Peru

Peru is definitely my favourite destination in South America. Peru is a small country offering an enormous range of experiences. I visited Cuzco, the Sacred Valley of the Incas & the ruins of Machu Picchu – the most famous visited destinations. I am enchanted with the beauty of this area and the kindness of its people. My stay in The Amazon in Peru was an amazing experience. There are lots of options to choose from ranging from “very comfortable” to “very adventurous” experiences. Viewing the Condors in flight at close range in the Colca Canyon near Arequipa and the Nazca markings in the desert and spending time on the floating reed islands of the Uros Indians on Lake Titicaca were other major highlights of my visit to Peru. Peru is a safe destination to visit where I encountered lovely people, happy to show you their country and share their knowledge and heritage.  

Pantanal

I came across the Pantanal by accident, it was somewhere to stop between Rio de Janeiro and La Paz, and I was going to stop for a couple of days that turned into a month. This area is second only to the Galapagos in the amount of wildlife to be seen by the visitor, hundreds of different species of birds - my favourite sighting was the flocks of Ibis that came in to roost at sunset that just about blocked out the sun. I was fortunate enough to see such animals as  the Armadillo, Capybara, Caiman, Puma, Tapir,  however i was jealous to hear that another staff members saw the elusive Giant Anteaters and the legendary Anaconda.

Sacred Valley & the Inca Trail

The Sacred Valley encompasses the area from through to Machu Picchu – it is a good place to spend a few days acclimatizing to the altitude before going to Cuzco. There are so many attractions that you could quite easily spend a month in this valley alone – there are the slat pans of Maras, the Agricultural terraces of Moray, the weaving village of Chinchero and Manco Inca’s stronghold of Ollantaytambo – walking in this area is taking a stroll through history.

The Inca trail gives the trekker many thrills, eating dinner on the terrace in front of the ruins of Runcuraccay whilst watching the moon rise over the Andes. The view through a doorway in Wiñay Wayna down the Urubamba Valley, a glimpse of a mountain hummingbird, the orchids that line the trail but the trail saves the best till last – the view of Machu Picchu from the sun gate. I had no idea of what was hiding behind the clouds when I stopped to regain my breath at the gates of the sun, five minutes later when Machu Picchu emerged from the mist I was overwhelmed by the beauty of what I was seeing.

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park, Bolivia

Situated in the Bolivian Amazon Basin and one of South America’s most visually spectacular parks, Noel Kempff Mercado also contains a world-class level of ecological diversity and 5 distinct ecosystems: broadleaf evergreen forest, dry forest, inundated forest, dry savannah and inundated savannah. The park protects an incredible number of species- over 130 mammalian, 650 bird, 75 reptile and 230 fish species thrive within the park borders. Jaguar, pink river dolphin, maned wolf, caiman, giant otters and a variety of monkey species are just a fraction of the wildlife you may encounter. Getting to the park is half the fun-charter flights depart from Santa Cruz and fly over pristine rainforest and the Caparu Plateau with its red cliffs and waterfalls, arriving at the remote outpost of Flor do Oro. From here, your guide will lead you on overnight hikes through the forest, to explore the hidden lagoons and waterfalls, with plenty of wildlife spotting on the way!! This is the ultimate Amazon Adventure!

Lencois Maranhenses

One of the most marvelous, unique places in the world, the desert known as Lençóis Maranhenses is an area of about 300 square kilometers of blinding white dunes and turquoise lakes. Composed of large, white, sweeping dunes, at first glance Lençóis Maranhenses looks like an archetypal desert. In fact it isn't actually a desert. Lying just outside the Amazon basin, the region is subject to a regular rain season during the beginning of the year. The rains cause a peculiar phenomenon: freshwater collects in the valleys between sand dunes, spotting the desert with blue and green lagoons that reach their fullest between July and September. Throughout these months, Lençóis is one of the most beautiful places on earth- swimming in the crystal clear lagoons under the deep blue Brazilian skies is on of life’s most exquisite pleasures.

Fernando De Noronha

The UNESCO World Heritage Listed archipelago of Fernando de Noronha offers some of Brazil’s most impressive diving and snorkelling opportunities. Located 360km off the coast of Northern Brazil and with tourism strictly controlled, the island has maintained a laid back, if somewhat exclusive feel, since being’ discovered’ as a prime ecotourism destination. Underwater activities are the main attraction, but 4wd tours, jungle hikes and historical walking tours will pique the interest of land-lubbers!

Community Projects

As the jumping off point for visits to Machu Picchu, Cuzco is probably one of South America's most visited cities. First class hotels, fine dining and a cosmopolitan vibe belie the fact that many Peruvians outside the capital live in extreme poverty. Contours Travel is developing tours that help put you in touch with the organisations making a difference to the lives of local people. Whether you choose to visit for a day or volunteer for an extended period of time, your visit will directly benefit local people; and indirectly encourage the conservation of their environment and the revival of traditional arts and techniques.

Self- Drive Argentina’s Northwest

Argentina’s Northwestern provinces contain much of the country’s indigenous culture, immersed in a landscape of deep gorges, fertile valleys and Wild West frontier towns. With so many distractions on the route from Tucuman to Salta, you may find yourself wishing for more time- Tafi del Valle, Quilmes, Amaicha, the wine region of Cafayate, Valle del Calchaqui and Purmamarca are all worthwhile side trips along Route 40.