VenezuelaAs well as hosting the prolific wildlife of LosLlanos, Venezuela is home to Angel Falls, theworld's highest waterfall, whose water tumblesover a precipice for a sheer 978 metre drop.Angel Falls sits in the rural southeast of thecountry in the middle of Gran Sabana NationalPark, whose vast sweeping prairies, punctuated by imposing table-top mountains and dramaticlagoons, inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle'sfamous 1912 novel 'The Lost World'.PanamaMost famously home to the incredible and awe-inspiring feat of engineering that is the PanamaCanal. For those who scratch beneath the surfacethis country has far more to entice the visitor.Panama offers pristine rainforests, traditionalIndian villages, coffee plantations, quaint colonialtowns, cool highlands, varied birdlife, undevelopedbeaches and exquisite islands surrounded byabundant coral. Combine all this with a heady mixof Spanish, Afro-Caribbean, North American andindigenous cultures, and you have a trulyenthralling country.The north and west coasts of South America andsouthern regions of Central America are home to a wonderful variety of landscapes and offer anarray of options for those who love the vast open countryside.EcuadorThe cultural diversity of Ecuador is complementedby varied landscapes comprising stunning snow-capped peaks, active volcanoes, nationalparks and vast nature reserves, which are popular for walking, mountain biking, horseridingand birdwatching.ColombiaNow a staple in the Audley programme,Colombia is perhaps the continent's best-keptsecret. A sunny, temperate land, it can be visitedyear-round. Here you can enjoy beautiful colonialvillages dotted amongst the hills of the coffeeregion, or head for stretches of unspoiledCaribbean coastline, in particular the TayronaNational Park. Combine this with colonial townsand cities such as Cartagena and Villa de Leyvaand see for yourself why Colombia has areputation as the friendliest and most welcomingof all South American nations.26Cotopaxi, EcuadorPanama CanalCartagena, ColombiaLandscapesTango Mar beach, Costa RicaBeyond the Galapagos

www.audleytravel.com/galapagos ?01993 838 635 ?Beyond the Galapagos27Angel Falls, VenezuelaRest and relaxationCombining the Galapagos with some beach restand relaxation can be a tricky affair, as the westerncoast of South America is not blessed with goodbeaches. Many people simply choose to extendtheir Galapagos cruise with some time at a hotel in the archipelago, which is an easy and convenientway to unwind for a few days before moving on.Further afield, the Central American beaches ofCosta Rica and Panama are possibilities, and theCaribbean should be considered too.BonaireEcuador is served by KLM Royal Dutch Airlinesflights from the UK via Amsterdam. En route toQuito or Guayaquil these flights touch down inBonaire in the Dutch Antilles, which makes thisCaribbean island a convenient stopover.Bonaire's enviable geographical position just north of the Equator and outside the hurricane belt, guarantees a consistently warm climate withday time temperatures averaging 28C year round: there is little rainfall and humidity is low. As well as being an excellent place in which torelax on a beach, Bonaire is a good destination for diving or snorkelling. The clear waters off theisland's coastline have been declared a marine park, ensuring that the reefs are preserved inpristine condition, and colourful underwater life is abundant.VenezuelaGeographically close to Bonaire but offering anentirely different experience is the archipelago of Los Roques, north of Venezuela. Only a 30-minute flight from Caracas, the white sandsand azure seas make this a perfect spot in whichto end your trip. All 350 islands are uninhabitedwith the sole exception of the main island ofGran Roque, where you stay in a charming family-run guesthouse or 'posada'. The ownerswill look after you, cook beautifully preparedseafood meals, and take you to nearby beaches,where you can relax and while away the day.BonaireThe idyllic cayes of Los Roques, Venezuela