The splendor of South America

I've been fortunate enough to travel to South America twice now and I can't sing its' praises enough. I was lucky enough to go for 3 weeks on each trip, which I realize isn't feasible for everyone. Regardless, I'd like to share some of my route with favorite hotels, restaurants and sites. And as always, I'd like to stress that I prefer to go on trips without a tour. Some may not be comfortable heading to a new place without a guide. Whatever feels right to you is what you should do. At the same time, I'd just like to say push yourself a little; get out of your comfort zone and explore. Sometimes the best places I found along the way were through word of mouth from other travelers or really just happy accidents. So please, read, enjoy and travel!