I have never been. But looking at the map, if I were visiting the Atacama Desert, it looks like Santiago Chile and La Paz Bolivia would be probable fly-in cities.

Not looking at the map, if I go to South America I would want to see buildings from the 1500s & 1600s. It fascinates me how Europeans were making elaborate stone buildings just a few decades after arriving.

Even more than the 1500s & 1600s, I ache to see the pre-Columbian cities which the Europeans destroyed. I will never understand how they were not awed and delighted and eager to preserve what they found.

Everyone I know who has gone to the Galapagos Islands enjoyed it, I have not been.

Have you considered a cruise through parts of South America to the Antarctic? My uncle is on one of those now, his girlfriend has been posting on facebook. I think many of the cruises start in ports in Chile.

I don’t need to tell you South America is huge, so are you planning to fly from one country to another and other places to visit do not necessarily need be near the Atacama Desert?

I’ve been to South America several times, so I know it reasonably well. I was just wondering what people’s personal experiences are. Yes, Galapagos is fantastic.