Nature places in South America

While visiting Cacao you should definitely not miss this museum called Le Planeur Bleu. It is mainly specialised in butterflies and spiders with live and dead species. The owner is extremely passionate about his bugs and gives an animated tour of his extended collection of butterflies in all colours and sizes, gets past other creepy and less creepy creatures to eventually end with his beautiful collection of tarantulas. Unfortunately, due to European laws, he can't have these big, hairy eight-legged creatures walk on your hand anymore but he is more happy to get them out of their cages and show them to you from close-by. For many people seeing these beauties from a distance is already enough to take. Better not be arachnophobic!

Most visitors to Kaieteur Falls just fly in and out the same day, but the waterfall lies inside Kaieteur National Park, which holds more than just the viewpoints of the spectacular waterfall. The national park encompasses 627 sq km and is home to several endemic species of both flora and fauna, but is particularly known for its miniscule golden rocket frog, which are only found here on the Kaieteur Plateau. It's possible to stay within the park and do different treks, like the one to the bottom of the falls and back up.

These islands, which are part of the Paracas National Reserve, are called the Galapagos of the poor. If you already have visited the Galapagos islands you could be disappointed when you go on a boat trip to the Ballestas islands.
If you enjoy boat trips anyhow and you like to observe marine animals and birds you may find the Ballestas islands a well-worth trip. You’ll definitely see tons of sea lions, penguins and birds and most likely at least one person in your boat will be hit by bird poo....
You’ll also see "El Candelabro", a Nazca line style image in one of the dunes when you just sail out, only to be observed from the water.

An impressive natural phenomenon where lightning strikes for hours non-stop, mostly soundless without thunder. It occurs about 150 nights a year and lake Maracaibo is the only place in the world where this is happening. Though the lightnings can be seen hundreds of kilometres away, they are best viewed from the lake. Here there are three main viewing areas: Chamita, popular viewing platforms but furthest away from the lightning, and the two stilt villagers, Congo Mirador and Ologa, on the lake which both are much closer to the action. All of them can be reached by motorboat from Puerto Concha, but the boat trip is more river safari than transport, with a good opportunity for some serious bird watching (toucans, eagles, and loris, to name a few). So if you are at the right place at the right time, be prepared for a spectacular night.