South America is known for its exceptional and festive cultural heritage, influenced by the Spanish and the Portuguese, and also for its extraordinary natural diversity. To the east is the colossal mountain chain of the Andes, home to the highest lakes and towns in the world. It is criss-crossed by immense rivers of which the Amazon is the jewel in the crown. It is clad in dense vegetation, especially in the Amazon region which is undeniably our planet’s ‘green lung’. It is a continent where every facet enchants and beguiles the visitor.