South America is built for adventures. Like moths to a candle, explorers have long been attracted to its exotic shores. Glistening glaciers, granite mountains, desert gorges, tumbling waterfalls, steamy jungles and what not, are to be found only in this part of America. Throw in more Indiana Jones-esque ruins than you could possibly explore in a lifetime, just about every adrenaline-inducing adventure sport you can think of and a ton of coconut palm-backed beaches and it’s easy to see why. Here are 5 adventures you can only have in 'South America'.
1. Hike the Machu Picchu, Peru.
Machu Picchu might play host to thousands of travelers every day, but that doesn’t stop people from flying around the world and hiking for days just to catch their first sight of the ancient Inca ruins from the Sun Gate. It’s the icing on the cake, the ending of a 4-day trek which meanders up along a route used by the ancient civilization centuries ago.
2. Drive on the salty plains of Uyuni, Bolivia.
Salar de Uyuni is vast and magical. The world’s largest salt flat covers a staggering 4,600 square kilometers. One can join one of the daily 4x4 tours which hurtle across the starkly beautiful landscape. You can even nab a night in one of the remote hotels built entirely from salt.
3. Cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula, Argentina.
Ushuaia, Argentina serves as the jumping-off point to the white continent via the Drake Passage. You’d be forgiven for thinking that all you'll find is a vast land of ice. The peninsula teems with wildlife species and catching glimpses of playful pods of killer whales, seals basking on ice floes and colonies of waddling penguins that number the millions are a daily occurrence.
4. Kayak along the Amazon, Brazil.
Is there anything that conjures up feelings of a bygone era of adventure travel like silently paddling along the mighty Amazon? No! Slip into kayaks and join the few explorers ever to have taken on the longest river in the world. From the steamy port city of Manaus in Brazil, there are several overnight camping expeditions that take you deep into the adventure and wilderness.
5. Bathe in the multi-colored pools of Lençóis Maranhenses, Brazil.
Words fail to describe the rippling white dunes that run along Brazil’s north Atlantic coast. Those lucky enough to visit Lençóis Maranhenses National Park just after rainy season, find a landscape dotted with multi-colored seasonal lagoons. With relatively few people visiting every year, you’ll have no trouble finding your own private bathing spot.
