There's so much spectacular scenery and wildlife – not to mention colourful towns where sometimes it feels like life's one long carnival – that film-makers are spoilt for choice in South America. This small selection is just a snapshot of this vast continent.
A journey through Peru
A lovely, gentle journey through Peru, from the terraces of Machu Picchu to a rail journey across a valley floor. There's a lot of rain ... but still it makes you want to go.
Time lapse Rio
A day in Rio De Janeiro from Joe Simon Films on Vimeo.
I know, once you've seen one time lapse you feel like you've seen them all, but that's because most speeded-up city films feature night-time shots of blurry traffic racing along highways. There's no traffic in this film, just Rio in all its glory. Hard to dispute Rio's claim that it's the most beautiful city in the world after watching this. Roll on 2014!
SOLITAIRE: A Backcountry Skiing, Snowboarding, and Telemark Film from Sweetgrass Productions on Vimeo.
Skiing and snowboarding in Patagonia
"A handful of drifters emerge from the whiteout, ready to cast their lot on forsaken peaks both merciless and magnificent ..." reads the blurb attached to this film. These guys are the living embodiment of the phrase "taking yourself too seriously". But, poetry aside, it's hard not to be impressed by the scenery and sheer audacity of the skiers and snowboarders in this film as they hurl themselves down the insanely steep mountains of Les Lenas in Argentina and Portillo in Chile. High winds, steep climbs, desolation, beautiful descents, and more than a little powder make for a visually engaging film.
The Galápagos
Islas Galápagos - Ecuador from Peter Schurte on Vimeo.
There's a reason film-makers and producers spend years making wildlife documentaries – capturing good wildlife shots requires patience and incredible skill. We're not saying this little film compares with an Attenborough special but it showcases the otherwordly landscape and its wildlife – both the prehistoric looking and the cute ones – beautifully.
Stand-up paddle boarding in Colombia
Colombia, South America - Stand Up Paddle from Blueline - Santa Barbara on Vimeo.
This is a long one – 10 minutes – but pure travel porn … blue skies, white sandy beaches and some spectacular whale watching shots. Plus, it looks easier than surfing.
Carnival time in Uruguay
Candombe del Uruguay from PIX IN MOTION by Leo Bar on Vimeo.
Bottoms, boobs and glitter … it's carnival time. Everyone knows about Rio, but the whole of South America turns into one big fiesta at the start of Lent, and Uruguay has the longest lasting of them all – a 40-day extravaganza. Also, unlike Rio, you're much more likely to be able to find a spot where you can see the action.
