INCA TRAIL, PERU

Traversing the Andes mountains and reaching heights of over 5,000 m (16,500 feet) above sea level, the trails connected the regions of the Inca empire from the northern provincial capital in Quito, Ecuador past the modern city of Santiago, Chile in the south. Because the Incas did not make use of the wheel for transportation, and did not have horses until the arrival of the Spanish in Peru in the 16th century, the trails were used almost exclusively by people walking, sometimes accompanied by pack animals, usually the llama. The trails were used by the Inca people as a means of relaying messages, carried via knotted-cord quipu and by memory; and for transporting goods.

COLCA VALLEY, PERU

The stunning Colca Valley has been called many things - 'The Lost Valley of the Incas', 'The Valley of Wonders' and 'The Valley of Fire' amongst other names. It is the setting for the dramatic and awe inspiring Colca Canyon which over twice as deep as the more well known Grand Canyon and stunningly beautiful as well as the home for those elusive birds - the Andean Condors. The views from Condor pass and the sight of these birds with their 10 foot wing-span is likely to be the most beautiful thing you've ever seen.

The people of the villages of Colca Valley are well known for their colourful attire, from hats decorated with multi coloured ribbons to the intricate designs on their traditional clothing.

The nearby hot springs at La Calera provide the perfect way to relax and regenerate and are said to be the best in Peru.

IGUASSU FALLS, BRAZIL

Iguassu falls, a horseshoe waterfall some 4 kms long and named from indigenous languages meaning 'big water'. Legend has it that the falls were created by an angry god, when the object of his affections - a local girl named Naipi, tried to escape with her lover in a canoe - trapping the mortals in an eternal fall - nice!  Try thinking about that as you peer down into the 'Devil's throat' - otherwise known as the impressive gorge where the falling water gathers.

The falls span over Argentina and Brazil, but are best seen from Brazil due to the long walkways that afford some utterly amazing views - at one point you are surrounded by a 260 degree panorama of falling water, phew! A visit in the daytime reveals a beautiful rainbow through the mist, whilst viewing at night transforms this into a bow of silver.

THE PANTANAL, BRAZIL

The largest and most spectacular wetlands system in the world - the Pantanal. There is no better place to see animals in the Americas, because unlike the Amazon, the Pantanal is a wide open space, allowing you to see an incredibly diverse amount of flora and fauna. This area is an unparalleled wildlife sanctuary of spectacular beauty, an ecological paradise containing hundreds of species of birds, thousands of varieties of butterflies, myriads of brightly coloured flowers, and shoals of fish. Capuchin and Howler monkeys, the rare Hyancith Macaw, the endangered Jaguar, cute capybara, giant sea otters, toucans, anacondas, caimans and tapirs help create an aquatic and sylvan theater of sights and sounds. For a more detailed understanding of the Pantanal, why not read John Grisham's novel 'The Testament' which really brings this astounding place to life.

SALT FLATS, BOLIVIA

Piercing blue skies contrast with blinding white salt as you drive across the flat lakebed. The area’s unusual landscape of mountains, active volcanoes, and geysers is like nowhere on earth. Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat at over 12,000 km² and is located in southwest Bolivia. It is the remains of an ancient salt lake and is estimated to contain 10 billion tons of salt! At certain times of year the rain causes an icy lake to form above it, and the reflections are literally incredible to look at, especially at sunset, making it difficult to tell where sky stops and ground begins.

Another must see is nearby Laguna Colorada a large red lagoon whose colour is the result of algae & plankton growth in the mineral-rich waters, and Laguna Verde a lake that owes its striking blue-green colour to high concentrations of lead, sulphur, copper and other minerals. You can see numerous geysers, boiling mud pools, thermal baths and Licancabúr volcano in the area.