Cold and wet. Snow often lying on higher ground. Proximity of oceans means that temperatures rarely drop below zero at sea level. Not suitable for trekking. However, temperatures drop sharply with altitude gain.
Typical feature is strong winds, which lower temperatures significantly.
In general, the further west, the wetter, and the further east, the drier. Rarely snow lying below 800 m. In South America Sherpa offers tours in Peru, and the Patagonia region of Argentina and Chile. Peru was sixteenth century Europe's major source of treasure, and was once home to the largest empire in the world. The country's appeal lies in its Inca relics, such as the Machu Picchu, and perhaps more importantly in the sheer beauty of its various landscapes.