Andrea Minarcek
When it comes to Argentina, Andrea has the answers. While stylish Buenos Aires is her home base, she’s trekked through Patagonia, ridden with gauchos, sipped wine in Mendoza… and everything in between.
Favorite Buenos Aires café: Musetta Caffè
Favorite Tango Spot: La Catedral
Favorite Natural Wonder: Iguazu Falls
Favorite Winery: Pulenta Estate
Eileen Smith
Since moving to Santiago eight years ago, Eileen has sat with huasos at a rodeo in Futaleúfu, eaten chancho en piedra near the river in Talca and bought olives in Punta de Choros. As a travel writer, she dispenses advice for a living, so feel free to ask a question!
Favorite beach town: Pichilemu
Best hiking near Santiago: Parque Mahuida, or Aguas de San Ramón
Favorite spot for lunch in the Vega Chica: Tía Ruth’s
Best place to buy souvenirs in Santiago: Pueblo Los Dominicos
Karina Davila
A Lima native, Karina eats Peruvian adventure for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A travel guide in the Amazon and elsewhere, she loves helping people discover and appreciate what makes Peru, Peru.
Favorite Amazonian flower: lobster claw (heliconia rostrata)
Favorite type of ceviche: sea urchin
Favorite place to surf: Los Organos
Kevin Raub
Co-author of Lonely Planet’s Brazil guide and coordinating author of the Brazil section of South America on a Shoestring guide, Kevin has–not surprisingly–traveled extensively across Brazil. He learned to dive in Fernando de Noronha, sought after the perfect moqueca from Espírito Santo to Bahia and swam with pink dolphins in the Amazon.
Favorite São Paulo Restaurant: Maní
Favorite Beach: Praia do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha
Favorite Bar Snack: Coxinhas at Bar Veloso, São Paulo
Favorite Ecotourism Destination: Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul
Lance Andrew Brashear
Having lived in Quito since 2003, Lance knows Ecuador inside and out, from the jungle to the coast to the Galapagos. When he’s not out there exploring, he’s relishing the joy of being a husband and dad.
Favorite place to get lost: Quito historical district
Favorite museum: City Museum in old town
Favorite Galapagos animal: Blue-footed boobie
Culture Questions
Hi Colleen! If you’re interested in dinosaurs or archaeology, the Ischigualasto Provincial Park is definitely worth a few days of your time. The UNESCO World Heritage Site looks like a rugged moonscape—in fact, it’s often called Valle de la Luna (or Valley of the Moon)—and is the site of discovery for some of the oldest-known dinosaur remains. It is also the only place on Earth where nearly all of the Triassic period is represented in the ground. You’ll notice the unique rock-deposit colors in clay formations; they look like tall sculptures standing in file along the ground. The simplest way to visit the park is to either rent a car or take a guided tour. The closest Argentine city to the park is actually San Juan, which sits about 98 miles north of Mendoza. You can rent a car in Mendoza and drive up to San Juan, continue north to the town of San Agustín, and then take the newly-paved routes 510 and 150 to access the park. Once inside, you’ll be able to explore the park’s 25-mile-long Circuito Vehicular, a paved loop that encompasses the heart of the park. From Mendoza, you could visit the park as one long day trip. Another option is to go guided. San Agustín’s Paula Tour and Turismo Veza both offer tours to Ischigualasto Provincial Park. Have a great trip!
Navi. In December I drove to Cuenca from Quito. It’s a long drive and I stayed overnight in Riobamba, which is about half way. The roads are fairly decent, though between Riobamba and Cuenca there is a portion that can be very foggy. Driving in Ecuador requires vigilance. Some people would not be comfortable doing it, in which case the only alternative is for someone else to drive you. Buses are cheap, but they take a long time and you never know what you get in terms of the driver. Many do not have a sense of personal or public safety, but most get to and from in one piece. And it is far more inexpensive than renting a car. A good compromise could be a personal taxi or chauffer service that may be able to take you. I cannot recommend one, unfortunately, as many are informal services. You should consider these options based on who your travel companions are. If you are alone, a bus might be the best way to go for safety reasons. If you want to rent a car, the typical international agencies (Hertz, Budget, Avis) are available at the airport, but other local options exist as well. Costs vary, but they are comparable to U.S. prices, perhaps a little cheaper, but not a lot.
Colombian clothing varies a lot based on the region and weather. In the Caribbean, people wear lighter clothing and sandals, since it’s so hot. They also tend to wear a lot of bright colors. Bogotá and the central part of the country is much more conservative, and many people in the city dress quite formally for work. In cities like Medellin and Cali you’ll see a lot of tight clothing, especially on women, as they like to show off the results of their plastic surgery. Outside of the city, many people dress simply, as most of them work on farm or doing other manual labor. Women across the country often wear heels, and you’ll almost never see men in shorts or open-toed shoes, even on the coast. The only men wearing shorts here are tourists. People like to get dressed up to go out, especially in the fancy sections of the major cities. Each region also has its own style of hats, which are popular particularly among men. The truth though, is that it varies wildly according to the region, so you’re best off doing a bit of research into that particular part of the country if you’re worried about your clothes fitting in.
Hi Barb. I assume you are referring to 2013 Campeonato Carioca final? It will be held at Estádio Raulino de Oliveira in Volta Redondo, which is about 125km inland from the city of Rio.
Hi Steve. May is a very good time to visit Peru since it’s not as cold. In August, temperature can fall below zero. Cuzco is very warm and sunny during the day so don’t forget to bring a sunscreen. You can wear a T-shirt and shorts, but I would recommend pants that zip-convert into shorts. At night, temperature can drop down to 7 C (44 degrees F). Machu Picchu is located about four hours away from Cusco in the Cloud Forest (a very humid environment). I suggest you bring plenty of water with you to avoid dehydration.
Hi Nora! Though there has been a lot of talk in recent years about dropping visa regulations for Americans visiting Brazil and vice-versa (mainly due to the extremely high-volume of Brazilians visiting – and spending loads of money in – the United States), citizens of the USA (as well as Australia and Canada, among others) do require a visa to enter Brazil. Tourist visas are valid for arrival in Brazil within 90 days of issue and then up to a 90-day stay and the visa for Americans is usually valid for 10 years. While most nationalities that do require a visa to enter Brazil pay between $20 and $65, Americans get hit the hardest: A painful $160 reciprocal bill. It takes between 5 and 10 days for visas to be processed (no exceptions!) and you’ll need to apply at the Brazilian consulate whose US state jurisdiction you fall within (you’ll find a handy list here). Enjoy Brazil, Nora!
Hi Steve. What a great trip! The temperature range in Santiago is between 43 and 70 degrees F in May (6-21 C), with the temperature dropping quickly at night. You should be comfortable in t-shirts during the day, but bring long sleeves and a fleece or light jacket for evenings. You will probably not want to wear shorts during the day in Santiago in May. On Easter Island, the temperature ranges from about 65 to 75 degrees in May. It will be humid, and therefore you will be more likely to want to wear shorts and a t-shirt. Bring a long-sleeve shirt for evenings, and a windbreaker for comfort in the occasionally brisk wind.
Amy, depends on your budget. I got some recommendations from others and the places can be a little price. All recommendations include these options for families with kids: Finch Bay Eco Hotel, Safari Camp, and Royal Palma Galapagos Hotel. I would add to that a charming place in the port: Hotel Solymar. Its billed as a place that offers everything, including business conferences and romance. But I have worked with them and the owners have young children, so they don’t shy away from family. It is not a beachside location (though it is ocean front), but it has a great pool and sea lions lounging about (and sometimes in the pool). Try them first!
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