Unconventional Locations: South America
Untouched by Europeans until the 15th century, the continent of South America contains a vibrant mix of ancient, colonial and natural beauty, offering something for every type of traveller. Each country on the continent has its own particular sights and culture to experience, from the Andean mountains in Chile and Peru to the beaches and rainforests of Brazil and Bolivia. Since the Southern part of the Americas is so vast, there are plenty of unusual places to take in once you get tired of the beaches in Rio!

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Located in southwest Bolivia inside the Daniel Campos Province, the Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat, covering around 10,582 square kilometres. The landscape here is truly alien, with miles and miles of salt stretching all the way to the horizon, with naturally occurring salt mounds and cubes scattered throughout. When it rains, the water forms a layer atop the salt to create a gigantic mirror effect, definitely a worthwhile photo opportunity!

Las Lajas Sanctuary, Colombia
Nestled in a ravine near the city of Ipiales, Las Lajas is a Roman Catholic cathedral that sits perched 100 meters above the floor of the crevasse, with a 50m bridge connecting the two sides. Built on the site of what is touted to be several instances of miraculous healing, many pilgrims visit the church in order to visit a stone that supposedly displays a likeness of the Virgin Mary. However, the building itself, with its Gothic Revival architecture, is unlike your typical South American church, which along with its unusual location make it well worth a visit.

Chavin de Huantar, Peru
While most people know Machu Picchu as the most famous of Peru’s pre-colonial ruins, Chavin de Huantar is also worth a visit and actually pre-dates the Incan civilisation. Located about 150 miles from Lima, these ruins date from the Chavin culture that existed around 900BC and are a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also easy to get to and comes with the added bonus of avoiding the massive crowds around Machu Picchu. Hiking addicts may also like to know that there is an option to take a beautiful 3 day hike to the site along an Incan trail, just be sure to hire a guide before setting off.

El Chaltén, Argentina
A perfect spot for backpackers and trekkers, this colourful village overlooks the stunning northern sector of the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. Founded in 1985 to beat Chile to a land claim, the village has a distinct frontier vibe to it, with ongoing construction, hippie values and packs of roaming dogs frequent sights. Every summer thousands of trekkers begin here to enjoy the world class trails that spread out across the rest of the national park. If you want to take in some of the worlds’ most awe-inspiring views, it’s definitely worth the trip, just be sure not to come in winter!

Iguazú Falls, Brazil/Argentina
Straddling the border of Argentina and Brazil, Iguazú Falls is described as one of the wildest waterfalls on Earth. The cascading water encompasses a 3km chain of waterfalls that give the effect of an island rising out of the water, so keep your camera handy when you visit. An added bonus of the location is that it rests in the middle of both Brazilian and Argentine national parks, so you can enjoy a vast array of natural beauty as you travel to the falls.

Santa Cruz del Islote, Columbia
Off the coast of Columbia lies the island of Santa Cruz del Islote, a 2.4 acre island with a population density four times higher than Manhattan. While the living conditions on the island are far from modern (there is only 5 hours of electricity per day and no running water) the islands’ 1200 inhabitants show no signs of wanting to leave. While the main occupation is fishing, the island also boasts a restaurant, a disco and some grocery stores along with several tourist attractions. The crime rate is also zero, so there are no locked doors and most locals describe life there as peaceful and calm. This island can be reached by ferry from the port of Tolu, so if you really want to get off the beaten track and avoid tourist crowds, this is the place to do it.

Mano del Desierto, Chile
Protruding from the sands of the Atacama Desert, Mano del Desierto, or Hand of the Desert, is a 36 foot high sculpture of a human hand reaching up from the desert floor. Created by Chilean artist Mario Irarrazabal, it is meant to symbolise the vulnerability of humanity in contrast to the power of nature. While the closest town is Antofagasta 75km away, the sculpture attracts a large amount of visitors each year and is a must for any fans of strange and original art works. The sculpture is located near the Pan-American Highway, so it can also make for a fascinating stop-off point if you’re travelling by road.
