Footprint Expeditions in South America

A large number of inhabitants of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia are indigenous. The Amazon Basin is home to many native jungle inhabitants. Argentina, Chile, and Southern Brazil have many European descendents while a large number of Brazilians also claim their African roots. The Northeast region of South America (the Guianas) is the home east Indians, Africans, and Indonesians. However, the majority of South Americans are mestizo as a result of the mix of natives and immigrants.

About three quarters of South America’s inhabitants live in cities, some in the mega cities of Sao Paolo (17 million inhabitants), Buenos Aires (13 million), Lima (9 million), and Santiago (7 million). The less inhabited regions of South America are the Atacama Desert and the Amazon Basin.

Cultures throughout South America are strong, reticent, and autonomous. The people are very proud of their roots, whichever they may be, and culture has greatly infiltrated into all spectrums of their society. Many indigenous individuals are friendly with travelers, but may at times be wary as their societies have been brutally oppressed by outsiders for centuries.

About 90% of South Americans are Catholic, which was a direct effect from the colonial periods. However, other religions such as Evangelists Protestants, Mormons, etc. are gaining popularity and support.

As stated before, culture in this region is very rich. For example, many Andean individuals still keep their customs and traditions from centuries before where reciprocity to mother earth was the key to their society. Many African Americans in the region still dance and play music with exuberance and passion. There are still Gauchos to take care of the cattle and produce some of the best steak in the world. Aymaras still live on floating reed islands and along the Andean plateau. Panana hats are still made in the traditional way in Manta, Ecuador, and Ashaninkas are still living in the middle of the Amazon Basin as they have for centuries honoring both the environment and wildlife. South America holds a mix of races and cultures and because of that has created and symbiosis and syncretism is its beliefs, customs, and traditions.