- Discovering Iguazú Falls by Raft: This is a place where birds like the great dusky swift and the brilliant morpho butterfly spread color through the thick forest canopy. You can easily arrange an outing into the forest once you arrive in Iguazú.
- Raging Down the Mendoza River: Mendoza offers the best white-water rafting in Argentina, and during the summer months, when the snow melts in the Andes and fills the Mendoza River, rafters enjoy up to Class IV and V rapids. Rafting is possible year-round, but the river is colder and calmer in winter months.
- Biking the Most Dangerous Road in Bolivia: The 64km (40-mile) road that descends nearly 1,800m (5,900 ft.) from the barren high-plateau area of La Paz to the lush tropical area of Los Yungas is considered one of the most dangerous roads in the world. It's unpaved, narrow, and carved out of the edge of a cliff (without any guardrails). The road recently has become a popular mountain-biking challenge. The views are unbelievable, but don't stare at them too long -- you have to keep an eye out for speeding trucks coming at you from the other direction.
- Horseback Riding in the Pantanal: The world's largest flood plain is best explored cowboy style -- on horseback. Spend some time quietly observing the many large bird species, and every now and then take off on a fast gallop through the wetlands, startling alligators and snakes underfoot.
- Hang Gliding in Rio: Running off the edge of a platform with nothing between you and the ground 800m (2,600 ft.) below requires a leap of faith, but once you do, the views of the rainforest and beaches are so enthralling that you almost forget about the ground until your toes touch down on the sand at São Conrado beach.
- Kayaking the Brazilian Amazon: Perhaps the best way to really get in touch with the rainforest is by good old sea kayak. Drifting down an Amazon tributary, you have the time to observe the rainforest; to search the trees for toucans, macaws, and sloths; and to scout the water for anaconda and caiman. On daytime hikes, you explore and swim in rarely visited Amazon waterfalls. To truly make like a researcher, you can hoist yourself 60m (200 ft.) into the treetops and spend some time exploring the rainforest canopy.
- Trekking in Torres del Paine: This backpacking mecca just keeps growing in popularity, and it's no wonder. Torres del Paine is one of the most spectacular national parks in the world, with hundreds of kilometers of trails through ever-changing landscapes of jagged peaks and one-of-a-kind granite spires, undulating meadows, milky, turquoise lakes and rivers, and mammoth glaciers. The park has a well-organized system of refugios and campgrounds, but there are also several hotels, and visitors can access the park's major highlights on a day hike.
- Snorkeling in the Galápagos: The sea lions in the Galápagos are a curious bunch. Once you put on a snorkeling mask and flippers, these guys will think you're one of the gang and swim right up to you. When you aren't playing with sea lions, you'll have the chance to see hammerhead sharks, penguins, sea turtles, and some of the most colorful fish in the world.
- Hiking the Inca Trail: The legendary trail to Machu Picchu, the Camino del Inca, is one of the world's most rewarding eco-adventures. The arduous 43km (27-mile) trek leads across phenomenal Andes Mountain passes and through some of the greatest natural and man-made attractions in Peru, including dozens of Inca ruins, dense cloud forest, and breathtaking mountain scenery. The trek has a superlative payoff: a sunset arrival at the glorious ruins of Machu Picchu, laid out at your feet. Hikers averse to crowds can also embark on one of the newer alternative treks in Cusco's Andes, such as Salcantay or Ausangate.
- Exploring the Peruvian Amazon: More than half of Peru is Amazon rainforest, and the country has some of the richest biodiversity on the planet. Cusco is the gateway to the southeastern jungle and two principal protected areas, Tambopata National Reserve and the Manu Biosphere Reserve. Manu is the least accessible and least explored jungle in Peru, with unparalleled opportunity for viewing wildlife and more than 1,000 species of birds, but it's not easy or cheap to get to. Iquitos leads to the accessible northern Amazon basin, with some of the top jungle lodges in the country. Eco-travelers can fish for piranhas and keep an eye out for pink dolphins, caiman, and tapirs. One of the best jungle experiences is viewing the dense forest from the heights of a rickety canopy walkway.
- Scuba Diving in Los Roques, Venezuela: Los Roques offers much of the same coral, marine life, and crystal clear waters as the rest of the popular Caribbean dive destinations, but it's still virtually undiscovered. Ecobuzos (tel. 0295/262-9811; www.ecobuzos.com) is the best dive operator on the archipelago.
- One-Stop Adventure Travel from Mérida, Venezuela: With a half-dozen or so peaks 4,500m (14,760 ft.) and above, raging rivers, and a couple of very competent adventure tour outfitters, you can go climbing, trekking, mountain biking, white-water rafting, horseback riding, canyoneering, and even paragliding out of Mérida. You may need a couple of weeks to do it all, but both Arassari Treks (www.arassari.com) and Natoura Adventure Tours (www.natoura.com) can help you come up with an adventure package to fit your budget, skill level, and time frame.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
