South America

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Seven countries. Ten thousand miles. A journey that begins in the Darién Gap and ends at the tip of the continent: Tierra del Fuego​.

The major new expedition from the legendary explorer: his extraordinary, inspirational journey across South America.

In November 2025, with his friend Alberto by his side, Levison Wood embarks on his longest journey yet: 10,000 miles and seven countries, travelling the entire length of South America. From the Darién Gap in Colombia, he moves by foot, horse, canoe, boat, train, motorbike, helicopter, bus and truck to reach the wild and windswept tip of the continent: Tierra del Fuego.

It is an exhilarating journey of extremes – in this gruelling, at times life-threatening, expedition the ex-paratrooper traverses the dense jungle of the Brazilian Amazon, scales the perilous mountain passes of the high Andes and crosses the barren Atacama Desert in Chile. He meets illegal gold miners, special forces, drug lords, devil-worshippers, shamans and scientists. He witnesses the US military build-up in Venezuela. He finds traces of ancient civilisations in the plains of Patagonia. He encounters extraordinary people who reveal the continent's troubled past. And running through it all is one of the greatest adventure stories ever told: the search for El Dorado. 

This is a continent-spanning odyssey that will test Levison's courage and stamina to the limit. South America is the enthralling account of his epic quest, revealing the unwavering determination, warmth and curiosity that have made Levison Wood the UK's most beloved explorer. 

Praise for Levison Wood:

'Levison Wood has breathed new life into adventure travel.' Michael Palin
'Britain's best-loved adventurer... he looks like a man who will stare danger in the face and soak up a lot of pain without complaint.' The Times

'Levison Wood is that rare beast: the real deal.' Radio Times

'Levison Wood is a great adventurer and a wonderful storyteller.' Sir Ranulph Fiennes