South America Travel Planning Resources

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From the Amazon to the Andes and all of the mystical wonders in between, Mexico and South and Central America are full of stories to tell. Whether you prefer to look for clues to the successes of ancient Incan and Mayan civilizations or take in the unrivaled variety of exotic plants and wildlife, these lands are sure to awaken your inner explorer.

History

South and Central America were home to several indigenous cultures prior to the European discovery of the New World in the late fifteenth century. The Mayan civilization populated Central America and Mexico as early as 1000 B.C. Their architectural prowess is illustrated by their monolithic stair-stepped pyramids, which stand to this day. The Incan civilization dominated the Andes region from 1438 to 1533 with precise stonework and agricultural techniques that enabled them to flourish in the harsh mountainous terrain.

In 1494, Spain and Portugal signed a treaty to share the western lands the two maritime powers were exploring. The result would put modern-day Brazil in the hands of the Portuguese with the rest of the continent going to Spain. The following years were difficult, as native cultures were plagued by European diseases and the incursion of the conquistadors. Independence from Europe did not come to the continent until the early part of the nineteenth century with the South American Wars of Independence. Brazil peacefully seceded from Portugal in 1822.

The Cold War made for political turbulence in South and Central America in the twentieth century. Chile was overthrown in the 1970s, and Peru suffered from internal conflicts in the '80s and '90s. Many a nation's presidencies were overthrown under a cloud of corruption. A wave of democratization came over South America beginning in the '80s and cooled much of the dissension. Although tough economic times have recently touched the region, the promise holds for development and growth well into the future.

Fast Facts

Argentina

• Capital: Buenos Aires
• Population: 39.5 million
• Language: American Spanish and indigenous languages
• Currency: Peso (ARS)
• Time Zone: EST plus 2 hours
• Electricity: 220V, 50Hz

Brazil

• Capital: Brasília
• Population: 186 million
• Language: Portuguese
• Currency: Reál (BRL)
• Time Zone: EST plus 1-3 hours
• Electricity: 110V, 220V

Ecuador

• Capital: Quito
• Population: 13 million
• Language: Spanish, Quechua
• Currency: U.S. dollar (USD)
• Time Zone: EST
• Electricity: 110V, 60Hz

Peru

• Capital: Lima
• Population: 28 million
• Language: Spanish, Quechua, indigenous languages
• Currency: Nuevo sol (PEN)
• Time Zone: EST
• Electricity: 220V, 60Hz

Weather

The Andes mountain range represents the only area of South and Central America with consistently cooler temperatures. Warm and humid in the north and mild and drier in the south is a pretty consistent climate pattern for South America. Be sure to bring comfortable rain gear as you are traveling through Brazil, Ecuador and Peru, as wet weather is a common occurrence.

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