Spring in the south
A guide to some of the can’t-miss sites on this beautiful continent
Trying to figure out where to go in South America is enough to make your head spin like Regan’s did in The Exorcist.
Spanning more than 6.8 million square kilometres and 12 countries, it’s seriously big. But sliced into bite-sized pieces, visiting seems surprisingly manageable.
For travellers who think South America is just too exotic and outside their comfort zone, snap out of it. The sights here are too spectacular to pass up. Have your bucket list in hand and be sure to check out any of these spots, all worthy of a visit. Where to find the absolutely must-see A-list attractions: If you boil down all that South America has to offer, these are the quintessential, don’t-go-home-without-seeing-them places: Machu Picchu, Peru. Photos just can’t do this attraction justice. It’s impossible to put it into perspective without being there. This 15th-century Incan site remained intact largely because Spanish conquistadors didn’t find it. Here, stone blocks fit so tightly to form the walls that you can’t squeeze a credit card between them. Not even Mike Holmes could do that with modern tools. (Tip: Get a cool stamp in your passport from the ticket office.)
Canaima National Park, home of Angel Falls, Venezuela. This is not Niagara Falls. You can’t waltz in, and waltz out. Its remote jungle location makes it a bit of a slog, but impressive nonetheless: The falls drop more than 978 metres. (The CN Tower stands just 553 metres.) Avoid December to April, when they just trickle — kind of lame considering the time and money (about $250) it takes to get there. During the dry season, you’ll be saying, “Is this it!?”
Torres del Paine, Chile. This national park is like a greatest-hits package of nature with snowcapped mountains, scenic valleys, glaciers, rivers and lakes sharing real estate. Hikers and photographers follow marked routes and soak up the exotic flora and fauna, unlike anything seen elsewhere. Note: This is no slacker trip. Be prepared to walk until your calves scream. Best accommodations for those who think outside of the box
Palacio de Sal, Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia. Your sodium levels won’t soar though everything, including the walls, beds, tables and chair, is made of salt blocks carved from the surrounding flats. lunasaladahotel.com.bo
Ariau Amazon Towers Hotel, Manaus, Brazil. It’s not the milehigh club, but it’ll do. Book the honeymoon suite, built in a mahogany tree, up more than 33 metres. It’s the ultimate love nest overlooking the Amazon jungle. ariauamazon- towers.com Best activities for extroverts River Plate Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina Squeezed among 74,621 screaming football fans, fast friendships form while watching the national team play home games or FIFA World Cup qualifiers. riverplate.com
Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil This world-famous beach is action central, often with barely room to plant an umbrella. Its New Year’s Eve celebration attracts millions of bronzed and buffed bodies.
Bogota, Colombia. The country’s capital hosts one of the largest theatre festivals on earth, with fivemillion spectators on hand. Best hideouts for the shy and demophobic (fear of crowds)
Punta del Diablo, Uruguay. If you’ve toured South America at a breakneck pace, escape to the empty beaches here, free of vendors and screaming toddlers. Ultimate hangouts for wild things
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Charles Darwin had a heyday studying its endemic species (oodles of lizards and birds) here. Via small boat (the only kind allowed) is the best way to see the sights. Weather can change faster than a sneeze, so pack for all conditions.
Central Suriname Nature Reserve, Suriname. Isolation has kept this uninhabited, 1.6-million-hectare park wonderfully pristine and unspoiled. With the building of visitor facilities, it may become one of the world’s best spots for ecotourism. Find your cheap thrills Don Vito, Paraguay. This fastfood restaurant chain has good food at pocket-change prices — nothing costs more than a loonie.
Café Tortoni, Buenos Aires, Argentina. She’s an elegant old dame, built in 1858, but she still dazzles as a coffee bar and tango venue. Press up against the sweaty and beautiful as they glide across the dance floor. But before trying to bust a move, sign up for lessons at a place like Escuela Argentina de Tango. cafetortoni.com.ar
Lake Titicaca, Bolivia/Peru. Stay on the Peruvian side and book an excursion to the floating islands (made of reeds) and Taquile, where everyone spends their days knitting items to sell in the gift shop. Avoid altitude sickness with a prescription for Diamox. Michele Sponagle is a freelance writer based in Paris, Ontario