Lonely Planet advice for travelling South America on a shoestring

WHEN natural beauty overlaps human effervescence, fascinating South America offers its charms to all travellers.

Boats on Lake Titicaca near Puno. Picture: Lonely Planet

WHEN natural beauty overlaps human effervescence, fascinating South America offers its charms to all travellers.

SET FOR BIG ADVENTURES From the snow-capped peaks of the Andes to the undulating waterways of the Amazon, South America spreads a dazzling array of natural wonders. This is a continent of lush rainforests, towering volcanoes, misty cloud forests, bone-dry deserts, red-rock canyons, ice-blue glaciers and sun-kissed beaches. As landscapes go, there aren't many other places on earth that offer so much range - or so many opportunities for adventure. You can hike past ancient temples first laid down by the Incas, contemplate the awe-inspiring power of Iguazú Falls or spend the day watching wildlife from a dugout canoe on one of the Amazon's countless igarapes (narrow waterways). You can barrel down Andean roads by mountain bike, go white-water rafting on class V rivers and surf amazing breaks off both coasts. Once you think you've experienced it all, head to the dramatic landscapes in Tierra del Fuego, go eye-to-eye with extraordinary creatures in the Galápagos, and scramble up tableland mountains in the Gran Sabana for a panorama that seems straight out of the Mesozoic era. CULTURAL TREASURES Across the continent you'll find magnificent colonial towns where cobblestone streets lead past gilded churches and stately plazas - a scene little changed since the 18th century. Elsewhere, you can haggle over colourful textiles at indigenous markets, share meals with traditional dwellers of the rainforest and follow the pounding rhythms laid down by Afro-Brazilian drum corps. South America is home to an astounding variety of living and ancient cultures, and experiencing it all first-hand is as easy as showing up. LA VIDA MUSICAL Welcome to one of the world's great music destinations. Colombian salsa, Brazilian samba, Argentine tango and Andean folk music all receive airtime across the globe, but nothing quite compares to hearing those rhythms in the place where they were born. Sultry milongas (dance halls) in Buenos Aires, simmering samba clubs in Rio, salsotecas (salsa clubs) in Quito - all great places to chase the heart of Saturday night. The best way to experience it is to simply plunge in - though you might want to take a dance class along the way! FIVE TOP EXPERIENCES 1. MACHU PICCHU A fantastic Inca citadel lost to the world until its early 20th-century discovery, Peru's Machu Picchu stands as a ruin among ruins. With its emerald terraces and steep peaks that echo on the horizon, the sight simply surpasses the imagination. This marvel of engineering has withstood half a dozen centuries of earthquakes, foreign invasion and howling weather. Discover it for yourself, wander through its stone temples and scale the heights of Wayna Picchu. 2. THE AMAZON Home to the greatest collection of plant and animal life on earth, the awe-inspiring Amazon encompasses more than seven million square kilometres. There are countless ways to experience its astounding biodiversity: trekking through dense jungle, visiting indigenous villages, flying over the vast green expanse of undulating waterways, slow-boating between river towns or lounging in a jungle lodge after a day spent wildlife-watching. Nine countries share a bit of the famous rainforest, and all of them have excellent bases to experience it first-hand. 3. RIO DE JANEIRO Few cities in the world enjoy more seductive charm than Brazil's Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvellous City) - but calling it merely marvellous doesn't quite cut it. On privileged real estate flanked by striking Atlantic-blue waters, sugary white sands and a mountainous backdrop of Crayola-green rainforest, Rio's cinematic cityscape has few rivals. Once its soundtrack kicks in - a high-on-life siren's song of bossa nova and samba - Rio's raw energy seizes you withthe come-hither allure of a tropical fantasy. 4. LAKE TITICACA Less a lake than a highland ocean, Lake Titicaca in Bolivia is the highest navigable body of water in the world. In Andean tradition it's the birthplace of the sun. Here, banner-blue skies turn to bitterly cold nights. Among its sights are the surreal floating islands crafted entirely of tightly woven totora reeds. Enthralling and in many ways singular, the shimmering deep-blue Lake Titicaca is the long-time home of highland cultures steeped in the old ways. 5. BUENOS AIRES Whip together a beautiful Argentine metropolis with gourmet cuisine, awesome shopping, frenzied night-life and gorgeous locals, and you get Buenos Aires. It's a European-like, cosmopolitan city encompassing both slick neighbourhoods and downtrodden ghettos, but that's the appeal. You can experience classic cafes, amazing steaks, surprising architecture, energising futbol games and, of course, that sultry tango. Buenos Aires is elegant, seductive, emotional, confounding, frustrating and chock-full of attitude - there's absolutely no other place like it in the world. This is an edited extract from Lonely Planet South America on a Shoestring (12th Edition) by Regis St Louis, et al. © Lonely Planet 2013. Published this month, RRP: $49.99. NEED TO KNOW SOUTH AMERICA When to Go May-Sep * In the Andes of Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, these are generally the driest months and the best time to go trekking. * The dry season in the Pantanal, and the best time to see wildlife there. Oct-Nov * The driest months in the Amazon are July to November. * Fewer crowds and lower prices make this a good time to visit Buenos Aires, Rio and other coastal destinations. Dec-Mar * It's high season in Brazil and the Altantic coast; beaches and festivals (like Carnaval) are big draws. * The best time to visit Patagonia, although expect higher prices. Getting There Every South American country has an international airport in its capital and often in major cities as well. Main gateways include Bogota (Colombia); Buenos Aires (Argentina); Caracas (Venezuela); La Paz (Bolivia); Lima (Peru); Quito and Guayaquil (Ecuador); Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo (Brazil); and Santiago (Chile). DAILY BUDGET Mid-range US$30-$80 * Budget jungle lodge in the Amazon: $50 to $80 a day * Excursions: hiking, cycling, birdwatching tours: from $40 a day * 3½-day boat trip from Manaus to Belém: $110 (hammock fare) Safe Travel There are potential dangers to travelling in South America, but with sensible precautions, you are unlikely to encounter serious problems. Your greatest threats will likely be reckless drivers, pollution, fiesta fireworks and low-hanging objects (watch your head!). The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs website offers travel advisories and details on current hot spots. Websites * South American Explorers is one of the most helpful organisations for travellers to South America, featuring country profiles; travel discounts for members. * Latin American Spanish is the language of choice for travellers in all of South America except for Brazil (where Portuguese is the national tongue) and the Guianas (where French, Dutch or English are widely spoken). Learn Spanish with Lonely Planet's online language course, Fluent Road (free trial for new users, then $US9 for a one-month subscription). "Like" Escape.com.au on Facebook Follow @Escape_team on Twitter