Table of Contents

Introduction: The Best of South America; The Undiscovered Continent. History: Decisive Dates; The First Peoples; The European Conquest; Independence; Into the 21st Century. Features: A Land of Many Faces; Music and Dance; Arts and Crafts; Architecture; Outdoor Adventures. Insights: Mini Features: Rise of Populist Leaders; The Otavaleno Weavers; Ecotourism; Land of Eldorado; Machu Picchu; A Night at the Pena; Coco Leaves; The Last Hidden Tribes; Carnival!; A Bilingual Land; A Jesuit Utopia; Wine Country; Beef and Red Wine; Tango; The Gaucho; Photo Features: Pre-Columbian Societies; Explorers and Eccentrics; Lake Titicaca; Birds of the Galapagos; Riches of the Amazon. Places: Introduction. The North Coast: Columbia; Venezuela; Guyana; Suriname; French Guiana; The Andean Highlands: Peru; Bolivia; Ecuador; The Tropical Giant: Brazil; The Southern Cone: Paraguay; Chile; Easter Island; Uruguay; Argentina; The Falkland Islands. Travel Tips. Maps: South America; Columbia; Venezuela; Guyana, Suriname and French Guina; Peru; Lima; Around Cusco; Bolivia; Around Lake Titicaca; Ecuador; Around Quito; Galapagos Islands; Brazil; Rio de Janeiro; The Southern Cone; Chilean Lake District; Buenos Aires; Inside front cover: South America; Inside back cover: Buenos Aires, Lima; Quito, Rio de Janeiro.