Traveling in South America   by Robbo Das

Travel to South America and you will find the yourself in natural splendor. The fourth largest among the continents of the world, South America occupies about 12% of the world's land area. Because of its tropical climate, one should pack a cap or hat when traveling to South America. A sturdy pair of shoes is also needed as there will be a lot of nature-tripping and hiking that will be involved.

Among the nations that will be part of the intinerary of South American travelers are: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Guyana of the United Kingdom, Suriname of the Netherlands and French Guiana.

Famous for its natural land and water resources, travelers in South America will surely fall in love with its mountain ranges, falls and lakes.

One of the most famous falls in the region is the Angel Falls, reputed to be the highest in the world. Located in the southeaster part of Venezuela, the falls drops at 3212 feet from the mesa of Auyántepuí, which is found in the Guiana Highlands. Named after its discoverer James C. Angel, the waterfall holds a magic that few travelers in South America can resist.

Another famous travel site in South America is the Iguacu Falls, sometimes called the Iguazu Falls, which is located in between Argentina and Brazil. Rising at 200 feet, it is separated by a rocky cliff and island. One of its fascinating features is the way the water merges into one fall during the wet season and separates into two during the dry season.

Lake Titaca in Peru and Bolivia is another travel site in South America that should be in the must-see list of any tourist. Considered to be the largest lake in South America with its width of 56 kilometers and depth of 174 feet. It is also the world's highest navigable lake, becoming a major transportation route between Peru and Bolivia. Other lakes that travelers in South America should note down are the Lake Poopo in Bolivia; Argentino and Nahuel Huapi in Argentina and the Valencia in Venezuela.

Another body of water that is famous in South America is the Orinoco River Delta, which can be found in Venezuela near the Atlantic Ocean. It is longest river in the region stretching to about 2560 kilometers.

Sturdy shoes are needed if travelers intend to visit the Andes mountain ranges in South America. Spreading at about 7200 kilometers, it is one of the longest mountain ranges in the world. South American travelers should also not miss the Aconcagua peak, which lies in Argentina. The Aconcagua peak is the highest mountain in the western hemisphere, rising at a sheer height of 22,834 feet.

In addition to land and water resources, South America also offers travelers a peak into some of the most unique creatures in the world. Llamas, for instance, can be found in packs at plateaus called antiplano that stretches from Bolivia to Peru. This animal provides meat, milk and wool.

The tapir, which can be found in the forests and grassy places in South and Central America as well as in Asia, are nocturnal animals with short legs and flexible snout, which they use to roll up leaves and other vegetations. However, the species found in the Andes and Panama has been said to be nearly extinct.

About the Author - Robbo is a successful online entrepreneur and run blogs like credit card after bankruptcy and quit smoking.

The continuous innovations in modes of travel and the growth of global awareness have incited an increase in the travel and tourist activities all over the world. With the hectic demanding, polluted city life a lot of travelers are in constant search for locations that are still environmentally healthy that will allow them to experience an unspoiled area of Nature. As the world's population keep on increasing, most vacation spots will eventually become more crowded, making it unsuitable for relaxation. Ultimately those in search of a truly unique travel experience will tend to explore new areas of the world.

One such area that is still commercially unexploited is South America. Nowadays more and more people are becoming fascinated with South American vacations. Whether your interest lies in exploring the spectacular archaeological ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru, or the mystery of Rapa Nui off the coast of Chile, or experience the majestic beauty of Ecuador's Galapagos Islands, this is one experience you will never forget.

Salsa, cumbia, Samba and Tango, life really swings in the rhythmic continent of South America. A variety of influences from different countries like Africa, India and Europe penetrated this undiscovered area giving it a very distinct flavor that lures travelers in embarking on an adventurous South American travel.

The exotic continent offers amazing Pre-Columbian sights all along the Andes in Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Colombia. The most popular of these are the Nazca and Machu Picchu in Peru and Ciudad Perdida in Colombia. In addition, tourists are also treated to a tour of stylish colonial churches and palaces in each South-American country. Without doubt architecture lovers and avid historians will flock at South American airlines. People with a more active and sporty lifestyle are captivated with the idea of skiing in exotic Latin countries like Chile, Bolivia and Argentina during their South American vacations. Meanwhile, innate environmentalists cannot wait for an opportunity to see the biggest rainforest and the longest river in the world in Brazil. The abundance of wildlife, especially on the Wadden islands, also added to its appeal.

People who are intend on finding quite and relaxation usually headed for the Carribean, where the coast of Venezuela and Colombia, as well as the beaches of Brazil, offers great beaches and a relaxing atmosphere. If you had enough of the peace and quite and crave some city action, head for the nearest city. There are several to choose from: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Santiago or Lima all of which offers attractions that you will normally find in the city but still with a touch of South America's exotic culture.

South America is a very diverse continent. Although most countries are speaks Spanish, with the exception of Brazil and three Guyana's. French Guiana, British Guyana and Suriname still speaks the language of their former colonial masters as well as their own languages. Majority of South America's still utilizes the native Indian languages however they becoming less frequent nowadays.

Planning for a dream vacation in South America can now be arranged quite easily and quickly. Gone is the time when planning and booking a dream vacation meant getting in touch with a travel agent, today there are numerous sites dedicated to travel in the internet.

So, if you have been yearning to get away, start logging on to the internet and check out all the details on South American travel and destinations. You'll find all the information on hotels, tours and South American airlines, taking it from there will get you to South America in no time.

About the Author  - Gloria Diaz researches and writes on a variety of topics and interests. For more information on South American Travel and South American Destinations please visit her site at http://www.la-cadenatricolor.com

Nothing sounds more exotic or exciting than luxury adventure travel to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands. Let's take these one at a time and see what you would be getting if you indulged yourself with luxury adventure travel of this kind.

First the Galapagos Islands.  Luxury adventure travel to the Galapagos Islands is following the footsteps of Charles Darwin and the Beagle, as he formulated his theory of evolution by studying the life forms on these islands, untainted by human hand for thousands of years. You can try to spot the blue-footed boobies waddling among the hundred year old 600 pound tortoises, or seek out the Amblyrhynchus, a three-foot long, iguana resembling a dinosaur that lives only on these islands.

You could make your initial stop to tour Quito, and have a look around one of the Indian markets nearby, such as the Saquisili Indian market, and buy a hand-made Panama hat - these are made in Ecuador, not Panama! Quito itself offers a great deal to the adventurer, and you will be able to straddle the equator - one foot in the northern and another in the southern hemisphere.  Quito was destroyed by the Indians to prevent it being taken by Pissarro, and rebuilt by the Spanish colonialists.

Then take a business class flight on your first stage to tour the Galapagos Islands, and transfer to a luxury cruiser to visit Espanol Island, the first of the Galapagos Islands you will visit. Don't forget that this is luxury adventure travel to the Galapagos Islands, and that you should want for nothing:  the best accommodations and personal attention.

After admiring the iguanas, which swim only at this island, cruise over to Santa Cruz, and visit the Charles Darwin Research Station at Academy Bay, where you will check out the captive tortoise and iguana breeding centers. After crossing the equator, Genovesa Island can be very deceiving.  The quietness of this volcanic area lulls you into a false sense of security, because you will shortly enter Darwin Bay and be assaulted by the sound of thousands of birds of many different types:  boobies (both blue and red footed), Audubon's shearwaters, noddies and red billed tropicbirds among many others. This is an ornithologist's heaven.

Wreck Bay (I wonder how it got that name) on San Cristobal is the administrative capital of the Galapagos and you can fly from there back to Ecuador, connecting in Guayaquil for your flight to Lima.  This is the start on the second part of your vacation: Luxury Adventure Travel to Machu Picchu.  However, why rush it?  Why not first have a look around some of the other places that Peru has to offer?

Take a trip to Cuzco:  at three miles high, one of the highest cities in the world. Imagine your 100 meters time here! When you get this high, you have to take it easy or you could become ill, so let yourself acclimatize after your sea-level trip to the Galapagos Islands. Give it a day and then head off for a tour to Chincero in the Urubamba Sacred Valley, to learn something about the old ways of the Incas. Keep in mind that is a luxury vacation, and in keeping with that you should also visit La Cicciolina, which one of the best restaurants in this part of the world. Now you are ready for your luxury adventure travel to Machu Picchu!

What better than a luxury train ride on the Hiram Bingham train to the lost city, enjoying champagne and a top class brunch on the way.  It was Yale historian, Hiram Bingham, who brought Machu Picchu to the attention of the civilized world in 1911, and wrote his first book on his finding under the title "The Lost City of the Incas". In fact the city had been constructed around 1460, when the Inca Empire was at its peak, and it is believed that it was abandoned less than 100 years later due to an outbreak of smallpox killing most of the inhabitants.

Although many think it had ceremonial origins, current belief is that it was an estate of the Incan emperor, Pachacuti, and it is certainly not mentioned in any of the writings of the Spanish conquistadores.  Whatever its purpose, this is an extraordinary city, totally invisible from below, and completely self-contained with its own springs and terraces devised to produce enough food to feed a large population. It also possesses baths, storage rooms, temples and around 150 houses.

It is not enough to travel this far and simply walk around the ruins, or those of them that you are permitted to visit. The ecosystem around the area is fascinating, and luxury adventure travel to Machu Picchu would be incomplete without learning more about this cloud forest. For the botanist there are more than 372 species of orchid to enjoy, from the lady's slipper to tiny specimens needing a magnifying glass to appreciate.

Finally, when you return to Lima why not complete your luxury vacation and visit the Larco Herrera Museum, then take a private tour of the city, visiting both the modern and the old colonial areas of Lima.

You don't get to enjoy luxury adventure travel to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Island very often, and you want it to be a wonderful experience, so find a tour company that can offer you personal attention, and with planners that can offer you a personal vacation just for you and a partner. That is far better than joining 48 others, and enables you to enjoy true luxury vacation with luxury travel, accommodation and cuisine that you will remember forever.

If this itinerary excites you, then check out how to arrange your own luxury adventure travel to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands, with travel and accommodation for two only, at http://www.ultitude.com and enjoy the luxury vacation of a lifetime.