FestivalsSouth Americans like to party. This combinedwith their allegiance to many traditions result innumerous colourful festivals throughout the year.The most famous is Carnival which takes placeannually in February. Although celebrated acrossthe continent, Brazil is the ultimate flag bearerwith its lavish, colourful processions, street music and samba dancers who party solidly forthree days. In the Andes, the most significant festival is IntiRaymi, celebrating the summer solstice. For theentire week, locals celebrate with large barbecues, parades, traditional dances, andbonfires. In Peru, it takes over Cuzco andtransforms the Sacsayhuamán ruins overlookingthe city into a majestic stage.01993 838 600 ?Introduction7Our glossaryThere are some South American terms thatyou will frequently come across in thisbrochure. Here is our quick guide to some of the vocabulary used across the continent.Altiplano- meaning 'high plain', thisgeographical description refers to theswathes of wild and bleak land that lie atover 4,000 metres, in the cordilleras of Peru,Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. Cordillera- a name given to parts of the Andes where the mountains split intoparallel ranges.Pampas- vast and flat alluvial plains thatspread out from Buenos Aires and is wheremuch of Argentina's famous cattle farmingtakes place.Gaucho- the Argentine cowboy, gauchosare the men who work on horseback on the farms.Estancia- term used in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay to describe alarge family-owned rural estate. They havehistorically always been a livestock (cattle orsheep) farm but many have now openedtheir doors to visitors (see page 86).Hacienda- similar to an estancia butassociated with Ecuador (see feature on page35) and Colombia. They usually have abroader range of agricultural ventures such asthe harvesting of grain, coffee, vegetables andlivestock farming. Coffee producing estanciasin Colombia are often called 'fincas'.Fazenda- refers to a large plantation inBrazil. At their peak during the colonialperiod, most were located in the northeastof the country. They were responsible for ahuge number of slaves arriving in the country,resulting in a diverse culture in this region ofthe country today.Posada/Pousada(Spanish/Portuguesespelling) - the name traditionally given to asmall, family-run hotel, often with apersonalised level of service. Today, thename is attached to many hotels across thecontinent, which do not always necessarilymeet this criteria!Barrios- Spanish word meaning'neighbourhood' or 'district'.Favela- the general term used for a shantytown in Brazil. The name 'favela' comes fromthe tree commonly found on the side of hillsin sub-tropical regions. As favelas are alsooften found on the sides of hills, the slangterm 'favela' was formed.Asado- the technique for cookingnumerous cuts of meat (usually beef), which are cooked on a grill (parrilla) or openfire. Also the word used to refer to the meal itself.Churrascaria- Brazilian or Portuguesesteakhouse, churrasco is the cooking style,which translates roughly from the Portuguesefor 'barbecue'.Atacama Desert, ChileRio Carnival, Brazil

thousands of years and countlesscivilizations from 2000 BC to the bloodyconquest by the Spanish in 1535, has left thePeru of today with a myriad of fascinatingancient sites. These man-made wonders areset against a breathtaking backdrop ofsnow-capped mountains, sapphire lakes,terraced fields in all shades of green andgold, and emerald forested slopes that tumble down into the Amazon basin. Peru holds possibly the most famous site inSouth America, the magnificent Inca citadelof Machu Picchu, but whether your interestlies in ancient ruins such as this, or intrekking, wildlife or experiencing thetraditional culture and customs of itsindigenous people, Peru is a place that will delight at each step of your journey.It's little wonder Peru features highly on the destination wish-list of most visitorsto South America. Its diverse attractions - a wealth of stunningly located ancientremains, a hugely varied landscape fromAndean peaks to Amazon rainforest, and acolourful culture - offer a fantastic taste ofmore or less all that the continent has tooffer. A compelling history that spans8Peru