Three weeks in South America

ThunbergsAreGo

Looking for a 3/4 week holiday to South America next Summer.

Macchu Pichu is a must so thats a week gone, but does anyone have any experience/reccomendations on the rest?

Had been thinking possible Peru/Ecuador/Colombia

jay0109

Did a 3 week trip a few years back
1 week in each of Peru, Argentina and Brazil

Peru is amazing. Loved it.
Lima is a kip so get out soon after landing. We flew on to Puno, Lake Titicaca. Brilliant couple of days there.
Then took a long train ride high through the mountain plains to Cusco. Don't just focus on MP which is the most amazing place I've ever been...there's plenty of stunning day hikes you can go on around Cusco, away from the crowds and which you can organise yourself using local buses.
Really wish we had more time there.

Wasn't overly impressed with Buenos Aires through we were there for nly for a couple of days. Got a River Plate game in, but Boca were away unfortunately.
But we went to Patagonia and it's my biggest regret we weren't there for longer. Flew into El Clafate and hired a car to El Chalten. The hiking there was breath taking- we got there in early Spring so only a couple of other hikers around. Some snow still on the ground. Snow capped Fitzroy mountains.
Would go back to Sth America just to spend more time there.
Also got the Glaciers to visit beside El Calafate.

In Brazil we just went to Iguazu falls (not worth going out of your way as we did to see, so unless it's convenient, I'd not bother) and Rio. The difference between the Argentina and Brazilian sides was very obvious....Argentina seems more 'polished' around the edges, and Brazil a bit rougher.
It was nice to relax in Rio on the Copa for a few days. But wasn't overly impressed with Rio- we were hoping for some good nightlife to end the trip but struggled to find any.
Got a game at the Maracana and the Sugarloaf is beautiful.
If I went back to Brazil, I'd defo try and get to the Amazon.

We booked our internal flights through an agent in BA because at the time locals got much cheaper flights than tourists. Not sure if thats still the case.

1 of the best trips I've ever had

jay0109

Forgot to mention the steaks in Argentina....they come on a separate plate to the rest of your mains! Juicy and well cooked meat- as good as you'll taste anywhere in the World.
And all for less than a tenner incl a beer at the time!!!! Even cheaper outside of BA

Meathlass

Don't forget that it will be Winter there when you're travelling so that rules out southern Chile and Argentina.

Distances are huge and with 3 weeks you don't have a lot of time. I didn't think much of Ecuador but Colombia and Peru are great.

Depending on your interests a nice 3 week trip could be to fly into Lima, do the sights in Peru, on to Bolivia (La Paz, Lake Titicaca), salt flats into Chile (Atacama, Valpariso) and home from Santiago .

ThunbergsAreGo

Which of Bolivia/Colombia did you prefer?

Aware of the winter factor so was hoping use Colombia as the "beach" part of the holiday

Meathlass

naughtb4 wrote: »

Which of Bolivia/Colombia did you prefer?

Aware of the winter factor so was hoping use Colombia as the "beach" part of the holiday

Colombia by a mile. I had very bad altitude sickness in La Paz; couldn't eat or sleep, exhausted walking a few steps, felt hungover and nauseous all the time. I cut short my time in Bolivia to 3 weeks because of it and every single day I felt sick.

I entered Colombia from Venezeula, did Santa Marta (Tarona National Park), hiked to the Ciudad del Perdida (archaeology ruins in the jungle), on to Cartagena on the north coast which I loved. Great city, music, social life, plenty to see and do. Quite close to it is a beach (Playa blanca I think), no electricity, shops etc. Just small hostels with hammocks, gorgeous white sand and fish from the sea. I stayed a few nights and just relaxed but there's probably proper resorts in the area too.

Moved on to Medellin and Bogota, interesting cities - few days in each. Finished up in the San Agustin area which was a bit hairy as it was controlled by FARC then. Headed south to Ecuador after that. Spent about a month in total in Colombia.

I never visited Cali or the coffee growing regions, which I regret. It's been 8 years since I was there and tourists weren't too common so everyone was really friendly.

jay0109

We went in late August so we got plenty of sun in Peru and esp Rio.
Patagonia was chilly and like I said, some light snow on the ground in parts. But no freezing temps or anything like that