South America is vast; it has a way of making you reassess scale. It’s rare that we experience that feeling of being very small, but here it can be a daily occurrence.
Go beyond the places that first put the region on the map and the crowds thin, the horizons widen and entirely different stories emerge. Sometimes, seeing more simply means looking beyond what brought you there in the first place.
These are the places we’ve found reward curiosity and remind you just how much there is still to see in South America.
Machu Picchu Has Competition
Machu Picchu may be Peru‘s most iconic landmark, but Taqrachullu has scale and drama to match.
Perched above three canyons, this sprawling ancient complex covers roughly four times the area, with recent excavations revealing temples, tombs and precious artefacts. Yet it receives a quarter of the footfall.
Explore further Inca sites, hike to Tres Canyones, swim in remote hot springs and explore the Colca Canyon, home of the mighty condor.
I’m interested in visiting Taqrachullu
Patagonia Goes Blue
Forget, for a moment, Patagonia‘s glaciers and peaks. On its wild Atlantic edge, the region has something different to offer.
From next season, take to the water with Bahia Bustamante in search of sei and humpback whales, then return ashore to observe penguins and sea lions resting on rocky outcrops. Trek through petrified forests, cross the steppe by 4×4 and swim in rock pools.
A new private airstrip now makes the lodge much easier to reach.
Property: Bahia Bustamante Lodge
Into the Immensity
There’s places that make you feel wonderfully small, and the high-altitude landscapes between Chile and Bolivia are among them.
The Atacama gives way to vast salt flats, volcanic peaks, Andean wetlands and tranquil lagoons. Follow ancient Inca trails, set the pace with your expert guide and, by night, look up to skies that feel otherworldly. Out here, solitude is king and the altiplano sky feels almost limitless.
Holiday idea: Deserts and Salt Flats of Chile and Bolivia
Entering Puma Territory
What does it take to live alongside a puma?
Torres del Paine supports a remarkable concentration of pumas, making this one of Patagonia’s most compelling places to encounter them. Head out from Estancia Cerro Guido at dawn or dusk with expert guides to search for pumas. Use camera traps set by conservationists to track their movements and see first-hand how coexistence is being tested here.
Postcard home: Think like a puma
Our specialists, Paul, Roxy and Sue, know South America first-hand. They design adventures collaboratively with trusted local partners, tailored to you and the way you like to travel.
Get in touch with them below and let us turn this inspiration into your next great escape.