tartan_saint Posted 17 February, 2012 Share Posted 17 February, 2012 I'm going travelling for 6 months in December, flying in to Rio. Anyone been around themselves and can recommend any "unmissable" places to visit? I would like to get some ideas from people with first hand experiences. The basic route is Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, The Falklands, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Columbia, Down the Amazon, Guyana, Suriname back to Brazil and back home. I'll be taking it quite slowly and want to take in both city and rural culture. I also plan to go to a football game in each country I visit, so if anyone knows any info on getting tickets, prices etc.. I would be extremely grateful for that too! Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dark Sotonic Mills Posted 17 February, 2012 Share Posted 17 February, 2012 Avoid the villas miseria in Buenos Aires and don't go anywhere in Brazilian cities where there are less than a thousand people around you. Or at night, ever. Don't expect the police to help either, they're worse than the criminals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toofarnorth Posted 17 February, 2012 Share Posted 17 February, 2012 Iguazu was by far my favourite place for the sheer wow factor. Spend two days and see the falls from both sides. Also loved Puerto Madryn and the Peninsula Valdes for amazing wildlife. Strangest place, but very interesting was the Anglo meat factory in Frey Bentos. Ignoring Luiz Suarez and Gus Poyet, the Uruguayans are by far the firndliest people I met in South America. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergei Gotsmanov Posted 17 February, 2012 Share Posted 17 February, 2012 Ecuador Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 17 February, 2012 Share Posted 17 February, 2012 I'm going travelling for 6 months in December, flying in to Rio. Anyone been around themselves and can recommend any "unmissable" places to visit? I would like to get some ideas from people with first hand experiences. The basic route is Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, The Falklands, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Columbia, Down the Amazon, Guyana, Suriname back to Brazil and back home. I'll be taking it quite slowly and want to take in both city and rural culture. I also plan to go to a football game in each country I visit, so if anyone knows any info on getting tickets, prices etc.. I would be extremely grateful for that too! Cheers Would be a brilliant trip that, fair play. Just looking at cheap flights to South America, but can only manage 3 weeks rather than 6 months! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tartan_saint Posted 17 February, 2012 Author Share Posted 17 February, 2012 Thanks for the input so far guys... heard great things about Iguazu, so i'll definitely be heading there! Mash - try looking about 8 weeks before you intend to fly (that's what I'm doing). It seems a bit late but I've travelled a fair bit and it always when I find the cheapest fares. Though I've found its also cheaper in some instances to fly to Buenos Aires rather than Rio, even though its about 1200miles further. TAP, Iberia/B.A and KLM have been the cheapest I've found to South America. Appreciative of any more ideas... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buctootim Posted 17 February, 2012 Share Posted 17 February, 2012 (edited) If you're going to learn any Spanish before you go make sure its South American Spanish not the Castillian (Spainsh Spanish) that is most often taught in the UK. They're quite different. Punta de Choros in Chile is stunningly beautiful and great for wildlife. The mummies of the Atacama desert are interesting too. Take a basic PADI course in Belize and go diving on the blue hole. Edited 17 February, 2012 by buctootim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tartan_saint Posted 17 February, 2012 Author Share Posted 17 February, 2012 I'll be teaching English in Bolivia when I'm down there and will get Spanish lessons back in reward. Though I don't how I'm going to cope up until that. Point, shout and talk slowly... Punta da Choros looks amazing.. nice and relaxed and read some good reviews of the place. It's on the list! Cheers Buctootim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swannymere Posted 17 February, 2012 Share Posted 17 February, 2012 The 'original' and biggest carnival in the world starts on the 7th Feb 2013 in Salvador in Brazil, 4 million people take part apparently! Flights are cheaper via Amsterdam or Portugal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opthomps Posted 17 February, 2012 Share Posted 17 February, 2012 Read marching powder, and go to the prison in la paz which it's about. you can buy cocaine from the inmates. I recommend a couple of other things in bolivia. first cycle down death road and second take a trip into the pampas near rurrenabaque. finally if you like girls then i recommend parque lleras in medellin, colombia. i'm very jealous, enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rattlehead Posted 17 February, 2012 Share Posted 17 February, 2012 You are going to have a fantastic trip for sure. South America is my favourite continent to visit, I love it. I have not been everywhere you are going but the highlights of places that I did go to: Inca Trail/Machu Picchu/Cusco 3 or 4 day trip/Salar de Uyuni on from San Pedro de Atacama to Uyuni (or vice versa) Iguassu (Argentinian side best to stay; Brazilian side best overall view, but not much else to do; town just inside Paraguay, Ciudad del Este is worth giving a miss though) Colombia was my favourite country: people amazing and beautiful place (recommend Medellin - paragliding ace; Cartagena; Salento; a couple of football matches were easy enough to just turn up at - best atmosphere ever in teh away end with America de Cali fans; the women are amazing too; this is one country I am going back to) Rio de Janeiro (hang-gliding cool there too; can get to a football match at Maracana easily enough, including transport; Marius restaurant on Leme is amazing) Torres del Paine hiking, beautiful Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca Battlefield tour(s) and walk around mountains outside Stanley in Falklands + Sea Lion Island - would like to have spent more time here (not Stanley though - other islands) I noticed you missed out Venezuela, but you seem to go from the Amazon to Guyana - I haven't been there, but I would love to go to Canaima NP in Venezuela and it seems like you could do this, so I would look at it. Looks amazing, the "Lost World" scenery. I will go one day, high up on my 'list'. You can get by with a Spanish phrasebook but will enjoy it more learning the lingo and using it - you will be fine on that count. Marching Powder is a good read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tartan_saint Posted 20 February, 2012 Author Share Posted 20 February, 2012 There is definitely scope for going to Venezuela but it depends on how the situation is out there at the time. A couple of mates of mine were out there last year and encountered problems pretty much where ever they went. They're pretty savvy travellers themselves and they recommended giving it a miss. I suppose some people are just unlucky! If I have enough money towards the end of the trip to be able to afford a flight in to Caracas, then I probably will. Thanks for the info Opthomps/Rattlehead, I've heard very good things about the women in S.America, especially around the south of Brazil and in Colombia. Sadly I'm having to drag my missus around with me so I don't think I'll get the chance to indulge in that aspect! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skintsaint Posted 20 February, 2012 Share Posted 20 February, 2012 You'll have a ball, I traveled from Mexico (not really S.America I know) to Peru, then onto Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. Will play on returning to Colombia, Chile etc in the future for sure. Inca Trail was amazing if not knackering, the sites you see on the way are just as impressive as Machu Pichu itself. Thats the one thing I recommend to go on for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ART Posted 20 February, 2012 Share Posted 20 February, 2012 A number of French backpackers have been kidnapped or murdered in the past couple of years. French government issues warnings to students thinking of doing the same. I'd suggest you contact embassies in each country for advice. Definitely traveling alone could be pretty risky in certain areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now