Alternative Destinations for a South America Vacation

Alternative South America travel destinations you don’t want to miss, explained by a Latin America travel expert at Latin America For Less

Some of the recommended travel destinations to visit in South America are Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Iguazu Falls in Brazil and Argentina, Buenos Aires the vibrant capital of Argentina, and Cusco and Machu Picchu, wonders of Peru. Generally it is easy to understand why a person would be interested in visiting these sites, but perhaps there are some additional incentives that can be dug up and included in this South America travel itinerary.

Rio de Janeiro for example, is known for being a great place to stretch out on the beach, get some sun, or ride the cable car to Sugarloaf Mountain. What are some other things to do that might be fun for an extra day in Rio? Samba and dinner shows are a spectacular way to get an understanding of this national pastime. Music and dance go hand in hand in Brazil and there is no better place than Rio to get an understanding of this.

Next on your itinerary is Iguazu Falls. It is recommended that you take at least two days to see Iguazu Falls so check that your itinerary includes this second day. The reason being that the falls can be viewed from both sides, the Argentina side, and the Brazil side, the two sides offering very unique and different perspectives of this spectacular waterfall. If you’ve got some extra time in Iguazu you may want to consider takeing a tour of the San Ignacio Ruins and Wanda Stone Mines. A professional guide can take you on a visit viewiong semi-precious stone mines from the ground level.

Buenos Aires, if on your itinerary, has enough activities to fill a lifetime but one unique experience that is available is a full day tour of Colonia, Uruguay. Crossing the Rio de la Plata by ferry, you are now in the beautiful and cultural country of Uruguay. A tour will take you to the UNESCO Human Heritage town of Colonia del Sacramento where you can enjoy a delightful authentic lunch. There will be plenty to see in the city, between the historical neighborhoods and museums. The Real de San Carlos Bullring is an exciting destination.

After you’ve flown to Cusco, you’ve seen the ruins of the Sacred Valley and taken a Cusco tour, perhaps you are wondering if Cusco is worth spending an extra day and how you might spend that time. One exciting activity at your doorstep in Cusco is a horseback riding excursion. There are lovely rides available for all skill levels and for different lengths of time, from a 2 hour loop trail to a couple day excursion. If the idea of riding on a horse doesn’t catch your interest, you can stick to your own two feet and consider one of the many trekking possibilities all over the area. There are beautiful trekking opportunities, many of which leading to sites and ruins that you wouldn’t have seen on your average Sacred Valley tour.

Once you are in Machu Picchu you may want to consider climbing up the small peak above you, Wayna Picchu. The steep climb up Wayna Picchu leaves the crowds behind and offers some spectacular views of Machu Picchu from above. Though nowhere near as extensive the ruins of Wayna Picchu are no less spectacular and have a lot to offer those who are willing to hike up there. Visitors up Wayna are limited to 400 a day so you need to get in line early, which may even mean hiking up from Aguas Calientes before the first bus of the day arrives. Or, the best way to do it would be to book a room at Sanctuary lodge, then just pop out at 5 in the morning to grab a ticket for Wayna, then go back and take a nap. Either way, when your visiting Machu Picchu don’t forget about Wayna Picchu.

Article Tags: South America, Iguazu Falls, Machu Picchu, Wayna Picchu

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