Celebrity Race Across the World: Take a Journey with the Experts

The BBC series Celebrity Race Across the World has put South America in the spotlight as four teams embarked on an epic journey over 12,500km from the edge of the Amazon in north-east Brazil through Argentina’s winelands and the Atacama Desert to Chile’s southern Lake District.

If the programme has inspired you to visit some of the stunning destinations featured, look no further - Journey Latin America offers holidays to many of these exotic places, including tailor-made Signature Brazil, Argentina and Chile Coast to Coast and group tour Sandpiper: Atlantic to Pacific in Style. Here is our pick of the top 10 destinations showcased in Celebrity Race Across the World, with expert advice on what to see and do, plus recommendations for tailor-made itineraries:

1. The Brazilian Amazon

Picture: Cristallino Lodge

Race Across the World begins in the Amazon rainforest, the world’s most incredible wilderness, stretching over seven million sq. km across nine South American countries. The opportunities for wildlife watching in the jungle are unforgettable – from toucans and macaws to troupes of spider monkeys, pink river dolphins and caiman. Take fascinating jungle hikes and explore tributaries by canoe.

• Combine Brazil’s rainforest with the wetlands of the Pantanal, staying at a land-based eco-lodge and a week's expeditionary cruise on Journey Latin America's Brazil Wildlife: Iguazú, Pantanal and Amazon Cruise.

2. Brazil’s North Coast: Lençóis Maranhenses

The north coast of Brazil is quieter and less visited than the south but has spectacular scenery. A highlight is UNESCO World Heritage Site Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. Explore this ethereal landscape of white sand dunes and turquoise lagoons by 4x4, then swim in the tranquil waters.

• Visit Lençóis Maranhenses and historic Olinda on Journey Latin America’s Off the Beaten track Brazil Dunes and Lagoons holiday.

3. Lençóis and Chapada Diamantina

Inland from Salvador and the tropical beaches of Bahia, Chapada Diamantina National Park is known as Brazil’s lost world, boasting dramatic scenery of table mountains, waterfalls, canyons and crystal-clear pools. Base yourself in the former diamond rush town of Lençóis, then hike through stunning landscapes, and float in the spellbinding blue lagoon of Poço Azul.

• Visit Salvador, Lençóis, Chapada Diamantina and the island of Fernando de Noronha on Journey Latin America’s Active Brazil tour.

4. Rio de Janeiro

While not all the teams in Race Across the World had time to visit Rio en route to São Paulo, you simply cannot miss this iconic city on a holiday to Brazil. Rio de Janeiro is stunningly beautiful, surrounded by the world’s largest urban rainforest. Take in the views of Christ the Redeemer, Sugar Loaf Mountain and Guanabara Bay, one of the seven wonders of the natural world, then stroll along Copacabana Beach.

• Explore Rio, Iguazú and Búzios in style on Journey Latin America’s Luxury Brazil holiday.

5. Iguazú Falls

Contestant and model Kelly Brook described Iguazú as the most beautiful thing she’s ever seen. Up to 80m high with 275 individual waterfalls, these are arguably the world’s most stunning waterfalls, set in subtropical rainforest filled with birds and butterflies. Iguazú Falls are on the border between Brazil and Argentina and can be visited from either country.

• See the highlights of Argentina and Chile on Journey Latin America’s Signature Argentina: Patagonia, Lake District and Iguazú Falls.

6. Buenos Aires

The Argentine capital is one of Latin America’s most European cities, famous for its restaurants, nightlife and colonial architecture. Take a tango class, visit the iconic Plaza de Mayo and cathedral, then feast on the best steak in the world. North-west of Buenos Aires is the riverside town of Tigre, one of the checkpoints in Race Across the World with a beautiful setting on the Paraná delta, South America’s second longest river after the Amazon.

• Combine Buenos Aires with Mendoza, Salta and Santiago on Journey Latin America’s group tour Gaucho: Vintage Argentina.

7. Córdoba

Argentina’s second city has the oldest cathedral in the country in its colonial heart, and the surrounding province of the same name is Argentina’s agricultural heartlands. Here you can ride horses like a gaucho in rolling hills and take a wine-tasting tour in verdant vineyards.

• Stay at a working cattle ranch in the heart of Córdoba with Journey Latin America at the welcoming Estancia Los Potreros.

8. Northern Argentina: Salta and JujuY

The remote northern Argentine provinces of Salta and Jujuy have dramatic landscapes of mountains, canyons and desert. Visit the unworldly Salinas Grande salt flats, take the Tren a las Nubes (train to the clouds) into the high Andes, and gaze upon the incredible Hill of Seven Colours, also known as Rainbow Mountain. Be sure to visit the ancient ruins in historic indigenous town Tilcara, one of the checkpoints in Race across the World.

• Explore northern Argentina including Salta, the Puna and Cafayate on Journey Latin America’s Off the Beaten Track Argentina.

9. THE Atacama Desert

In the far north of Chile, explore the stunning lunar landscapes of the world's driest and highest desert. See the cones of the Moon Valley, the geysers of El Tatio and salt flats inhabited by pink flamingos, while at night the Atacama is among the world’s best destinations for star-gazing.

• Visit the Atacama, Salta, Santiago, Buenos Aires and Iguazú Falls on Journey Latin America’s Signature Northern Chile and Argentina holiday.

10. Chile's Lake District

Celebrity Race across the World reaches its conclusion in Chile’s Lake District in Northern Patagonia, a beautiful region of ancient forests, rugged hills, snow-capped volcanoes, hot springs and crystalline streams. The historic town of Frutillar has views of Osorno volcano and black sand beaches on the shores of Lake Llanquihue (pronounced yankee-way).

• Go hiking, cycling and kayaking in Chilean Patagonia on Journey Latin America’s Active Chile tour.