Close your eyes and imagine this: It's your first morning in Brazil, you open the curtains of your Rio hotel room, the sunshine pours in and you get a flutter of excitement having just spotted the iconic Sugar Loaf Mountain through the window. 'Today,' you think to yourself, 'I'm going to go to the top of that.' The last time you saw the 600 million year old granite mountain was watching James Bond's Moonraker from the comfort of your living room, and now you have the opportunity to stand on the shoulders of the colourful and vibrant city of Rio and take in the stunning views of Guanabara Bay.

Although a popular spot for rock climbers offering no fewer than 270 different routes, the most popular way to reach the top is by cable car. Split into two parts, enjoy the 360 degree views of the world famous city including Christ the Redeemer and Copacabana beach whilst effortlessly being carried to the top. It's definitely one of the most iconic things to do in South America.

Reachable by boat from the relaxed island of San Cristobal, Isla Lobos is an uninhabited hive of wildlife activity. Smother on your sun cream and pack some spare batteries for your camera; visiting this tiny islet will allow you to get up-close and personal with a plethora of creatures indigenous to the Galapagos. Home to the blue-footed booby, salt-spitting marine iguanas and comical pelicans, a boat trip here makes a treat of a day excursion.

After a few hours of indulging in meet and greets with the cast of Planet Earth, what better way to cool off than to grab a snorkel and go for a dip with a herd of fun and mischievous sea lions. Sharing the water with these teasing pups is a delight. A tickle of whiskers against your back prompts you turn around with mild alarm, where you are met by a smiling sea lion that briefly pauses before vanishing off into the ocean.

Hop on a flight from Buenos Aires down to the southern depths of the awe-inspiring Patagonia region. Home to some of the world's most stunning fjords, mountains and glaciers, an adventure down to this remote and immense part of the world is enough to be the highlight of anyone's trip. Gear up with hiking boots, warm clothes, and crampons for a spectacular hike across the Perito Moreno Glacier and even take up the opportunity for a boat ride right up to the face of this enormous 156 square mile glacier.

With walls of ice towering up to 70 meters high in some parts, discover the spooky looking cracks and crevasses whilst listening out for the creaks and crashes of ice falling into the turquoise lake below.

For some, it may take an excess of three glasses of fine Argentinian Malbec to find their inner dancing queen, but in Buenos Aires it only takes two to Tango. Buenos Aires is the birthplace of Tango, a dance so quintessentially Argentinian it has been titled an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Dust off your dancing shoes and turn up early to take part in a lesson and hit one of the city's many Tango clubs to show off your new moves.

More of a spectator than a performer? More experienced dancers turn up later in the evenings, so find a table, make yourself comfortable, and watch the show unfold. For the real Tango enthusiasts, visit the house of legend Carlos Gardel and gain an insight into the history of Tango music so dearly loved and embraced in Argentina and beyond.

Quito is a unique city for a number of reasons. It was the first city to be labelled a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is the highest constitutional capital in the world, and it's flanked by no fewer than eight volcanoes. As Quito has the earth's equator running straight through its back yard it's no surprise that Ecuador's name derives from the Spanish word for equator and this can make for a packed afternoon of experimentation at latitude zero or 'Mitad del Mundo' as more commonly known by locals.

Although the exact line of the equator is disputed, there are several sites around the city where one can witness the obscurities of being in two hemispheres at the same time, and grab a photo of you trying to walk exactly on it- harder than it looks!

Forget your venti, double shot, skinny caramel macchiato with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles, and head straight back to the roots of where your coffee was grown. Colombia is the third largest coffee producer in the world with over 2 million families dependant on the income generated from it.

Tasted like a fine wine and exported all over the planet, growing coffee in Colombia is serious business. Venturing out to a rural hacienda, the 'Don' or boss of the plantation will passionately show you each stage of the process from bean to cup, allowing you to taste the difference in roasts and witness the origins of your rushed morning brew.

The photo opportunities at the world's largest salt flats are endless. From using the smoothness of the terrain to make you look miniature, to snapping the incredible star constellations by night, these salt flats are way more than just 10 billion tons of flat salt. For the astronomy enthusiast, accompany an expert astrologist armed with the latest telescope and take advantage of being in one of the most remote areas in the world. In fact, here, the skies are so clear and unobstructed by buildings and natural light, even NASA use the area to pinpoint the exact position of their satellites.

Best spotted from April to November, the stars above this beautiful part of Bolivia will only leave you wishing for more.

The monumental centrepiece that marks the borders of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, Iguazú Falls is made up of 275 waterfalls that can be explored at all angles from different levelled platforms. Literally translated as 'big water' in the local dialect of Guarani, Iguazú holds the prestigious title of New Natural Wonder of the World.

The water isn't the only ingredient to the magic of this area, an abundance of wildlife such as toucans, howler monkeys and jaguars are all natives here. For the budding photographer, Iguazú is best experienced from the sky, where a helicopter flight offers a generous opportunity to take in the scale of this impressive feat of nature. For those who prefer a more immersive experience, sport a waterproof poncho and take a boat into the very heart of the falls.

The Inca Trail is the well-trodden and impressive journey through the foothills of the Andes in Peru that springs to mind when venturing in search of ancient lost cities. Many a traveller speaks of the gruelling but ultimately uplifting experience of completing the trail and walking the final steps up to the impressive Sun gate of Machu Picchu. The hill-top city occupies a spectacular location and is quite literally breath-taking. Although an experience described by many as bucket-list worthy, Machu Picchu, in all its fame and splendour has some fierce competition.

For those looking to experience a lost city at ease, the lesser known Kuelap's recently installed cable car boasts spectacular views, and a leisurely 20 minute ride will whisk you up to the ancient metropolis. Commonly referred to as 'The Machu Picchu of the North,' Kuelap is much older and larger than its little brother, but most importantly, just as beautiful.

Starting high up in the Andes, the mighty Amazon River meanders 4,000 miles through half the world's remaining rainforest. Home to more than a million different wildlife species, this colossal expanse of biodiversity really is the beating heart of the continent. Cruise along the riverbanks spotting land and waterborne wildlife such as the pink river dolphin and the occasional sloth along the way. In the high water season between December and April, enjoy a speedboat safari through the mangroves, and in the low water season opt for an amazon jungle walk.

Home to twenty different species of Piranha, the Amazon is best experienced by boat and the piranhas' best experienced barbecued with plenty of fresh lemon!

For more things to do in South America, take a look at our South & Central America Holidays pages.