Questions - Only in South America

I am going to Tarapoto for 3 days. How should I travel there and how much is an airplane ticket?

Ask me about Brazil

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

Ask me about Colombia

Natalie Southwick

This Boston-raised and Chicago-educated journalist never felt so at home as she does in Bogotá. In just over a year, Natalie swam in the jewel-blue Caribbean near Santa Marta, chowed on ceviche in Cartagena, hiked through misty wax palms in Salento, ogled dinosaur fossils in Villa de Leyva and danced salsa into the wee hours in Cali.

Favorite food: Ajíaco
Favorite coffee shop: Juan Valdez Café
Favorite hidden gem: José Celestino Mutis Jardín Botánico in Bogotá
Favorite place to spend all my money: Usaquén Sunday market

Ask me about Chile

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

Ask me about Peru

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

Lance Brashear - Ecuador, Travel with LAN

Ask me about Ecuador

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

Ask The Insiders

November 2012 Questions

Edgar

Peru Question

I am going to Tarapoto for 3 days. How should I travel there and how much is an airplane ticket?

Hi Edgar! If you are in Lima, I recommend you to take a plain. The bus will take you more than 20 hours. A round trip ticket costs between US$150 and US$200, but check special offers at LAN. I recommend you to visit La Laguna Azul (Blue lagoon) and its beautiful village El Sauce. There are many water falls in the area as well as orchids and other cloud forest attractions. You will find several options for lodging, from small hostels to nice lodges. For more information please visit Tarapoto s ite.

Cristina

Peru Question

I love to dance salsa. Can you recommend me some great places to dance? Thank you.

Hi Cristina! If you like dancing and live music, I recommend you to visit Salsa King. It is located in Barranco District, Lima. They often host Cuban salsa events with live orchestra. The great thing about this club or rumba bar is that it is opened on Sunday, which is not very common in Lima. You can look up their upcoming events here. If you are in Cusco, the best place to dance salsa is Mama Africa located in the Plaza de Armas. You can learn more about it here.

Alisa Field

Chile Question

Is there a shuttle service from the airport in Santiago to Valparaiso? We will be arriving at 18:30 in the eveining and need to be taken to a hotel or apt. in Central Valparaiso and then a return trip to the W hotel in Santiago two days later.

A close alternative to a shuttle bus is a Turbus Aeropuerto or Centropuerto bus to Metro Estación Pajaritos for around US $3 ($1.700 CLP). From there, different bus companies go to Valparaíso for about US $5. As soon as you arrive to the Valparaiso’s bus station you can take a taxi to your apartment or hotel. Coming back, you can take a subway at Metro Estación Pajaritos and drive up to Metro Estación El Golf. W hotel is about six blocks from it. Instead the metro you can choose a taxi service for around US $20 to $30. Another, more expensive option is the private minibus or taxi. It costs around US $180 to $150 ($90,000 – $80,000 CLP).

Paula Tymitz

Argentina Question

Can I fly from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia then on to Punta Arenas or do I have to fly back to BA?

Unfortunately, there are no direct flights between Ushuaia and Punta Arenas. Most people make the trip by bus. Several operators, including Buses Pacheco, run direct routes between the two cities. The trip takes about 11 hours. You can purchase tickets in Ushuaia. A more scenic—albeit pricier—option is to take travel by cruise ship. Cruceros Australis is one option that offers three-night and four-night itineraries from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas, for instance. I hope this information helps! Please let us know if you have additional questions. Thank you.

Terri

Argentina Question

I’m looking at taking LAN flights from Iguazu to Lima and see that I have to change airports in Buenos Aires. What is the best and least expensive way to do that and how long should I leave between flights? Thank you.

Hi Terri,

Can you give us a bit more information please? We´ve done several flight searches on LAN´s site and found many flight options from Iguazu to Lima, Peru, that only require switching planes– not airports– in Buenos Aires. What days and times are you hoping to fly? Please let us know, and hopefully we can find you an option that doesn’t require transferring between Buenos Aires´s two airports. It´s possible to do, but a bit time-consuming, so if we can find you a more direct option, that would be best.

Marilyn Silver

Argentina Question

We arrive in Buenos Aires by cruise ship and then have a LAN flight to Iguazu returning a couple of days later. We then depart through EZE to the U.S. I’m confused whether we have to pay the reciprocity tax.

The reciprocity-tax policies in Argentina can be tricky. Officially, according to the U.S. Department of State’s website, only U.S. travelers entering the country at Ezeiza or Jorge Newbery airports (both in Buenos Aires) must pay the entry fee. However, I have heard multiple reports from other travelers who entered by other means — via bus from Chile, for instance — who were charged the tax. I wish I could answer your question with more certainty, but enforcement of the policy here, it seems, is hit and miss.

As an FYI, the reciprocity fee is currently $160 USD per person and is valid for ten years and multiple entries. It can be paid in dollars, by credit card, or with traveler’s checks.

With what cruise company are you traveling? It would be worthwhile to check with representatives there about whether or not passengers are usually charged the fee upon arrival in Buenos Aires.

I hope this information helps!