Rio

Rio is known to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world, rich in both culture and natural beauty. The best way to view the city is on foot, ensuring that you don’t miss any detail of this fascinating part of the world. Within the city itself are a number of impressive sights to behold. The Statue of Christ the Redeemer is one such sight, drawing a large number of tourists each year to stand in awe of its magnificent height as it keeps watch over the city below.

Another fantastic spot, ideal for more gentle South America hiking, is Sugar Loaf Mountain, rising straight out of the ocean to a height of 396 metres. This beautiful mountain resembles the natural shape of a giant sugar loaf, and looks quite dramatic over the water. While in Rio, it is definitely worth taking a trip down to its southern zone, where you will find one of the most famous beaches in the world – Copacabana. This beautiful 4km beach is ideal for gentle strolls, and the large promenade which borders the beach is popular too.

Iguaza Falls

One of the most awe-inspiring sites in South America is the Iguaza Falls. Straddling the Paraguayan, Brazilian and Argentinean borders you will find the great tumbling collection of waterfalls – 275 in total stretching over 2 miles. You can stand on the point where all three countries meet, and look into a different country with each turn of your head. For those interested in hiking in South America, the canyon alongside the waterfalls is well equipped for exploring, with plenty of walks and trails.  The canyon was created through water erosion cutting through the earth and forming a fertile and interesting terrain. The falls are surrounded by forests, where you can discover 160 species of birds flitting through the trees, as you trek through the woods.

The Chilean Lake District

One of the most beautiful places for hiking in South America is Chile’s Lake District. The scenery is simply breathtaking here, with snow-capped volcanoes, glistening mountain lakes and larch forest waiting to be explored.

There are a total of twelve major lakes and many smaller one dotted across the landscape, with winding rivers and energetic waterfalls splashing into them. Being a volcanic area, there are also thermal hot springs, making South America trekking relaxing in this spa-like setting. You can climb to the top of the six volcanoes, and if you’re really energetic, Villarica, the tallest volcano, is some 2,847m high. Or you can simply wander round the sparkling lakes marvelling at this unique area.

About the Author

Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Operating since 1946, Ramblers Worldwide Holidays now offer over 250 holidays in more than 70 different countries. On a South America trekking with Ramblers you can walk South America’s most scenic landscapes at the best value prices.

Puerto Natales

Puerto Natales at the southernmost end of Chile faces the Patagonian Andes mountain range and is the main transit point for the Torres del Paine National Park. Against a panorama of snow-capped mountains, Puerto Natales is not only the gateway to the park, but is a legitimate destination in its own right. In recent years the influx of tourism to the Patagonian region has seen this once sleepy fishing village grow into a vibrant waterfront city. From Puerto Natales you can embark on unique sailing adventures through spectacular glaciers and travel to the Southern Ice Fields beyond and experience some of the most beautiful hiking in South America.

Torres Del Paine National Park

About 150km from Puerto Natales is the main reason people travel to this remote part of Chile – the vast sweeping vista of the Torres Del Paine National Park. Renowned as an area of unspoilt beauty, this raw yet vulnerable landscape is an extremely popular destination for holidays trekking in South America. The many walking trails which criss-cross the park are safe and suited to average hiking skills, and there are various lodgings dotted throughout ranging from campgrounds to five star luxury resorts.

The expansive landscape of the National Park is dominated by the ‘Paine Massif’ which forms a spur of the Andes. It was created over 12 million years ago as a result of lava breaking through the earth’s crust and rising up to shape the crags and peaks. The iconic rock formation known as the Torres Del Paine is made up of three soaring granite towers – Torre Central, Torre Sur and Torre Norte. The natural centrepiece of the park, the majestic peaks rise up to nearly 3000 metres and to stand in their shadow is an awe-inspiring experience. The lagoon at the base changes colour throughout the day from a vibrant blue to a deep green depending on the light, and adds to the aura of mystery surrounding the towers.

The flora and fauna of the park is as diverse as the landscape. Across the different altitudes and terrains of the grasslands, rocky peaks and glaciers you will encounter such wildlife as cougar, foxes, mountain lions and of course the guanacos – the unique South American camel. Birdlife is abundant as well and the valleys, lagoons and rivers are filled with a huge variety of condors, flamingo, ostriches and swans amongst others.

There are a number of well-trodden circuits through the park the best-known being the ‘W’ which takes about four days to complete, and the epic Paine Mass which encompasses around ten days trekking. South America is justifiably proud of this Chilean adventure and it is one of the most popular trails for nature-loving hikers in this part of the world.  The Torres Del Paine is part of a protected system in Chile which is made up of three national monuments, three reserves and five national parks. Collectively, it has been declared by UNESCO as the Reserve of the Biosphere and fortunately is now recognised for the valuable heritage region that it is.

Trekking South America through the expansive mountain scenery and icy glacial beauty of the Torres del Paine National Park is an unforgettable journey, and a humbling reminder of the power of Nature that should not be missed.

About the Author

Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Operating since 1946, Ramblers Worldwide Holidays now offer over 250 holidays in more than 70 different countries. On a South America trekking with Ramblers you can walk South America’s most scenic landscapes at the best value prices.

Machu Picchu, the so called “Lost City of the Incas”, has become a classic “see before you die” sight since it was rediscovered at the beginning of the 20^th century by the American explorer Hiram Bingham. It is an unforgettable place, a set of excellently preserved Inca ruins perched on top of a mountain in the middle of the Peruvian Andes.

A million people a year enjoy trekking in South America’s Machu Picchu, and though the site is accessible by bus from the local town of Aguas Calientes, many people choose to get their via the Inca Trail. The sight of Machu Picchu is one of the most famous in the world and the trek to the ruins is equally renowned. The walk traditionally follows an ancient roadway and passes through a number of Inca ruins before you are awarded with your first mesmerising glimpse of Machu Picchu from the ‘Gateway of the Sun’.

Whilst trekking South America’s most famous route is a rewarding experience, you can also access the citadel by train and stay overnight, leaving you free to explore Machu Picchu once the daily crowds have dissipated. The train ride to the ruins is equally enthralling and you’ll definitely need to ensure that you have a window seat for the journey. The views are stunning as the train descends from the highest point in the Sacred Valley to the foothills of the Andes. It also winds around the Urubamba River, which is home to the Campa tribes, incorporating the traditional Incan beliefs and mysticism into their daily lives.

On the train journey you are likely to come across many llamas, which are indigenous to the area. The llamas were sacred to the Incan religion as they were the primary means of transportation for the empire; they also provided dung which was used as both fertiliser and fuel. Llama wool provided clothes for the Incas and when the animal died, or was sacrificed to the gods, its leather provided hide and its meat, food. The Peruvians are still grateful to the humble llama for its role in shaping their society and as a consequence they still highly revere the animal and it is a criminal offence to kill one.

Once you’ve finished trekking South America’s oldest road and reached the top of Machu Picchu, there are a couple of objects that you may want to look out for. The Temple of the Sun was once used to honour the sun god, Inti and the Sun Clock was where the Incan’s believed he was continually tethered to, in order to keep him connected to the people.

The entire sight is absolutely breathtaking and offers an incredible insight into a relatively unknown culture. So if you’re looking for one of the most unique places to take a South American hiking holiday, then look no further than Machu Picchu.

About the author

Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Operating since 1946, Ramblers Worldwide Holidays now offer over 250 holidays in more than 70 different countries. On a South America trekking with Ramblers you can walk South America’s most scenic landscapes at the best value prices.