Best must-see destinations in South America

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North America's must-see destinations range from the canyon and wilderness landscapes of the west and the dense cultural offer of its major eastern cities to the ancient civilisations of Mesoamerica and the remote arctic wilderness of the far north. The continent's scale means that genuinely world-class destinations are spread across an enormous geographic area, and itinerary planning requires realistic decisions about distance and travel time that smaller continents do not demand.

The national parks system protects some of the most spectacular landscapes on earth and functions as the backbone of natural destination travel across the continent. Major urban destinations offer cultural depth across art, food, music and architecture that rewards extended stays well beyond the obvious landmarks. Lesser-known destinations in the continental interior and along both coastlines offer comparable experiences to the headline sites with considerably more space.

Distances between major destinations make flying the default for most multi-stop itineraries, though scenic rail and road routes reward travellers with the time to use them. Advance booking for accommodation and permits at the most popular national park destinations is essential during peak season. Costs are broadly in line with other developed world destinations though internal travel expenses add up quickly across a continent where significant distances are the norm.