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Capital | Caracas |
Area | 916 445 km² |
Population | 28 926 000 people |
Official language | Spanish |
Currency | Venezuelan bolivar |
Climate | In January - from +22°C to +24°C In July - from +10°C to +12°C |
Recommended type of holiday | Daytimes temperatures during the year range from +30°C to +34°C, and night - from +22°C to +26°C. |
Though best known for its oil politics and feisty president, Venezuela is in fact an action-packed traveller's destination endowed with an astonishing array of landscapes and experiences. Tropical beaches, vast wetlands, great rivers, idyllic colonial towns, little-explored jungle and majestic mountains are among the South American country's varied settings. Visitors can choose from a wealth of adventure activities or just kick back and enjoy the resort experience. The clear, warm waters of its Caribbean coastline and numerous offshore islands are ideal for snorkelling and diving. The tropical lowlands harbour an enormous array of wildlife, lush vegetation and dramatic waterfalls, while high Andean peaks challenge trekkers and mountaineers.
Originally inhabited by Carib and Arawak Indians, Venezuela was claimed as a Spanish territory by Christopher Columbus in 1498. Spanish rule was administered from a distance, leaving the various regions to develop separately from the capital, Caracas. In the 18th century, Simón Bolívar led widespread resistance to colonial meddling, and Venezuela finally became a sovereign state in 1830.Today's politics are dominated by President Hugo Chávez, who draws on the support of the disaffected masses of poor Venezuelans. Despite attempts by the opposition to remove him, Chávez has remained a formidable political force, gaining another six-year term after an overwhelming victory in 2006.
Capital | Montevideo |
Area | 176 220 km² |
Population | 3 372 000 people |
Official language | Spanish |
Currency | Uruguayan peso |
Climate | In January - from +22°C to +24°C In July - from +10°C to +12°C |
Recommended type of holiday | The most famous resort is Punta del Este |
Laid-back and off the beaten track, tiny Uruguay welcomes visitors with miles of pristine beaches, vast open skies and one of Latin America's most cosmopolitan capital cities. Thanks to its high standard of living and the relaxed hospitality of its people, it's a delightful place to travel, yet still draws fewer tourists than neighbouring Brazil and Argentina.
Three destinations jump to the top of most traveller's itineraries: culturally vibrant Montevideo, with its lively arts scene, breezy beachfront promenade and the world's longest carnival celebration; picturesque Colonia, sporting cobblestoned streets, leafy plazas and 18th-century Portuguese colonial architecture; and trendy Punta del Este, luring jetsetters with its beaches, fine restaurants and frenetic nightlife. Visitors with more time should explore the dunes, lagoons and surf breaks of Uruguay's long Atlantic coastline, soak in the hot springs near Salto, or spend the night at a tourist estancia amidst the wide-open grandeur of gaucho country.
Capital | Bogota |
Area | 1 138 910 km² |
Population | 45 618 000 people |
Official language | Spanish |
Currency | Colombian peso |
Climate | year-round on the coast +27 ° C |
Recommended type of holiday | beach vacation sightseeing |
Capital | Lima |
Area | 1 285 220 km² |
Population | 29 462 000 people |
Official language | Spanish, Aymara, Quechua |
Currency | Peruvian nuevo sol |
Climate | In February +26°C in the South, +36°C in the North. From June to August -afternoon in the South +19°C, in the North +28°C. |
Recommended type of holiday | beach vacation sightseeing |
From ancient cultures to bustling cities to extraordinary landscapes, few destinations have as much to offer visitors as Peru, an astonishingly varied country. Here you'll find panoramic mountain ranges, vast deserts, beautiful beaches and tropical jungle, not to mention fantastically rich history, archaeology, wildlife and enduring indigenous cultures. You can make a trip to Peru whatever you want it to be, whether it is trekking the Inca Trail or heading out to more remote places to explore the little-known areas of the country.
Images of the extraordinary remains of ancient civilisations will inevitably jump to mind. The Inca stronghold Machu Picchu is one of the most famous and photogenic archaeological sites in the world and the mysterious Nazca Lines boggle the brain, but there are hundreds of similarly fascinating and even older sites to discover.
The beautifully excavated ruins of Chan Chan near Trujillo are clues to a culture which presided for 600 years, and these ruins were once the largest pre-Columbian city in South America. Heading off the beaten track, up in the northern mountainous region of Peru you will find Kuelap, an ancient fortress and burial site of the Chachapoyas culture. These remains are far less visited than others and provide the adventurous traveller with a challenge.
All are set in stunning landscapes, whether parched desert coast, soaring sierra or remote rainforest overflowing with wildlife. Such a diverse landscape generates diverse pleasures; you can hike through snowy peaks one day, and relax on the beach the next; paddle a dugout through lowland rainforest or hop on a traditional reed boat on some of the world's highest lakes.
Capital | Santiago |
Area | 756 950 km² |
Population | 17 129 000 people |
Official language | Spanish |
Currency | Chilean peso |
Climate | In the North average temperatures are from +12°C to +22°C. In the South - from +3°C to +14°C. |
Recommended type of holiday | beach vacation sightseeing |