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One of the New 7 Natural Wonders — 275 individual cascades stretched 2.7km along the Argentina-Brazil border, dwarfing Niagara. The Argentine side's Devil's Throat catwalk puts you above the roaring central plunge; the Brazilian side delivers the panoramic postcard. Subtropical rainforest with toucans, coatis, and capuchin monkeys. Puerto Iguazú is the Argentine base; Foz do Iguaçu sits across the bridge.

Machu Picchu is the 15th-century Inca citadel perched on a mountain saddle 2,430m (7,970 ft) above sea level — built in stone so precise no mortar was used, abandoned around 1572 during the Spanish conquest, and forgotten by the outside world until Hiram Bingham re-introduced it in 1911. Today it draws roughly 4,500 visitors per day on capped-entry tickets, accessed via the PeruRail or Inca Rail train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (the cloud-forest valley town below) and then a 25-minute switchback bus ride up to the gate. Sunrise from the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) and the vertiginous Huayna Picchu hike behind the citadel are the iconic experiences.

Patagonia is the end of the world — and it's breathtaking. Torres del Paine's granite spires, Perito Moreno's thundering glacier, and vast windswept steppes define one of the planet's last truly wild frontiers. Shared between Chile and Argentina, the region rewards serious hikers and nature lovers willing to brave the elements.

The world's largest salt flat — 10,582 km² of blinding white at 3,656m in southwest Bolivia. In wet season (Dec-Apr) a thin water film turns it into the planet's biggest mirror; dry season reveals hexagonal salt tiles to the horizon. Multi-day 4WD tours typically run 3D/2N from Uyuni to San Pedro de Atacama via the Eduardo Avaroa lagoons, geysers, and flamingo-pink waters. Lithium reserves below are the world's largest.

1,810 km² of Chilean Patagonia named for its three granite spires (Torres) rising 2,500m straight from the steppe. The W Trek (4-5 days, 80km) is the iconic route; the O Circuit (8-10 days, 130km) loops the entire massif. Grey Glacier (30km arm of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field) is accessible by catamaran or kayak. Wildlife includes guanaco herds and rare pumas with specialised tracker tours. Famously violent winds (100+ km/h common in summer) and rapidly shifting weather demand serious gear. Park entry $32-45 USD; refugios on the W Trek require booking 6-12 months in advance via Vertice or Las Torres Patagonia.