Thousands of people visit South America every day without incident, yet some are not so lucky. The question we are often asked, ‘Is South America safe for travellers?’ We examine this from two sides: personal and health. For us, we followed the tips listed below and had almost no South America safety issues. Statistics don’t …
Travel to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay and Uruguay
Our South America Itinerary: Highlights of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay
We spent nine weeks travelling around South America, visiting five of the southern countries. A whirlwind of new aromas, sites, landscapes, and culture, our South America itinerary provided an ever-changing environment. Below are the highlights of Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Our South America itinerary map Highlights of Argentina We visited five regions of …
Quebrada de las Conchas: Best of Salta to Cafayate
Deep red jagged rock formations with golden highlights compete for our attention as we drive from Salta to Cafayate in Argentina. Over a million years in the making, the highlight of this road trip is the 80 km section called Quebrada de las Conchas (Shell Ravine). Here, we find northwestern Argentina’s most stunning drive, a …
How to Visit Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro
It’s easy to understand the attraction luring nearly 2 million visitors to the top of Corcovado mountain each year. Here, Christ the Redeemer monument, an icon of Rio de Janeiro, overlooks the city from an urban rainforest. For many, the visit is a spiritual attraction. For us, it was the panoramic landscape with a glittering …
How to Tour Chiloe Island: See Penguins or Palafitos
Chiloe is a rugged windswept Chilean Island defined by ancient myths and traditions. South America’s second largest island boasts old fishing villages intermixed with incredible nature. Sixteen of its over 100 island churches have been declared UNESCO World Heritage sites that draw visitors from around the world. However, it was the penguins and palafitos (stilt …
16 Unique Things to Do in Cordoba Argentina
Cordoba caught me by surprise. Frequently off the tourist track, Cordoba is one of Argentina’s oldest cities. It’s a university city with an eclectic mix of mostly Jesuit historic sites and modern enthusiasm. We discovered more than enough things to do in Cordoba Argentina and had to make some tough choices for our limited time. …
Colonia del Sacramento Uruguay: A Day Trip from Buenos Aires
Colonia del Sacramento, or Colonia as the locals call it, is Uruguay’s oldest city. A beachfront town founded by the Portuguese in 1680, it sits across the Río de la Plata from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Colonia’s distinctive character is defined by winding cobblestone roads and the colourful architecture of its historic old town. However, there …
Valparaiso Street Art: Vibrant Expression in Chile
Valparaiso street art is a bold and dramatic example of personal expression. It is different from other cities. Not so much in its style, but in its artists’ passion, respect, and backstory. Unlike the rest of Chile, where street art is illegal or restricted, the Valparaiso government almost encourages this freedom. As a result, Valparaiso …
24 Unique Things to Do in Buenos Aires Argentina
Elegant yet energetic, Buenos Aires has it all. The cosmopolitan capital of Argentina offers an eclectic mix of modern and European colonial styles. Filled with Argentine traditions, it’s the unique things to do in Buenos Aires that drew me here. A city pulsing to a tango beat, it has a few surprises. Unique Things to …
Our South America Boutique Cruise on Azamara Pursuit
From the first moment I stepped onboard the Azamara Pursuit, I was home. A boutique cruise, the ship’s understated elegance is unmistakably welcoming, as is the crew. The Azamara Pursuit caters to fewer than 700 passengers, yet our worry that there might not be enough to do on this smaller ship melted away as we …
22 Things to Do in Montevideo Uruguay
Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay is an often overlooked South American city with a European flair. Uruguay is a liberal nation with a sordid history and progressive laws. Nestled between Brazil and Argentina, it’s a coastal nation with its own personality. We found plenty of interesting things to do in Montevideo and other parts of …
Santos Brazil for Coffee, Beaches and Leaning Buildings
As we cruised into the Santos Brazil port, passing South America’s largest dock, we had two choices for our day on shore. We could spend it in São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city, or stay in its seaside resort town of Santos and enjoy some of the world famous Santos coffee, relax at one of the many …
17 Things to Do in San Pedro de Atacama Desert
Mysterious and enchanting, the barrenness of Chile’s Atacama desert is captivating. The high elevation and ultra-dry climate creates endless unusual landscapes and salt flats, while its main town is a lush desert oasis. There seems no limit to the unique things to do in San Pedro de Atacama and its surrounding desert, the driest non-polar …
Guide to Visiting Iguazu Falls in Argentina and Brazil
Iguazu Falls are hundreds of cascades tumbling along a 2.7-kilometre stretch of the Iguazu River. Comprising the world’s largest waterfall system, they are on the border between Argentina and Brazil. The official count is 275 falls, but that figure changes based on rains. The numbers are almost incomprehensible, and standing in front of any portion …
Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires: Artistic or Eerie?
Surrounded by huge and dramatically carved mausoleums, we strolled through the Recoleta Cemetery in wonderment. It’s neither the oldest nor the largest cemetery in Argentina, but it certainly is the most famous. Intriguing rather than depressing, the intricately decorated, mostly art nouveau above-ground tombs draw you into the Buenos Aires’ Recoleta Cemetery. Its vaults hold …
