South America's Top 5 Sites

South America is home to some of the world’s most spectacular sites, but often competes with other global destinations for the spotlight. As such, we thought that we’d review the top 5 sites of South America.

1. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador: Called the world’s greatest living laboratory or the modern day Garden of Eden, this is where Darwin’s Theory of Evolution began to crystallize. Home to an in-depth range of wildlife that shows no fear of man, pristine beaches, and crystal clear blue waters, the Galapagos in Ecuador is not only a top 10 site of South America, but of the world, and is a perfect year round destination. Suggested Itinerary: Explore the Galapagos aboard the M/V Legend
2. Amazon River: Reaching into Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and of course Brazil, the Amazon River system is almost as immense as the continent of South America itself. A year round destination, the Amazon can be visited from each of those countries, and offers experiences like piranha fishing, caiman spotting, village visits, and river explorations. Suggested Itinerary: Goway’s 8-Day Amazon River Cruise in Brazil is a great way to explore the region.
3. Andes Mountain Range: The only “growing” mountain range in the world stretches from the Caribbean coast on the shores of Colombia, to the world’s most southern city – Ushuaia in Argentina. Many of Goway’s trips revolve around the spectacular Andes and it is an ever present feature on itineraries to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Bolivia. Suggested Itinerary: Cross the Andes on our 5-Day Andean Traverse.
4. Machu Picchu, Peru: Few places on earth convey the emotions felt while standing in the shadow of this world famous site in Peru. Perched high in the Andean mountain range, deep within the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Machu Picchu is to this day clouded in mystery. As the continent's most popular site, Machu Picchu is open all year round.
5. Iguassu Falls: The largest waterfall system in the world, Iguassu Falls straddles the border of Argentina and Brazil. So large and with so much to see, these falls take 2 full days to see properly. Sightseeing options include power boat rides to the base of the falls, helicopter flights over the falls, as well as footpaths winding along the water’s edge and throughout the surrounding jungle forest. All these experiences help to put into perspective the size, grandeur, and power of what can be honestly described as jaw dropping. Suggested Itinerary: Explore on our 3-Day Iguassu Falls Both Sides (Brazil to Argentina) and see both sides of the Falls!

By Don Forster