| A common question I was asked as a travel agent | | | | * All of this is a fair bit of travel and the month will |
| was what to see and do in South America with limited | | | | almost be done. Trying to tack Brazil and Argentina |
| time. More and more Aussies are heading over to | | | | into the same trip is probably a bit much, and better |
| Latin America thanks to cheaper flights and the | | | | done separately if you only have a few weeks. |
| promise of a great and different experience. But what | | | | Almost this exact route can be done through any |
| can you actually see and experience in a month? Is it | | | | major tour group in Australia (and will typically be one |
| worthwhile? | | | | or two tours tacked together, lasting a month or so in |
| Many people are hitting South America as part of their | | | | total). It's easy enough to book or travel on your own, |
| Uni break over Christmas, or you might just be finally | | | | just be aware that permits for the Inca trail and the |
| using up some well deserved annual leave. | | | | Galapagos need to be arranged well in advance. |
| For those just starting to plan your trip you will | | | | Route 2 |
| probably be keen to see the major attractions like the | | | | * Start with a flight into Buenos Ares, Argentina. |
| Inca trail in Peru, the Galapagos islands in Ecuador, Rio | | | | Aerolineas Argentina have the best connections if you |
| or Buenos Ares, the Amazon and more. So where to | | | | plan to start here (and a horrendous reputation with |
| start? | | | | flyers). Lan Chile will also get you here, check for |
| The first thing to keep in mind is the size of the place | | | | specials. |
| and the often difficult and unreliable local transport | | | | * Taking your time in Argentina is easy, the transport is |
| (made harder to negotiate with the language barrier). | | | | pretty good and there's plenty to see and do. A |
| While seeing heaps of places in a short time in Europe | | | | language course maybe? Dancing lessons, a football |
| is easy, Brazil on its own is bigger than Australia. | | | | game, and the best steak houses in the world, the list |
| Getting around can be a hassle to say the least, but | | | | goes on. |
| not impossible for a short trip. | | | | * From Beunos Ares it's easy to get to Brazil. The bus |
| While difficult to generalize there are basically two | | | | route, which takes in the famous Foz de Igazu |
| popular routes/regions of the continent that are fairly | | | | waterfalls, is probably the best serviced on the |
| easily trodden in a short space of time. Both so called | | | | continent. Overnight buses with isle service and fold |
| 'Gringo trails' can be fairly easily traversed on your | | | | down seats are available, and make the trip easy (of |
| own or with an organized tour. A month in South | | | | course you can fly, but internal flights can be super |
| America might look like this: | | | | expensive). |
| Route 1 | | | | * From the water falls you can then make your way |
| * Fly from Australia, via a short stop in New Zealand | | | | up to Rio via some time in Sao Paulo. Any time in |
| to Santiago Chile. If arriving in Santiago Qantas or Lan | | | | Brazil is a good time, though if you want to head over |
| Chile will have the better flights/connections. For any | | | | for carnival keep in mind prices for flights, transport and |
| travel around peak times like Christmas you have to | | | | accommodation skyrocket. A trip in February needs to |
| book at least 6-8 months in advance to avoid paying | | | | be well planned. |
| close to $3000 return (you can snag tickets swell | | | | * Another festival you can check out in Brazil is Boi |
| under $2000inc tax if you book early or go out of | | | | Bumba, held in the jungle its every bit as full on as Rio's |
| peak season). | | | | carnival. |
| * From Chile you can get a connection on the same | | | | * So for a typical uni break that might end up in Rio for |
| day to Quito, Ecuador. After a few days seeing the | | | | carnival think about booking your tickets in March the |
| sights around Quito you can hop a short flight to the | | | | previous year if you can (this could mean thousands of |
| Galapagos Islands for a cruise around the Islands. | | | | dollars saved). |
| * Back to Quito take a flight to Lima. Spend a day or | | | | If it's your first time away doing a tour on the first route |
| two, then a short one hour (and scenic flight) through | | | | might be more comfortable option, while the second |
| the Andes to Cusco, the jump off point for the hike to | | | | route is by far the easier choice when it comes to |
| the Inca trail (try to avoid the 24 hour bus ride from | | | | ease of travel (straight forward enough for |
| Lima - Cuzco, its a terrible ride). Keep in mind permits | | | | everybody). |
| for the Inca trail have to be booked through a tour | | | | The flight over and back to South America is a killer, |
| group (in Australia or direct in South America) at least | | | | so rushing around from day one might make the whole |
| 6 months in advance to be assured a spot on the trail. | | | | trip an exercise in exhaustion rather than the |
| Also remember that acclimatising to the altitude in | | | | experience you were after. It's easier to stick to a few |
| Cuzco can take a few days and is recommended | | | | attractions/areas and take your time. Choosing one of |
| before any serious hiking. So no rush! | | | | these two routes might be the go rather than hitting |
| * After seeing the ruins around Cusco many people | | | | every country mentioned in a few weeks. |
| will head to Iquitos in the Peruvian Amazon (another | | | | From personal experience after 6 months in South |
| short flight). From there you can trek into the jungle | | | | America Peru and Bolivia were highlights on the |
| from an 'eco' lodge. | | | | sightseeing front, while for pure fun Brazil is the place |
| * Back to Cuzco from the jungle and then into Bolivia | | | | to be. |
| to see the capital La Paz, and the Salar De Uni Salt | | | | Safe travels! |
| flats. | | | | |