This chapter contains the welcome to south america, south america's top 15, need to know, first time south america, if you like..., month by month, itineraries, big adventures, small budgets, activities, and countries at a glance chapters from lonely planet's south america guidebook. Your journey to south america starts here. You'll find the tools to plan your adventure where to go and when, how much to budget, plus in depth info for first time visitors. Tailor made itineraries, arranged by region, themes and events list of highlights and best experiences everything you need to know about outdoor activities user friendly country overview ensures you won't miss a thing coverage includes welcome to south america, south america's top 15, need to know, first time south america, if you like colonial splendor, big cities, ancient ru ins, dramatic scenery, festivals events, hiking trekking, wildlife, month by month, itinerar ies, big adventures, small budgets, activities, and countries at a glance.