
SOUTH AMERICAN ODYSSEY
Antarctica to the Galapagos Islands
Photo by James Eades on Unsplash
ODYSSEY INFO
This is a pretty big trip and could take 4 - 5 months. If you are time and money rich go for it. Otherwise it could be broken up into 3 parts. Antarctica to Buenos Aires 6 weeks - Buenos Aires to Lima 10 weeks and Lima to Guayaquil 5 weeks. Each section can be bought separately.
WHEN -
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The best time for trips to Antarctica are November to March. Peak time is December to February.
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The best time for Machu Picchu is March to May.
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The best time for the Galapagos is May
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So anytime from November to February would be good.
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Prices on trips to Antarctica would be cheaper in November.
START & FINISH -
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Buenos Aires, Argentina to Lima, Peru or Guayaquil, Ecuador if you do the extra add on
COUNTRIES -
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Antarctica (continent), Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, (Ecuador)
BORDER CROSSINGS -
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5 or 6 - no visas needed, permit for Antarctica should be included in your package,
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Need proof of a Yellow Fever vaccination for Bolivia,
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Reciprocity fees no longer required most countries will give 90 days
HISTORY -
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Spanish Colonial history for three centuries, with all of the wonderful buildings from this period,
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You can visit the still operating mine where they removed all of the silver needed to fuel their empire
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You can go to the places where Che Guevara and Butch and Sundance met their premature demises
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Take in the ancient culture of the Incas and civilizations that predated them
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Local wars with neighbors
COSTS -
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Antarctica isn't cheap but there are ways to keep costs to a minimum. It's a once in a lifetime thing for most people and think of the bragging rights.
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Think of this as a separate cost or leave it out if you really have to
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The rest of the trip should be manageable - accommodation and living costs are quite good
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Bolivia is the cheapest place
B4 IT'S 2 LATE -
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See Antarctica before it melts.
MAIN CITIES -
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Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, Mendoza, Cordoba, Montevideo, Curitiba, Salta, Potosi, Sucre, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, La Paz, Puno, Cusco, Arequipa, Lima, (Quito, Guayaquil)
ACCOMMODATION -
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Cabin on board,
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Under the stars on the salt flats
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Colonial Hotels
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Jungle Camps
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Beach Bungalows
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Riverside, Lakeside, Seaside
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Desert Glamping
EATING -
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Local Specialties will be covered as well as their unique and popular Breakfasts, Sandwiches, Sunday Lunches, Street Food, National Dish and Cocktail and Drunk (late night) Food.
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A visit to Gustu opened by Claus Meyer of Noma fame,
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Empanadas (like pasties meat & veg in pastry often with an egg) are found all over South America and are great anytime (just watch out for those tooth breaking olive pits) ,
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Argentina is very meaty with a lot of Chimichurri (herb and vinegar sauce), they also have a sweet tooth and a lot of Dulce de Leche (Caramelised condensed milk) is consumed.
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The reports of the food on the Antarctic cruises are pretty good.
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In Bolivia their version of the empanada - Saltenas are very popular, a lot of meat and potato dishes, they love their soup and there are some regional specialties.
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Peru is the highlight, it has been recognised as one of the world's best cuisines. At one time the world's top 5 restaurants were in Peru.
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Peru is home to the Potato and over half of the varieties that exist can be found here.
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The cuisine has been shaped by historical influences for over 500 years and is divided into 3 regions -
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Coasta (Seaside), Sierra (Mountain) and Selva (Jungle / Amazon Rainforest).
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Ceviche is the star of Seaside, Cuy (Guinea Pig), soups and stews feature in the Mountain dishes and Juane (meat, rice, olives, eggs wrapped in Bijao leaves), Tacacho (Pork belly, scratchings and mashed plantains) as well as exotic fruits, Yucca and over 12 types of bananas.
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Peru has 30 of the world's 32 types of climates.
DRINKING -
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Singani, Supay, Yerba Mate,
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Argentinian wines are pretty good and Mendoza is a great place to enjoy them,
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Api Morado, Mocochinchi, Frog smoothies, Pisco Sour (From the home of Pisco) are some of the exotic beverages you'll be able to try.
NIGHTLIFE -
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Buenos Aires is famous for it's nightlife and there will be plenty going on in the other large towns, they don't have dinner until 10pm in Argentina and bars can be open to 5 am with generous 3 hour Happy Hours.
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There is plenty of nightlife in Bolivia and Peru as well and plenty of fellow travellers around the tourist spots.
BEACHES -
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Cabo Polonia
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Punta del Diablo
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Florianopolis
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Copacabana (Lake Titicaca)
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Paracas
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Miraflores (Lima)
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(Huachaca
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Mancora
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Tortuga Bay
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Lovers beach
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Montanita)
MOUNTAINS -
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The Andes
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Machu Picchu
WALKS -
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Isla del Sol
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3 day trek Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (Very expensive) or you could take the train.
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3 choices in Machu Picchu
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Amazon Jungle
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Galapagos Islands
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Colca Canyon
FITNESS LEVEL -
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Good
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You'll have to face Antarctic temperatures between -26 and -45 degrees Celsius (Fun fact -40 is the same in Celsius and Fahrenheit),
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High Altitudes in various places up to 4000+ meters,
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You will definitely be fit by the time you get to Lima.
HARD STUFF -
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Carrying warm clothes, Altitude sickness, Scary bus trips, Scams
SAFETY -
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It is recommended to have a Yellow fever shot for all of these countries,
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Fake taxi drivers,
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Fake policemen,
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The most dangerous road in the world
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Altitude sickness
SOUVENIRS -
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Chocolate from Bolivia and Peru,
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Bowler hats,
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Pan pipes,
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Witches potions,
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Mate y Bombilla (Mate gourd and straw),
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Tango CD's,
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Chullos (Colourful Andean beanies),
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Mentisan (Bolivian Tiger balm),
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Alpaca dolls
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Panama Hats
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Kallari chocolate from Tena, Ecuador
SHOPPING -
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Witches market La Paz,
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San Telmo Sunday market BA,
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Plaza Serrano weekend market BA,
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Rosario neighborhood in La Paz,
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Take the cable car up to El Alto on Thursday and Sundays for possibly the largest market in South America,
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Mercardo San Pedro in Cusco,
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Inca market in Lima
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Huge Black Market in Lima
LASH OUT -
On Antarctica

Photo by Sebastian Seck on Unsplash

Photo by Jackman Chiu on Unsplash


HIGHLIGHTs - 2 continents 7 countries
Buenos Aires - to Lima via
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(ANTARCTICA) -- Ship
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(ARGENTINA) -- Ushaia - Moreno Glacier - El Chalten - San Carlos de Bariloche - Mendoza - Cordoba - Overnight train (Thurs & Sun)
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(CHILE) -- Puntas Arenas
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(URUGUAY) -- Colonia del Sacramento - Montevideo - Cabo Polonio - Punta del Diablo
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(BRAZIL) -- Pelotas - Balneario Camboriu - Curitiba - Iguazu Falls - Itaipu Dam
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(ARGENTINA) -- Puerto Iguazu - Salta - Purmamarca - Tilcare
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(BOLIVIA) -- Tupiza - Uyuni Salt Flats - Potosi - Sucre - La Higuera - Samaipata - Santa Cruz de la Sierra - La Paz - Copacabana - Isla Del Sol
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(PERU) -- Puno - Islas Iros (Floating Islands) - Cusco - Ollantaytambo - Machu Picchu Pueblo - Arequipa - Huacachina - Paracas
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Tango dinner
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Evita museum
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Antarctica
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Icebergs
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Iguazu Falls
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Itaipu Dam
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Uyuni Salt flats
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Pink Flamingoes
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Moreno Glacier
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Cholita wrestling
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Nazca lines
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Desert Oasis
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Lake Titicaca
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Machu Picchu
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World Alpaca Capital
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Long Winery lunches
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3 Rainbow Mountains
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Poor man's Rio
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Southern Fuegian Railway
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The end of the world
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The Che Guevara Trail
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Poor man's Galapagos
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World's highest golf course
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Biking the Road of death
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Have a Pisco Sour in Pisco
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Gastronomy Capital of the Americas
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Outdoor Hot Springs & Volcanic Lakes
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Birthplace of the Sun and the Moon
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World's Longest Beach
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Special Passport Stamps
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World's best Steak & Malbec
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The World's highest golf course
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The highest city of its size in the world
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Unofficial Sloth Capital of the World
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One of the world's most beautiful train journey's
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One of the greenest cities in the world
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Biking the World's most dangerous road
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Fly into Buenos Aires and out of either Buenos Aires, Lima or Guayaquil depending on how far you go. Spend a few days getting to know BA before you fly down to Ushaia to get ready for the cruise of a lifetime to Antarctica.
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Ushaia is the capital of Tierra del Fuego and is known as Fin del Mundo - the end of the world. It is one of Patagonia's nicest cities. As the gateway to Tierra del Fuego National Park there is plenty of adventure and activity to be had here. You could ride the southernmost railway in the world. As this is the gateway for Antarctic cruises there is plenty of tourist infrastructure available to make sure you have a comfortable stay. Your Antarctic cruise will depend on your financial and time budget. There will be plenty of options and advice in the itinerary. If it's going to break the bank or you really hate sea travel you could skip this bit. It would be a pity though.
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Time to start the long journey north. First of all off for a necessary stop over in neighboring Chile in the duty free port of Puntas Arenas. There is some lovely scenery along the way and a ferry crossing as well. A good opportunity to stock up.
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Fun little El Calafate is the jumping off point for the incredible Perito Moreno glacier UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's also a good place for a little self pampering.
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Continuing north it's off to scenic Bariloche. As it's a 30 hour bus trip the 2 hour flight is probably the better option. You will think you're in Europe. There's plenty of natural attractions around here as well as a great main street.
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Catch a boat to the next destination cozy little lakeside Villa La Angostura. Parque Nacional Los Arrayanes will be on your agenda for a great walk through a preserved forest. There are hot springs and plenty of outdoor activities as well as an abnormal number of good chefs who gather here.
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San Martín de los Andes is a stunning 2 hour drive away. It is another big stop on the Che Guevara trail. There's plenty of lake related activities as well as horse riding, whit water rafting, zip lining a volcano and some more hot springs.
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Everyone's favourite Mendoza is next. Check out the "Wine Train" and relax in the hot springs later. Brad Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow spent some time here when he was filming seven years in Tibet. Lots of plazas, cafes, restaurants and bars. And wine of course.
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The Che trail continues in Cordoba where he lived in the nearby town of Alta Gracia. Relax over brunch and long lunches. This attractive city is an intriguing mix of the old and the new. There is a museum to educate you about "the Dirty War". there is a good nightlife here and plenty to see and do.
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Catch the overnight train back to BA then hop on the ferry over to Colonia del Sacramento. Enjoy checking out the UNESCO listed cobblestone Old Town by golf cart and a few sundowners at the yacht club looking out over the water. Hire a bike and ride along the coast on La Rambla to the beaches.
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Montevideo is a short 2 1/2 hours hop away. The Old Town here is conveniently near the waterfront and the entertainment area with many bars and restaurants. Why not try Asado, the national dish of meat, cheese and vegetables grilled over the coals. There is a free walking tour, hop on hop off bus and they have a great Sunday Market.
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Time for a little beach time and there's not many like this one. Cabo Polonia is a sort of driftwood Hippy settlement with no power, luxuries or cars. To compensate it has good surf, sea lion colonies, great star gazing, beachside bars and live music. You'll love it.
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To keep the beach vibe going head up the coast a little to Uruguay's best beach town, Punte del Diablo. Once again good surf, laid back and just the place to enjoy a Mojito watching the sun set over the South Atlantic.
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You'll need to polish up your Portuguese today because you're off to Brazil. To break the long bus trip up you'll be spending the night in the riverside town of Pelotas. They are famous for their home made sweets and they also have Portuguese Custard Tarts! The longest beach in the world Praia do Cassino is just down the road. Why not have a day off down the beach. It's a very Brazilian thing to do.
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Continue up the coast until you reach Balneario Camboriu. Balneario Camboriu is like a poor man's Rio with better / newer infrastructure and even has it's own statue of Christ. This one is holding a light rather than having out stretched arms. About an hour away is the very German town of Blumenau which has an Oktoberfest which is second only to Carnivale in Rio. So take your pick or do all three. All the information will be in the itinerary.
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Spend the night in the colourful old (1648) port of Paranagua and enjoy some really fresh seafood and get your ticket for the ferry to Ilha de Mel the next day. Spend a few days relaxing on this pristine island. Top class surf, beach hikes, bars and restaurants and an enchanted cave should keep you entertained.
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Travel on one of the world's most beautiful train journey's to one of the greenest cities in the world - Curitiba. A leader in Urban planning with lots of parks and pedestrian only areas you should feel at ease in Brazil's most livable city. Don't forget to visit the Capybaras and it's worth being here on a Sunday for the lively Art and Artisan market with 1000 plus stalls.
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Time to head west for one of the major attractions on this trip - the Iguacu Falls. You need to see them from both the Brazilian side and the Argentinian side. Also worth the effort is a tour of the Itaipu Hydroelectric Dam complex and even a shopping trip to Ciudad del Este in Paraguay.
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A short flight will see you landing In Salta in the harsh but spectacular Cordillerana Region. Salta is a good place to recharge your batteries. It is a colonial town with cafes and folk clubs and Argentina's best empanadas. It is the number one tourist town so it has plenty of options and anything you may need. Nightlife is good and it has the only open air Tango in Argentina.
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Purmamarca is a picture perfect post card town with a Rainbow Mountain. A night here is a no brainer and then a little futher up the track is Tilcara with the best nightlife and food scene. Not to mention a high altitude winery, a hike to Mars and another Rainbow Mountain.
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Crossing the border into Bolivia today then train / bus up to Tupiza where you will acclimatize for the Uyuni Salt Flats and the rest of the trip. Spend a couple of days hanging around the pool and going out to eat Italian food. The countryside is amazing for horse riding and you can go and see where Butch and Sundance met their maker.
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Google Uyuni Salt Flats and have a look at some of the surreal images. You can either do a tour from here to the town of Uyuni or head there first and then do a tour. The pros and cons will be laid out in the itinerary. Uyuni is a pleasant town to spend some time in as well.
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It's a good thing you're acclimatized because you're going to the highest city of its size in the world. Potosi pretty much financed the Spanish Empire for a few hundred years. The mines are still operating and you can go for a tour. The miners like you to take some dynamite as a present. It can be dangerous so give it a bit of thought. At one time this was the richest town in the Americas so there's plenty of historical sites to have a look out. There are also hot springs and a warm volcanic lake to soak your cares away.
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Ride the Ferrobus (Bus-train) up to one of the nations capitals and Bolivia's most beautiful city - Sucre. Another place that's nice just to hang around and recharge. Known as the White City due to the UNESCO listed white washed colonial buildings with their rooftop terraces and patio gardens. The nightlife is good and one excursion you could try is quad biking into a crater.
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Back on the Che Trail as you get a fair way off of the Gringo Trail. Che was caught and executed by the US backed Bolivian military in 1967 in the forest near the very small village of La Higuera. You will spend the night here in the old telegraph office sitting around the campfire drinking wine and hearing stories about what happened. You can do a tour but it's much cheaper to do it on your own.
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More Che stuff the next day before you end up in Bolivia's most laid back town Samaipata. It's such a pleasant place that a expats are starting to settle here. There are ruins and Jaguars and all sorts of things to give you an excuse to hang around a bit longer.
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Santa Cruz de la Sierra is one of the fastest growing cities in the world and is nothing like Bolivia's other ones. It is the unofficial Sloth Capital of the world and has a tropical Savannah climate. It is famous for it's nightlife and is very multicultural. There is even a colony of Mennonites here (who you can visit). There are tours to the old Jesuit Missions and some interesting National Parks.
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Instead of too many long bus trips through the Andes you'll be flying to the other capital - La Paz. Once again your previous acclimatization should see you in good stead for the rest of the trip. Which means you'll be able to hit La Paz running. Which is good because there is tons to do and the nightlife is legendary. Just for starters there is the hilarious Cholita (Lady) Wrestling, the world's highest golf course (where balls go longer and straighter), the Witches market, the amazing cable car system, biking the world's most dangerous road, Gustu Restaurant and great street-food. Good Luck.
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Early start and off to Lake Titicaca this morning. Staying at the original Copacabana beach. Eat fresh trout and chips, stroll around and enjoy the sunset. Tomorrow you'll be on the boat to the birthplace of the Incas and the Sun - Isla de Sol. Walk around or laze around and just soak it all in. Sunsets are spectacular.
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You'll be sad to leave Bolivia but don't worry Peru is just as good. Head over to Puno, see the sights and get ready for your trip out to the amazing Uros people with their hand made floating islands. Learn about their culture and spend the night out there with them.
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Scenic trip up to Cusco. Their is another Rainbow Mountain here if you haven't been Rainbow Mountained out. There are many ways to do Machu Picchu for many prices. Because it's so popular they can charge what they like and they do. With due respect though they are trying to protect a world wonder. Some tickets will need to be booked a fair time ahead. The itinerary will give you all of the ins and outs and a few tips to save disappointment and potentially hundreds of dollars.
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You will spend nearly a week between Cusco, Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes) enjoying some incredible scenery. They are all different and all great places to be. Service is not always the best because they know you won't be back but someone else will be. Your day on the mountain will be one of the highlights of the trip so it's important to get it right.
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Overnight bus (with the #1 company) to "White City" #2. Arequipa is one of those special places that not many people know about but probably should. Stunning colonial architecture with a very large volcano as a back drop. If you like sitting on buses a lot you could head out to Colda Canyon (one of the world's deepest and twice as deep as the Grand Canyon) and hike, soak in hot springs and watch the giant Condors gliding around (they can travel hundreds of miles without flapping their wings). Otherwise there is plenty of things to do around town. Chocolate workshops, Alpaca World, Volcano biking, rooftop bars and Juanita the "Ice Lady" a 12 year old from the 1450's to name a few.
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Enroute to the desert oasis of Huacachina you'll see the Nazca lines made famous by Erich von Däniken in his best selling 1968 book Chariots of the Gods. There is a lookout but if you want you can have a look from the seat of a small plane. Saturday night is party night in Huacachina but any night will be fun. This place needs to be seen to be believed. It has a variety of accommodations from Hostels to Glamping and sand dune activities. A great place for cocktails by the pool and work on that tan.
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Seaside village Paracas is a real underrated gem. Where the desert meets the sea you'll find some amazing beaches. Hotel rates are very friendly and the fresh seafood and Pisco Sours are the best. You can see Pink Flamingoes and the islands off shore are known as the Poor Man's Galapagos. You won't want to leave!
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On to one of the World's most important food centres, the Capital - Lima. Spend a few days looking around and tasting the world class cuisine. Maybe do a cooking course or some super cheap shopping. Delve into the famous nightlife and enjoy a few Pisco Sours where the likes of Hemmingway, Disney, Welles and Nat King Cole also imbibed. It's a big town and there is a lot to see and do. If you can keep the trip going and do the Lima to Guayaquil leg (see below). You won't be sorry and the Galapagos Islands are unmissable.





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#86 SOUTH AMERICAN ODYSSEY 16W

ODYSSEY EXTRA
#147 Lima 2 guayaquil incl the galapagos islands

HIGHLIGHTS - Surf, Jungle & weird animals
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Lima to Guayaquil via Huanchaco - Mancora - Cuenca - Alausi - Banos - Tena - Quito - Galapagos Islands - Montanita - Guayaquil
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Birthplace of Surfing
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Birthplace of Ceviche
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Lima Pub Crawl
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Medicinal Mud
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Reed Surfboards
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Blue Footed Boobys
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Get Limpia'd
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Amazon Jungle Trip
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Real Shrunken Heads
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Have fun at the Equator
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Special Passport Stamps
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The Galapagos Islands
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World's first UNESCO site
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Meet the President of Ecuador
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The Swing at the end of the World
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The Most Difficult Railway in the World
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The World's best White Water rafting
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The highest official Capital in the World
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One of the Top 10 beaches in the World
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One of the World's most diverse ecosystems
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One of the World's most important food centres, the Capital - Lima. Spend a few days looking around and tasting the world class cuisine. Maybe do a cooking course or some super cheap shopping. Delve into the famous nightlife and enjoy a few Pisco Sours where the likes of Hemmingway, Disney, Welles and Nat King Cole also imbibed. It's a big town and there is a lot to see and do.
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Once you've had your fill of Lima's treats it's time to head up the coast and unwind a little. The world class surf destination of Huanchaco is a laid back sort of place. The locals are friendly and it's a great place to learn how to surf. The food is fantastic. Lots of fresh seafood as well as street food and some of the best ceviche you will ever try. There are UNESCO listed ruins, fishermen who use boats that were invented 3000 years ago and the colonial city of Trujillo nearby. Enjoy some fish and chips on the beach watching the sunset.
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Further up the coast is Peru's best beach town and party headquarters Mancora. The water is bath tub warm and the weather is pleasant all year round. There are reggae bars on the beach, hot springs and medicinal mud baths in the hills and whales to watch in the water. See which town is your favourite.
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Catching the night bus will mean less traffic and an uncrowded border crossing. You'll arrive in Cuenca, Ecuador's most beautiful colonial city early in the morning. Once thought to be the lost city of El Dorado it's also known as the Athens of Ecuador. It's such a pleasant place many expats are retiring here. Surprisingly Panama Hats don't come from Panama. This place is the main centre of manufacture and you can see how they are made and pick one up for a good price. Somewhere between US$20 and $1500. The city centre is UNESCO listed and small enough to walk around. They do a good deal at the local spa so treat yourself to a day of pampering.
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Small town of Alausi is the departure point for the most difficult railway in the world - The Devil's Nose Train. Train buffs travel far and wide to ride on this one.
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The 2000 movie Proof of Life with Russell Crowe and Meg Ryan was filmed in the adventure capital of Ecuador, the town of Banos. There are a lot of adrenalin activities to do in this place like white water rafting (cheap), ziplines, canyoning, bungee jumping, canopy walks, mountain bike down the Andes into the Amazon jungle, ATV's and motocross, jungle tours and waterfalls. When you need a rest there are heaps of outdoor thermal pools to relax in. You'll be staying in the Zona de Bares so that should give you some insight to the nightlife. You can get a pretty good coffee or hot chocolate here too. Oh and a volcano that's often erupting.
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Slightly off the Gringo trail is the small town of Tena. It has a few titles. Ecuador's Cinnamon, Rafting, Kayaking & Jungle Gateway Capital. In fact it is one of the best white water destinations in the world. It's a great place to head out for an Amazon Jungle Trip. Once again there are many options and many prices. All relevant ones will be included in the itinerary.
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Quito or San Francisco de Quito to use it's full title is the highest official capital in the world. The Old Town was the first ever UNESCO listed site along with Krakow in Poland. Have you ever wondered what Ecuador means. Well it means equator and there are a couple of fun parks there with museums (equator, beer, chocolate), passport stamps, monuments, lines, swirling water demonstrations and all sorts of equatorial fun. The best days to be here are Saturday, Sunday and Monday if you can organise it. Saturday night you can go on the Pub Crawl. On Sundays they close off 30 kilometers of Quito's streets and allow bicycles to take over. It's a lot of fun riding through the old town and the parks. On Mondays you can see the President when he comes out to greet the crown during the Changing of the Guard ceremony. It is also possible to do a tour of the Presidential Palace. Among the many other things to do in Quito is a church where you can buy a beer.
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Early start today for one of the real highlights of the trip. The realization of many peoples daydreams and hopefully yours, you're off to the Galapagos Islands. Fly to Santa Cruz and start exploring. You may opt for an expensive boat cruise but it's much cheaper to be land based and do it yourself with a few tours thrown in. The archipelago consists of 13 islands and 17 islets and has more endemic species than any other region on earth. The animals are the stars here and your adventures will consist of how you go about seeing as many as you can. Hiking, swimming, snorkeling, diving and even hanging out at the fish market watching the famous Lupe the Sea Lion behind the counter encouraging the women filleting to give her a bit. Lupe isn't the only one looking for a treat and it turns into quite a spectacle. There's also a great night market here with excellent and cheap seafood.
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Transfer to San Cristobel Island where the main beach in town has been taken over by Sea Lions who have nothing better to. do than laze around on the beach all day. There is a great tour that circumnavigates the island and includes the best place to snorkel in the Galapagos. There's a good variety of bars and restaurants in this town. By the time you leave you will have swum with and come close to more unusual creatures than you would have believed possible. There are also some of the top beaches in the world and sunsets you'll only find in this very special place.
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Sadly it's time to fly back to the mainland. But don't worry there's still a few treats in store for you. A few days relaxing at the beach and reflecting on the trip in the best party town in Ecuador - Montanita. So many backpackers fell in love with this place over the years it now has quite a multicultural vibe. The surf is World class, the food is International and the booze is in Cocktail street. The combination of perfect waves, golden sand and the tropics is hard to beat so lap it all up. Play soccer and volleyball on the beach and make some new friends.
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Finally on to Ecuador's largest city, Guayaquil. You've been through here twice before but now you'll get a chance to have a look at the place. It is famous for its crabs so make sure to try them early on just in case you need to eat them every day. There is an impressive river promenade which is 2 1/2 kilometers long and has everything your heart may desire. Don't miss the sunset cruise with an open bar. A great day out bicycling on riverine Isla Santay is also a must. And if you're thirsty there is the beer museum. Guayaquil has one of the best airports in South America and connections to all the major cities.

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