South America Travel Tips

So where are the best beaches in Brazil?  The Brazilians love to argue about it. Having spent over a month exploring Brazil’s coast last year, here’s my opinion. Read the rest of this entry »

Much of the Andes are very high in altitude, and if you’ve not acclimatized, it’s likely that you will be affected by altitude sickness. Here follows some tips on how to avoid high altitude sickness, as well as advice on treatment and remedies. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s easy to be overly paranoid about crime and scam artists when visiting Latin America. Here’s some tips to make your trip a little bit safer. Read the rest of this entry »

An article offering useful advice about things to do in Buenos Aires. What are the best districts to visit? Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s a selection of personal recommendations for the best places to honeymoon in Latin / South America.  I suggest various romantic islands and regions with wonderful, peaceful beaches, in addition to the top romantic cities and the best outdoor activity destinations in the region.  In this article I’ll focus on the best places to honeymoon, and offer suggestions of nearby other places that would make a suitable combination.  I hope you get some great ideas for destinations to visit - happy honeymoon planning….. Read the rest of this entry »

For years Latin America has been a popular backpacking destination, with hordes of young backpackers travelling to the same places, along the same routes, staying in the same hostels.  How, and where, can one get off this “Gringo Trail”, whose photos, stories and tales are almost invariably very similar? Here’s some country by country suggestions for getting off the beaten track in Latin America. Read the rest of this entry »

Train travel is often a mode of travel ignored by visitors to Latin America, who normally get about by bus or plane.  This is a shame - there’s plenty of useful train routes, and it’s often a comfortable and exciting way to travel overland.  Plus, you don’t have to put your life in the hands of a lunatic bus driver who enjoys overtaking other vehicles on blind bends (an all too common problem in most countries).  So here’s some tips on travelling by train in Central and South America.  Read the rest of this entry »

A strong dollar (& Euro) and a recent weakening of many Latin American currencies means it’s a good time to visit the region. But where should you head for the best value for money in general, and more specifically right now? Read the rest of this entry »

One of the most commonly asked questions I see posted on travel forums is along the lines of “How safe is it for a solo female traveller to visit X?”  Here I’ll try to comprehensively answer that question, as well as offering some safety tips for solo travellers and advising on the few regions that it’s best not to venture to. Read the rest of this entry »

Dark tourism is a type of tourism involving travelling to places usually associated with death, grief or suffering.  Here’s some scary suggestions for dark travellers to Central and South America.  Your Gran just wouldn’t understand… Read the rest of this entry »