A-Z Latin America

Everything you ever wanted to know about the region, but never dared to ask. The South American Experience team scratched their heads to come up with this Definitive Guide to Latin America.

Amazon - The ancient Greeks described a tribe of warrior women called the Amazons. It was Sir Walter Raleigh who reported that the jungles of South America were inhabited by just such a tribe, thus giving Amazonia its name.

Bolivar - Simon Bolivar was the great Liberator whose ambitions for the united country of Gran Colombia (stretching from modern-day Venezuela to the Chilean coast) never materialised.

Costa Rica - Since 1949 this has been a country without an army. Funds which would otherwise have been spent on maintining the military have been chanelled towards education and training.

Day of the Dead - The most important festival in Mexico (All Souls Day - 01 Nov). It is a celebration of the lives of departed relatives and ancestors. A wonderful spectacle which involves picnics taken at gravesides and sweets shaped like skeletons, great fun if you can catch it.

Estancias - If you are travelling to Argentina or Chile and would like to spend a few days at a traditional working ranch or estancia to experience the gaucho life, we would be delighted to make the arrangements.

Futbol - Latin Americans are passionate about football and are obsessed with the Beautiful Game. Let us know if you want to go to a match on your travels - we'll try and arrange it.

Guinea-Pig - Roasted guinea-pig, a famously nutritious Peruvian delicacy, is best served with rice and potatoes. Not quite everyone's idea of a good meal.

Havana - The city was alreday famous for its cigars when it was captured by Lord Albemarle in 1762. The British held Cuba for just 11 months before agreeing to swap it with the Spanish for Florida.

Inti-Raymi - This is the most important festival in the Inca calendar, celebrated annually on 24 June. A spectacular ceremony takes place at Sacsayhuaman, the Inca fortress overlooking Cuzco. Early booking is essential for grandstand seats.

Jacare - Jacare alligators are regularly to be seen basking in the morning sunshine on the banks of the waterways of the the Patantal. This is Brazil's most impressive wildlife preserve which at 230,000 sq km is about the size of England, Wales and Scotland combined.

Kapawi Ecolodge - This award winning jungle reserve in Ecuador has a 15 year licence to operate tours in the land of the Achuar people. In 2011 it will become fully managed and owned by the Achuar.

La Paz - La Paz in Bolivia never fails to impress; the views of the world's highest capital city literally take your breath away, At 12,000 ft you need to acclimatize before exploring this unique city and its indigenous markets.

Mermaids - Christopher Colombus claimed to have sighted three mermaids on his voyage of 1492. He reported that they were not as pretty as expected.

Nazca - Nobody knows quite when or why these strange drawings and lines in the desert in Southern Peru were made. They are best seen from the air - which adds to their mystery.

Orinoco - Venezuela's lush jungles, fertile forests and vast wetlands provide an enormous wildlife haven in one of the world's largest deltas. Those of a certain age may also remember the Womble of the same name.

Patagonia - One of the members of Ferdinand Megellan's round the world journey saw a giant on a beach in what is now Southern Argentina. The giant - called a Patagon ("big-foot") lent its name to Patagonia.

Quetzal - The National bird of Guatemala is a symbol of freedom and has been sacred for centuries (under the Mayas it was a capital offence to kill one). Even today the Order of the Quetzal is the country's highest honour.

Rio de Janeiro - There are not that many beaches that are world famous but Rio de Janeiro just happens to have two of them: Copacabana and Ipanema. This cracking city is also renowned for its carnivals and New Year spectacular - for which early booking is essential.

South American Handbook - The first edition of this comprehensive guidebook came out in 1924 and it has been updated annually ever since. It is an essential item when packing for a trip to South America.

Tango - There are not many dances that have been banned by the Pope. From its origins in the bordellos of Buenos Aires in the late 19th Century, the tango transfixed all levels of society, eventually to take Europe by storm in the 1920s and 1930s. In the last few years it has undergone something of a revival.

United States of America - Latin America has an ambivalent relationship with Uncle Sam. The Central and South American Republics resent US influence over their affairs but have to rely on the USA for trade and aid.

Volcanoes - You can hardly wander around Central America without bumping into a volcano. Costa Rica's Arenal volcano is arguably the most spectacular in Latin America. It has been continually erupting since 1968 - impressive lava flows on a clear night.

Wildlife - Birders often see more than 300 species in a two week stay but there is much more besides: turtles, whales, penguins, vicuñas, alligators, condors, giant tortoises, iguanas, monkeys - to give just a sample of the variety.

Xcaret - With idyllic beaches, nature trails, snorkelling, an underground river system, butterfly park, aquarium and the chance to swim with dolphins, this eco-archaeological park in Mexico makes a great day out for all the family.

Yavari - The oldest ship on Lake Titicaca was built in England in 1862, transported to South America and was carried over the Andes in pieces by mule (2766 pieces in total, weighing 210 tons), eventually to be reassembled at 12,500 ft (3801m) above sea level at Puno. The Yavari has been restored and has opened as a musuem on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca at Puno.

Zampoñas - These are better known as the panpipes - long since recognised as the sound of the Andes.

Last Updated: Tuesday May 13 2008