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Advice on traveling in South America needed please! :)

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Brown.Eyed.Girl

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At the end of the summer, BF and I are planning on going to South America for about 7 weeks. We haven''t bought tickets yet, but the tentative itinerary is to start in Brazil, Rio, Sao Paulo, beaches, etc., then Bolivia, then Peru (Cuzco, Lima, Machu Picchu). Most of our travel is going to be by bus, some inter-continent flights, and trains. BF has done a lot of this kind of traveling, and I totally haven''t. My forays into other countries have been along the lines of Spain, or Mexican resorts - pretty tame).

So two requests really:

1) For anyone who has been to these countries, what should be a must-see, or a must-go place?

2) What do I need to be prepared for? Diseases? Theft? Language-barriers? Anything essential I should pack, or know?

Thank you all!
 
I've done quite a bit of traveling in South America so here's some info that I hope you find helpful:

The big cities are just like other big cities IMHO, except everyone around you will be speaking Spanish (or Portuguese, as the case may be, in Brazil). Rio, Sau Paulo, Lima... meh. They're OK, but only OK. Of all the big cities I've been to in South America my favorite is Buenes Aires.

Crime in terms of pickpocketing and petty theft run pretty rampant in the big cities (and also outside of the cities, but it's easier there because of the more crowded conditions) so always carry your money in a pouch inside your clothes and if you have a camera or anything else valuable keep in some sort of pack that you carry on your front, not your back.

A lot of people will speak English in the big cities and in the more touristy areas, but it sounds like you may be traveling outside of those so a small phrase book is not a bad idea just to get some basic communication across. I do find the people in South America to be very willing to help in general so even though you may have some language issues you will probably ultimately get what you need because the natives are likely to be helpful.

My favorite beach in all of South America is the island of Florinopolis off the cost of Brazil. It is fabulous, but it ain't cheap by many means.

In Peru, definitely Machu Picchu. I don't know if you had a big hiking trip planned but I would skip the four day hike of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and just do the one day version (if at all) and then the settlement itself. Also, you can climb Wayna Picchu (which is the mountain that you typically see in the background of pictures of Machu Picchu) at the settlement, but they only let 400 people a day take the trail so either get a ticket a day ahead of time or make sure to get there early. It is not a terribly long climb in terms of time but it is a difficult one, especially to the very top. SO worth it though!

Iguacu Falls also pretty spectacular (makes Niagra Falls look like a dribble out of a tap, LOL). There are lots of birds and animals running around too, kind of like a zoo where they forgot to close the cages.

If you can get to Ecuador the Galapogos Island are FABULOUS. But unless you are a TRUE nature love and want to see every damn blue footed boobie and sea lion that Darwin ever imagined you don't need to spend a ton of time there. I was there in November for five days and I was wildlifed out at the end...

You should call your local CDC office WELL AHEAD OF TIME with your itineray because various places require shots and things. And if you're going to certain areas you'll also get malaria pills as well as any shots (yellow fever, I'm not sure whether they require or just recommend the heptavac, etc.).

Two absolute essentials: Sunblock (like SPF ONE MILLION If you can get it!) and bug spray (the kind so potent you practically need a government issued haz mat license to buy it!). And then the basic good common sense... Don't get drunk and wander down a dark alley, that sort of thing... !

You say that you're going at the end of summer (which I assume means the end of summer in the US, right?) so you'll be going into spring down there. Check the climate info for the places you plan on visiting, but I think it should be relatively warm and probably rainy too so take a poncho. Oh, and speaking of what to take, go with the bare minimum. There are tons of places to get your laundry done (when I was in Cuzco there was place that charged the equivalent of 25 cents for a bag of laundry, washed, dried and folded) so take as few things as possible.

There is internet access pretty much everywhere. Internet cafes will probably run you about a buck and hour. I find the service to be very good, except in the Galapagos where it is all by satellite so the weather drives the efficiency of the connection. If it's raining save the $ and don't even bother trying to log on.

I can't think of anything more right off the top of my head but let me know if you have any more specific questions. I LOVE South America and will be happy to help you with anything else if I can!
 
a friend of mine just came back from Bahia, Brazil where one of her friend was knocked and her purse was almost stolen. Other then that she was it was ok, but like Brown.Eyed.Girl said pick pocketing is pretty bad in some areas. It''s all about traveling smart. It was late at night, they were slightly drunk, and she was just taking pictures. My friend didn''t like want to take too many pictures because she didn''t feel safe taking out her camera.
 
Keep your money in several places on your person, not in back pockets obviously. If you must carry a purse, put the strap across your body crosswise and be very careful with it and don't keep anything important ($$, passport) in it. My FIL & MIL were robbed at machete point in San Salvador a few years ago. They got her fanny pack (yes, she wears a fanny pack religiously
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) but not the money he had in his sock. (If you do get robbed just hand your stuff over immediately, of course.)

If you have prescriptions you need, take backup and put them in a separate location in your luggage.

Take one nice outfit, which does not wrinkle. I usually pack one backpack- a lot of casual clothes, one nice outfit. Overpacking is sucky if you're going a lot of places, so we usually just backpack. (Thongs or some other water-friendly shoes can be great- I've thanked god for mine when we stayed in hostels!)

Don't wear sneakers if you can avoid it- most places that marks you as a tourist pretty unmistakeably... only Americans seem to wear sneakers and/or sweatpants in public. (Especially in Europe.)

Don't bring your nice jewelry, and I'd also recommend not bringing a fake or at least not wearing it if you're not somewhere totally safe, because it could still tempt people to try to rob you. I wore cheapo sterling rings a lot when I was in my 20s, and got harassed ruthlessly by a bunch of kids in Chefchauan in Morocco who kept pestering me and calling me "rich girl", despite all evidence to the contrary with my very casual clothes.

I've been around in Central America but not South.

Be prepared to be harassed by guys, especially if you're blonde. You may want to stick close to your guy if you're exploring on foot; it can be pretty hardcore some places. Morocco, once again, the worst I've experienced- they hissed at you (apparently the local equivalent to a wolf-whistle) and would follow you in packs sometimes. Ignoring it is best of course.

DeeJay has some excellent info. The SPF one zillion is definitely crucial. Neutrogena Dry Touch SPF 80 is my fave, it is not greasy. I usually take two tubes whey I travel because you use it up so fast if you're doing it right.

Do *not* space out and hide your passport in your room and then forget to retrieve it. We did that in Greece once, and DH had to run about a mile in 100+ degree heat to go fetch them.

Don't leave your toothbrush out on the bathroom counters. Cockroaches may snuggle it, even nice hotels can be buggy.

Even if you don't speak the language it's usually not a huge issue. Most big cities are at least somewhat English speaking in most countries I've been to (with Greece & Morocco being the biggest exceptions). Nevertheless, even if you don't speak a scrap of the language and nobody speaks English, you'll be surprised how you really can communicate fairly effectively for the basics- renting rooms, buying things- with gestures and some patience. Menus can be the biggest challenge- if you have a serious food allergy or something, you could be in trouble... A lot of times you just kinda point at something randomly and hope for something edible, or ask for something you see someone else eating. Or go to a supermarket.

Be prepared for scary scary driving on scary scary roads. Just strap in, shut your eyes and hang on!

I'm way jealous! It's been a while since DH & I have been able to do any major traveling. Amsterdam was the last time we were able to go somewhere together- lately it's been just one of us able to get away, me to see my aunt in Costa Rica & him to El Salvador to be an international observer at their elections with his dad.

Pay attention to your surroundings, and who's around you and may be watching you or following you, and have a plan if you are feeling followed- like going into a crowded market or something. My DH & I are pretty fearless about where we explore on foot, but being smart about it is key. Definitely, definitely do not get drunk and wander at night!

Oh, and it goes: bug repellant, *then* sunblock over it. If you do the reverse, the bug repellant ruins the sunblock. Found that out the hard way!

ETA: Make sure *you* have currency and a credit card, not just one of you. You might get separated. Take a card for the hotel you're staying at. And a map. And make sure each of you has those things!
 
HUGE thank you guys for replying!!!

I have to admit, I''m kind of scared right now, hearing the stories about pickpocketing, and muggings, etc. I''ve never come near that - although my friends in Madrid did, about 10 feet in front of me. Somehow I missed all of THAT drama though.

So BF and I are probably going to backpack. We''ll be avoiding really cheap hostels and stuff as much as possible, but we''ll definitely be roughing it more than I ever have in the past (don''t laugh at me! I''ve really only been in foreign cities or around New Zealand, which is incredibly safe).

LGK, I had no idea about the sneakers. Well I did in Europe, but it seemed like it would be more commonplace in S. America (since there are so many hikes and wilderness stuff). I think I''ll stick to my sandals until we get to colder weather. And I''ll definitely be leaving my jewelry at home (all except plain earrings since I don''t want my holes to close up). I''m probably going to have a purse with me - I think? I did have one in mind that''s pretty tough (I''m thinking of muggers in Spain who will slash your purse to get to what''s in there) but then again, I wasn''t thinking of actually having the entire thing snatched. Ugh.

And SPF and bug spray - a HUGE must. Especially bug spray. I don''t burn easily, but bugs SWARM around me. I''m like a walking smorgasbord for them
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DeeJay, I think we''re skipping Iguacu Falls, only because we want to check out the area around Pantanal (sp?), a big wetland with tons of wildlife, etc. Time''s kind of a big constraint, unfortunately, so we''re sticking to either Brazil and Peru only, or Brazil, Peru and Bolivia (we want to see Lake Titicaca and cross into Peru from Bolivia that way). I think we want to explore the Amazon from Bolivia too.

We''re definitely not going to do the hike I think, to Machu Picchu. We''re definitely planning on taking the train up to the village - and I think there are other methods of transportation other than hiking (we''re not big hikers - well I''m not, I wheeze, lol).

I think BF and I are going to get yellowfever vaccinations this week. We want to get them done before we leave for NY for the summer (it''s expensive though! Oh for the days of my parents'' insurance...). I think we''re up to date on everything else though.

And I speak decent Spanish (which I hope will come back to me quickly when I''m actually in Bolivia and Peru) so hopefully we''ll get by.
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LGK, thanks for the info on sunblock + bugspray. I had no idea that putting the bugspray on second ruined the sunblock. Definitely good to know!
 
BEG I must say again I am soooo jealous! I''d love to backpack again with my DH but it''s so hard for us to get away from work at the same time; we work together.

The sneakers thing was definitely noticeable in Costa Rica- the well dressed girls were definitely not wearing them. Not sure about the rest of the area.

I got mugged in Paris actually. It was about 2AM in Gare Du Nord and I set my pursepack on the floor in front of me. These guys came up and started talking to my husband who was reading a map. Then one grabbed the purse and booked for the door- DH made a damn good try to catch him but he leapt onto a scooter and was totally gone. I didn''t have anything worth stealing in the pack- just my journal. Which I was incredibly bummed to lose of course. All in all it was my fault but still... suck.
 
Date: 5/19/2009 12:56:15 AM
Author: LittleGreyKitten
BEG I must say again I am soooo jealous! I''d love to backpack again with my DH but it''s so hard for us to get away from work at the same time; we work together.


The sneakers thing was definitely noticeable in Costa Rica- the well dressed girls were definitely not wearing them. Not sure about the rest of the area.


I got mugged in Paris actually. It was about 2AM in Gare Du Nord and I set my pursepack on the floor in front of me. These guys came up and started talking to my husband who was reading a map. Then one grabbed the purse and booked for the door- DH made a damn good try to catch him but he leapt onto a scooter and was totally gone. I didn''t have anything worth stealing in the pack- just my journal. Which I was incredibly bummed to lose of course. All in all it was my fault but still... suck.

LGK, that must be awful, getting mugged. I''ve never been through anything like that, which makes me more nervous I think. BF has been mugged once...but I don''t think he lost anything major from it.

I''m really excited for the trip. BF and I are actually going to be working at the same firm this summer (and hopefully, pending return offers, after graduation) and our hours will be insane. So we''re trying to get in all our major traveling between now and graduation
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I am so jealous of your trip, Brown.Eyed.Girl! I have only been to Central America, but we are having our destination wedding in Ecuador and I cannot wait to go to South America!

I had to be vaccinated for typhoid, malaria, Hep A&B, yellow fever, and malaria. I also had to get lots of medicine for altitude sickness, since Quito is super high elevation.

I had good friends who went to Brazil, and, while they liked it, they said they would have rather spent the time in Argentina. I think it depends on what you like, but Brazil was really beach-y and resort-y, by their reports. They would rather have had fine dining, architecture, and museums.

I am not sure what you are in to, but we picked Ecuador for several reasons. First, the Galapagos (though we are now, ironically not going because the shortest trip was 7 days and we just couldn''t do that and fit in a wedding and a honeymoon). Second, they are on the American Dollar, which will make spending tremendously easy. Third, it was the only place we could find to stay in places that benefited the community. We initially thought about Argentina or Chile, but most places there were conglomerates or Western-owned hotels, which is totally not our bag--especially when going to an impoverished area. We are spending several days each in the Amazon, in the Andes, on the coast, and in Quito. Assuming that things are politically tame when we are there, we are also planning on visiting Lima and Caracas, but we are not booking until closer to when we go.

I also wouldn''t be too scared about muggings. Muggers are just looking for money, not harm, so if you keep ~$20 in your pocket, you can give that to them and it goes easy enough. I have been mugged (though in Europe) by knifepoint and, if anything, it was terribly efficient. I know that sounds odd, but it honestly wasn''t scary as it was happening, only after it happened.

The more out of a city you get, the less likely people will be to speak English. I would suggest Rosetta Stone or some way to learn the key phases (and things you don''t want to do/eat/etc.) before you go.

Travel as light as possible! If you are going city to city, especially by bus, you only want to take things you can carry easily and by yourself. One backpack is all I would personally take.

I can''t wait to hear more about your trip! 7 weeks is going to be amazing!
 
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