Argentina
Argentina is a vast country. It measures 5000km by 1500km and, even without the titanic wedge of Antarctica that the authorities are wont to include in the national territory, it ranks as the world's eighth largest state, immediately behind India. Thanks to its longitudinal position, standing between the Tropic of Cancer and the most southerly reaches of the planet's landmass, the country encompasses a staggering diversity of climates and landscapes. The mainland points down like a massive stalactite on the map, from the hot and humid jungles of its northeast and the bone-dry highland steppes of its northwest down through windswept Patagonia to the end-of-the-world archipelago of Tierra del Fuego , a territory that is shared with Chile. Across the broad midriff stretch Argentina's most archetypal landscapes: the mostly flat pampas grazed by millions of cattle - subtly beautiful scenery formed by horizon-to-horizon plains interspersed with low sierras, and punctuated by small agricultural towns, the odd ranch and countless clumps of pampas grass. These wide open spaces are among the country's best assets - despite its mammoth area its population of 33 million weighs in at far less than Spain's. This is a land with huge swaths still waiting to be explored let alone settled.
The natural history of Argentina is equally impressive. The Valdez Peninsula offers everything from penguin, elephant seal & sea lion colonies to whale encounters, plus excellent bird and animal viewing. From Ushuaia you can cruise the Beagle channel to observe penguins and sea lions, and hike in Tierra del Fuego National Park looking for the Magellanic woodpecker--the largest in South America


Brazil
The largest country in South America, Brazil has something for everybody. The famous Carnival of Rio and Salvador da Bahia are a great way to immerse yourself in the rich mix of Brazilian culture. Colonial towns of Ouro Preto and Petropolis have wonderful architecture and museums, while Rio de Janeiro has its beautiful ocean-front vistas and vibrant night-life. With over 4500 miles of Atlantic Coastline, beaches are an integral part of the Brazilian life-style.

Ecuador
Ecuador is a small, but charming country located along the equator on the Pacific Coast of South America. A combination of Andes Mountains, Amazon rainforest, highlands, and coastal areas make Ecuador the perfect vacation for both cultural and adventure explorations! Indian markets, volcanoes, rainforest, and colonial cities are all part of a comprehensive travel experience.

Much more than a stopping off point to the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador is an excellent destination in its own right. A wide variety of handicrafts, including textiles, woodcarvings, leather products and ceramics can be found anywhere from the local markets to gift shops in the main cities of Quito, Cuenca and Guayaquil.


Peru
Peru is one of those wonderfully diverse countries that offers the traveler so many exciting experiences it can be difficult to narrow down what components to include in a typical vacation. Geographically, Peru includes magnificent Andes mountains where you find the famous cultural capitals of Cusco, Arequipa & Lake Titicaca and a wide strip of desert & coastal areas that are home to several pre-Colombian civilizations including the recent excavations of the Royal Tomb of Sipan and the mysterious Nazca Lines. The remaining half of the country is lowland rainforest, making up a substantial portion of the Amazon basin.