| South America is home to lands of fierce mountainous | | | | as well as many other major cities. Buses depart for |
| beauty, traces of ancient civilisations, superb tropical | | | | most destinations from Novo Rio Rodoviaria. |
| coastlines, alluring food and music, and pulsating | | | | City buses are often crowded and struggle through |
| festivals - in short everything your need for the | | | | Rio's traffic. Rio has an excellent, air-conditioned |
| ultimate travel experience. | | | | subway system but it only covers points north of |
| Lima | | | | Botafogo. |
| Peru's sprawling capital sits in the center of the | | | | Accommodation:from cheap stays to luxury resorts |
| country's desert coastline. It's a grimy, polluted place but | | | | Check on the internet for the range, location and cost |
| one of charm and friendliness with a wealth of | | | | of hotels in Rio de Janeiro |
| compelling architecture and great museums. | | | | Events:what's on and what's hot |
| Transport:getting there and getting away | | | | *Carnaval is the five-day internationally-famous |
| Lima's Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Chávez | | | | extravaganza beginning at midnight on the Friday |
| services most international and domestic flights. The | | | | before Ash Wednesday. Dancing, parades, |
| airport is best served by taxi as buses tend to be | | | | head-dresses and flaunted bodies make up this |
| crowded. | | | | unforgettable spectacle. |
| Buses connect Lima with Bolivia, Chile and Ecuador as | | | | *The Fiestas Junina's is celebrated in public squares |
| well as all over Peru. They are slow and can be | | | | throughout June. |
| uncomfortable. | | | | *August 15 sees music, colorful stalls and a parade |
| Ocean liners berth at Lima's port of Callao. | | | | celebrating the Festa de NS da Gloria do Outeiro. |
| Lima is a sprawling congested city and public transport | | | | *Festa da Penha is one of the largest religious festivals |
| is disorganised. Taxis are plentiful but unregulated. | | | | in the city. It's held every Sunday in October. |
| Fares must be negotiated which is difficult if you don't | | | | Buenos Aires |
| speak Spanish and taxis can be dangerous. | | | | Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires is unique among |
| Micro and combi buses are cheap and the destinations | | | | South American cities in that it radiates the ambiance |
| are placed in the windshield. This makes things difficult | | | | of the Europe of a more gentile age. But don't be |
| if you're not familiar with the city. | | | | fooled. You'll quickly find it also has a trendy chic side |
| Lima is not pedestrian-friendly owing to congestion and | | | | and a population that makes flair into an art form. |
| pollution. Walking is only advised within neighbourhoods. | | | | Transport:getting there and getting away |
| Between neighborhoods a taxi is necessary. | | | | Buenos Aires is a major transport hub for the southern |
| Climate | | | | part of South America and has two airports. Regular |
| Hot and humid all year round with little rainfall. | | | | ferry and hydrofoil services connect Buenos Aires |
| Accommodation:from cheap stays to luxury resorts | | | | with Uruguay. |
| Check on the internet for the range, location and cost | | | | Getting around Buenos Aires is easy. The city boasts |
| of Lima hotels | | | | an efficient underground known as the Subte and a |
| Events:what's on and what's hot | | | | round-the-clock bus system. Plus the major tourist |
| *Semana de Lima between 12-19 January celebrates | | | | attractions are near each other so it's well worth |
| the founding of Lima in 1535. | | | | exploring on foot. |
| *Carnaval is celebrated on the last few days before | | | | Accommodation:from cheap stays to luxury resorts |
| Lent with music, dancing and water fights. | | | | Check on the internet for the range, location and cost |
| *Semana Santa in March-April is marked by | | | | of hotels in Buenos Aires. |
| processions throughout the city. | | | | Events:what's on and what's hot |
| *Independence is celebrated on 28-29 July. Large rock | | | | * Buenos Aires Tango is a tango festival that takes |
| concerts are popular around this time. | | | | place between late February and early March all over |
| * Festival of Santa Rosa de Lima is on 30 August at | | | | the city. |
| the Santa Rosa Monastery. | | | | * The Feria del Libro annual book fair celebrates Latin |
| Rio de Janeiro | | | | American literature in April at the Centro Municipal de |
| Rio sits between imposing mountains and the glorious | | | | Exposicions. |
| beaches washed by the warm waters of the Atlantic | | | | * Mid-May sees the art fair, Arte BA. |
| and is a true hedonistic heaven. The rhythm of the | | | | *More tango related activities on June 24 when |
| samba is rarely absent from this city in which every | | | | aficionados remember Carlos Gard el, the man who |
| day is a celebration. | | | | made the tango famous. |
| Transport:getting there and getting away | | | | *December features the Campeonato Abierto |
| Flights connect Rio with all of Brazil and Latin America, | | | | Argentino de Polo. |