Rio de Janeiro is one of the most famous cities in the world. It conjures up images of beautiful people on long beaches, fantastical carnivals, and of course, the stunning bay overlooked by a huge statue of Jesus sited on the peak of Mount Corcovado. Geography Of Guanabara Bay The city of Rio de Janeiro…
The Atacama Desert covers a total area of 40,541 sq. mi (105,000 sq. km), stretching 600mi (1000km) from southern Peru into northern Chile. Officially the driest place on Earth, it receives almost no rainfall whatsoever. In fact, it is so dry that some weather stations in the desert have never recorded a single drop of…
Angel Falls is the world’s highest uninterrupted waterfall. Located in Canaima National Park, the second largest national park in Venezuela, the waterfall tumbles from a cleft near the summit of table top mountain Auyán-tepu into what is known as Devil’s Canyon, 3212 feet (979m) below. The falls are a tributary of the Carrao River, itself…
The Beagle Channel is a strait separating the main island of Tierra del Fuego from various other small islands. It is one of three navigable routes linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans at the southern tip of the South American continent. The Strait of Magellan is further north lying between Tierra del Fuego and mainland…
The Amazon is a vast forest. Most of it is in Brazil however significant areas of 7 other countries are all covered by this forest; Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. The forest covers the drainage basin of the Amazon river. One in ten of the world’s known species live in…
Kaieteur Falls is one of the tallest and most powerful waterfalls in the world. Located in Kaieteur National Park, Guyana, the falls’ impressive combination of height and force make it a fearsome sight. Travellers generally visit the falls in small groups, and therefore the area is never crowded, allowing tourists to marvel at the rugged…
Located in Venezuela’s Canaima National Park, Mount Roraima is the highest of the Pakaraima chain of tepui plateau. Mount Roraima is 9 miles (14km) long, and 9222ft (2810m) tall at its highest point, with 1300ft (400m) cliffs on each side of the plateau. At its summit, Roraima is largely sandstone without much vegetation, though a…
Chile is a remarkable country endowed with some of the world’s most spectacular scenery but for lovers of mountains, lakes and glaciers, the Torres del Paine National Park has deservedly become one of the country’s major attractions with over a quarter of a million visitors per annum over half of whom travel from other countries….
To describe this incredible area as a park may seem to be something of an understatement. Canaima National Park in south-east Venezuela is simply immense covering an area of 30,000 sq km. To put this fully in perspective, it is roughly the same size as Belgium but that is as far as any similarity goes….
The central American country of Costa Rica must rank as one of the greatest holiday destinations for any nature lover and this mountainous, forested land has an incredible range of biodiversity being the home to no fewer than 52 species of hummingbirds and 500 types of orchids. One attraction however literally towers above all of…
White sandy beaches and the intense blue waters of the Caribbean in the form of secluded coves and lagoons make this part of Colombia worthy of the description “Tropical Paradise” but the Tayrona National Park has much more on offer making it a magnet for those interested in the concept of “eco-tourism”. El Parque Nacional…
The 15th century Inca citadel of Machu Picchu is much more than just an interesting place to visit. These mountaintop ruins are not only the number one visitor attraction in Peru but the top visited site in the whole of the South American continent. The site was given UNESCO World Heritage Site listing in 1983…
Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat, spanning 4086 square miles (10,582 sq. km) in south-western Bolivia. Unlike traditional deserts, which have sand in abundance, the Salar de Uyuni features vast expanses of glistening white salt. The landscape is entirely flat, bar a few small ‘islands’ such as Isla Incahuasi, which only accentuates…
Declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1984, Iguazu Falls is often revered as the world’s most spectacular waterfall. Situated on the border of the Brazilian state, Parana, and the Argentine province of Misiones, Iguazu Falls spans 1.7 miles (2.7km) in width, and features 275 individual waterfalls, with heights ranging from 196-270ft (60-82m). The…
Nestled within the Andes Mountains of Peru is Colca Canyon, the world’s deepest canyon, which has an estimated depth roughly twice that of the Grand Canyon. Tranquillity and beauty abounds in this colourful destination, with local farmers continuing the agricultural traditions of their Inca ancestors. However, that’s not the only thing making Colca Canyon Peru’s…
The Galapagos National Park was established in 1959 and is Ecuador’s oldest park. It covers a massive 3087 square miles – 97% of the Galapagos Islands. The remaining 3% includes the inhabited islands of Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Isabela and Floreana. Established to protect the unique diversity of the islands, the park service seeks to…
The ice-clad Alpamayo Peak (19,511ft / 5947m) is part of the Cordillera Blanca mountain range in the Peruvian Andes. The whole range falls within the Huascarán National Park. It’s a steep mountain, famous for its almost perfect pyramidal structure and beautiful top cone. Remotely located, the ascent should only be attempted by experienced mountaineers with…