Don't Just Take a Vacation---Take a "Vacation of a Lifetime" in South America!
Nov 06 '09 (Updated Nov 12 '09)
The Bottom Line Twenty ideas for unforgettable exciting vacations to South America. Nature, culture, learning, history, food, drink, excitement....it's waiting for you in South America!
Been there, done that!
Does that ever sound like your vacation planning routine?
It did for mine. I was sick of the overhyped fakery of Disney theme parks that masquerades as some peoples' idea of "travel". I was frustrated by overcrowded "popular" resorts with their overpriced price tags. And the mere thought of being cooped up in a tin can cruise line ship spending next to no time at all in destinations had about as much appeal to me as stomping out flaming bags of dog poo on my doorstep (one of these days, I'll get that guy!)
Several years ago, I put a stop to boring, dull, uninteresting, trite, overdone vacations. I started traveling almost exclusively in Latin America. The bargains are certainly better, but I also get a lot more out of my vacations because I visit places that not everybody in my family or circle of friends has been. I learn things that not everyone knows, and I'm discovering how narrow the world view is that I was given by my U.S. public school education. (Plus I get to eat better, dance better, and meet hotter women...is this heaven? No, it's just a typical South American vacation!)
I've been bumming around in Latin America for a long time now, and I never get tired of experiencing all its amazing facets. Every time I peel away one layer of its exciting history, beauty, and culture, there's another layer waiting for my next trip. Here are just a few of the brightest highlights that should beckon a traveler to South America.
********** NATURE **********
Some of the World's Most Impressive (and Vital) Natural Attractions...
South America is blessed with some of the world's most stunning natural attractions, including the towering peaks of the Andes Mountains, the spectacular coastlines of both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the vast verdant jungles of the Amazon basin, and the inhospitable fire and ice of the Tierra del Fuego. There are thousands of spectacular natural attractions in South America, but these seven rank among the world's most spectacular and should be on any honest list of "100 places you must see before you die". I'll bet you've heard of one or two of 'em...
Amazon River Basin
The Amazon is regarded by many geographers and naturalists as the greatest and most vital river in the world. It carries 20% of all the water contained in rivers worldwide. It's one of the world's longest rivers, one of the most ruggedly fascinating, and one that feeds from the world's largest green space. To say the Amazon is the world's most important river might well be an understatement. Traveling up the river by boat, you'd see everything from monkeys hanging from the dense canopy, to crocodiles and caymans ready to snap up a quick meal, and maybe even some of the infamous predators of the deep --- like the enormous anacondas or the viscious piranhas that make their homes in the river's murky depths. Here's a few web sites that can help you get started planning a trip to see "the world's greatest river":
* http://www.amazoncruise.net/
* http://www.greentracks.com/Amazon-Cruises.htm
* http://www.amazon-ecotours.com/
* http://www.amazonastravel.com.br/
Galapagos Islands
Charles Darwin was the first modern tourist to visit the Galapagos, and the amazing variety of unique animal species found on the islands is alleged to have inspired the idea of evolution and his revolutionary book, Origin of Species. Nature lovers and eco-travelers flock to the Galapagos like frigate birds and boobies, putting a whole fleet of small boat captains to work, ferrying the tourists among islands in Ecuador's most treasured protected national park area. This isn't a destination to be taken lightly, since most trips require an investment of a week or more of your time and several thousand dollars in potential costs. But I've never heard a single visitor tell me it wasn't totally worth it! Here's a couple good web sites that can tell you more about the place and how you can go see it for yourself:
* http://www.go2galapagos.com/
* http://www.ecuadorexplorer.com/html/galapagos.html
* http://www.galapagos.org/2008/
* http://www.galapagospark.org/
Iguazu Falls
"Pity poor Niagara!" --- those were the words of former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt when she caught her first glimpse of the spectacular waterfalls at Iguazu, on the border between Brazil and Argentina. The falls are indeed larger, higher, and far more spectacular than Niagara Falls --- though visited considerably less because of its remote jungle location, many hours by bus from any major city that a tourist is likely to be visiting. Words cannot describe the grandeur of Iguazu, and even pictures (worth a thousand words) need panoramas to give you even a rough idea of the scope of these natural marvels. Here are a few sites to help you get an idea of whether and how to plan a trip to Iguazu:
* http://www.iguazuargentina.com/
* http://www.cataratasdoiguacu.com.br/
* http://www.braziltour.com/site/en/ cidades/materia.php?id_cidade=3122
* http://www.iguassufallstour.com/
Tierra del Fuego
It's been called the "land of fire and ice" by some, and "the end of the world" by others because the inhospitable terrain of the tip of South America is a land of frigid temperatures and glaciers, punctuated by the Straits of Magellan --- the strip of ocean that separates Antarctica from South America. Patagonia is rugged terrain that offers tantalizingly spectacular natural vistas for the very hardy outdoorsman with a thick winter jacket. The centerpiece of the region is the Tierra del Fuego National Park, which straddles the border between Argentina and Chile. Here's a few sites to help you with a virtual exploration and some initial trip planning sources:
* http://www.parquesnacionales.gov.ar/i/ 03_ap/37_tfuego_PN/37_tfuego_PN.htm
* http://www.tierradelfuego.org.ar/v4/
* http://www.patagonia-argentina.com/i/ content/parques/parques9.php
* http://www.travelsur.net/tfuego.htm
* http://www.enjoy-chile.org/ tierra-del-fuego-chile-tierra-del-fuego.php
Angel Falls
In Pixar's classic family movie, Up!, the unlikely hero and his lifelong love share a dream of exploring the remote natural spectacle of Angel Falls (Salto Angel), deep in the interior of Venezuela. Angel Falls is the highest waterfall in the world, and with a height of more than 3,000 feet, is 16 times the drop at Niagara Falls. The falls were discovered in 1912 by Ernesto Sanches la Cruz, but the outside world didn't learn of their existence until Jimmie Angel flew over them for the first time in 1933, and four years later, attempted to land at the top of the falls (sinking into his wheels so he'd have to hike 11 days to get to the nearest town). If you want to see the falls for yourself, you either need to arrange a fly-over, or if you're more adventurous, fly to Uruyen and then trek into the Canaima National Park to the point on the river where you'll embark in flat bottom dugout canoes to head upriver to the falls (specifically, the trail leading up to the Mirador Laime vantage point). (It's not an easy trip, so armchair travelers will find it a whole lot cheaper to just buy a DVD of Up! when it's in stores.) Here's where to find more info:
* http://www.angel-ecotours.com/adv_angel_falls.html
* http://www.salto-angel.com/
* http://www.aponwaotours.com/canaima_esp.htm
* http://www.backpacker-tours.com/en/angel_falls_VIP.htm
Pantanal
Most people think "Amazon" when they think South American wetlands, but the largest freshwater wetlands in the world is the Pantanal region --- a densely jungled, wild, rugged, swampy region deep in the heart of Brazil. It's a backcountry region full of wildlife, from prowling jaguars and panthers to humongous and very hungry crocodiles. Birdwatchers love the Pantanal too (supposedly, more than 700 bird species live in the wetlands). Looking for a phenomenal swamp? Here's a few web sites where you can check out the Pantanal and find out how to visit the place on your own:
* http://www.pantanal.org/Mainpant.htm
* http://www.amazonadventures.com/pantanal.htm
* http://www.earthwatch.org/exped/pantanal.html
* http://www.pantanaltrackers.com.br/
* http://www.braziltravelinformation.com/brazil_pantanal.htm
Lake Titicaca
One of the world's most storied, fascinating, and stunningly beautiful lakes is the huge Andean highland lake, Lake Titicaca, separating Peru from Bolivia. With an elevation of 3,800 meters (over 2 miles high), the mountains that ring the lake are always capped with snow and ice, creating dramatic backdrops (and some pretty frigid nights). The stories stretch back even before the age of the Inca, though in the Incan myths, it was from Lago Titicaca that God emerged to create the earth, stars, and humans. (It's also where you see the fascinating reed boats used by indigenous people.) Want to see this mystical place? Here's a few web sites to point you in the right direction...
* http://www.sacred-destinations.com/bolivia/lake-titicaca.htm
* http://www.ladatco.com/Titi-gate.htm
* http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/central-and-south-america/ bolivia/lake-titicaca/overview.html
********** CITIES **********
Sophisticated Urban Adventures...
Elegant hotels, fine gourmet dining, unique shopping experiences, spectacular theatre and the performing arts....there are many reasons why travelers love visiting the world's great cities. In South America, you can find spectacular coastal cities where the beach is never far off and where the flavors of fresh caught seafood dominate local menus. You can find old colonial cities where the spirit of Spanish and Portugese explorers haunt the venerable old churches, forts, and palacios. And of course, you can find some of the world's most modern and biggest metropolises. There are dozens of spectacular cities in South America, but here are my picks as the standout cities --- that handful of places with the most potential for a foriegn traveler.
Rio de Janeiro
I love great cities, and Rio de Janeiro is my absolute favorite big city in the entire world. I like it better than any of the big European capitals that I've been to and I prefer its feel to anything I've ever felt in North America. Rio de Janeiro is unique in its atmosphere of comfortable sensuality. It is very much a city of passion and casual intensity. Music is softer in Rio. The women are more beautiful (and friendlier). The beer is colder. The sandy beaches more serpentine. The mountains more finely sculpted and visually shocking. No city parties better than Rio. No city sings like Rio. No city is more basically human than Rio. No city has as beautiful a natural setting as Rio. I love Rio. Here's a few web sites that can help you understand the mystique of Rio.
* http://www.ipanema.com/
* http://rioforpartiers.com/
* http://www.rio-carnival.net/
* http://www.rioconventionbureau.com.br/rcvb_ingles/home.htm
* http://www.rioguiaoficial.com.br/
Buenos Aires
Every older city in South America has some flavor of Old Europe somewhere in it, but the most cosmopolitan city of them all, and the one that comes closest to being mistaken for a big city in the Old Country is Buenos Aires. It's really the only South American city that gives Mexico City a run for its money in claiming rights to be called "the capital of latin america". Mexico can have its mariachis, as far as most porteños are concerned, because Buenos Aires has tango. Like Mexico City though, Buenos Aires has spectacular restaurants, outstanding museums, and a wealth of nightlife (not to mention rock bottom prices .... always a plus for frugal travelers like myself). Here's a few pointers to start investigating a sophisticated urban cultural adventure in Buenos Aires...
* http://english.buenosaires.com/
* http://www.ohbuenosaires.com/english/
* http://www.viajeabuenosaires.com/
* http://www.tangol.com/esp/buenos_aires.aspx?Country=AR
Bogota
For many years, foreigners avoided Colombia, but now that it's a safe destination and back on the international tourism map, the capital city of Bogota seems fresher, more exciting, and more fascinating than ever. The colonial sectors offer fascinating perspectives on Spain's colonization of the New World, while stunning art galleries and museum offer unexpected delights (I particularly recommend the Botero museum because I just LOVE his very unique perspective on the human and animal form). Bogota has great restaurants, easy affordable transportation, some fun educational opportunities, plus its close to mountainous parks with wild rivers and plenty of opportunity for outdoor adventurists. Here's a few web sites to check out:
* http://english.bogotaturismo.gov.co/
* http://www.bogota-dc.com/
* http://www.destinobogota.com/
* http://www.bogotabiketours.com/
* http://www.lacandelaria.info/
Sao Paulo
The great thing about any great city is its enormous potential for the culturally sophisticated traveler. Big cities always have the biggest and most museums, they have a nation's best art collections, it's most significant monuments, and its best variety of dining and nightlife options. Those are the reasons to spend a few days getting to know Sao Paulo --- sometimes called "the largest city in the world" (though I suspect Shanghai China and Mexico City get called that at times as well). Sao Paulo has magnificent parks, museums like the Museu de Arte Brasileira, and the fascinating Museu de Arte Sacra (full of the kind of ecclesiastic art that makes latin churches such phenomenally rewarding places to visit).
* http://www.cidadedesaopaulo.com/sp/en
* http://www.aboutsaopaulo.com/
********** HISTORY **********
Exploring Historical Human Heritage Sites...
Few North America residents know more than a few isolated facts about South American history. Yet the tales of exploration, expansion, revolution, and political intrigue are no less interesting than our own. Maybe moreso since it's new material to many of us and exciting stories to hear and experience! Here's a few places where history (ancient and colonial) can be touched...
Machu Picchu
Few spots on this earth have more drama in their location than does the ancient Inca highland city of Machu Picchu. The ruins are one of the archaeological world's most stunning treasures, and the fragile site is justly regarded as the most beautiful (and popular) attraction in Peru. A trip does take advance planning, especially if you want to hike the Inca Trail --- the path blazed hundreds of years ago by the builders of this intriguing site. This is a site where visitors feel a mystical connection to another age and a very different culture.
* http://www.machupicchu.org/
* http://www.peru-machu-picchu.com/
* http://www.machupicchudiscover.com/
Bahia da Salvador
Founded in 1501 by Amerigo Vespucci, Bahia da Salvador is one of the most enjoyable and colorful destinations in Brazil. It's blessed with an ideal oceanfront location, perpetually warm weather, a penchant for African-laced rhythms and vibes (this is the home of Gilberto Gil, after all), and some of the zestiest seafood dishes known to mankind. Great arts, great music, great food, great weather, great history....no wonder this place has become so popular over the years! (It's also a good place to hang out for a few weeks, studying Portugese and cooking when you're not out partying, riding the very cool funiculars and sightseeing.)
* http://www.brazilnuts.com/destinations/ destination_item.asp?cityId=48
* http://www.saltur.salvador.ba.gov.br/index_anim.asp
* http://www.salvadordebahia.net/
* http://www.basicalingua.com/
Cartagena
Some of the most beautiful colonial era architecture in the Caribbean is in the beautiful historical city of Cartagena Colombia. The old Spanish fortifications are some of the most spectacular in the Americas and the beach city vibe makes it a relaxing and historically fascinating city to visit, both fun and cultural at once. Cartagena is also the most popular tourist destination in Colombia (due in large part to the fact that none of the drug cartels or rebel factions ever brought the region the violence and crime for which Colombia has long been famous).
* http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/05/20/travel/ tmagazine/07well-cartagena-t.html
* http://www.destinationcartagena.com/
* http://www.visitingcolombia.com/2009/08/ top-10-things-to-do-in-cartagena.html
Nazca Lines
Who carved the massive-scale drawings into the earth in the Nazca desert of Peru? The lines can only be clearly seen from aircraft high above the ground, so why would an ancient culture make them? Was it space aliens (as some have opined)? I sure hope so! The lines date to 200 B.C., so blaming it on the Inca might not be right. Yep. Space aliens is my bet! The lines can be clearly seen by hiring a small plane or helicopter for a flyover. This is not expensive nor difficult. There are tour companies in Lima that will arrange it for you, and some day trips or overnight excursions also visit the outstanding Paracas National Pak. (US$130+ to do this with Aero Condor).
* http://www.world-mysteries.com/mpl_1_2.htm
* http://www.skepdic.com/nazca.html
* http://www.onagocag.com/nazca.html
* http://www.mysteryperu.com/esp/co_nazca_lines.html
* http://aerocondor.com.pe/
Cuzco
Cuzco (also spelled Cusco) is the first stop on any trip to Machu Picchu. It's not possible to visit the Inca's Andean masterpiece without spending at least a day or two in Cuzco (due to the coordination of plane-train logistics). Fortunately, it's time well spent since the city has a unique Inca vibe to it, very unlike most of South America, and is one of the continent's most fascinating old cities, full of colonial era heritage blended with the timeless mystique of the Inca culture that permeates it.
* http://www.cusco-peru.org/
* http://www.aboutcusco.com/
* http://www.perurail.com/web/tper/tper_destination_Cusco.html
********** CULTURE **********
Make It a Cultural Learning Adventure!!
One of the most fun aspects of travel is the opportunity to learn something new and to make new friendships along the way. Instead of just taking a sightseeing trip or a lazy cruise, make the most of your time by taking a fun course in something you know little or nothing about. Expand your horizons! Here's a few ideas for ways to focus your time and efforts, giving your vacation the gift of depth.
Savor the Fruit of the Vine on Winery Tours in Chile...
Chilean vineyards developed a reputation over the past 20 years for delivering consistently outstanding values in their wines. But what many wine buyers don't realize is that there are a lot more vineyards in Chile and Argentina than your local liquor store selection might indicate. What's more, a lot of the BEST stuff never travels far from home. Just as you can arrange wine vacations through Burgundy, or the Rhine Valley, or Napa and Sonoma, so too can you open a door to a fresh perspective on Chilean wines by doing an enjoyable road trip with frequent stops for winery tours and sampling. Salud!
* http://www.chile-travel.com/chile-wine.html
* http://www.winetravelchile.com/
* http://www.latinwinetours.com/
Drink Coffee with Juan Valdez on a Colombian Coffee Plantation Tour...
Modern agriculture just ain't what it used to be! Just as few Americans these days grow up tasting fresh farm-grown produce, so too do few Americans wake up with really GOOD cups of coffee. Much of today's coffee is grown on factory plantations in lowland areas of Brazil or Vietnam, using loads and loads of petrochemicals and artificial environmental aids to create conditions for coffee to grow where it shouldn't. The best coffee can't come from those conditions, and its telling that few major brands identify the source of their beans any longer. Colombia is one of a handful of countries where conditions are truly perfect for a perfect coffee bean to grow. (So is much of Central America, some African and island nations, and a few other places). A Starbucks cup isn't bad for a mass market cup of joe, but if you really want to experience the very BEST and boldest cup of coffee in your life, let somebody like Juan Valdez guide you up into the mountains where you can feel the mountain mists and warm sun on your cheeks and where you can taste coffee so freshly roasted that it was still on the vine that morning.
* http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/02/12/travel/ 12coffee.html?pagewanted=1&8td&emc=td
* http://www.paisatravel.com/tours/coffee_parks.htm
* http://www.andeanogold.com/tour.asp
It Takes Two to Tango in Buenos Aires!
Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze might have scandalized America with their "Dirty Dancing" moves, but when it comes to the words "sexy" and "dancing" being used in the same sentence, my thoughts jump immediately to Argentinian tango. Tango is uniquely Argentinian. It's pure culture. It's sophisticated. It's classic. It's brilliant. And it's not just dance, it's an entire style of music as well. Tango has been danced in Buenos Aires since the 1850s, though it didn't catch fire across the rest of the world until the early 20th century. Today, tango is a part of any modern dance repertoire, but it's only in Buenos Aires where it feels inseparable from the place itself. Heck, if Arnold Schwarzenegger can tango in his movie True Lies, you can learn to do it too!
http://www.buenosairestango.com/home.htm
http://www.marilinatango.com.ar/
http://www.mayoralyelsamaria.com.ar/
http://escueladeltango.blogspot.com/
Speak Spanish like you were Hispanic in Quito...
Learning a foreign language isn't just fun, it's also practical, opening doors to travel possibilities that just aren't there if you can't communicate with locals in their own tongue. There are many, MANY language schools throughout Latin America where you can learn from native speakers and get a true "immersion" course that lets you live with local people in their homes doing everything they do on a daily basis. I've done a couple of brush-up courses over the years to help improve my spanish, and it's always been not just useful, but lots of fun and immensely affordable too (for the price of what you mgiht pay for one single night in a Manhattan hotel, you can get a full week of 4-hour or 6-hour per day lessons plus a room in a local home and 2 or 3 meals per day). There are dozens of language schools in Quito (many in the Gringo Gulch neighborhood), though I can personally vouch for the Simon Bolivar school since I took a course from them and not only learned to say a few new things in Spanish, but learned the subtle tricks of making a really GREAT mojito too....Mil gracias, German!)
http://www.simon-bolivar.com/
http://www.yanapumaspanish.org/
http://www.latinoschool.com/
http://www.montanitaspanishschool.com/
********** JUST DO IT! **********
Bottom Line...
South America offers a thousand and one great vacation possibilities. A trip there will enrich your life and open your eyes to wonders more spectacular than you can imagine. There are places of ancient mystical wonder and places of rugged natural beauty. There are outstanding back country activities for the outdoor enthusiast and there are cultural gems for the sophisticated urbanite. The experience is unbeatable, and the value potential has never been greater.
I hear travel opportunity knocking!!
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