From trees of green and blooming red roses, to the colours of the rainbow and crying babies, it didn’t take much more than nature’s bounty to convince Louis Armstrong that we live in a wonderful world.
Nowhere is that more obvious than in the colourful cone-shaped continent of South America. Boasting lush rainforests, ancient civilisations, and wonderful wildlife, South America is home to a treasure trove of unbelievably awesome spots that will leave your bucket-list looking a lot longer.
From manmade marvels, to mother nature’s wonders, here are five unreal places in South America that will leave your jaw dropped.
Warning: The following images have been known to cause severe wanderlust.
1. Garganta del Diablo, Iguazu Falls, Argentina
Perched at the cross roads of three countries: Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, the spectacular Iguazu Falls are a must-see for any intrepid explorer venturing into South America.
Spanning two UNESCO protected National Parks, the crashes and roars of the over 275 falls that make up Las Cataratas echo throughout the 55,000 hectares of surrounding rainforest, which are home to a throng of wildlife creatures including tapirs, howler monkeys, caimans and the mighty jaguar.
The name “Iguazu” comes from the Guarani language meaning great water, and while it was renamed to Santa Maria Cascades by Spanish explorers in the 1600’s, it’s clear to see why the name didn’t stick. Tumbling from a towering height of 82 metres against a backdrop of radiant rainbows, the highlight of any trip to the World Heritage Site is the crescent-shaped chasm known as Garganta del Diablo, or Devil’s Throat.