1. Southern Brazil: from Rio's beaches to Serra Gaúcha's mountain bases
Start in Rio (1), where beaches and samba bars will kick off your trip in style. Head south to Costa Verde (2), backed by forested mountain peaks and brimming with hidden gems like colonial Paraty and the breath-taking beaches of Ilha Grande. Then turn inland towards the historic towns of Minas Gerals (3).
Check out Brazil's capital, Brasília (4), in all its retro-futuristic glory, before experiencing the huge array of wildlife in the vast wetlands of the Pantanal (5) – a great alternative to the Galápagos if you're pressed for time.
Lounge in Ilha de Santa Catarina (6), home to some of Brazil's best beaches, before wrapping up with crashing waterfalls and intense hikes and climbs in the verdant mountain bases of Canela (7) and Gramado.

2. Northern Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay
Begin in the most cosmopolitan of all South American cities:
Buenos Aires (1). From here, leave
Argentina and head to the historic town of Colonia del Sacramento (2) for a taste of Uruguay's charms. Get to the Eastern Beaches (3) for surf and sunny getaways sure to suit any budget, before looping back over the border to
Rosario (4). Wander the cool bars and colonial centre of
Córdoba (5), and venture further west to
Mendoza (6): a wine-lovers sophisticated paradise. The tallest mountain in the western hemisphere,
Cerro Aconcagua (7), is a must of course – but strolling the central plaza in
Salta (8) shouldn’t be missed either. Get your fix of flora and fauna in the lush cloudforests of
Parque Nacional el Rey (9), quench your thirst for epic waterfalls in
Iguazú (10) and end at the nearby Ruta Jesuitica (11), the site of Paraguay’s famous Jesuit ruins.

3. Chile and Argentina: The Lake Districts and Patagonia
Leave the smouldering volcano and ski slopes of Chile's Volcán Villarrica (1) behind for the sparkling blue lakes, beaches and woods of Lago Llanquihue (2).
Set course for the less-developed side of the archipelago in Eastern Chiloé (3), then explore Argentina'sSan Martin de los Andes (4) and the wilds of Parque Nacional Nahuei Huapi (5) in Patagonia.
Detour to Peninsula Valdés (6) for whale watching, before making the trip south to the dramatic Perito Moreno Glacier (7). Trek throughout the Parque Nacional Torres del Paine (8) and finish this trip up in Ushuaia (9) – the end of the world, where the dream of Antarctica is only 1000km away.

4. Northern Chile and southern Bolivia
Kick off in
Chile's capital,
Santiago (1), and carry on to the hilly streets and funiculars of
Valparaíso (2). Sample a proper
pisco sour in
Pisco Elqui (3) before driving through the arid salt flats and flamingo-populated lakes in
Parque Nacional Nevado de Tres Cruces. Soak in the wilderness vibes of
San Pedre de Atacama (5), then tour the iconic waters of
Bolivia's
Salar de Uyuni (6). Caffinate in the lively cafés of
Potosí (7), a colonial town blighted by the tragic legacy of the nearby silver mines, and conclude your travels in buzzing
Santa Cruz (8).

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5. Ecuador, Peru and Northern Boliva
Start with an alternative intro to Ecuador in urban Guayaquil (1), then journey north to Otavalo’s (2) famous Saturday market – the ultimate place to purchase a hammock or woodcarving keepsake.
Base yourself in the old town of Quito (3) before hiking the volcanic crater lake of the Quilotoa loop (4). Cruise through the Andes on the glorious Nariz del Diablo (5) train ride, nurture your soul in spiritual Vilcabamba (6), cross the border and head to Peru’s lively city and trekking hotspot Huaraz (7).
Don’t miss Lima (8) on your way to the the Trails to Machu Picchu (9) – a less expensive and less crowded alternative Inca trails deep in the jungle. Wander the plazas of Cusco (10), then set course towards Bolivia for the awe-inspiring altitude of sacred Lake Titicaca (11).
Situated high in a canyon, the energy of La Paz (12) will be tough to wrench yourself away from, but if you have to wrap your trip up, finish in the beautifully maintained colonial architectures of Sucre (13).

6. Colombia and Venezuela
Begin in
Bogotá (1),
Colombia’s densely packed cosmopolitan capital, then visit the mountain landscapes and monolithic statues of
San Agustin (2). Continue to fun and freewheeling
Cali (3), and further up to modern
Medellín (4) in
Colombia's coffee country.
Cartagena (5) is a must-see jewel on the
Caribbean coast before exploring the pristine beaches, pre-Colombian ruins and lush flora in
Parque Nacional Tayrona (6). Go south to
San Gil (7), Colombia’s best spot for adventure sports (paragliding included), then to
Villa de Leyva (8) and the wildlife-rich regions of chilled-out Mérida (9). Ciudad Bolívar (10) is Venezuela’s most lovely colonial town, and your gateway to the towering Angel Falls (11). Don’t miss the mind-blowing jungles of the Orinoco Delta (12) before you end this itinerary in conveniently located Parque Nacional Henri Pittier (13) – close well connected Caracas.

7. Northern Brazil and the Amazon
Commence in Brazil's canyon-filled Chapada Diamantina (1) national park, and onward to quality surf, diving and beaching in Salvador (2).
You’ll be pressed to find a prettier city than Olinda (3) anywhere in the north, but won’t regret having left it once you’re browsing the stalls of Fortaleza’s (4) central market. The world-class restaurants and bars of Belém (5) are worth writing home about, as is the fine street food in bustling Manaus (6).
Then set course for the Amazon (7), where a river trip down the Rio Negro will be an experience that stays with you for the rest of your life. If you can’t bring yourself to leave, consider floating all the way to Iquitos in Peru.

Top image © Galyna Andrushko/Shutterstock