world, who come here to go hiking, birding or whitewater rafting.
For a small country, Costa Rica is home to a surprising variety of
landscapes, including rainforests, beaches and volcanoes.
Outdoor-loving travelers also head to the windswept plains
and snowcapped Andean peaks of Patagonia, which spread
across much of southern Chile and Argentina. This breathtaking
region, particularly popular with horseback riders and skiers,
is also the jumping-off point for once-in-a-lifetime expeditions
to Antarctica.
Those are just a few of the many attractions this region offers
eco-travelers. Alternatively, these visitors might be attracted to
the lush Amazon basin (see “Spotlight on Brazil” on page 22),
dazzling Iguazu Falls on the Brazil-Argentina border or the unique
wildlife of Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands.
History buffs face an equally daunting choice, as Central and
South America are home to countless sites associated with the
Mayan, Incan, Aztec and other civilizations. High in the Peruvian
Andes, Machu Picchu—the Lost City of the Incas—tops the
life list of many an adventure traveler. In Belize, volunteer
archeologists can help uncover ancient Mayan sites. And few
amateur anthropologists can resist the lure of the moai of Easter
Island—the sightless stone heads that gaze out over one of the
world’s most isolated inhabited places.
Culinary travelers, meanwhile, are discovering the region’s
wide range of cuisines. In villages across South America, visitors
can sip various kinds of chicha, a surprisingly tasty beverage
made from corn mixed with fruit juices. In Argentina, restaurants
serve huge platters of succulent beef from local ranches,
while gourmets in Brazil delight in churrasco, a distinct style
of barbecue. Dulce de leche, a caramel sauce made from
sweetened condensed milk, flavors everything from muffins to
ice cream in many countries.
As a complement to fine food, vineyard tours are also
increasingly available in South America. South of Santiago, Chile,
travelers can take a restored vintage steam train through the
grape-growing fields of the Colchagua Valley. Near the city of
Mendoza, in the Andean foothills of Argentina, winery-to-winery
cycling trips are a relaxing way to explore the countryside.
For urbanites, South America also offers non-stop city
excitement. Adventurous travelers were flocking to Rio de
Janeiro long before infectious bossa nova tunes made the Brazilian
city and its glittering beaches world famous in the early 1960s.
Rio’s annual highlight is Carnival, when streets are clogged for
days with revelers in fantastic spangled costumes.
In Argentina, Buenos Aires was long known as the Paris of
South America, with its wide boulevards lined with grand 19th-
century mansions and its late-night society. In fact, it was once
one of the world’s most expensive cities to live in. These days,
the city is much more affordable for travelers, but its unique,
elegant charm has remained. No trip there is complete without a
night of tango, the sultry dance that perfectly captures the spirit
of Buenos Aires without any words.
From jungles to glaciers, and from ancient ruins to
sophisticated restaurants, Central and South America offer
travelers a remarkably diverse world to explore. For many
people, their first trip to the region is just the beginning of a lifelong love affair. n
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The following are just a few of the
many special offers available through
American Express Travel.
costa Rica Delight in 2,400 amazing acres
of world-class sports and nature at the all-inclusive Paradisus Playa Conchal Costa Rica
Resort. Exciting eco-adventures and the
championship Reserva Conchal Golf Course
beckon you at this superb beachfront hideaway. Book with american express vacations
by 6/30/09 and receive a $75 resort credit with
a 3-night minimum stay.
PanaMa canal With azamara cruises,
treat yourself to a 16-night Panama Canal
cruise between San Diego and Miami aboard
Azamara Journey.® En route, visit Jamaica,
Nicaragua and more. Depart Miami on 12/18/09
or San Diego on 1/3/10. Book a veranda or
above stateroom by 6/30/09 and receive a
$150 spa credit per stateroom.
MeXico Book your Mexico vacation with
Funjet vacations and do something you’ll
never forget! Explore a Mayan ruin, brush up
on your Spanish or just relax on a sunny, palm-
fringed beach. Prices start at 3 nights from
$159.99 if you book by 5/31/09. Save up to 20
percent per reservation at select resorts!
aMaZon RiveR Set sail on an exotic 14-day
Amazon River cruise aboard Royal Princess®
between Fort Lauderdale and Manaus. Ship
departs on 03/27/10 and 04/10/10. Prices start
from $2,499 per person in a balcony stateroom,
category BD. Book your Princess cruise® by
8/31/09 and receive a shipboard credit of up to
$100 per stateroom.
Rio to Buenos aiRes cRuise For 8 days,
cruise the fascinating South American coast
aboard silversea’s luxurious Silver Cloud
from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Buenos Aires,
Argentina. Prices for a Vista Suite start from
just $3,447 per guest. Book by 7/6/09 and
receive all-inclusive fares.
Talk to your American Express Travel
professional for more South and Central
America vacation ideas. See page 33 for
complete terms and conditions.
