A rich and diverse collection of countries steeped in a history of mythical proportions, South America is a heady kaleidoscope of colour and culture that assaults the senses and permeates the soul.
With a long-standing reputation as one of the world’s most adventurous continents, travelling in South America offers the trip of a lifetime. Epic journeys, spectacular sights and life changing experiences abound in South America and it is near impossible to travel here without wanting to blow the bank a little.
There is nothing common about a trip to South America so there shouldn’t be anything common about where you stay. Give your Visa Credit Card a work out and stay in a truly unique hotel in one of the continent’s most amazing areas of natural beauty. Because let’s face it, there should be no holding back on a trip of a life time!
Brazil: Amazon Ariau Towers
You will be forever changed by seeing the Amazon Rainforest; that vast expanse of lush mystery that is the verdant beating heart of South America. Despite the alarming rate at which it is being cleared, the Amazon remains the largest rainforest in the world, spanning across the South American continent for seven million square kilometers and falling within the borders of nine nations.
There are many ways in which to explore the Amazon, however nothing beats the experience of staying there. The incredible Ariau Towers offer guests an Amazonian experience like no other. Nestled within the leafy tops of the trees and built out over the rushing waters of the Rio Negra and Amazon Rivers , there is no way to better immerse yourself in this incredible word.
Throw caution to the wind and splash out on some luxury accommodation here with your Visa Credit Card and you won’t regret it.
By day explore the Amazon on a myriad of tours designed introduce you to this unique part of the world. Explore the soaring canopy on a tree climbing tour, canoe down the magnificent Rio Negro and spot wildlife on its banks, or swim its waters in search of the rare pink dolphins that inhabit it.
By night, sip cocktails from the heights of a treetop bar and watch the sunset over the jungle, dine at the resort’s beautiful restaurant, sampling authentic Brazilian cuisine and then retire to your luxurious tree house or ‘Tarzan Suites’ high in the canopy.
Located just 36 kilometres from Brazil’s beautiful city of Manus, Ariau Towers are far enough away so that you feel like you are in another world, but not so far that you are completely isolated. Take a day trip to Manus to do some shopping or head for a night on the town to experience the renowned Brazilian hospitality and revelry.
So what are you waiting for? - grab your card and go - discover Brazil
Argentina: Iguassu Falls Hotel das Cataratas
The thundering Iguassu Falls deep in the foreston the border of Argentina and Brazil rival North America’s Niagara Falls and Africa’s spectacular Victoria Falls, standing at a staggering 82 metres high and 2.7 kilometres wide. The Iguassu are so powerful that the mist that rises from the bottom of the falls can rise up to 150 metres, giving the already magnificent falls a mystical appearance.
Incredibly perched on the edge of the falls is the renowned Hotel das Cataratas. Built in 1939, the hotel remains one of the most unique and luxurious hotels in South America and is to this day the only hotel situated within Iguassu National Park.
A spectacular example of Portuguese Colonial architecture, the hotel is now operated by the Orient Express, those responsible for the famously luxurious hotel trains and other unique hotels around the world. Renowned for offering old world class and elegance that harkens back to a bygone era, the Orient Express aims to transport you to another world, and as Hotel das Cataratas, that is exactly what they achieve.
No matter where you are at the hotel, the Iguassu Falls are present, and are an integral part of your stay. If you are not gazing upon the spectacular view from the hotel’s restaurants and bars, or watching from your luxurious suite as toucans and giant butterflies disappear into the mist, you can hear the enchanting rush of its waters wherever you are on the property.
The Iguassu national Park, spanning over 18,000 hectares of reserve offers a seemingly endless range of wonders to explore, with its hundreds of species of unique flora and fauna, including the world’s last viable population of endangered South American jaguar.
Offering a range of activities to ensure you get the most out of your stay, the hotel can arrange anything from a guided forest tour, rafting on the Iguassu River, or even a breath-taking helicopter light over the falls. Don’t let a chance to stay in this magnificent place pass you buy, get that Visa Credit Card out and worry about it later, right now there is much to explore.
So what are you waiting for? - grab your card and go - discover Argentina
Bolivia: Salar de Uyuni Palacio de Sal
For a truly unique South American experience, venture out onto Bolivia’s Great Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt plain. Stretching for a jaw-dropping 10,582 square kilometers, the Salar de Uyuni serves as the major trading rout across the Bolivian Altiplano, most expansive area of high plateau in the world after Tibet in the Himilayas.
Perched on the edge of the plain on the port of Colchani, you will find the incredible Palacio de Sal, literally translating to ‘Palace of Salt’. In keeping with the surrounds, the spectacular hotel is constructed entirely from salt; a palace of smooth white slabs that come from the phenomenal landscape of the Salar de Uyuni.
With its walls, floors, furniture, even the beds all made entirely of salt, along with salt sculptures and a luxurious salt spa, at the Palacio de Sal you are literally immersed in your experience of one of South America’s most amazing natural phenomena. You can even play round of golf on the hotel’s 9-hole golf course, situated on the smooth hard salt crust of the salt plain.
Dine on traditional Bolivian dishes in the hotel restaurant, designed to showcase the region’s main export, you guessed it, salt. Sit in salt bar and marvel at the harsh yet beautiful landscape of the Salar de Uyuni, which at its height of 3650 metres above sea level offers spectacular sunsets. The pristine white of the plain and the glowing oranges, pinks and reds of the sky meeting at the horizon creates an amazing contrast of colour, appearing as fire melting into ice.
You can be assured that an experience like this will leave you with memories you will never forget, and a story to rival that of any other intrepid traveller. And thanks to Visa you don’t have to wait, you can have it that experience now. Grab your Visa Credit Card and go!
So what are you waiting for? - grab your card and go - discover Bolivia
