South America
Christian September 8th, 2007
South America is a vast area of land. In this land we hope to explore dense rainforests, wild rivers, Andean markets, towns lost in time, surreal landscapes, enormous glaciers, and lively metropolitan cities. It is land that is sure to challenge us, but we feel that the rewards that we will recieve will be well worth it.
(Note: Map will be updated with route as we plan more)
Argentina | Chile | Bolivia | Peru | Ecuador
Estimated Time in South America:
Estimated Budget Per Day:
Argentina is now the kick off point of our journey. We will be flying into Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires is ofen reffered to as the Paris of South America. We are sure to love our time is Argentina. Whether it is exploring Patagonia, living the Goucho life in Las Pampas, or drinking wine in Argentinian wine country.
Some flights might be necessary to get around this large country. American Falcon, Southern Winds are recommended domestic airlines that fly into the Buenos Aires airport called Aeroparque Jorge Newberry.
Buenos Aires
In Buenos Aires it is fun to spend a day or two just exploring all of the different neighborhoods. There are many nice parks, plazas, shops, cafes, and museums to enjoy. One of things to make sure to check out is La Florida Avenida, a parisian style shopping center. Also, there is the historic plaza de mayo (this is where the old presidential palace is), think Evita. Six blocks south of the Plaza de Mayo is San Telmo. This where the tango culture florishes. Here the dance and music of the tango pulses through the cobblestone streets and historic mansions.
Some other things to check out include the spooky cementary de la recoleta; the barrio norte and the palermo neighborhood. A tango show is a must in Argentina. For an authentic meal we may try El Obrero in the Boca Barrio (Cafarena 64). A great tour guide is www.cicerones.org, which match you up with a native for the day.
For finding apartments we may try www.letsgoargentina.com. Or if a hostel is calling our name, we may check out www.ostinatto.com.ar or www.hotelcarly.com.ar
We may take a day trip across the Rio de la Plata to Colonia del Sacramento. The old town is a Unesco world heritage site. You can visit the Playa Feraranda a nice laid back beach. Maybe stay at the Posada del Angel http://hotelescolonia.com/posadadelangel/delangel.htm
From Buenos Aires “big yellow Cama Suite” an overnight bus to Iguazu. Some reccommended companies are Andesmar and Via Bariloche.
Iguazu Falls
–The falls staddle the borders of Argentina, Brazil & Paraguay converging 275 falls into a deafening noise. We will arrive by overnight bus to Puerto Iguazu which somehow maintains a small town atmosphere despite all the tourists . We will spend a few days here checking out the falls and the Parque Nacional Iguazu A recommended hostel was the hostel inn. www.hostel-inn.com. We will next be heading to back to Buenos Aires by bus.
After Taking a couple more days in the city of Tango, we will fly down to El Calafate in Patagonia on Feb. 11 and return to Buenos Aires on the 18th
Lake District
–Known as the Switzerland of Argentina it attracts as many as 700,000 visitors annually to hit the slopes or visit a string of national parks. Bariloche is the center for this playground.
Patagonia
–The Parque Nacional Los Glaciares is home to some of the most impressive scenery in South America. The Glaciar Perito Moreno is one of the few advancing glaciers in the world. You can watch fragments of ice split off, some weighing hundreds of tons. You can also find the Fitz Roy Massif a collection of sheer needles rock rising up into the sky. We will probably stay in the nearby town of El Calafate. Albergue del Glaciar Pioneros www.glaciar.com. or America del Sur www.americahostel.com
After returning to Buenos Aires from Patagonia, we will be taking a day trip into Argentinian Cowboy Country, then a bus to the heart of wine country.
Las Pampas
–San Antonio de Areco is the center of pampa culture. It is a charming town of cobbled streets and colonial facades. We may take a few days to explore this area only a short bus ride from Buenos Aires.
Mendoza
This charming city is located in the heart of Agentinian wine country. This city is filled with wide avenues, and spacious plazas. From here, you can explore a multitude of outdoor activites. One of the places we may stay is the Hostel Independencia or Lao Hostel. From Mendoza, we will take a bus to Santiago, Chile.
Chile culturally is more European than its South American neighbors primarily due to being geographically self-contained by the Andes, Atacama Desert and South Pacific Ocean. Chile has much to explore including the driest desert in the world, beautiful beaches, to the 3rd largest glacier in the world in stunning Patagonia.
We would love to have more time to explore this beautiful country especially Patagonia, but we will be running short on time as winter fast approaches. How much time we will spend here depends on how long we spend in the northern cities before braving the cold for a trip to Patagonia or missing it completely.
Lauca National Park
–This park contains hot springs, crystal clear lakes with a backdrop of snow-capped volcanos. Flamingos flock in the lakes among many impressive cultural and archaeological landmakrds. Termas de Las Cuevas has a small rustic thermal bath to visit along with plenty of beautiful scenery. Reachable by bus via the Arica-La Paz highway. We will probably stay in Arica or Putre and maybe take a tour www.latinorizons.com or www.parinacotaexpediciones.cl.
San Pedro de Atacama
–Maybe a quick stop in this desert oasis town. We may take a jeep tour to explore the ghost towns, ancient petroglyphs and the Valle de Luna. We will leave here from a bus to Santiago
Sanitago
–This modern city is well structured and relatively safe to explore. The mountain backdrop perches above a city full of polished suburbs, trendy nightlife in Bellavistor or trendy cafes and bookstores in Providencia or Las Condes. We will visit the Cerro San Cristobal, the city’s largest open space, containing botanical gardens, pools and take the funicular up the summit to enjoy the view. We might check out the Hotel foresta while staying in the city or try the La Chimba We plan on exploring the city for a couple of days before heading on to Valparaiso.
Valparaiso –Garivalpo Hostel
–We will probably arrive by a 2 hours bus trip from Santiago or by train. This city is a cultural capital and a Unesco World Heritage site. A huge port city by the sea, it is often considered the Chilean Riveria. We will spend a few nights in the bohemian city depending on time and weather.
Horcon
–A quaint fishing town turned hippie hangout, on the mian beach Hosteria Aranibia has cabins overlooking the water.
Vina del Mar
–Known as the garden city, palm trees line the streets in this beach resort town.
San Alfonso - Renting a Cabin (Parque Almendro)
Lake District
–Full of beautiful scenery and a popular vacation destination. We hope to have time to fit this in before heading on to Argentina. We may stop in the exciting town of Pucon by Volcan Villarrica. You can play slots, hike up to the crater of the volcano, visit hot springs or go whitewater rafting down the Trancura. www.aguaventura for adventure sports or www.antilco.comfor horse treks in the valley. Some recommended hot springs are the Termas los Pozones open 24 hours a day in the Rio Liucura Valley. Very expensive during the high season, we hope to go there late in the season and miss the high prices. Hospedajae victor www.pucon.com/victoror Hostal Donde German www.dondeger.man.cl or Hostal Geronimo www.geronimo.clfor a veiw of the volcano. Border crossings to Argentina are possible in Pucon and Puerto Montt.
Parque Nacional Torres del Paine
–This part of the trip may not be possible due to the approach of winter and running short on time. This park contains one of Chile’s most impressive attractions, the Torres del Paine mountain range which consist of near vertical granite peaks among pristine glaciers and forest. A must see of Patagonia.
Bolivia
Bolivia is a very rugged country that is the poorest in South America. Even though this is the case, the country is filled with colonial cities, surreal salt flats, rainforests, soaring mountain peaks, and exciting fiestas. Boasting the highest capital in the world, La Paz, Bolivia is known for leaving people short of breath, quite literally.
Isla del Sol
–Reached by boat from Copacabana on the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca. It is the birth place of the Incan dynasty. It is a good place to enjoy the scenic beauty of the lake.
La Paz
–The highest capital in the world. We will spend some time here acclimatizing and wandering around the city. There are many markets, museums, cafes and plenty of day trips to the surrounding area. If we are brave we may do a bike ride of the world’s most dangerous road which descends down a mountain over 3500m over just 64 km. It will be approaching winter by this time and will be quite cold! We may book a tour of the Salar Uyuni from here with Colque or Tonito tours. The Salar is reachable by bus to Oruro then by train to Uyuni.
Amazon Basin- Parque Nacional Madidi
–The Bolivian Amazon is relatively undeveloped. The laid back town of Rurrenbaque is one of the cheapest and easiest places to take a trip from. You can take a motorized canoe up the Rio Beni to the Parque Nacional Madidi where you can stay at the Chalalan eco-lodge. Maybe try Indigena tours. Some community based ecotourism lodes include: Madidi Travel www.madidi-travel.com, Mapajo lodge, www.mapajo.com, or San Miguel del Bala, www.migueldelbala.com.
Salar de Uyuni
–This is one of the “must do’s” on our trip. This is the world’s largest salt flat and covers 12,000sq km. It is a perfectly flat expanse of dazzling white surrounded by mountain peaks. We will probably do a round trip tour from Atacama then heading by train to Chile. Try tour company Estrella del Sur,
Tupiza
–This city is reminiscent of the wild west and ringed by rainbow colored rocks. There are plenty of opportunites for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Tours to the solar de uyuni leave from here www.tupizatours.comor Tours El Grano de Oro.
Peru
Peru is the land of the Incas. Most people can recognize Peru by Machu Picchu, however there is much more. Whether it be the steamy rainforest, the great sand dunes near Huacachina, high snow capped mountains, or the high altitute lake of Titicaca, Peru is a captivating country.
*Ormeno bus line www.grupo-ormeno.com
Lima
–We will be flying from Quito, Ecuador into Lima to spend a few days before heading to Cusco. A busy city with ancient pre-inca pyramids to ultramodern malls. We might check out the Hotel Espana near the Plaza de Armas. Flights from Lima to Cusco run around $50-$80…
Chachapoyas
–Maybe if time allows we will stop in this overlooked town to visit the cloudforest covered mountains and explore more incan ruins, the walled city of kuelap.
Huacachina
–We may visit this lagoon surrounded by sand dunes and do some sandboarding here. This is a popular hangout for backpackers. The Casa de Arena guesthouse has been reccomended to us.
Cusco
–This city was the heart of the Inca empire, full of Incan ruins and colonial splendor. It is the oldest continuously inhabited city on the continent. Nearby is the sacred valley of the Incas. We spend a few days getting used to the high altitude before heading out on a tour. We may also take a day trip to the nearby ruins of Pisac. Cusco has a good tourist infrastructure and a lively nightlife scene. The Loki Hostel is a possible place to stay. From Cusco we will head by train to Lake titicaca via Puno.
Inca Trail and Machu Picchu –We will depart from Cuzco for Machu Picchu, the lost city located high in the forest. We will hike the Inca trail on our way to the city spending about 5 days on the hike. We may use unitedmice.com, Andean Life or peru treks or sas for the guided tour. From Cusco we can go 9 hours by bus or fly via Lan Peru to Arequipa/Cola Canyon then head on by train to Puno and Lago Titicaca.Colca Canyon/ Arequipa –A land of active volcanos, thermal springs, deserts and the world’s deepest canyons. This is Peru’s 2nd largest city and busses frequently leave for the Colca Canyon which is one of the world’s deepest canyons. A recommended tour company is Carlos Lazo Quintana, Tour and Trekking tour guide. Carloslazo48@hotmail.com. http://www.hotelastorga.com/ for a quiet place to stay.
Lago Titicaca
–This is the world’s highest altitude lake resulting in crystal clear air. We will spend a day island hoping throughout the lake on islands made of artificial reeds. The islands of Amantani and Taquile are worth a visit even if touristy. The surrounding area is full of colonial churches, and crumbling towers.
From Peru, we will either take a bus or a plane to Ecuador, depending upon time constraints
Ecuador is the second smallest country in South America, but its natural diversity is amazing. There is something in Ecuador for everyone. Whether it is exploring tropical forests, visiting the diverse wildlife, mountaineering, rafting, or exploring its indigenous heritage, Ecuador is sure to satisfy.
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We will fly into Quito, where we will stay for a few days to explore the city and the surronding area
-Quito
–Quito is divided into three sections. There is the old town, the new town and the business section of the city. The new town is the hot spot for restaurants, hotels, and cafes. Some of the things we will look to see while in the city are: Plaza Grande, Basilica del Voto Nacional, Plaza Santa Domingo, La Virgen de Quito, teleferiQo (sky tran up a volcano), white water rafting (www.hotelsierranevada.com)(www.yacuamu.com).
–The new town is said not to be safe at night, but is close to restaurants and bars. In new town there is the L’auberge Inn, has a pizzaria, fireplace, sauna, pool table all for about $17 for a double with private bath. One of the hostels to check out is the Secret Garden in Old Town, known for view from 5th floor terrace. It costs about $24 for a double.
-Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World)
–22 km North of Quito, you can spend the day hopping back and forth between hemispheres. Also next to here there is Museo Solar Inti Nan, houses facinating exhibits.
-Terma del Papallacta (Thermal Hot Springs)
–Best kept, most senic thermal baths.
-Otavalo (Ecuador’s best market)
–Famous for it’s Saturday market in the Plaza del Panchos. There is a craft market, animal market, and food market. If we decide to stay here for a couple days we might check out the Hostal Chasqui. Peguche falls is close by with hiking trails, we were told to check out both sides of the falls and a steep trail to an overlook and some caves. Lachero is a scared place with breathtaking views of Imbabura, Lago San Pablo and Cotacochi. Intag (apuela) thermal spacs is a day trip away.
-Galapagos
–We have just booked a Galapagos Cruise with GAP adventures. It is a ten day cruise and begins on April 9th. -Head
South to Riobamba
–Here we will catch the spectacular train ride to Sibambe, known as the Nariz del Diablo (nose of the devil).
** More to come… We have heard the border crossing at Huaquillas is a horrible and to cross instead at Piura/Loja. We have also been warned of exchanging money on the border as conterfitting is rampant.
From Ecuador, we will fly to Central America, possibly Belize
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