Don't you wish there was a treasure map that could lead you to the best of South America? It’s a vast continent packed with mystifying, captivating and completely foreign experiences, and it’s hard to imagine a list that can encompass all of its wonders.
Although the best of South America may mean something different to everyone, these carefully crafted moments from Insight Vacations will help you plunge into some of the world’s most enigmatic cultures.
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Visit the floating islands of Lake Titicaca
Local legend has it that Titicaca was the birthplace of the sun, and a sense of ancient reverence still clings to the shores of this brilliant blue lake. The locals of the Uros islands bundle reeds from the lake to build platforms, houses and canoes, resulting in floating communities of exquisitely woven reeds.
To fully appreciate this unique lifestyle, speak with a local about the daily struggle of literally staying afloat, a way of life adopted by the Uros tribe to escape their more aggressive contemporaries.
Watch a shaman’s ritual in the Sacred Valley
Machu Picchu, Cuzco and the Sacred Valley once made up the heartland of the Inca Empire. Among the isolated weaving villages, rustic market towns and Inca ruins live a people who still honour the ancient traditions as part of daily life.
To understand the significance of the old rituals to the Sacred Valley locals, watch a shaman perform a "Payment to the Earth" ceremony. Dedicated to Mother Earth, or Pachamama, this spine-tingling routine dates back thousands of years.
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Perfect your bartering skills, Cuzco
When it’s done the right way, bartering over the price of goods can be enjoyable for both buyer and seller. If you’re a little intimidated by the buzzing stalls of Cuzco’s markets, let a local be your guide in navigating the etiquette of haggling.
Make it a challenge and buy according to the list provided by an Insight Travel Concierge – all the purchases will be donated to local families.
Learn the secrets of Peruvian coffee, Lima
Connoisseurs claim that once you taste coffee from Peru, you’ll never go back. A mountainous geography enables ideal growing conditions for coffee beans, and Peru has become the world’s leading source of high-quality, organic coffee.
What better way to discover the secrets of Peruvian coffee than by hearing an expert barista spill the beans? Prepare for an afternoon of glorious aromas and fun facts as you learn how to make the perfect café asado in the capital of Peru.
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Tour and wander Machu Picchu
Of course Machu Picchu is on any itinerary that includes the best of South America. Whether you’re hiking the Inca Trail or riding to the peak in the Vistadome train, the misty ruins of the ancient Incas will be waiting to snatch your breath away.
A tour with a guide is a must, and a local expert can reveal details of the Temple of the Sun, the Sacred Plaza and the Intihuatana that go far beyond the guide book.
After the tour is over, leave some time to wander the majestic ruins by yourself. Your newfound knowledge will imbue each crumbling wall with new meaning.
Wine tasting in Valparaiso
The World-Heritage listed Valparaiso is known for its colourful, cliff side dwellings, but this Chilean seaside town is easy on the tongue as well as on the eyes.
Known as one of Chile’s premier wine regions, the Casablanca Valley lies between Santiago and Valparaiso. Taste the robust reds and expressive whites of the region at Kingston Vineyards, a boutique family winery where the art of Chilean winemaking is celebrated through generations of vintners.
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See the ultimate tango show in Buenos Aires
Tango is the language of Buenos Aires, and it is flaunted to its best advantage at Rojo Tango, Argentina’s number one tango show and among the best of South America.
Prepare for an evening of delicious food and heart-stopping performances amidst the velvet and gilded interior of the Faene Hotel cabaret room, which holds only 100 lucky guests.
Enjoy a barbeque, gaucho style
The cowboy lifestyle of The Pampas (plains) of Argentina is still alive and kickin’, as you’ll discover on a visit to San Antonio de Areco, one of the prettiest towns on the plains.
Tuck into an enormous barbeque lunch, or asado, where you can eat world-famous Argentinian steak to your heart’s content and then sit back to watch an equestrian demonstration by local gauchos (cowboys). Be sure to have your andales ready; these cowboys know what they’re doing and are on a mission to wow you.
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View the Iguassu Falls after hours
Set amidst the verdant jungle of Brazil and Argentina, the Iguassu Falls possess a beauty that is guaranteed to sweep you off your feet. This chain of seemingly endless, crystal waterfalls draws thousands of visitors daily, and is a contender for the top spot in a list of the best of South America.
Seeing this world wonder when the park is closed to tourists is an elusive sight offered from the Belmond Hotel Das Cataratas, the only hotel nestled close to the falls on the Brazilian side of the park. Staying at this hotel means that you will be among the only people on earth witnessing the magical sight of dusk descending on the waterfalls.
Visit with Christ the Redeemer
What is it that is so enthralling about this mountaintop statue?
Perhaps it’s the sheer scale of the thing; at 38 metres, it looms magnificently over the sprawl of Rio de Janeiro. It may be the setting that makes it such an arresting sight. The sculpture is perched atop the impossible-looking Corcovado Mountain, surrounded by verdant mountains with an outlook over the iconic coastline of Rio.
Whatever the reason, a pilgrimage up to the open arms of Cristo el Redentor is guaranteed to thrill you to your core, no matter how many people you share the experience with.
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These experiences are all included in Insight Vacation's Grand Tour of South America, although there are plenty more stops along the way! Your local Travel Associates Advisor has the latest specials and details on Insight Vacations, so get in touch today to discover the best of South America.
