Southern Exposure
A land of dramatic contrasts – soaring mountains and endless desert, dense rainforest and breathtaking ruins – South America is more like a world unto itself than a single continent. Vacations and Travel Magazine’s Brian Johnston takes in some of the highlights.
When it comes to impressive attractions, natural and manmade, there’s little that South America doesn’t have. It boasts the world’s highest lake, driest desert and most ecologically diverse rainforest ecosystem. It has ancient ruins, wondrous wildlife, colourful carnivals and sublime cuisine. From Peru to Patagonia, the Amazon to the Atacama, here are the 10 highlights of this splendid continent.
Argentina: Perito Moreno Glacier
A land of fierce winds, ragged mountains and remarkably tall beech forests at the southernmost tip of the continent, Patagonia is as dramatic as it is desolate. A highlight of the region is the gigantic ice cliffs of the Perito Moreno Glacier. The world’s third largest supply of fresh water covers some 250 square kilometres – a sight made all the more impressive by the huge chunks of ice continually breaking off with a roar before plunging into the turquoise folds of Lake Argentino below.
Brazil: Rio De Janeiro
It may not be the capital of Brazil but Rio holds all the cards when it comes to exciting attractions. As you head into the city from the airport, huge cranes and machinery line a harbour backed by tumbled shantytowns. Then suddenly, you pop through a tunnel and everything changes: humped mountains and beautiful bays afloat with yachts steal the scene. Bliss out in one of the city’s famed beachside suburbs, such as Copacobana or Ipanema. Better yet, visit in February for Carnival, arguably the world’s most spectacular street festival.
Brazil: The Amazon River
The Amazon isn’t quite as wild as you might think: some three million people live in the Brazilian state of Amazonas. But it’s the rainforest, clinging to the banks of the longest and largest river in the world, that people come to see. There’s no better way to admire the beauty of the region than from the deck of a boat, cruising the might waterway: early morning mist hangs low over the river, monkeys hoot in the trees, parakeets flash past and you might see glorious pink-gold river dolphins or the sudden splashing of piranhas as they circle their prey.
Brazil/Argentina: Iguazu Falls
Higher, wider, wetter – Iguazu Falls are infinitely better than Niagara or any other waterfall you care to name, and there isn’t a honeymoon motel in sight. Visit the Argentina side first for its slick visitors’ centre, not to mention the dramatic approach: strolling along a misty jungle path, you hear the roar of the falls long before you arrive at the Devil’s Throat, where water plunges more than 82 metres. A boat ride below the falls will have your heart pounding; a ride above – skirting the edge of the foaming precipice – will have your heart jumping out of your mouth. Head across the border into Brazil for extraordinary panoramic views.
Bolivia: Lake Titicaca
Titicaca lays claim to being the highest navigable lake in the world. It’s an allegedly haunted, mythical place where the locals are full of superstitions and legends and, according to the Incas, it’s the birthplace of creation. From Copacobana, take a boat out on the lake to the Isla Del Sol, where the waters of the lake are as blue as a kingfisher’s wing and the glaciated summits of the Cordillera Real hover on the horizon. At an altitude of more than 3,800 metres, it’s no surprise that the air is crisp, clear and just a little chilly.
Chile: The Atacama Desert
It’s high and it’s very dry: parts of this desert have never seen rain. But more than anything, the Atacama is utterly mesmerising. Slashed with bold colours from its high mineral deposits, the plateau shifts from salt lakes and canyons to sand dunes and geysers, not to mention a smoking volcano. Adventure-seekers are well catered for with wild horse-riding trips, mountain-biking opportunities and off-road 4WD jaunts to surreal sites such as the Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) – a vast, cratered landscape famed for its salt pillars.
Chile: Easter Island
Known locally as Rapa Nui, Easter Island lies more than 3,600 kilometres off the South American mainland. It’s considered the most isolated inhabited island on earth, but its real claim to fame lies in its archaeological sites: a staggering 20,000 ruins dot the island, including surreal moai statues that stand like huge guards over a brooding landscape. Away from the impressive monoliths, Easter Island offers visitors great scuba diving, white-sand beaches, an amazing cave system, volcanic landscapes and a languid lifestyle that might see you lingering a little longer than expected.
Ecuador: Galapagos Islands
An archipelago set around 1,000 kilometres west of continental Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands are not easy to get to, nor are they cheap. But the floral and faunal wonders that characterise these dramatic volcanic isles more than outweigh any inconveniences suffered getting here. Studied by Charles Darwin – and fundamental to his theory of evolution and natural selection – the islands are home to some of the most fascinating and tame animals in the world. Go swimming and have a sea lion cruise up to you for a look; be bowled over by a penguin determined to get to the water; listen to the giant iguanas chomping on seaweed; and marvel at the gull landing on your head looking for hair to bind its nest. This is one of the world’s most intimate wildlife experiences.
Peru: Machu Picchu
Located 2,430 metres above sea level, the ruins of Machu Picchu are firmly entrenched on the tourist trail. Still, it’s hard not to feel like Indiana Jones on a visit. The Urubamba River traps the site in a tight hairpin bend in the canyon far below, while the sugarloaf lump of Huayna Picchu mountain rises above like a rhinoceros’ horn. Thought to have been built by the Incas in the 15th century, the ruins are preserved in whole groups of houses, temples, staircases and neat agricultural terraces. Orchids and lichens grow out of the walls, swallows dance overhead and alpacas graze in the surrounding fields. When the sun pierces the clouds and illuminates the ruins, they glow like gold.
Uruguay: Punta Del Este
Want to hit the beach? You’ll have plenty of opportunities to do so in South America, but you’ll need a good dose of style to fit in with the local crowd. Argentines go for a classy, glamorous look in beachwear and, in spite of the sand and salt, their hair is typically coiffed to perfection at all times. With their mahogany tans, the Brazilians, on the other hand, love the microscopic-swimwear look: you’ll need buns of steel to compete. To see the whole display in one place, make a beeline for Punta del Este, a resort town that overflows with beautiful people from around the continent in the summer months. Away from the sand, you can horse ride, cycle, shop and, of course, party. The peninsula boasts plenty of fine beaches: watch the sunrise from Playa Brava, then flop over to Playa Mansa in the afternoon for the sunset. Make no mistake: this is by far the coolest beach resort in the country.
Photos courtesy of respective tourism bureaus and tour groups.
Article courtesy of Vacations and Travel Magazine.
