Stretching all the way from Venezuela in the north to Argentina in the south, South America is an amazingly diverse continent.

Beautifully sandy beaches in Brazil, tropical Ecuadorian rainforests, extraordinary wildlife in the Galapagos, ancient Inca ruins at Machu Picchu and snow-capped mountains in Argentina make for as varied an experience a traveller is likely to find.

Numerous tour operators run trips to South America but finding the right one is key to a trip of a lifetime.

Discover South America Stretching all the way from Venezuela in the north to Argentina in the south, South America is an amazingly diverse continent.

Travel Tip: Most cities have internet cafes where you can download pictures onto a CD or memory device, freeing up your card for more photos. [Diana Van Hart, Merit Newmarket] click to meet Diana

Seek advice from the people that know this amazing continent.