Arriving into Rio de Janeiro from New York, on American Airlines, it was such a pleasure to relax on Ipanema Beach and reflect upon what was possibly my worst ever flight experience. The terrifying turbulence accompanied by the extreme lack of service led me to lose faith. However my faith was soon regained amidst the beautiful Brazilian people and several caparinhas. …and after all Christ the Redeemer was watching over us.

We settled in to Rio Hostel, which was perfectly located between Copacabana & Ipanema Beach. From here we visited, Christ the Redeemer which is one of the most powerful and impressive statues I have ever seen, followed by the venue where the famous Rio Carnival is held and finally Sugarloaf Mountain at sunset - arguably the best time to do so – wow what a day!

Only a 20 minute taxi ride from our hotel was the beautiful whitewashed district of Santa Teresa where we mingled with the locals at pre-carnival rehearsal, here everyone comes together to celebrate their culture and dancing the Samba in neighbouring Lapa was an absolute highlight. Driving back to our hostel along naturally stunning coastline I observed many locals playing sports, some just laying in the sun but everyone just loving life! How could you not want to return to this beautiful city?

From Rio I flew to Punta Arenas, via Santiago, my destination was Puerto Natales, which is a five-hour bus trip from Punta Arenas - the gateway to the incredible Torres Del Paine National Park.

Puerto Natales is a quaint fishing village inhabited by people who are passionate about the natural beauty that surrounds them and preserving this serene part of the world. I could say so much about this captivating town - it has gorgeous cafes, stunning views and is the beginning or the end of many experiences. In the nearby Torres del Paine National Park we trekked through pristine forests, were splashed by icy waterfalls, surrounded by towering rocky peaks and overwhelmed by magnificent glaciers. It is the perfect place to prepare or refect. I can't quite find the right words to sum up this part of the world - hopefully my photos speak for themselves.

After spending time at one with nature it was now time to hit Buenos Aires the birthplace tango. Buenos Aires was a much bigger city than I expected it to be, often described as the European City of South America as it has so much to offer. From picking up a bargain in the trendy fashion boutiques of Palermo Viejo to strolling through the fancy antique stalls at the San Telmo Markets where the locals dance the tango in the narrow cobblestone streets.

Speaking of tango - it is a must to see a tango show or have a lesson – for the authentic tango experience you need to find a pokey little place that is not as touristy (they are everywhere, you just need to keep your eye out for them.) This is where the locals go to learn and practice this intimate dance. You can go as a guest, and have a bottle of bubbly as you sit and observe - however a word of warning. It's an unspoken rule that if you look a person in the eye - this means you are willing to tango with them! If you’re not there to tango - keep your eyes well below eye level!

After the frenetic pace of Buenos Aires it was time to go back to nature and maybe throw in a spot of history! There is no place better to achieve this in this part of the world than the famous Inca Trail in Peru, which leads to Machu Picchu. I flew to Cuzco, a quaint Spanish colonial town surrounded by hills and dominated by the imposing Inca temple of Sacsayhuaman. I would recommend anyone spend at least 3 days here, not just because of it’s ambience or the fact it is very affordable but it is really important to get yourself acclimatised to the high altitude. The treks all depart from Cuzco, they range from two to four days, I chose the longer option, which allows for a reasonable pace and means you can appreciate the whole experience. There are plenty of tour companies that do two-day tours, for cheaper prices but if I were to give you any really useful advice in this report- it would be to not only do the four-day trek but also opt for the more expensive option. ie. Pre book your tour through Reho and you will be introduced to a respectable tour operator who look after you in every way possible from organising your permit and having a doctor on tour to pitching your tent and preparing your meals daily.

The history in this part of South America is something not to be missed, to really understand it I highly recommend walking the Inca Trail, as a day trip to Machu Picchu doesn’t do justice to the impact and gratification you get compared to doing the actual trek.

After seeing how the Inca's did their thing in Peru - I was itchy to see how the Bolivians live their way of life... To me Bolivia was the authentic South America I imagined. It is more third world than any of the places I had visited in South America yet had so much appeal for its diverse and colourful landscape. My time was limited in Bolivia but with the limited time I had – I was determined to make my visit worthwhile. I can safely say this was my favourite country.

Our first stop was La Paz, situated at a very high altitude La Paz is a hectic, crazy city, that is full of really cool café and bars that had live music and great food and wine. If you don’t like the hustle and bustle and are affected by altitude I would say only spend a short time in La Paz.

To get from one place to another in Bolivia - where possible I would recommend flying, reason being the bus rides not only take very long but they are also known not known for their reliability. For a small fortune I flew from La Paz to Uyuni, which is where I commenced my four-day 4WD tour. From here I experienced some of the many highlights this places holds - from the vast salt flats, endless lagunas, smoking geysers and the incredible tree like rock formations of the Siloli Desert. I promise you this place will not disappoint!!

I could go on about this beautiful continent but really there is too much to cover and all my experiences would not suit everyone so if you are planning a trip to South America - please come into our office as I would love to help contribute to making your trip as amazing as mine was.

Alisa