Highlights of Along the Andes

Amazon Rainforest (Bolivia)

The rainforest of the Amazon Basin extends over vast areas of the north-east of Bolivia. This is a region of enormous biodiversity of flora and fauna, with hundreds of species of birds and butterflies in addition to animals such as shy tapir, jaguar, howler monkey, deer and sloth. The region includes the protected areas of the Madidi National Park and the Noel Kempff Mercado National Park, the latter a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Staying in jungle lodges, you can explore the Amazon with walks through the rainforest and canoe rides along the rivers, spotting wildlife and learning about the importance and uses of the jungle plants.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Noel Kempff Mercado National Park

Salar de Uyuni

The Salar de Uyuni, or Great Salt Desert, in south-western Bolivia is the world's largest and highest salt flats and one of Bolivia's most spectacular natural features. The salt lake covers some 12,000 km² at an altitude of 1,650 metres and the contrast between the bright blue skies and the blindingly white salt crust is spectacular. Three to four day tours of the region can be taken in 4x4s to explore the remarkable landscape and various sites of interest. In addition to taking the compulsory perspective defying photos, you can visit the village of Jirira at the foot of the Tunupa Volcano and explore the natural caves on the volcano, the volcanic Fish Island home to some enormous cacti and a salt works to learn of the extraction process. Other natural features of interest include Laguna Colorado, a bright red lake and Laguna Verde, a striking blue-green lake, which are coloured by algae and rich minerals and the geysers and thermal baths of Sol de Manana.

San Pedro de Atacama

The oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama is a base for exploring the dramatic natural features of the Atacama Desert in the north of Chile. San Pedro itself is a charming little town of white-washed buildings, dusty streets, some great restaurants and bars and countless travel companies offering tours of the surrounding region. The Valley of the Moon is a bizarre, lunar-like landscape with strange rock formations. Even amongst the crowds, watching the sunset here is a magical experience. Elsewhere the Salar de Atacama is the world's largest salt lake, its rich mineral deposits attracting many flamingos and other birds. The Geysers of El Tatio, located at 4,500 metres and surrounded by volcanoes, are best visited in the morning to see the water and steam hurling up from the geysers, thermal wells and fumaroles, with the morning light producing a magical effect. Other options in the area include scaling up and sand boarding down the sand dunes of Death Valley, visiting the Puritama hot springs and hiking some of the nearby volcanoes.

Quebrada de Humahuaca

The Quebrada de Humahuaca (Humahuaca Gorge) is located in northern Argentina along the valley of the Rio Grande from its source in the High Andes to its confluence with the Rio Leone 150km to the south. It has been a major cultural and trade route for thousands of years, known as the Camino Inca, and was used for 200 years to transport the silver mined at Potosi back to Spain. The valley features traces of several historical periods, from prehistoric hunter-gatherer communities, to the Inca Empire of the 15th and 16th centuries and the fight for independence in the 19th and 20th centuries. The scenery is this region is spectacular and the villages of Purmamarca, Humahuaca and Uquia are picturesque settlements in beautiful mountainous settings.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Quebrada de Humahuaca