Region – South America

What it feels like to be there…

Whether through Che’s ‘Motorcycle Diaries’, stories of sailors rounding the violent Cape Horn, or tales of the Incas at Machu Picchu, your first experience of South America was probably an adventure story. Happily, the continent lives up to the hype in every way and is also surprisingly easy to travel around. From mountain to desert to frozen seas, you just have to get out there and do it.


• AT28 Machu Picchu Courtesy of Shutterstock

   

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• AT30-AGE07 Courtesy of Aggressor

   

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• AT29-HDC06 Courtesy of Hotel das Cataratas

   

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• AT26 Torres del Paine Courtesy of Shutterstock

   

  http://www.adventuretemples.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/AT26-Torres-del-Paine-Courtesy-of-Shutterstock2.jpg

• AT29-PPB03 Courtesy of Posada Puerto Bemberg

   

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• AT27-TAC04 Courtesy of Tierra Atacama

   

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• AT29-HDC01 Courtesy of Hotel das Cataratas

   

  http://www.adventuretemples.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/AT29-HDC01-Courtesy-of-Hotel-das-Cataratas3.jpg

• AT28-THP05 Courtesy of Titilaka Hotel

   

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• AT26-SPC02 Courtesy of Ski Portillo

   

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• AT30-EGE03 Courtesy of Eclipse

   

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• AT30-AGE05 Courtesy of Aggressor

   

  http://www.adventuretemples.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/AT30-AGE05-Courtesy-of-Aggressor3.jpg

• AT29-EEC09 Courtesy of Estancia El Colibri

   

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• AT29-EEC02 Courtesy of Estancia El Colibri

   

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• AT28-MOE05 Courtesy of Monasterio

   

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• AT30-AGE03 Courtesy of Aggressor

   

  http://www.adventuretemples.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/AT30-AGE03-Courtesy-of-Aggressor3.jpg

• AT28 Uros Courtesy of Shutterstock

   

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• AT27-TAC03 Courtesy of Tierra Atacama

   

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• AT27 Easter Island Courtesy of Shutterstock

   

  http://www.adventuretemples.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/AT27-Easter-Island-Courtesy-of-Shutterstock2.jpg

• AT26-SPC07 Courtesy of Ski Portillo

   

  http://www.adventuretemples.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/AT26-SPC07-Courtesy-of-Ski-Portillo3.jpg

• AT26-PCC07 Courtesy of Patagonia Camp

   

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Some practical information worth knowing…

The main intercontinental travel hubs in the region are the big cities: Santiago, Buenos Aires, Rio, São Paulo and to a lesser extent Lima. It is also common to fly in from US travel hubs and get local connecting flights to all the smaller cities. The bus networks are amazing and the main roads good, but in the mountains things do get steep and scary.

Altitude and latitude are the main influence on temperature, but the rising air currents over the mountains create very wet and very dry areas, so pack a waterproof, sun hat and lots of layers.

Visas are generally available on arrival and getting local currency is straightforward in airports, urban centres and hotels.

We’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions. To add a comment or check out what our community has to say, please click here: South America

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