South America

South America is an adventurer's paradise where the scale of nature is dazzling. The Amazon rainforest covers over 5.5 million square kilometers and produces about 20% of the Earth's oxygen — it's called 'the lungs of the planet.' The Andes is the world's longest mountain range (over 7,000 km) and passes through seven countries. The Patagonian glaciers in Torres del Paine National Park are one of the last pristine wildernesses, and the Iguazu Falls (275 separate waterfalls) are wider than Niagara. Rio's Carnival is the world's largest festival, with over 2 million people participating per day. The continent's rich cultures and wild natural sites are united by warm hospitality and an affordable price level — in Bolivia and Peru, a daily budget can be under 30 euros. In practice South America demands time: the flight from Finland alone takes 15-20 hours with connections, and distances within the continent are long. A three-week trip comfortably covers two countries. At high-altitude destinations such as Cusco and La Paz, allow a couple of days to acclimatise. Seasons are reversed, so December to March is the best window for Patagonia while the Andean dry season falls in midsummer.