From giant tortoises and sea lions in the Galápagos to llamas and condors in the Andes, from toucans and monkeys in the Amazon to hummingbirds and sloths in Central America, from caiman and capybaras in the Pantanal to penguins and whales in Antarctica - watching wildlife is synonymous with so many great holiday experiences in Latin America.

Latin America is a continent of huge biodiversity and geographical extremes, home to the largest rainforest, the biggest river, the longest mountain range and the driest desert. The vast number of different habitats offers the visitor a fascinating array of wildlife.

It is particularly strong for birdlife, boasting an amazing 5287 species - over 50% of the world’s total and almost the same number as Europe, Africa and North America combined!

With no less than nine countries boasting over 1000 bird species (Europe has 870) there are countless options for those looking to go bird watching.

With responsible tourism and environmental issues increasingly on the agenda, Latin America’s protected areas and forest reserves have received greater profile and thereby helped to improve the infrastructure for the visitor, from excursions in national parks to wildlife and birding lodges.