South American Discovery

South America has an aura of leisure. It is famous for its tropical landscapes and mountains, its ancient civilizations, its adventure activities, music, wild parties and surfing. The best part of South America is that, aside from the initial flight to get there, it is very affordable to live very happily. Learning Spanish ahead of your trip will be invaluable. To get around, buses are a cheap option, and allow you to see much more of the country. Remember to bring snacks, water, and maybe a book, if you go for the bus option, as there are very few stops. However, if you’re under more time pressure, don’t shy away from plane rides. They are very cheap domestically, and between countries they are usually somewhere around $500. And make sure to drink at least a few pisco sours during your trip: a South American cocktail made from citrus juice, bitters and sweetener, with the South American brandy “pisco”, made from grapes.

Now: on to the trip itself. We start off in Medellin, Colombia: known as the City of Eternal Spring for its mild weather. This place has changed a lot since the 80’s and 90’s, when it was considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Since then, it has greatly improved, probably due to the decline of the Medellin Cartel. Visit the Pueblito Pasa, a replica of a turn-of-the-century Antioquia town. It is also worth visiting Saint Elena, the Catedral Basilica Metropolitana, the Museum de Antioquia, and having some nights out at the city’s many discos.

From Medellin, take a bus to see Barichara, a Spanish colonial town with the typical red-roofed white houses, palm-lined strees, and huge domed cathedral.

Then, head on to Raquira, which literally means “City of Pots”, and is famous for its brightly-coloured houses and, of course, its ceramics. It is a small village, and you can see the locals hand-making their wares. If you can go on a Sunday, the market is bustling.

Next up, fly to Ecuador. Base yourself in Quito, the capital city, which has one of the largest and best-preserved city centres on Latin America. The city has quite an altitude, set up in the Andes. It is best to stay in the Old City, where there are over 40 churches and 16 monasteries to see, and even more beautiful historic buildings. Visit the Museo del Banco Central, the Casa de la Cultura, and the Museo de la Ciudad. Hang out in the beautiful Plaza Grande, or one of its many parks, for some quality people watching. Eat at a Mercado and drink “Club” beer.

The Las Lajas Sanctuary is a 5-hour drive from Quito, but its well worth the visit. This basilica church, built in the Gothic Revival style, was built into the canyon of the Guaitara River, and it’s about as bizarre as it is beautiful.

Three hours from Quito, you can visit Mt Tungurahua, an active volcano. The real attraction is what’s know as “the Swing at the End of the World”, which adventurous visitors can ride to swing out over the 100-feet void before the Casa del Arbol (a little treehouse used for observing Mt Tungurahua).

Nature-lovers may wish to make a pilgrimage out to the Galapagos Islands, which was the site of inspiration for Darwin’s evolution theory. Round trip flights to the island are about $400, and we suggest leaving from Quito and then returning to Guayaquil, from which we will head to Montanita.

Montanita is a picturesque seaside town with excellent surf and a laidback culture of hippies, backpackers, and locals. You can rent a board for about $10. Montanita also has a lively nightlife, and it’d be a shame not to spend a few nights dancing til sunrise here. Unlike other “party towns” Montanita is more relaxed, but they certainly know how to have a good time.

Next we head via bus to Mancora, Peru, which is also has a reputation for its surf, sun, and scenery. You might recognise the iconic thatch-huts from a generic desktop background. If you head to the South Beach you can avoid the crowds.

You can take a flight from Mancora to Iquitos, where you can immerse yourself in the amazon. This Biodiversity Capital cannot be accessed by road or railway, and is home to Explorama Lodge, where you can take the Amazon Canopy Walk, and explore the Amazon with a local guide who will explain the ecological and cultural importance of the area.

After Iquitos, head for Cusco, which is 4 hours by plane. From Cusco you can visit some of South America’s most iconic attractions: Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail. For a different perspective on the Incan Citadel, try the Salkantay Trail, which will lead you past snow-capped mountains and through lowland jungle, with fewer tourists to get in the way of your photos.

Next there is the six-hour journey to Puno, to see Lake Titicaca. Here the Uru people live, still practicing pre-Incan customs. They live on floating island settlements made from reeds, fishing and continually adding to their islands. They are known for their bright clothes and beautiful embroidery, and can be visited by boat.

The trip from Puno to our next stop, La Paz, crosses the border into Bolivia and takes 5 hours by road. La Paz is the highest-altitude capital city in the world, built on either side of a canyon. The wealthier residents live in the lower areas, while the poorer areas are further up the mountain, probably because the weather is a lot milder closer to the bottom. The central thoroughfare of La Paz is the Prado, which is lined with pretty gardens and fountains. Take a trip on the Teleferico cable car, to see the city from far above. Check out the Witches Market, where you can find all sorts of weird animal body parts used in Aymara rituals, along with amulets, talismans and other spiritual paraphernalia. The Thursday and Sunday Markets in El Alto are also quite good for shopping. At night, spend some time in one of the many peñas, where you can eat, drink, and hear live folk music that usually carries on late into the night.

The Valle de la Luna is located just 10km out of La Paz. It is a surreal clay formation, streaked with different colours, which is named as such because of its semblance to an otherworldly landscape.

Take a trip north to Coroico if you can, because you will get to ride on the “World’s Most Dangerous Road”, Yungas Road. This winding trail takes you past breathtaking views of rainforest and rock, and is guaranteed to turn your stomach. Coroico itself is a good place to spend the night, with some excellent hikes out of town to see agriculture like coca, bananas, coffee and citrus.

From La Paz you can take a trip by air out to Salar de Uyuni, which is actually back in Bolivia, though it is easier to access from La Paz. These vast salt flats are highly reflective and surreal. Not surprisingly, many of the hotels in the area are built entirely of salt blocks.

After Bolivia, we head for Buenos Aires, Argentina. Stay in the Microcentro district, for easy access to the main historical sights in town. However, each district has its own appeal: we suggest venturing to La Boca, for its brightly-coloured houses and tango, and San Telmo for its colonial-style houses and interesting underground nightlife. Buenos Aires is also home to a spectacular street art scene, so keep your eye out for murals around the city.  Take a short regional flight to the grand Iguazu Falls- it’s one of those bucket-list attractions that you’d hate to miss.

The trip from Buenos Aires to Rio is only three hours, but you might like to stop over at Buzios, a stunning peninsula and beach town on the edge of crystalline turquoise ocean. Rua das Pedras is the main strip, with good shopping, food, and galleries, and even sometimes festivals. Surf on Geriba Beach, or explore the coastal vegetation of Azeda and Azedinha, which are less built-up than the other beaches.

Last, but most definitely not least, we arrive in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Copacabana and Ipanema beaches are the perfect places to unwind after your long trip, where you can surf or just tan. Posto 9 is an interesting section of Ipanema beach, which has a history of alternative, left-wing culture.

Of course, it’s hard to miss the Christ the Redeemer Statue, or Sugar Loaf Mountain. The Tijuca Forest makes a tranquil day trip, and is actually within the city: the largest urban forest in the world.

Rio has an infamous nightlife: drink in a botecos; drink in the bohemian district of Lapa; drink in the Casa da Matriz, Fosfobox, or 00 (a club inside Gavea’s planetarium).

And, if you can, try to line your trip up with Rio’s most famous festival, the annual Rio Carnevale.