Dazzling wonders of South America
SNOW-CAPPED mountains, ice-blue glaciers, bonedry deserts and enigmatic Amazonian rainforests — South America’s dazzling array of natural wonders sets the stage for incredible adventures.
Add to this such human-made treasures as cryptic Incan ruins, buzzing indigenous markets and picturesque colonial towns — and it’s easy to get addicted to holidays in this captivating part of the world.
As ever with more far-flung exploration, the simplest way to experience South America is with a guide on an escorted tour, following an expertly planned itinerary, where travel, hotels, excursions, entry fees and many meals are included in the price.
A good tour leader with a leading company such as Mercury Holidays, can ensure an enriching experience all the way — whether taking you to see glaciers and icebergs in southern Chile, a tango show in Buenos Aires or the lofty Incan citadel of Machu Picchu, in Peru.
It is like having a fluent, informative and humorous local friend who is bursting to show you around, drawing on their insider knowledge and training to give you the best experience.
What’s more, your guide will take care of everything from transport to entry tickets, cutting out the usual hassles of travel. All you have to do is show up at the agreed time in the hotel lobby for your next breathtaking South American adventure.
Sacred treasures of Peru
A CAPTIVATING tour of sacred Peru will show you misty volcanoes, llamas, alpacas, ancient hanging tombs and, of course, Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, all set against the spectacular Andes.
The restaurant scene is brilliant in Lima, the Peruvian capital, and the beautiful Santo Domingo Convent is an absolute must-see.
Witness stunning frescoes and paintings in mystical Catholic churches in the white city of Arequipa. And Colca Canyon will often reveal majestic condors, rising up from the deep, while stunning Lake Titicaca is the highest and largest navigable lake in the world.
Journeying through the Valley of the Incas, you’ll explore fortresses as you make your way to the Sacred Valley and 15th-century Machu Picchu.
And the Temple of the Sun and more Inca palaces await in Cusco.
This stupendous Peru tour can be extended to include a once-in-a-lifetime Adventure: Visit the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Ip Peru, or theth colourfullf l walled city of Cartagena, in Columbia (above). experience of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest, travelling by motorised canoe and encountering indigenous communities.
Chile, Argentina and Patagonia
A TOUR of the lower reaches of South America offers striking contrasts and countless scenes of unfathomable beauty.
First, a string of charming Chilean cities — Santiago, Valparaiso and Vina Del Mar — reveal their baroque and colonial splendours. Then a flight to Punto Arenas leads on to a voyage through the Channel of Last Hope to see stunning glaciers that pierce the ocean from the southern continental ice field.
Soaring mountains, lakes and waterfalls also await in the epic Torres del Paine National Park, in Patagonia, one of the most spectacular places on the planet. And you could witness calving icebergs the size of skyscrapers at the Perito Moreno Glacier, El Calafate.
Buenos Aires is the home of tango in the colourful neighbourhood of La Boca — and the famous balcony where Eva Peron used to address the people. This stunning itinerary can be extended to the awesome Iguacu Falls, a World Heritage site between Argentina and Brazil, where 275 incredible water drops fall from around 70 metres.
With misty peaks, thundering falls and vast rainforests to see, don’t be surprised if the incredible wonders of beautiful South America get you completely hooked. One tour might not be enough!