South America is salsa, cumbia, samba, and tango. Life really swings there. The mixture of African, Indian, and European influences have given South America a very distinct flavour and I like it.
The continent offers incredible pre-Columbian sights all along the Andes in Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia. The best known of these are probably the Nazca Lines and Machu Picchu in Peru and Ciudad Perdida in Colombia. Furthermore in every South American country there are lots of stylish colonial churches and palaces. There is no question the lovers of architecture and history will surely find what they are looking for.
If you are looking for an active holiday: there is good skiing in summer in Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina; you can find the biggest rainforest and the longest river in the world in Brazil and there is great wildlife almost everywhere. The Galapagos Islands (off the coast of Ecuador ) deserve a special mention here.
When you want to relax a bit head for the Caribbean: the coast of Venezuela and Colombia have great beaches and a very good atmosphere. Brazil has great beaches as well.
Those who are into the fast paced life of big cities have a number of cities to choose from: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Santiago, or Lima all combine modern life with a South American touch.
In South America most countries are Spanish speaking, with Brazil as the most notable exception. Furthermore the three Guyanas (French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname) speak the language of their former colonial masters as well as their own languages. In all of South America, native Indian languages are still spoken, but they become less frequently so.
