South America Trip

Only one Keano

Hi

I have booked flights into Colombia mid November and out of Buenos Aires in early April.

The plan of attack is to
> Fly into Bogota
> then head up the coastline to Medellin
> then head up towards Cartagena
> hop across the border in Venezuela at Maracaibu
> head down to Merida (maybe detour to Caracas)
> onto Santa Angel
> Heading into Brazil and on to ManauS
> Back onto coastline to Belem#
> Travel down North East Brazil stopping at Fortaleza, Olinda, Salvador
> Down to Rio
> May head across to Belo Horizonte as have friends there
> Onto Sao Paulo
> The onto Porte Alegre & Igazu Falls
> Head into Uruguay and stay in Montevideo
> Down to Argentina and head home out of Buenos Aires

The only thing I've booked are flights so the rest of the plan is indicative and open to change.

If anyone has any advice, ideas or suggestions about the places I have mentioned or not mentioned, please feel free to let me know. Would also love to hear about the recommended things to do when in any of these places & also about potential issues or things to avoid. Effectively any thoughts would be welcome!

Thanks in advance:)

Only one Keano

Sorry one other thing - What travel books for South America would you recommend. I have used the Lonely Planet ones before but I remember in the past people telling me there were far better books than Lonely Planet.

dory

You'll have to go to one the bigger forums like the Thorn Tree I think, to find someone who did that. Most people go the other way. But it sounds great, have fun!

Bruz82

How you travelling alone???
Advise on Caracas - Had 4 friends travelling together in this city and got robbed by the cops on scooters 20 yards from hotel. Needless to say they wernt impressed and they didnt venture out of the hotel for the next couple of days. Not many gringos around and they stood out alot. (don't want to put you off but its true.) thats the only part of Venezula they were in.

They said Bogota was class and safe ( well compared with Caracas)

As for my experience,

Rio is class but don't bring anything valuable when outside hostel especially in Copacpana beach. Go to a match, Christ statue, favela tour, lapa, Suger loaf. Brilliant and lovely people. Avoid city centre at weekends(nothing there anyway)

Sao Paulo is massive but just big lumps of concrete buildings everywhere, not a whole lot to see.

Iguazu falls was the hightlight for me. I'd go back in the morning. Make sure you have plenty of memory in the camera that day for photos and videos!!

Wasnt a fan of Rosario (different strokes for different folks)

Montevideo was ok (relaxing to get away from the parties in BA but maybe you will go the opposite way to what I did) Not bad for a day or 2.

BA - was expecting alot from what I heard but was a bit European looking ( not like Peru or Bolivia) , Good parties and went to a boca and River match separately. If ur a soccer head its unmissable!!! well actually its unmissable anyway.

Was in a few other places but not mentioned on your OP.

Any other question fire away, especially on Rio, stayed for 2 months there!!

cailinoBAC

Am jealous looking at your plan! I would say after Cartagena, head to Santa Marta and do the Ciudad Perdida trek (unless you're not into that at all) and/or go to Parque Nacional Tayrona. Well, didn't go to Tayrona myself, after the trek only had time for a few days in Taganga, but everybody says it's really great.
I would skip Caracas. We flew into and out of Caracas (Colombia was at the end of our trip), but avoided the city absolutely. Heard a few bad stories first hand that made me happy I'd made that choice. Everywhere else in Venezuela seems to be fine. Between Merida and Salta Angel (we had flown from Caracas to El Vigia/Merida first thing) we went on a los llanos tour for a few days. In order to get to Canaima to see the Angel Falls you have to fly from Ciudad Bolivar. Instead of flying back to Ciudad Bolivar we flew on to Santa Elena and did the Roraima trek from there. Then on to Manaus, some time in the Amazon and flight on to Rio. We didn't really spend much time in Brazil, that will be another trip. After the Iguazu Falls we headed into Paraguay then Argentina and Patagonia which I loved...

Only one Keano

Bruz82 wrote: »

How you travelling alone???
Advise on Caracas - Had 4 friends travelling together in this city and got robbed by the cops on scooters 20 yards from hotel. Needless to say they wernt impressed and they didnt venture out of the hotel for the next couple of days. Not many gringos around and they stood out alot. (don't want to put you off but its true.) thats the only part of Venezula they were in.

They said Bogota was class and safe ( well compared with Caracas)

As for my experience,

Rio is class but don't bring anything valuable when outside hostel especially in Copacpana beach. Go to a match, Christ statue, favela tour, lapa, Suger loaf. Brilliant and lovely people. Avoid city centre at weekends(nothing there anyway)

Sao Paulo is massive but just big lumps of concrete buildings everywhere, not a whole lot to see.

Iguazu falls was the hightlight for me. I'd go back in the morning. Make sure you have plenty of memory in the camera that day for photos and videos!!

Wasnt a fan of Rosario (different strokes for different folks)

Montevideo was ok (relaxing to get away from the parties in BA but maybe you will go the opposite way to what I did) Not bad for a day or 2.

BA - was expecting alot from what I heard but was a bit European looking ( not like Peru or Bolivia) , Good parties and went to a boca and River match separately. If ur a soccer head its unmissable!!! well actually its unmissable anyway.

Was in a few other places but not mentioned on your OP.

Any other question fire away, especially on Rio, stayed for 2 months there!!

Thanks for the advice - really appreciate it.

Firstly, yep, intend to travel alone as think it's the best way to do it. Noted points re Caracas and Bogota. Actually spent one day in Caracas before and never felt safe so got out!

Have been lucky to been Brazil a few times before and agreed about Rio. Never been to Sao Paulo or Igazu Falls so thanks for that.

Have also been to Argentina but didn't get to Rosario so point taken. You can't beat a Boca or a River Plate match. Something you will never forget!

Also thanks for the advice on Montevideo as plan to spent some time chilling there before I head back!

Did you have any travel books with you?

Only one Keano

cailinoBAC wrote: »

Am jealous looking at your plan! I would say after Cartagena, head to Santa Marta and do the Ciudad Perdida trek (unless you're not into that at all) and/or go to Parque Nacional Tayrona. Well, didn't go to Tayrona myself, after the trek only had time for a few days in Taganga, but everybody says it's really great.
I would skip Caracas. We flew into and out of Caracas (Colombia was at the end of our trip), but avoided the city absolutely. Heard a few bad stories first hand that made me happy I'd made that choice. Everywhere else in Venezuela seems to be fine. Between Merida and Salta Angel (we had flown from Caracas to El Vigia/Merida first thing) we went on a los llanos tour for a few days. In order to get to Canaima to see the Angel Falls you have to fly from Ciudad Bolivar. Instead of flying back to Ciudad Bolivar we flew on to Santa Elena and did the Roraima trek from there. Then on to Manaus, some time in the Amazon and flight on to Rio. We didn't really spend much time in Brazil, that will be another trip. After the Iguazu Falls we headed into Paraguay then Argentina and Patagonia which I loved...

Wow you did some trip! Some good advice and thanks coz I have not been to a lot of the places you have been to.

My favourite part of travelling is watching people interact in different parts of the world and tend to prefer cities than trekking so wonder would you still advise on all the places you highlighted.

I agree Caracas is probably avoidable & in particular appreciate the advice for what you did between Merida and Manaus.

Brazil by the way is class and the best fun in South America (that I've experienced) especially the places in the North East.

Also am planning to buy a travel book for South America - could you advise on any?

Only one Keano

dory wrote: »

You'll have to go to one the bigger forums like the Thorn Tree I think, to find someone who did that. Most people go the other way. But it sounds great, have fun!

Thanks will do that

Bruz82

I had Lonely planet South America on a shoestring !0th Edition published March 2007, I was with a few others at different stages and they had different books but some of the best info you can get is asking around in the hostels!! You can have it for free if you like, im in the Naas area but u need to be quick cos im leaving for Hong Kong this day week for 10 weeks in SE Asia.
Have you been there ( Vietnam,Cambodia, Laos etc), if so any tips!!!!!

Only one Keano

Bruz82 wrote: »

I had Lonely planet South America on a shoestring !0th Edition published March 2007, I was with a few others at different stages and they had different books but some of the best info you can get is asking around in the hostels!! You can have it for free if you like, im in the Naas area but u need to be quick cos im leaving for Hong Kong this day week for 10 weeks in SE Asia.
Have you been there ( Vietnam,Cambodia, Laos etc), if so any tips!!!!!

Thanks for that. Would prefer to buy one actually firstly just in case I lose it and secondly woudl want to hang onto it.

As for South East Asia, I have been to Thailand and Indonesia but never to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos but I have heard there are great places to go to. Best of luck and enjoy!!!!!!:)

Getoffmytrain

Don't miss Florianopolis.
It was the best place I visited in Brazil, really chilled out with loads of beaches and decent nightlife.

Wild Rover

Getoffmytrain wrote: »

Don't miss Florianopolis.
It was the best place I visited in Brazil, really chilled out with loads of beaches and decent nightlife.

You go to North East Brazil too??? Any highlights up there?

donfers

flying into rio on september 26th, have a budget for a couple of months to travel around south america, then back here in december, then get new job in 2011....what's the craic with rio? where should i stay? how dangerous is it - these things are always exaggerated especially for the outsider but you can't be too careful. I speak decent spanish but absolutely zero portugese so I don't intend staying in brazil too long, although a visit to the maracana is a most, want to hit argentina fairly sharpish as i don't want to hum and haw and stutter my way around brazil, nothing worse than being a tongue-tied illiterate ignoramus dependent on others - how is their level of english?

Bruz82

http://www.mellowyellow.com.br/

alot of travellers stay here, (stayed 2 night myself) in the hostels they speak perfect English, Copacabana is around the corner,dont bring anything valuable down there ie camera, jewelery,rings bla bla , they do all tours from this hostel (Maracana,Christ Statue, Favela etc) stick with the fellow travellers and you'll have a ball!!

Keedowah

Good luck with your trip! I was in South America a few year ago and cant wait to go back. I really think you should go to Ilha Grande when you leave Rio. Its only a little bit south of there and you can get to Sao Paulo easily afterwards.

We stayed in Hostel Aquario when we were there - its a great spot. And definitely visit Lopes Mendes beech.

Hockney

Bruz82 wrote: »

http://www.mellowyellow.com.br/

alot of travellers stay here, (stayed 2 night myself) in the hostels they speak perfect English, Copacabana is around the corner,dont bring anything valuable down there ie camera, jewelery,rings bla bla , they do all tours from this hostel (Maracana,Christ Statue, Favela etc) stick with the fellow travellers and you'll have a ball!!

I stayed in Mellow Yellow for a 3 or 4 nights. On the negative side, you'll have to be able to tolerate mess! Moreso than any other hostel I've ever stayed. There were also bed bugs which had me bitten to bits.

On the plus side is has a brilliant bar with cheap cocktails and decent dinners, and a brilliant place to meet people. It's also very central, 10 mins walk to Copacabana beach and they'll help you out with trips and stuff too. Mainly full of Aussies when I was there.

Also stayed in Hostel Rio in Santa Teresa, totally different vibe there, much quieter hostel and area but I really liked it. A little far from beaches and stuff but not far from Lapa, where the nightlife is absolutely unmissable.