South America

South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Most of it is in the Southern Hemisphere.

Commonly referred to as part of the Americas, like North America, South America is named after Amerigo Vespucci, who was the first European to suggest that the Americas were not the East Indies, but a previously undiscovered New World.

South America is thought to have been first inhabited by people crossing the Bering Land Bridge, now the Bering Strait though there are also suggestions of migration from the southern Pacific Ocean.

The Chavín established a trade network and developed agriculture by 900 BC, according to some estimates and archeological finds. Artifacts were found at a site called Chavín de Huantar in modern Peru at an elevation of 3,177 meters. Chavín civilization spanned 900 BC to 300 BC.

Holding their capital at the great city of Cusco, the Inca civilization dominated the Andes region from 1438 to 1533. Known as Tahuantinsuyu, or "the land of the four regions," in Quechua, the Inca culture was highly distinct and developed. Cities were built with precise, unmatched stonework, constructed over many levels of mountain terrain. Terrace farming was a useful form of agriculture. There is evidence of excellent metalwork in Inca civilization.

Beginning in the 1530s, the people and natural resources of South America were repeatedly exploited by foreign conquistadors, first from Spain and later from Portugal. These competing colonial nations claimed the land and resources as their own and divided it into colonies.
European diseases (smallpox, influenza, measles and typhus) to which the native populations had no resistance, and cruel systems of forced labor, such as the infamous haciendas and mining industry's mita, decimated the American population under Spanish control. After this, African slaves, who had developed immunities to these diseases, were quickly brought in to replace them.

The Spanish colonies won their independence in the first quarter of the 19th century, in the South American Wars of Independence. Simon Bolivar and José de San Martín led their independence struggle. In Brazil, a Portuguese colony, Dom Pedro I (also Pedro IV of Portugal), son of the Portuguese king Dom João VI, proclaimed the country's independence in 1822 and became Brazil's first Emperor. This was peacefully accepted by the crown in Portugal. Although Bolivar attempted to keep the Spanish-speaking parts of the continent politically unified, they rapidly became independent of one another as well, and several further wars were fought, such as the War of the Triple Alliance and the War of the Pacific.

A few countries did not gain independence until the 20th century:

Trinidad and Tobago, from the United Kingdom, in 1962

Guyana, from the United Kingdom, in 1966.

Suriname, from Dutch control, in 1975

French Guiana remains part of France as of 2005, and hosts the European Union's principal spaceport, the Centre Spatial Guyanais.

Area: 17,820,000 km² (6,880,000 sq mi)

Population: 371,200,000

Language: Portuguese and Spanish are the primary languages of the continent. The majority of South Americans (51%) speak Portuguese. However, most South American countries are Spanish-speaking, and nearly all of the continent's lusophones reside in Brazil. Among other languages used by many South Americans are:

Aymará in Bolivia and Peru.

Quechua in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru

Guaraní in Paraguay

English in Guyana

Hindi in Guyana and Suriname

Dutch and Indonesian in Suriname

Italian and German in certain pockets across southern South America

Japanese in Brazil

Religion: Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion. French Guiana also has a large number of Protestants. Guyana and Suriname are exceptions, with three major religions: Christianity in general, Hinduism, and Islam.

Argentina

Bolivia

Brazil

Chile

Colombia

Ecuador

French Guyana

Guyana

Paraguay

Peru

Suriname

Uruguay

Venezuela

Argentina - A country of wide-open pampas and ancient forests, Argentina is as wild as its capital city, Buenos Aires, is sophisticated.

Bolivia - Bolivia may be one of the poorest countries in South America, but its cultural wealth, the mindblowing Andean landscapes and the remnants of mysterious ancient civilisations make it a rich and exciting destination for those looking for more than postcards.

Brazil - Its vibrant diversity and geographical abundance seem to embody everything that is best in South America. Through the lush heart of Brazil flows the Amazon, and along its coast is found a dazzling string of great cities: the pulse-pounding resort of Rio; sprawling, metropolitan Sao Paulo; and, further north, the entrancing canals and bustling piers of Recife.

Chile - In the world's longest country -north to south, nature runs the gamut of its most dramatic forms - enormous glaciers, craggy granite spires, and towering volcanic cones dominate the landscape. Torres del Paine National Park is widely held to be the finest park in the Americas.

Colombia - Vibrant cities with streaking metros and soaring skyscrapers. Elegant port towns cut by cobbled alleys and bougainvillea shrouded balconies. Spectacular national parks ranging from Garden-of-Eden-tropical to heavenly-high-alpine. Cruise boats, party buses, late night salsa dancing and shopping glory.

Ecuador - Ecuador arguably has the most intensely varied landscape in South America. You get it all here: the colossal Andes, the Amazon, Pacific beaches, and of course the naturalist's paradise of the Galapagos Islands.

French Guyana - Modern French Guiana is a land of idiosyncrasies, where European Space Agency satellite launches rattle the market gardens of displaced Hmong farmers from Laos and thinly populated rainforests swallow nearly all but the country's coastline.

Guyana - Guyana is one of the lesser-known destinations in South America, but it has plenty of prizes for those who wander in. Its great rivers access huge reaches of rain forest and one could spend a lifetime visiting all of its picturesque waterfalls.

Paraguay - Paraguay is South America's 'empty quarter', a country little known even to its neighbours. PJ O'Rourke summed it up bluntly when he wrote 'Paraguay is nowhere and famous for nothing' - and then, on a short visit to cover elections, promptly fell in love with the place. You might well do the same.

Peru - The landscape of Peru is as epic as its history. The shadows, canyons, and plateaus of the vertiginous Andes hide the remains of one of the world's most extraordinary empires - the Inca - while their eastern slopes are the cradle of the Amazon River itself.

Suriname - Suriname has an extraordinary ethnic variety deriving from Dutch colonisation, the importation of African slaves and an influx of indentured labourers from India and Indonesia. Its capital is rich with Dutch colonial architecture and there's a well-ordered system of nature parks and reserves.

Uruguay - Uruguay may be pint-sized, but it's certainly big-hearted when it comes to attractions. It contains one of South America's most interesting capitals, charming colonial towns, the hilly interior (true gaucho country) and a cluster of internationally renowned beach resorts.

Venezuela - is as much a Caribbean country as it is a South American anchor, Venezuela is unique. At night, the capital of Caracas comes to life with the rhythms of the Caribbean. The nation also has a few geographical superlatives, including the world's highest waterfall and South America's biggest lake.

When discussing South American food, it's best to separate the continent into four broad gastronomic regions.

Northwestern South America, especially the Andean Mountain nations of Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru, boasts some of the most exotic food in Latin America. Potatoes and the highly nutritious grain quinoa originated here and still play major roles in the cuisine. Peru alone boasts more than 100 different potato varieties, including a blue (actually, it's lavender) potato that has become the darling of trendy chefs in North America. Peru also has some of the spiciest food in South America. The preferred seasoning here is the aji Amarillo, a fiery yellow Chile that adds bite to everything from Caucau (seafood stew) to papas a la Huancaina (spicy, cheesy potato salad). A large Japanese community has also influenced Peruvian cooking.

North Central South America - in particular Colombia and Venezuela--displays a Spanish influence. The Spanish settled early here, and many of the most dominant seasonings of the region--cumin, oregano, cinnamon, and anise--came directly from Spain. For that matter, so did the local enthusiasm for fresh orange and lime juices and for the ancient Mediterranean flavors of wine and olive oil. Many dishes in northeastern South America, such as tamales, feature a contrast of sweet and salty tastes (in the form of raisins, prunes, capers, and olives). Plus, the combination of Spanish rice and Venezuela's superb seafood gives rise to some of the world's best paella.

Southern South America comprises Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay. This is cattle country, and the locals enjoy luscious grass-fed beef in the form of asados, large cuts roasted in front of a campfire, and parrilladas, thick, juicy steaks grilled on a gridiron over blazing oak. And though the accompaniments are quite simple, they're intensely flavorful: a tomato, onion, and pepper relish known as salsa criolla and a pesto like parsley, garlic, and vinegar sauce called Chimichurri. But there's more to the region's gastronomy than just beef. Consider Sopa Paraguaya, a Paraguayan corn bread that closely resembles North American corn pudding. Chile, with 2,650 miles of Pacific coastline, is a haven for fish lovers. Chilean caldillo de congrio (conger eel soup) can hold its own next to the finest New England chowder.

Brazil's cuisine is as diverse as its population. Portuguese settlers popularized such European ingredients as olives, onions, garlic, wine, and bacalhau (salt cod). The natives of Brazil's rain forests taught the Europeans how to enjoy such exotic tropical vegetables and fruits as madioca (cassava root), maracuja (passion fruit), and caju (cashew fruit). African slaves contributed okra, yams, peanuts, dried shrimp, and dende (palm oil) to the Brazilian melting pot, not to mention a passion for fiery malagueta chile peppers. Their influence lives on in the popular Moqueca de Peixe, a sort of bouillabaisse from the state of Bahia in northern Brazil, flavored with garlic, cilantro, and coconut milk. Few regions of the world boast such a rich culinary tradition as South America. And if trends continue, more of its foods will go from humble to high chic as Americans discover just how incredible Latin flavors can be.

Carnaval!: Carnaval came to South America from Europe as celebrations before the beginning of the forty-day Lenten season of fasting and prayer. These late winter celebrations in Europe gave root to the high-summer frenzy of carnaval in South America.

Bastille Day in South America: French Guiana is a department of France, not an independent nation, and celebrates the storming of the Bastille in the French way: lots of good food and wine!

Dia de la Raza, October 12 (or the nearest Monday to it) is traditionally observed throughout the Americas as the day Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492.

Día de Todos Santos, or All Saints Day, is celebrated throughout Latin America in conjunction with All Souls Day as a reaffirmation of life and a way to honor saints and the dead.

Dia del Trabajador: If you are traveling in Latin America on the first day of May, you can expect to find banks, government offices, stores, post offices and businesses closed for the day as people celebrate the International Worker's Day.

Hiking - Hike around the Islands of Lake Titicaca, the Amazon jungle, the Sacred Valley of the Incas and an awesome four day hike on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The Galapagos Islands tour takes you hiking to the summit of the grand Sierra Negra volcano on Isla Isabela and also the lush highlands of Isla Santa Cruz. Hikes are not easy touristy walks and can be challenging to some people, and therefore rewarding. We are here to encourage you, assist and interpret the environment and look after you! Some of the hikes undertaken are in some pristine areas of Peru, Ecuador and the Galapagos. Hikes through the unforgettable Andean wilderness on the 4 day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, ascend the mountainous forested terrain overlooking a beautiful subtropical river valley and the town of Baños and hike deep into virgin Amazon rainforest.

Biking - Adventure vacation wouldn't be the same without some biking though spectacular scenery so we provide the opportunity to do lots of cycling on our trips. There are opportunities to ride around the volcanoes, highlands and valleys of Peru and Ecuador while trips in the Galapagos you'll have the chance to cycle around the gorgeous volcanic surroundings of Santa Cruz Island. We believe cycling in amazing scenery is a great part of an ideal outdoor vacation, not riding all day, every day. You can cycle when you feel like or not at all, it's up to you. We design all our activities to be as challenging as YOU want them to be, or not at all.

Jungle Trekking and Exploration - Explore the Amazon jungle. Hike through virgin jungle, look out for Giant Otters and other wildlife, paddle a dugout canoe on an Amazonian oxbow lake and look for caiman at night. We'll also visit local communities, tube down a tropical river and even go caving!

Rafting - There's plenty of great rafting in South America! Raft a full day on the Napo River in the Ecuadorian jungle and an option to Raft the Rio Pastaza near Baños . There's also an opportunity to go rafting on the Urubamba River in Peru, which flows down, from the Andes in the Cuzco area. We can organize custom trips with great multi day rafting options like the mighty Apurimac River in Peru - one of the top ten rafting trips in the world.

Sea Kayaking - If you love to paddle, and we certainly know the most stunning and unique sea kayaking spots in South America to do it. Sea kayaking in the Galapagos Islands is a must do for any trip to this amazing place and we've found the most beautiful channels in the islands to explore while paddling. In Peru you'll have the chance to sea kayak across to a local community on Lake Titicaca. This is one of the most amazing paddling trips you're ever likely to do - The scenery is incredible as you paddle across to Amantani Island on the highest navigable lake in the world! ACTIVE SOUTH AMERICA is the only operator to sea kayak across Lake Titicaca and we'll continue to find the most off the beaten track places to paddle in South America!

Reverse Cannoning - Reverse Cannoning? What's this? We all know that canoeing involves jumping and rappelling down small waterfalls into deep pools. In our case while exploring the Amazon jungle in Ecuador, we climb UP the waterfalls! CAVING! We explore some great caves while exploring the river systems. Guides know these caves intricately and take us to places where no one else goes or even knows about.

Snorkeling - You'll do some amazing snorkeling in the Galapagos Islands. In the best spots where you'll share the water with friendly sea lions, sting rays and thousands of other marine animals in crystal clear waters. You don't need to have any experience snorkeling to take part. Our guides will show you how it's done and point out the marine wonders of the Galapagos' best snorkeling spots.

Diving - If you're SCUBA certified you'll love the diving in the Galapagos. You'll have the chance to dive the unforgettable Gordon Rocks and Devils Crown dive sites famous for their like Manta Rays, hammerhead sharks and beautiful walls of Galapagos Coral. All of the dive sites, some of the best in Galapagos, have been carefully selected and also double as excellent snorkeling and swimming areas, so you don't have to be a dive every spot we visit but there is more than enough (including night dives) to keep even the season dive veteran satisfied!

Other Activities - South America is a fabulous playground for the adventurous at heart. We like to explore the off the beaten track places we visit in the most adventurous ways. Activities like River tubing in the Ecuadorian Amazon are nothing out of the ordinary for us! There are also plenty of opportunities to explore the many commercial activities that towns like Cuzco and Baños have to offer. We can set you up with whatever you want to do; a rappelling trip, horse riding or a mountain biking adventure are among some of the activities you do. These commercial activities are not generally included in your trip fare, but we know how to get the best deals and we can make it happen for you. You will never feel like you should or must do any commercial activity- our itineraries are packed full of fun already!

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