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So with the new Dubai-Sao Paulo line coming online in October i am thinking of heading over to the one continent that i have not ventured to yet. I probably want to plan it around the carnival period...

so anyone who has been there what cities/countries would you visit in a two week trip ? Any good tips ? Tourist traps to avoid ? Good for value places to stay ? Good airline for domestic flights in brasil or between brasil and other latin countries etc ....

Any advice is appreciated ..

MaaaD wrote:So with the new Dubai-Sao Paulo line coming online in October i am thinking of heading over to the one continent that i have not ventured to yet. I probably want to plan it around the carnival period...

so anyone who has been there what cities/countries would you visit in a two week trip ? Any good tips ? Tourist traps to avoid ? Good for value places to stay ? Good airline for domestic flights in brasil or between brasil and other latin countries etc ....

Any advice is appreciated ..

Maad,

Funny thing as I just saw that route listed in the Emirates in-flight magazine last night on my way to Dubai. I thought it was already running. Anyways,

There is not much to do in Sao Paulo. It is a huge metropolis: high rise buildings and 12 Million People. Well, I mean same thing one does in big cities (restaurants, clubs, etc.)

What you may want to do is go to Rio see the beach and the “Christ the Redeemer” statute. Rio is famous for its beaches night life, etc. Carnival time is in February (fat Tuesday/Ash Wednesday – same as New Orleans except super huge!). One thing: you have to be VERY CAREFUL - petty crime and just crime are a problem. But a world traveler like you should have no problem. Stay only in the tourist areas.

Here is what I would do: Fly to Sao Paulo (stay one or 2 days to see the city). Then fly to Rio (2 or three days). Then fly to Iguaçu see the Iguaçu water falls - just amazing. You should start on the Brazilian side and then cross over to the Argentinean side. You get the better view from the Argentinean Side (the fall form the border between the 2 countries). Airlines: Varig (national airline) or Aerolinias Argentinas.

You will spend a full day at the falls. Take the boat ride underneath the falls - it’s amazing. One suggestion (highly recommended), bring a bathing suit and a plastic bag. As you approach the boat ride change into the bathing suit and put the clothes in your bag as you will get drenched. The tours are well organized so that different groups are at different parts of the falls at different times. Since you will get absolutely drenched the last thing you want to do is go around with wet cloths. I was lucky as our last activity was the boat ride but I still had to wear wet clothes on the bus ride to the hotel. The town of Iguaçu on either side hasn’t got much to offer – just a place to stay when visiting the falls.

At Iguaçu, Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay share borders. You may want to take a day trip to Ciudad Este in Paraguay. Nothing there just a crazy river port city.

From Iguaçu you should fly to Buenos Aires and check out the city. Its big city lots of good food and many clubs (in fact there was huge fire a few years back were about 200 people died) so these should be “safer now”.

Depending on the how much time you have your choice from Buenos Aires could be:

1. Go up to Peru and see Machu Pichu. You fly from Buenos Aires to Cuzco and then take a train to Machu Pichu. Amazing site. I would recommend you stay at Machu Pichu itself this way the next morning you will have the site all to yourself before all the tourist arrive (around noon). There is only one hotel just outside the ruins (up the hill and nothing else).

2. Fly down to Patagonia. El Calafate is a place in Patagonia from where you can see the glaciers. Again fantastic sites. You could also add Ushuaia the southern most inhabited place on earth. The same flight that goes to Ushuaia stops at el calafate.

3. You may also want to go to Bolivia a country were people still maintain there Andean traditions and dress (although the women wear bowler hats). Here there are a few sites but the main purpose will be to see something a bit different. The main place to go would be La Paz, the capital; there is a snow capped volcano that looms over the city. There are tours to various sites. This will be the one place where a knowledge of Spanish would be more of a requirement. When I went there my friend was learning Spanish and editing an English language newspaper there -it is not a main “tourist destination” but very interesting. It is the highest capital city in the world (10K+ feet above sea level).

4. You could go to Chile. Chile and Argentina are very similar in natural beauty, etc. -although they don’t like each other. There are a number of islands in the pacific etc. (e.g. Chiloe, et. al). Many people like to visit Pablo Neruda’s houses.

Here is my 2 week itinerary if I were you.

Day 1-2 Sao Paulo
Day 3-4 Rio
Day 5-6 Iguaçu (one day Brazilian side one day Argentinean Side)
Day 7-9 Buenos Aires.
Day 10-12 El Calafate (Patagonia) or
Day 10-12 Cuzco and Pachu Pichu
Day 13 -14 Cuzco/Sao Paulo Dubai.

Note: it will be spring time down there in October.

p.s. On the above trip you would see 2 of the “seven wonders of the new world” (or whatever it is they are calling them now!).

p.s.s. Now the places to go down there are: Galapagos Islands and Easter Island - Inshalla I'll get there next year or the year after! - you need at least a week for each (travel etc.). You can do them on your second and third trips.