{"id":3154,"date":"2016-10-12T12:32:26","date_gmt":"2016-10-12T11:32:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wendywutours.co.uk\/blog\/?p=3154"},"modified":"2021-07-29T11:10:51","modified_gmt":"2021-07-29T10:10:51","slug":"discovering-south-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wendywutours.co.uk\/blog\/south-america\/discovering-south-america\/","title":{"rendered":"Guest Blog: Discovering South America"},"content":{"rendered":"

Footprint<\/a> have been publishing guidebooks to South America for over 90 years \u2013 yet, even after all this time, it\u2019s undeniable that with each visit, this incredible continent can lift the spirit with its tropical beaches, immense jungles, bracing ice fields, ancient cultures and vibrant cities.<\/p>\n

However, with so many countries to choose from and such incredible diversity of landscapes, flora, fauna, adventures, and cultures, it can be tricky to know where to start! So, here are five of our favourite \u2018must-see\u2019 destinations to help you plan your next trip, along with some invaluable travel tips taken from the latest edition of our South American Handbook<\/a>.<\/p>\n

BUENOS AIRES<\/h2>\n

\"buenos<\/a><\/p>\n

Home to elegant and fashionable boulevards, chic restaurants, passionate tango milongas (tango clubs) and atmospheric theatres and museums, getting to know Argentina\u2019s capital city is key to understanding the country. Not only a great place to experience vibrant city life, Buenos Aires is on the doorstep of the sweeping grasslands of the Argentine pampa, home to the gaucho way of life, with its crafts, horsemanship, musical traditions and grandiose estancias. Also within easy reach of the city is the Tigre Delta, where you can while away an afternoon on a relaxing boat trip along the river delta.<\/p>\n

TRAVEL TIP<\/h3>\n

The atmospheric barrio of San Telmo is one of the few places in the city which still has late colonial buildings, and is home to charming art galleries, antique shops, caf\u00e9s, markets and live music.<\/p>\n

IGUAZU FALLS<\/h2>\n

\"iguazu<\/a><\/p>\n

275 waterfalls form the spectacular Iguaz\u00fa Falls, an enormous horseshoe-shaped precipice where waters thunder into glistening rainbow mists, all surrounded by tropical jungle. Four times wider than Niagara Falls, this is the absolutely unmissable sight of South America, and sits on the border between Argentina and Brazil.<\/p>\n

TRAVEL TIP<\/h3>\n

The Argentine side of the falls offers closer views of the tumbling waters from a forested setting, filled with butterflies and other wildlife. The Brazilian side of the falls offers an impressive panoramic view of the falls as a whole.<\/p>\n

LAKE TITICACA<\/h2>\n

\"lake<\/a><\/p>\n

The highest navigable lake in the world, the shimmering blue expanse of Lake Titicaca straddles both Bolivia and Peru<\/a>. Mystical and mythical, the shores and islands of this enormous inland sea are home to the Aymara and Quechua people and their traditional villages. Puno, found on the northwest shore of the lake, is richly folkloric and here you will find fascinating festivals and beautiful handicrafts.<\/p>\n

TRAVEL TIP<\/h3>\n

Puno is the best place in Peru to purchase clothing and other items crafted from alpaca wool \u2013 so practice your bargaining skills!<\/p>\n

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS<\/h2>\n

\"galapagos\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Unforgettable and unique, this ancient archipelago off the coast of Ecuador is world renowned for its remarkable and fearless wildlife. Unconnected to any mainland and uninhabited for much of their history, the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands are a showcase for flora and fauna that has developed in isolation. Many species of both plant and animal are endemic to the islands, and have adapted themselves specifically to the conditions of the islands. The creatures here have little fear of humans.<\/p>\n

TRAVEL TIP<\/h3>\n

Despite climatic variations throughout the year, conditions are generally favourable for visiting the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands year-round, and each month has different highlights in terms of wildlife viewing.<\/p>\n

CUZCO & THE SACRED VALLEY<\/h2>\n

\"machu<\/a><\/p>\n

The gateway to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Cuzco was once the navel of the Inca civilisation. Nowadays, it is a fascinating mix of colonial churches, pre-Colombian ruins and modern bars and restaurants. The Sacred Valley itself is filled with dramatically located lost cities, temples and ancient citadels \u2013 the most famous of which is Machu Picchu. Awe-inspiring to say the least, these incredible ruins form the pinnacle of many Inca Trail hikes, centuries-old treks which wend through magnificent landscapes.<\/p>\n

TRAVEL TIP<\/h3>\n

From the attractive town of Ollantaytambo, itself filled with spectacular Inca ruins, you can take the train to Machu Picchu.<\/p>\n

\n

\"brochure_btn\"<\/a>Book a fully inclusive holiday to South America<\/a> with Wendy Wu Tours. Our escorted\u00a0tour visits all the major sights of Peru, Bolivia, Argentina\u00a0and Brazil\u00a0for an unforgettable holiday.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Image Credit:<\/strong>\u00a0Footprint Travel Guides’ Shutterstock (shutterstock.com)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Footprint have been publishing guidebooks to South America for over 90 years<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":3186,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":""},"categories":[231,234,233,229,75],"tags":[74,26],"yoast_head":"\nDiscovering South America<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"South America is an incredible continent can lift the spirit with its tropical beaches, immense jungles, ice fields, ancient cultures and vibrant cities\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wendywutours.co.uk\/blog\/south-america\/discovering-south-america\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Discovering South America\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" 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