South America Travel Guide - Travel Insights and Tips!

Beautifully blessed with sun-kissed climates that last all year round, tropical destinations are countries found on or near the Equator, surrounded by lush ecosystems, geographical wonders, and stunning beaches. With only two seasons — the wet and dry climates — these locations are perfectly tempered for summery getaways. The eternally humid weather lures you to wade into the cool waters and partake in the rich vegetation surrounding the shores. For a dream getaway, we have listed the best tropical vacations on the planet, where you can escape the chill of winter and bask in the warm sunshine whenever you wish.

The Upsala Glacier, a sprawling giant in Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park, offers a spectacle of icy grandeur unlike any other. Its vast expanse of jagged, crystalline blue ice stretches for miles, flowing into the serene waters of Lake Argentino. Massive icebergs, broken from its towering face, drift like sculpted gems, shimmering under the Patagonian sun. Framed by rugged mountains and an endless sky, this glacier feels like a portal to a pristine, untouched world, leaving visitors in awe of its sheer scale and ethereal beauty.The jagged icy peaks of the Upsala Glacier, which can be seen from quite some distance, are just a taste of what’s to come. As travellers approach the face of the glacier they are likely to feel like they have been transported to a different world. The eerie silence, broken only by the ripple of water under the boat only enhances the experience. It is definitely a sight you will never forget.

One of the most spectacular sites in the world-renowned Torres del Paine National Park is arguably Glacier Grey. The National Park and Glacier Grey are both located in southern Chile’s Patagonia, with the glacier making up part of the extraordinary Southern Patagonian ice field. Encompassing 270 square kilometers, you’d never guess that this is one of the small glaciers in the Southern Patagonian ice field.Once you’ve seen it, it’s easy to see where the glacier gets its name; the dazzling blue-grey color mesmerizes every visitor. The deep, sparkling hue has a likeness to a precious stone that gleams seemingly just beneath the surface. The color is so commanding that it can even be seen from space! The sheer size, power, and beauty of Glacier Grey makes it one of the most iconic sights in the Torres del Paine National Park, Chile, and all of South America. The cherry on top? Lago Grey (Lake Grey), a beautiful lake filled by the mighty glacier at three different entrance points. Icebergs can be seen drifting slowly along in the icy waters. Add in the breathtaking backdrop of jagged, snow-covered mountains, hanging glaciers, and the occasional waterfalls and you’ve got one of the most picturesque places on the continent.

There is a lot of beauty to see in Patagonia. There are jagged mountains jutting out of the horizon, turquoise lakes that glint in the sunshine and quaint villages that the modern world has left virtually untouched. But of everything Patagonia has to offer, its most striking feature is its multitude of glaciers.Far from being an everyday sight, glaciers take your breath away and show you the full force of mother nature. The Patagonian glaciers are big, beautiful and ripe for exploring. So, strap on your ice boots and get ready to discover Patagonia’s finest glaciers. Here we give you the not-to-miss top 11 glaciers in Patagonia (in no particular order).

Rising from the ground to a staggering height of 3,359m, Mount Fitz Roy is one of the most formidable peaks to conquer in the world. The mountain sits in Los Glaciares National Park in Argentinian Patagonia and is iconic in shape with sheer jagged edges and no discernable walking path. In brief, Fitz Roy is no easy climb. With only an average of one person making it to the top of this mountain each year, the eight-day expedition to its summit is not hugely popular — or easy. Yet many people travel to the vicinity to trek one of the several routes on or around the mountain.

The Cordillera Blanca trekking and hiking trails in Peru are a playground for all trekking lovers. Some of Peru’s iconic treks and challenging technical climbs can be found in the Cordillera Blanca region. However, Cordillera Blanca has a number of attractive day hikes as well, of which the Laguna Churup hike is one of the most popular.

The Lares trek vs. the Inca Trail. Which one to take a classic dilemma many trekkers in Peru will face. Both treks are two of the best treks in Peru. The Inca Trail is the classic Peruvian trek and is one of the most famous multi-day treks in South America. The four-day route follows an ancient mountain trail, offering splendid views and passing various Inca ruins. The trail crosses three high passes, the highest of which is the infamous Dead Woman’s Pass (4212 m), before finally arriving at the world-famous ruins of Machu Picchu. However, the Inca Trail is also the busiest and is always fully-booked months in advanceFor those searching for something more authentic, the Lares trek offers the chance to walk a route far less commonly attempted than the classic Inca Trail. The Lares trek is shorter and considered a little easier although it reaches higher altitudes than the Inca Trail. This trek offers spectacular mountain scenery of waterfalls and lakes and is commonly combined with a visit to Machu Picchu on the final day. This trek also passes through several traditional Andean villages and offers the chance to meet locals and learn about their way of life, something not possible on the classic Inca Trail. Below we give you a breakdown of the Lares trek vs. the Inca Trail.

Located in the region where the tropical Andes meet the Amazonian lowland forest and covering almost two million hectares, Manu National Park in Peru is one of the world’s greatest biodiversity hotspots. Recognised by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve in 1977, the area is home to a staggering variety of plant and animal species, including giant otters, capybaras, peccaries, tapirs, jaguars, caiman, 13 different species of monkeys, over 1000 species of birds and over 1300 species of butterflies.Manu National Park is divided into three zones, the ‘cultural zone’, the ‘reserved zone’ and the ‘restricted zone’. Visitors are permitted to enter the cultural zone independently, where there are several native communities that welcome tourists. Access to the reserved zone is only possible through one of a very small number of tour companies that are allowed to operate there. The restricted zone is an area of pristine forest still home to a number of uncontacted tribes and is not open to tourists.

A trip to Argentina isn’t complete without witnessing the awe-inspiring Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia. Imagine towering walls of glistening blue ice stretching endlessly, their jagged peaks shimmering under the golden sunlight. The glacier’s massive front plunges into the turquoise waters of Lake Argentino, where thunderous cracks echo as colossal ice chunks crash into the lake below. Framed by snow-dusted mountains and verdant forests, this natural wonder offers an unforgettable scene that feels like a dream.

If you are planning a Chile tour you would be crazy to miss the Cerro Castillo trek. Located in the lesser known Cerro Castillo National Reserve, Cerro Castillo or 'Castle Hill' is a mountain adorned with sharp basalt cliffs that make it look a bit like a castle. Described by some as the ‘new Torres del Paine’, completing this trek is certainly no easy task, but is an incredibly gratifying experience. Those who take it on will have a range of different landscapes to admire as they walk, from gentle green hills to magnificent craggy, basalt cliffs, dusted with snow.Those willing to undertake the Cerro Castillo trek can expect vivid turquoise lakes, dense pine forest, irregularly-shaped mountain peaks and some exceptional panoramic views. Be sure to charge your camera up and take a spare battery pack before you head off, you’re going to want to capture this.

Isla Navarino within the Tierra del Fuego archipelago in the South of Chile is home to some of the most spectacular scenery in South America and features one of Chilean Patagonia’s most gruelling treks – the Dientes de Navarino trek. This trek might well be the best trek you could ever do in the great Patagonia and we'll bet you’ve never even heard of it.

While most people are familiar with Patagonia in the South of Chile, far fewer are acquainted with Chile’s Lake District. Greener and less rugged than its Patagonian counterpart, the Lake District is bathed in vivid green and peppered with brilliant, turquoise lakes. Blessed with gorgeous backdrops of snow-capped mountains and verdant valleys, the magical scenery of the Lake District gives Switzerland some tough competition.But this Latino wonder is more than just a pretty face. The Lake District in Chile has all kinds of exciting and exotic things to see and do; from exploring nature and getting an adrenaline rush, to getting in touch with its unmistakably Chilean cultural. Whether you plan on a tour of Chile's Lake District or heading out solo, listed below are the top things to do in Chile’s Lake District, in no particular order.

Nestled in the cloud forests of remote northern Peru, the city of Chachapoyas is the gateway to the fascinating but little-known region of the same name. A long way from the established Peruvian tourist trail, this part of the country is home to enigmatic pre-Incan archaeological ruins, towering waterfalls, and rewarding treks in Peru.Little is known of the Chachapoya people who inhabited the area as they had already been subjugated and incorporated into the Incan Empire before the arrival of the Spanish Inquisitors. It is thought that the Chachapoya people had established a distinct culture in the region by around 750-850 BCE, and by the time of the arrival of the Incas around the fifteenth century CE, they had erected monumental architecture to rival that of the Inca themselves. A visit to the Chachapoyas region offers the opportunity to discover a mysteriously lost culture and a very remote region of Peru. While short on real attractions, the Chachapoyas town itself is a pleasant place to be based, boasting the colonial-period architecture and a perfectly square main plaza measuring 100 meters along each side. The town is famous for fruit liqueurs and anybody spending a night or two there may choose to track down some of the bars where they can be sampled. Decent eating and sleeping options are also available.

Visitors to Peru have been venturing further afield than the Sacred Valley to discover the Colca Canyon area. For the truly adventurous, a little further north of Colca Canyon lies the world’s deepest canyon named Cotahuasi Canyon. This great gorge is so immense that it could fit the Grand Canyon in twice. This gives the benefit of intriguing Cotahuasi Canyon Trekking routes which are off-the-beaten track.For those willing to make the trip, what lies in wait is a land of traditional village life, cascading waterfalls, dizzying suspension bridges, rarely seen ruins, mysterious ancient petroglyphs, hot springs and the chance to spot elusive Peruvian wildlife – and you will barely see any other tourists the whole time you are there.

There are several alternative treks to the Inca Trail, some of which have now become famous in their own right. However, for trekkers looking for a varied and challenging trek, the Vilcabamba trek offers an authentic experience of high-altitude trekking.