Four stops among tropical cities, ancient civilisations and monumental landscapes. From Rio to Colombia's Caribbean coast, from the Peruvian Andes to the wide-open spaces of Patagonia, Caroline continues her travel notebook.
Her South America notebook
From the Caribbean to the far reaches of Patagonia
South America offers Caroline an almost dizzying mix: cities open to the ocean, colonial heritage, Inca cities suspended in the Andes and wild expanses where the wind seems to redraw the landscape.
Four very different stops open this chapter: Rio de Janeiro, Cartagena de Indias in Colombia, Machu Picchu in Peru and Torres del Paine in Chilean Patagonia.
4South American stops
4 countriesBrazil, Colombia, Peru, Chile
€29.90poster price
01
Brazil · Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro — Beneath Christ the Redeemer
Standing atop Corcovado, Christ the Redeemer has watched over Rio de Janeiro since 1931. The Art Deco statue has become one of Brazil's most instantly recognisable symbols, alongside Guanabara Bay, Sugarloaf Mountain and the beaches that define the city's image. Its location offers a spectacular view of Rio, where mountains seem to enter directly into the urban landscape.
Did you know?The statue is about 30 metres tall, excluding its pedestal, and its outstretched arms span nearly 28 metres.
Founded in the 16th century on Colombia's Caribbean coast, Cartagena de Indias quickly became a strategic port of the Spanish Empire. Its walls, bastions and formidable defensive system protected the wealth moving between the Americas and Europe. Today, the old city preserves a remarkable collection of colourful streets, patios, wooden balconies and colonial churches.
Did you know?Cartagena's fortifications are among the most important and best-preserved colonial military complexes in South America.
Perched more than 2,400 metres above sea level in the Peruvian Andes, Machu Picchu was built in the 15th century at the height of the Inca Empire. Its terraces, precisely fitted stone walls and spectacular position above the Urubamba Valley have made it one of the world's most famous archaeological sites.
Did you know?The site was never completely forgotten locally: families in the region knew of its existence long before it gained international attention in the early 20th century.
In the far south of Chile, the Torres del Paine massif brings together granite towers, glacial lakes, windswept steppe and glaciers. The famous 'Torres' owe their spectacular silhouette to erosion that gradually exposed the massif's granite masses. The landscape has become one of Patagonia's most iconic images.
Did you know?Patagonian weather can change extremely quickly: sunshine, strong winds, rain and snow can sometimes follow one another in a single day.
Four short questions to see Caroline's South American stops from a different angle.
Why does Christ the Redeemer overlook Rio?
Its position at the summit of Corcovado overlooks a large part of the city and bay, quickly turning the statue into one of Rio's major visual landmarks.
Its role as a major colonial port made it a strategic target. The Spanish gradually developed a system of walls, bastions and forts to protect the city and its harbour.
