Patagonia is to the east of the Andes, and overshadowed in the nearer parts, however, covering 900,000 square km, or 347,000 square miles, it is vast and is not all protected. Economic activities in the area have included mining, whaling, Agriculture (sheep and wheat growth) as well as extracting oil.

The northern lakes area of the Argentina lake district has a few national parks in the foothills of the Andes, and are stunning to visit. The southern lakes adjoin the Los Glaciares national park. This area has hundreds of glaciers, which remain from the original vast ice sheet that covered this area. The most famous is Perito Morena. This is 5km across its face (3 miles). It occasionally advances across Lago Argentina and blocks it until the mass of water held back behind this frozen dam becomes to great and it ruptures, crashing into pieces as the water surges through. Another of these national parks is the Nahuel Huapi national park which covers 2700 square miles, and ranges from 700m up to 3000m. With a variety of habitats from grasslands to rainforests. Similar wildlife to the other reserves in this area.

With a range of habitats from high volcanoes to pampa and beaches means that there are many varied wildlife species.  While Condors fly overhead, emperor penguins rheas hummingbirds, flamingoes, steamer ducks, upland geese and long-tailed parakeets. Land mammals include the Brazilian fox, Guanacos and cougars. 

Lauca World Biosphere reserve, Chile, is the most most extensive plateau outside Tibet and one of the most beautiful in Chile. Fauna that include Vicunas, Guanacos, Vizcachas, foxes, Quirquinchos, Pumas, Tarucas, Tarcus, Suris, Nandus. On top of this, there is a wide range of bird (more than anywhere else in Chile) which include flamingos and Guallatas.

The Atacama desert is the driest place on earth, with an average rainfall of just 1mm per year. The desert is at 2km altitude. While just 94 miles wide, it is 625 miles long. The main reason for its small rainfall, is that the Andes on one side causes all clouds to release their moisture, and on the other side the Pacific coastal mountains have a similar effect.

Around 1 million people live in this hostile environment, collecting water from mists that roll in from the sea.

Guanaco, Flamingo, Culpeo Fox, Vicugna, Andean Condor, Scorpions, Llama, South American Grey Fox, Grey fox, Chilean flamingo, Andean mountain cat, Viscacha, Alpaca, Andean mountain cat, Viscacha, Alpaca, Southern Viscacha, and Humboldt penguins 

Cape horn is the southern headland of Isla Hornos, which is part of the Chilean Hermite Islands of Therra del Fuego, lying off the southern coast of South America. This point is the place where the Pacific and Atlantic oceans meet. These seas have a horrible reputation with so many ships having sunk in these waters. Gale force winds are common, as are seas with waves more than 20m high, not to mention the occasional iceberg, which make these seas some of the most dangerous on the planet.

The route was used very regularly until the building of the Panama canal.

Of more interest to us here, this archipelago is one of the most pristine island ecosystems in the world, and is designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The only native inhabitants are the indigenous Yagan Chileans, which is a nomadic fishing culture – as with many other places, the way of life of these people are threatened by development and tourism, so care should be taken to visit with people who are careful not to damage what they show you.

The area hosts untouched temperate forests, sub-polar forests and Tundra, linked by channels estuaries and bays. The seas around are good for watching dolphins and whales, while the shores are important breeding grounds for both Magallen and rock hopper penguins, as well as birds like albatross and condors.

This national park lies in Bolivia, close to the border with Brazil. It is a large park, covering 15,000 square km (5790 square miles). It is an incredibly biologically diverse reserve. Perhaps, of more interest, it is one of the least disturbed tracts of land within the Amazon basin. It is a beautiful place with incredible views, huge rivers and stunning waterfalls. 

There is a reserve across the border in Brazil – Serra Ricardo Ranco State park, which protects a further 1500 square km (650 square miles).The park is home to flora and fauna typical of both biomes, including endemic and endangered animals such as the Giant anteater, Neotropical otter, Giant otter. The otters are found in small groups or isolated pairs along the Guaporé River. Other mammals include monkeys, jaguars and tapirs. There are at least 174 species of fish. There are also large numbers of amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds.

Containing some of the least disturbed Savanna land in the world, leading into parts of the Amazon rainforest. There are 5 distinct ecological niches within the park. Much of the wildlife found here, has largely disappeared from elsewhere. 130 species of mammal found here. These include river otters, river dolphins, spider and howler monkeys, manned wolves, giant armadillos as well as a highly endangered population of black Jaguars. In terms of flora, the current count of species is over 4000, which includes 110 orchids. There are over 620 birds, and over 70 reptile species. The reserve in Brazil protects the edge of a plateau on the border with Bolivia, which is the region of transition from cerrado to the Amazon rainforest. This reserve is threatened by squatters and various other invaders.

The Pantanal is the largest  wetland area covering 250,000 square km. It is an area under threat from increasing amounts of cattle ranching. Thankfully while this wilderness is definitely under threat, there is still a great deal more that is still pristine.  There is an incredible abundance of vegetation and wildlife within the area, which sits in a large round depression in the earth. Two river systems flow through this area, Rio Paraguay and Rio Cuiaba. In the rainy season, these rivers burst their banks and flood 80% of the surrounding plains.

75 species of mammal calls this forest home, which include animals such as the Maned wolf, giant anteater, Capybara, 5 species of howler monkeys, giant otters, peccaries, tapir, deer and some jaguars. There are more than 300 species of fish and Caiman alligators can be seen resting on banks all around.

Other things to look out for are many lizards chameleons, land turtles, boa constrictor and anacondas. There are also more than 600 species of birds from Macaws toucans eagles rheas alongside many species of water birds.

Most of the land is privately owned, and while a good deal is used for eco-tourism, other areas are used for ranching. Whether these two uses can cohabit in this ecosystem long-term is yet to be seen. There is also the pantanal Matogrossene national park but this only protects 500 square miles of the reserve

There are a wide variety of tourism activities, including exploring by canoe or horseback to see what wildlife you can spot.