 feet above sea level. Wikipedia.
The Incas The Inca Empire was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America, and possibly the largest empire in the world in the early 16th century. Its political and administrative structure "was the most sophisticated found among native peoples" in the Americas. Wikipedia.
The Orinoco River The Orinoco River and its tributaries are the major transportation system for eastern and interior Venezuela and the llanos of Colombia. The Orinoco River is extremely diverse, and hosts a wide variety of flora and fauna. Wikipedia.
Uruguay Pint-sized but big-hearted when it comes to attractions. It contains one of South America's most interesting capitals, charming colonial towns and a cluster of internationally renowned beach resorts. Wikipedia.
Venezuela A land of striking natural beauty and contrasts: snowcapped peaks of the Andes; steamy Amazonian jungles and the hauntingly beautiful Gran Sabana plateau, with its strange flat-topped mountains! Today, however, Venezula's society has been racked with violence, and it's economy destroyed because of a radical, leftist dictatorship. With hope for the future, we present the country of Venezuela. Wikipedia.
Venezuela Atlas Of Venezuela.