About.com South America Travel

Seven Cheap Destinations

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:56:02 +0000

Want to travel in South America, avoid the over-visited and expensive destinations and/or tourist traps?

Plan your trip to explore
a few of the cheap destinations in South America that Rough Guides suggests.

Choose your destination carefully and your budget will stretch just that bit further - allowing you to spend longer eating great food, relaxing in a hot spring, doing a bit of skiing, or just marvelling at the incredible landscapes that stretch away in every direction from these Best on a budget - a selection of seven cheap destinations in South America.

This view of Brazil's Valle do Capao invites you to follow the path, wherever it leads. Photo is displayed with the kind permission of Peter and Jackie Main.

Seven Cheap Destinations originally appeared on About.com South America Travel on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 13:56:02.

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Traveling in Ecuador: One visitor's experience

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:00:58 +0000

A Tale of Two Cities: Traveling in Ecuador(wesleyanargus.com): "There are many ways to get to places in Ecuador, and I have experienced almost all of them, except for the plane and llama. This is a summary of transportation in Ecuador, in case this column has inspired you to visit."

The author describes her experiences with taxis, local and long distance buses.

Comments from readers show an unfavorable reaction to her comments.

How about you? Have you travelled in Ecuador? What's your experience?

Photo of the road to Ba�os is displayed with the kind permission of David Berzins.

Traveling in Ecuador: One visitor's experience originally appeared on About.com South America Travel on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 06:00:58.

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Viewing South American Wildlife: Two Recommendations

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:46:16 +0000

It's not surprising that the Galapagos and the Amazon rainforest are listed in The Best Places to View Wildlife (gadling): "The Amazon Jungle in South Africa (sic) is so vast that it it covers parts of eight countries. It is also the home to the highest concentration of birds and freshwater fish on the planet, and more than one third of the world's animal species call the Amazon home. Highlights of these species include jaguars, anacondas, giant anteaters and a variety of monkeys. The Amazon River contains plenty of interesting creatures as well, such as electric eels, freshwater dolphins, pirarucu, which grow to more than 2 meters in length, and of course the piranha."

"The Galapagos Islands may have made yesterday's list for great places to view penguins too, but they have plenty more to offer as well. Located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, the small volcanic archipelago is home to a host of animals that are found no where else on Earth, such as marine iguanas the only lizard in the world that lives in the ocean. There are plenty of lizards that live on land as well, along with several breeds of turtles and sea tortoises, an array of distinct birds, and a large colony of sea lions and fur seals."

Photos of cougars in the Amazon basin and marine iguanas in the Galapagos thanks to ClipArt.com. For more views of the wide variety of wildlife, browse the South American Wildlife Photo Gallery.

Viewing South American Wildlife: Two Recommendations originally appeared on About.com South America Travel on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 16:46:16.

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Dia de Todos los Santos

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:47:37 +0000

November 1 is celebrated throughout the Catholic world as D�a de Todos Santos, or All Saints Day, to honor all the saints, known and unknown, of the Catholic faithful. Every day of the year has its own saint or saints, but there are more saints than calendar days, and this one major holy day honors them all, including those who had died in a state of grace but had not been canonized. And, to keep things fair, November 2 is celebrated as the Day of All Souls.

Dia de Todos los Santos originally appeared on About.com South America Travel on Saturday, October 31st, 2009 at 12:47:37.

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Panama Hats: Made in Ecuador

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:14:35 +0000

Ecuador: Ancient source of a shady business (nzherald.co.nz): " I've had a Panama hat for years but I have to confess that until I visited Ecuador, I had no idea it had such colourful origins.

The hat's story begins with the toquilla palm which grows on the warm coastal lowlands - I saw one growing on the Galapagos islands - where its leaves are harvested for their fibres.

In a process which pre-dates the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in 1532 and even the arrival of the Incas about 1450, the leaves are sent up into the Andes, to the villages around the city of Cuenca, where they are boiled, dried and split into narrow strips. Then the fibres are passed to local women, descendants of the indigenous Quichua people, to be woven into hats.

The Panama hats are sold at markets throughout Ecuador, such as at the famous Otavalo market.

Panama Hats: Made in Ecuador originally appeared on About.com South America Travel on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 06:14:35.

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Travel Photo of the Year Competition

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:00:27 +0000

Photography competition: Win a trip to Ecuador: Fantastic prizes in the Travel Photo of the Year competition (independent.co.uk): "The Independent Traveller and Wanderlust magazine have again teamed up to present the Travel Photo of the Year competition, with the winners getting the chance to see their shots printed in Traveller and Wanderlust, as well as receiving a photo commission to Ecuador, plus Nikon camera equipment.

The shortlisted photographs will be exhibited at the Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show 2010 at London's Earl's Court (4-7 February) and Birmingham NEC (5-7 March). For details of the show, visit destinationsshow.com.

See wanderlust.co.uk/photocomp for more details of the competition, including full terms and conditions. The closing date for entries is 28 November 2009. "

Panoramic view of Quito, Ecuador is displayed with the kind permission of Jacqueline Garcia.

Travel Photo of the Year Competition originally appeared on About.com South America Travel on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 06:00:27.

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Punta del Este for Investors

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:44:46 +0000

Uruguay Real Estate: Why Its The Perfect Location For Expatriates (nuwireinvestor.com): "The picturesque, sleepy Uruguay town of Punta del Este represents a unique opportunity for savvy investors. Boasting affordable real estate, a remarkably high standard of living, and a party season each summer that transforms the town into a prime spot for South America's rich and famous, Punta del Este is primed for a real estate boom."

The author describes the off-season times as quiet, mentioning that "For full-time residents, Punta del Este is a sleepy seaside town. Three-quarters of the houses and apartments are empty. Most of the restaurants are closed. And they disconnect the traffic lights. The standard of living for these folks is extraordinarily high..."

In high season, Punta del Este is transformed into an international playground.

View of sailboats at Punta del Este is displayed with the kind permission of Gary John Norman / Getty Images.

Punta del Este for Investors originally appeared on About.com South America Travel on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 15:44:46.

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Reservations for 2010 Rio Carnaval

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:27:45 +0000

Rio's 2010 Carnival begins February 13, but if you plan to be there to enjoy the festivities, you'd better be making your plans now.

You'll get more than just tickets from the online reservation service for Rio Carnival Tickets . You'll also get information about samba schools, how to join one along with costume information and hotel reservations.

Photo of a Carnival dancer in Rio is displayed with the kind permission of Paul Viant / Getty Images.

Reservations for 2010 Rio Carnaval originally appeared on About.com South America Travel on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 22:27:45.

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Colombia's Parque Arqueol�gico de San Agust�n: Trip Highlight

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:06:48 +0000

Colombia pictures (irishtimes.com): "Colombia now seems like the Australia of South America, as so many backpackers are on the road here. Large numbers of them are Irish. Given its poor press during its drug-war years, the country is extremely keen to promote itself as a tourist destination, so the slogan on billboards everywhere is: 'Colombia, the only risk is wanting to stay.'"

The author details some of her backpacking adventures in Colombia, including a visit to San Agust�n which "is effectively a staggeringly impressive open-air archaeological park. It is almost impossible to describe how beautiful, strange and potent the place is. Hundreds of huge, mysterious statues stand around the village, for a radius of about 15km. Nothing is known about the people who carved them, but archaeologists estimate they date from 3,300 BC; they were discovered only 80 years ago."

The Parque Arqueol�gico de San Agust�n isn't easily accessible, but well worth the effort.

View of some of the statues of San Augustin thanks to UNESCO.

Colombia's Parque Arqueol�gico de San Agust�n: Trip Highlight originally appeared on About.com South America Travel on Sunday, October 25th, 2009 at 14:06:48.

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Sightseeing in Villa de Leyva, Colombia

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:58:04 +0000

Villa de Leyva, a Graceful Window on Colonial Colombia (NYTimes): "Villa de Leyva, founded in 1572, meets contemporary life on its own terms. Declared a national monument in 1954, it's an aggressively preserved colonial city, so the clank of the modern rarely interrupts the s�ance with the past. Long a weekend destination for Bogot� residents seeking a less-frantic respite, Villa de Leyva has become a place where Europeans and the occasional American visit to see what made the Spaniards plant a flag there in the first place.

Situated in a high mountain valley, the city of 4,000 or so also serves as a base camp for outings in the surrounding hills. And, indeed, many Colombians are fond of nighttime horseback rides and mountain biking. The tranquil comforts of Villa de Leyva, with its mix of people in traditional hats and ponchos walking next to kids in jeans and T-shirts, are especially welcoming upon return."

The article describes some of the local highlights, things to do and see and includes a recommendation or two for places to stay and eat.

View of the famed plaza seen from the doorway of the Villa de Leyva church is displayed with the kind permission of Mark Siders. The parochial church in this colonial town near Bogota is located on the cobble-stoned plaza, considered the largest in Colombia. Built at the beginning of the XVII century, the church was funded by the King of Spain and local parishioners.

Sightseeing in Villa de Leyva, Colombia originally appeared on About.com South America Travel on Saturday, October 24th, 2009 at 13:58:04.

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