Peru
Peru is a country in South America that encompasses a section of the Amazon forest and Machu Picchu, an ancient Inca city high in the Andes. The region around Machu Picchu, including the Sacred Valley, the Inca Trail and the colonial city of Cuzco, is rich in archaeological sites. On Peru's arid Pacific coast lies Lima, the capital, with a preserved colonial centre and important collections of pre-Columbian art.
Brazil
Brazil is a vast South American country stretching from the Amazon Basin in the north to the vineyards and massive Iguassu Falls in the south. Rio de Janeiro, symbolised by its 38m statue of Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado Hill, is famous for its bustling Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, along with its huge and raucous Carnival festival, which features floats, exuberant costumes and samba dance and music.
Argentina
Argentina is a large South American country with a terrain that includes the Andes Mountains, glacial lakes and grasslands in the Pampas, the traditional grazing land of its famous cattle. The country is known for the dance and music of the tango. Its great cosmopolitan capital, Buenos Aires, is centred on the Plaza de Mayo, surrounded by imposing 19th-century buildings such as the Casa Rosada, the iconic presidential palace.
Paraguay
Paraguay is a landlocked country that lies between Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia, with vast expanses of swamps, subtropical forests and chaco, stretches of wilderness that encompass savannah and scrub. The capital, Asunción, on the banks of the Paraguay River, is home to the grand Government Palace and the Museo del Barro, which displays pre-Columbian pottery and ñandutí lace, the latter of which is available in many shops.
Uruguay
Uruguay is a South American country known for its green interior and beach-lined coastline. The capital, Montevideo, is located around the Plaza Independencia, once the site of a Spanish citadel. This leads to the Old City, with art deco buildings, colonial houses and the Mercado del Puerto with many steakhouses. La Rambla is a seaside promenade with fish stalls, piers and parks.
Chile
Chile is a long, narrow country stretching along the western edge of South America, with more than 6,000 km of Pacific Ocean coastline. Santiago, its capital, sits in a valley surrounded by the Andes and the Coastal Range. The city's palm-lined Plaza de Armas is home to the neoclassical cathedral and the National History Museum. The huge Metropolitan Park has swimming pools, a botanical garden and a zoo.
