​ Dropping the barriers  to "accessible tourism".
​Outmoded terms such as "impaired" or "disabled" tourism have slowly been replaced by kinder and more accurate terms such as "barrier-free" and "easy-access", or "inclusive tourism" and "tourism for all".  Coupled to a slow but definite shift for the better, the more recent and updated concept of "accessible tourism" (whatever the disability, be it physical, reduced vision, reduced hearing, etc) is now accepted as the industry norm.   And the tourism industry wants EVERYONE to enjoy travelling!  Whilst South America is beginning to offer more "accessible tourism", they are still far behind initiatives introduced in the Far East (eg South Korea), Europe and the USA.  HOWEVER, change is progressive, and this site aims to give interested visitors an insight into where the best "accessible tourism" experiences can be enjoyed now in South America!   
In Chile - Unique Destinations' home base - we are glad to report that a whole series of excellent initiatives can be encountered across this country for "accessible tourism" ("turismo de accesibilidad").  Unfortunately that does NOT include the two principal national cruise companies, Skorpios (offering Patagonia fjord and glacier cruises) and Australis (offering Cape Horn cruises), who will not allow any guide dogs or pets aboard their ships, and offer no indication of accessible assistance (eg NO easy gangway loading access, on board lifts, etc).  Similarly, many national and private transportation services are yet to be forthcoming with "accessible tourism" facilities, but most flights are "access  friendly"! 
In Santiago, and major cities like Iquique, Arica and Concepcion, initiatives have been introduced to facilitate accessible tourism,  such as sight-assisted road crossings with aural tones, bus shelters with seating for physically challenged people, and access ramps on building entrances or on Metro and buses, to aid those in chairs or using sticks.   Chile's Tourism Service (SERNATUR) offers a  hotel guide to "accessible tourism" (see: http://issuu.com/sernatur/docs/folleto_accesible__2014); they also publish a list of some of the best tourists destinations and experiences to visit in Chile where "accessible tourism" has been introduced.  These include "assisted trekking", such as offered by Fundacion Eres, "assisted yachting" and other initiatives to facilitate accessible tourism.
In addition, sites of special interest in Chile (history/nature) for accessible tourism can be researched on the "Accessible Citizen" website (see: https://www.ciudadaccesible.cl/?page_id=1726)  and on the Chile Forests & Parks website (CONAF) (see: http://www.conaf.cl/wp-content/files_mf/1564606956LISTADOOFICIALDE%C3%81REASSILVESTRESPROTEGIDASDELESTADOENERO2019accesibilidad.pdf). These are colour coded to indicate Complete Access; Partial Access: or NO Access (not worth visiting)!   As MOST of the more modern eco-hotels in the parks only have ground floors, access here is generally good, and  access and seating aboard tour minibuses can be found for accessible tourism.  Just let us know your dreams & requirements!
In Argentina, much has been achieved over the last few years to open up destinations for accessible tourism, especially in the capital, Buenos Aires, and nearby seaside resorts of Mar del Plata, Tigre and Costa Atlantica, which offer free access by launch for disabled swimmers.  Other cities, such as the wine havens of Cordova and Mendoza have also initiated new circuits;  and stunning Bariloche has launched a new accessible ski opportunity on its Cerro Catedral pistes.  A principal mover in effecting such change has been the organisation Red de Turismo Accesible (RTA), led by its founder Alejandro Lopez, whose brother has suffered from cerebral palsy since birth.  RTA have been instrumental in encouraging accessible tourism in sites ranging from the heights of the Fitzroy Peaks in Argentine Patagonia to the mighty Iguazu Falls, where over 90% of the pathways can be accessed by disabled visitors!  Truly, Tourism for Everyone!  (see:  http://turismoaccesibleargentina.blogspot.com/)
In Peru, we especially recommend the excellent website: https://gowheeltheworld.com/accessible-travel-destinations/ as listed in Lonely Planet.   This offers tips and contact details for specialists offering accessible tourism in Peru and in Chile (amongst other destinations worldwide).  Another excellent tour company specialising in accessible tourism in Peru, can be contacted via their website on:  https://accessibletravelperu.com/.  Like Go Wheel the World,  both companies hold specialist equipment and have trained local experts who are both familiar with the destinations and skilled in the handling of this kit, that transform what would otherwise be a major challenge into a realised dream, and for roughly the same costs expected for an able-bodied visitor to the same sites!  
​In Ecuador, the National Council for Equality for the Disabled (Conadis), the  Ministry of Tourism, and the National Ecuadorian Federation of Physically Disabled (Fenedif), have established new circuits in 2018 in Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Manta and  Atacames.  Combined, these have opened up a swathe of routes and locations for disabled guests to  enjoy, plus information on hotels that are more accommodating, etc.   In Quito alone this includes iconic churches like La Basilica, La Campania, San Francisco, and the three main  squares that house the magnificent Palacio de Corondelet plus 5 other well known museums.   
For those visitors seeking adventure in Ecuador, in Baños de Agua Santa facilities have been specially expanded to now accommodate disabled visitors on adventure activities that include canopy, Tibetan bridge (traditional three-span rope bridge from Tibet), kamikaze adventure, and more!  Whilst Conadis is more concerned with the development of correct practise and opportunity for the disabled in Ecuador,  and Fenedif's focus is employment for disabled, collectively there is now real intent to create change for all visitors to Ecuador.  The website:  https://www.turismoaccesibleec.org/en/home-e/offers advice on tours in Ecuador, including to the Amazonas, the high Andes, and Quito, Colonial Ecuador, (translation in Spanish and English).
In Brazil, the major attraction of Carnival de Rio de Janeiro can be fully  enjoyed by  mobility challenged visitors, with lists of suitable accommodation in Rio that can meet their needs, and special lanes alongside the Carnival route for these guests, plus audio commentary in different languages.  A good number of wheel-chair bound visitors even make it up the Corcovado cable-car to Christ the Redeemer at the top.  So where there's a will, there's a way (TIP: Go on a day when no cruise ships are in port)!!  Just in time for the Rio 2016 Paralympics, the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism issued an excellent new guide on accessible tourism, titled Dicas Para Atender Bem Turistas com Deficiência (Tips for Better Serving Disabled Tourists).  The guide was distributed to 35,000 tourism outlets including hotels and travel agencies throughout the country, giving guidance and basic tips for communicating and interacting with customers who are blind, deaf or have a physical or other disability.  It also visited some 13 cities throughout the country and has registered over 530,000 establishments (hotels, restaurants, attractions) that have been shown as being both willing and able to attract assisted tourists, and is attracting an even greater number daily!   Visitors are encouraged to add their experience to this database!  To see this document/database, visit the website:  https://turismoacessivel.gov.br/ta/adaptar.mtur?windowId=064 and download the associated Guia Muito Especial that lists the details, via this link:  http://www.turismo.gov.br/images/ta/adaptar/Guia_Novos_Rumos.pdf (translation online in Portuguese, Spanish and English)