Uruguay is prime grape-growing country. The wine regions of Uruguay cross the same parallels as Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, the other great wine-growing regions of the Southern Hemisphere. Among South American producers, Uruguay ranks fourth after Argentina, Chile, and Brazil, though it is also true that Uruguay produces but a small fraction of the grapes that go into the making of the hemisphere’s varietal wines. It is these varietal wines, from grapes high in quality and low in yield, that Uruguay exports.

What makes diving and snorkeling off the Pacific side of Panama such popular pastimes on Panama tours is its extensive coral reefs and two national marine parks that protect a vast array of water species. Though over 90% of the world's coral reefs are found in the Pacific, strong currents make them a rarity along the west coast of the Americas. Panama, however, has an east-west orientation, providing enough protection for coral to grow along its Pacific coast.

The Galapagos Islands have been called one of the "seven underwater wonders of the world" and for good reason. The diversity of species unique to the islands, pollution-free waters and many reefs and sheltered bays make the Galapagos a diving dream-come-true. Southern Explorations makes Galapagos diving easy. With expert dive masters and personally-inspected well-equipped boats the underwater world of the Galapagos makes for an unforgettable diving vacation.

Sea turtles are among Earth’s oldest creatures. Modern day turtles lead a precarious life, only a small percentage making it to old age. They must contend with predators on land and sea, shrinking habitat, thanks to human developments, and avoiding fishing nets at sea, not to mention unpredictable natural disasters such as hurricanes that wipe out nesting sites. The status of sea turtles ranges from vulnerable to critically-endangered, depending on the species. Many governments and non-profit organizations are helping to restore the populations of marine turtles and their habitat around the world, among them the U.S. based Sea Turtle Conservancy and the Earthwatch Institute.

Look at a map of South America birding sites, and you'll see that the place to visit is the Amazon. For birdwatchers, the Amazon is heaven on earth. According to naturalists, there are several reasons why the Amazon has the world's highest diversity of birds. The rainforest provides many year-round rather than just seasonally available nesting sites and food sources such as fruit, nectar and insects, large and small. Species here need not be so competitive. Not confined to one level of the rainforest, they can use multiple methods to acquire food and find sustenance in many different areas of the rainforest. The habitat is stable and not subject to cataclysmic events. It is large enough to both protect species and keep them isolated, allowing them to evolve.