Introduction to South America - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 2

especially in the Andes, it has created a legacy of magnificent churches and exuberant
fiestas. When it comes to natural wonders the continent is equally blessed, with just
about every terrain - from deserts and glaciers, to grasslands, rainforests and wetlands
- and a range of wildlife found nowhere else: rheas, llamas, giant anteaters, jaguars
and armadillos among them. The mighty Amazon River connects the Atlantic with
the Brazilian jungle and the Peruvian Andes, while the lofty mountain chain itself
runs from Colombia and Ecuador in the north, through Peru and Bolivia to the
south of Chile and Argentina. This shared cultural and natural heritage is reflected
in the ease of crossing borders, with multi-nation itineraries relatively simple to put
together, whether traversing the River Plate between Argentina and Uruguay or the
Atacama between Chile and Peru.
Today, South America is booming: Portuguese-speaking Brazil, the largest, richest
and most populated country in South America, is a global power in the making,
while Peru, Chile, Colombia and Argentina boast fast-growing economies and stable
democracies. It's an exciting time to visit; backpackers will still find an extensive range of
accommodation on offer, with plenty of options for the tight budget. South America also
sports some of the best camping and hammock-slinging spots in the world, as well as
many exhilarating adventure tourism destinations. Travelling within the continent varies
wildly from country to country; sometimes it will require a little patience, initiative and
navigating of red tape, but the colourful bus journeys, sunrise ferry crossings and people
you'll meet along the way will be impossible to forget.