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Cerro Fitzroy near El Chalten, Argentina

If you’re trying to figure out a new place for your next adventure, look no further than our southern sibling, South America. There are many countries that comprise the magnificent continent and all of them are amazing places to visit! Below are ten reasons that you should consider visiting South America.

Proximity – For an international destination, South America is close! It takes less than 4 hours to fly from Miami to Colombia’s capital, Bogota. The time it takes to fly from Miami to San Diego? Well over 5 hours. This means that you can get some terrific airfare prices to some of the northerly countries and use that extra money to do more once you are in the country. Of course, South America is a very large continent and if you want to fly to, say, Punta Arenas in Southern Chile, you would be looking at around 17 to 18 hours in the sky, but hey, that’s almost halfway around the world! Language – With the notable exception of Brazil and a few small countries on the coast, the entire continent speaks Spanish. Anyone who has traveled in Africa or Asia can tell you this is a huge advantage since learning one language will get you through most of the continent. That is, unless you find yourself deep in the jungle or high in the mountains. Some people in South America still speak their native tongue from before Western colonization. Luckily, many still have a decent understanding of Spanish. Also keep in mind that the U.S. is the fifth largest Spanish speaking county in the world so whatever you learn abroad could help you bridge the language gap at home! Scenery – Have you heard about the Andes? How about the Amazon? Maybe Patagonia? Seriously, South America has some of the most incredible scenery on this planet. The longest mountain range in the world, the Andes, is home to the tallest mountains outside the Himalaya. Dense jungles and mighty rivers clog the Amazon River Basin, home to the largest tropical rain forest in the world. If you want to see expansive glaciers at the end of the earth, you should visit Patagonia, a fabled land worth every ounce of the hype. And don’t forget the Atacama Desert! The driest desert in the world features towering volcanoes, vast salt lakes, and colorful lakes! Easy to get around – Once you find yourself in your country of choice, you will see that, for the most part, public transportation is often available and very cheap. Buses are one of the best ways to get around, although sometimes they fall short of what a sane person would call “comfy”. There are also buses that cross borders, providing a easy way to enter other countries. If you are up for the adventure, hitchhiking is very common in much of South America, especially in Chile and Argentina. Make sure you research the specific areas you will be to see if they are considered safe for hitchhikers. Affordable – Your money will go a long way in South America. though some countries are better than others. For example, Bolivia is much cheaper than Argentina, but everyone has affordable food and lodging if you know where to look. In Argentina, you can get a steak dinner for $5 and some amazing wine for not much more. Compare this to countries in Europe and you will see how much you could save.

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