South America - Top five destinations

MACHU PICCHU
One of the most famous sites in South America is Machu Picchu, also known as the Lost City of the Incas, which is perched on a ridge high up in the mountains of Peru. Forgotten for centuries, the city was re-discovered by American archaeologist Hiram Bingham in 1911.

INCA TRAIL
The Inca trail extends from Santiago in Chile up to Quito in Ecuador - and exploring the trail, particularly the remoter parts, will give you an amazing view of life on the continent. The trail consists of a network of paths and roads which used to connect the vast Inca Empire, and which is now becoming a really popular means of exploring the western edge of South America.

AMAZON RAINFOREST
The Amazon forest is a colossal 5.5 million square kilometres - covering half of Brazil - and the daily flow of the river is said to be enough to supply a major city like New York with enough water for ten years.

ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires has a real air of European sophistication combined with a real sense of passion and soul. It's known as the Paris of the South, but even that doesn't do Buenos Aires justice. With amazing designer bars and authentic neighbourhood restaurants serving melt-in-the-mouth beef, Buenos Aires is a real treat.

COLOMBIA
Colombia still has a terrible reputation as a land of drug lords and guerrillas. But the reality is that most of the country, is untouched by violence and for many people it's an up and coming tourist destination. Cities like Medellin and the capital Bogota, known as the Athens of Latin America, have vibrant nightlife and excellent restaurants.