other parts of South America to travel around and take in some of the breathtaking sights.

@Debbie_Fletch18 / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND

The anticipation is building ahead of the 2014 football World Cup which is being held in Brazil, and now the draw has been made for the group stages of the tournament, football fans can start to make solid plans so that they can make sure they’re in the right part of the country to see their team.

While the 32 teams taking part in the tournament will be playing on most days, there will be periods of downtime where fans are looking for something to do. Sure, the amazing beaches like the Copacabana will keep them particularly satisfied as they lap up the sunshine with a cocktail or two, but it’s definitely worth going to other parts of South America to travel around and take in some of the breathtaking sights.

Aside from the amazing beaches, stunning climate and the biggest football tournament in the world; Brazil is filled with must-sees including the Amazon rainforest. Book yourself onto a tour of the Amazon, and your guide will show you the sights and sounds of the ‘real’ Brazil, including a trip to the top of the Sugarloaf and Corcovado mountains and the kinds of animals you’ve only ever seen on Attenborough documentaries or the Discovery channel.

If you don’t want to focus solely on Brazil, then there are plenty of other sites to take in around the continent, and a comprehensive South American tour would help you to do all that according to your schedule (even if your team has already exited the tournament – it might help to soften the blow somewhat!) You could either plan your break according to the countries you want to see specifically, or leave it up to your tour operator to come up with the itinerary.

A typical South American tour might start off in Argentina, with a tour of the capital Buenos Aires for a cultural experience, before you move towards the Brazilian border and the incredible Iguassu Falls. You can then take some time to sit back and relax while you see the Amazon rainforest from the sky, river or railway, and then go on a tour around some of the major cities in Brazil like Sao Paulo, Rio and Brasilia.

If you haven’t got the time to spend travelling around the continent, you can always book a short trip over to Peru and go trekking to Machu Pichu, or visit some of the less famous but just as breathtaking countries, such as Chile, Colombia or Ecuador.

Author: Debbie Fletcher is an enthusiastic, experienced writer who has written for a range of difference magazines and news publications. Follow her here: @Debbie_Fletch18