South America Travel Guides
Explore South America with curated local travel itineraries.
2-Day Tour Around Salta, the Pretty One
This 2-day itinerary will help you to see the main attractions in the city of Salta, Argentina and some nearby places. The guide provides you with clear information about the places and activities you don't want to miss in Salta. Also included are clear tips about transportation and the best ways to move around the city. Day 1 Overview Your first day will take you to the best places in the city center! Enjoy the great architecture of the main buildings and learn about Inca culture at the Archaeological Museum. Later, take a cable car ride to San Bernardo Hill then visit a traditional handicraft market and get ready to enjoy the night with folklore at a local “peña”. Day 2 Overview During the second day, you will explore the wild nature surrounding Salta in San Lorenzo Gorge. Later, start your evening with a peaceful walk around San Martín Park and get ready to have a fun night in the famous peñas on Balcarce Street. Still have questions? If you have any doubt or need further information, just shoot me an email - it's included in the guide.
A 1-Day Foodie's Dream Tour of Arequipa
This isn't a Peruvian food tour—this is an Arequipeño food tour. The Andean city, Peru's second-largest, is known for its traditional gastronomy, which means you're basically guaranteed to never find these dishes anywhere else in the world. They're represented by a unique blend of Andean spices and European flair, crispy pork skins, local fruits, spicy peppers, doughy desserts, and potatoes served every way you could imagine. Don't expect ceviche or lomo saltado on this tour; the goal is to stick to what's local whenever possible, including historic institutions and mainstay dishes. This simple one-day walking tour will take you through the city's gorgeously preserved colonial downtown and through the beautiful lookout of nearby Yanahuara, all while making sure you're eating Arequipa's best offerings. We also eschew most of the conventional top-rated TripAdvisor restaurants—they're expensive touristy nonsense, and not really representative of the city's decades-old purveyors of desserts, coffee, and soups. If you want the real deal, read on. What will you eat in Arequipa? A complete 12-hour itinerary—two breakfasts, lunch, and dinner, with desserts and drinks in between. The best spots for local specialties such as rocoto relleno , chupe de camarones, and adobo. Unique local twists on South American classics, including Arequipeño tamales and lime-spiced empanadas. Hand-rolled tea leaves, acclaimed coffee, craft beer, and the best spots for Andean corn beer, chicha. Desserts abound: clove-spiced ice cream, sugar-dusted alfajores, and freshly fried buñuelos . What does this Arequipa itinerary include? Restaurants and food stalls you won't find on Lonely Planet—some don't even have addresses. A good balance of popular (though authentic) restaurants along with places where you're guaranteed to be the only foreigner. The city's one restaurant that must not be missed. A guide to local ingredients, meal etiquette, and gastronomic history. The best times to eat to avoid the
An Insider's Guide to the Best of Buenos Aires in 3 Days
This itinerary is meant to give you an "insider's look" into Buenos Aires. You will see and experience the absolute musts and highlights of any first timer's visit to the the city, but you will not be steered toward any tourist traps (or anywhere that any self-respecting "Porteno" would not want to go themselves). Specifically, this guide will help you explore Buenos Aires through the "foot and mouth" approach - long, guided walks through the city's trendy and traditional neighborhoods, broken up by sampling the city's finest foods with options for every budget. Who is this guide for? The curious traveler who wants to see and experience the absolute highlights of Buenos Aires, but also wants to get off the tourist trail to experience the city "like a local" Why You Should Buy The Guide Saves you time by not needing to do additional research on Buenos Aires. Saves you money by giving specific instructions on how to use public transportation. Gives you options for every budget and tells you what's worth splurging on and what's not! Keeps you from wasting time at the sights and places that aren't worth seeing and no local "Porteno" would ever dare to take you! What does the itinerary include? 40-page PDF document Numerous pictures and maps of key areas, neighborhoods, landmarks and the absolute best places to eat and drink My contact information if you need anything else or have any other questions while in Buenos Aires. Itinerary Table of Contents: How to Use This Guide Transportation Tips on getting around Buenos Aires Restaurants -- General recommendations on finding great places to eat The 3-day highlights itinerary -- I provide a detailed itinerary with activites, times and specific instructions. Other Places to See -- If you've got extra time in Buenos Aires, I highlight and recommend different areas that could be added onto this 3-day itinerary. About the Author -- Information about myself and how to contact me if you have additional questions. Sights & plac
Arequipa - A 2-Day Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
Arequipa is Peru's second largest city but despite its size, the colonial core is compact and easily walkable, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. From the imposing cathedral to the many historic mansions, the building material of choice is sillar, a white stone quarried from the lower slopes of the nearby volcanoes. The most famous of these is El Misti, which has provided a commanding backdrop to many a photograph. Unsurprisingly, Arequipeños are fiercely proud of their city and its long history. Founded back in 1540, the city has such a strong identity that other Peruvians claim you need a different passport to get in. In reality, it's an easy flight from Lima or Cusco and the perfect addition to a Peruvian vacation. It's the perfect city in which to linger. Admire the Baroque carvings on the plentiful stone mansions, take a stroll around the vividly coloured Santa Catalina Convent or go and visit Juanita, sacrificed by the Incas over five centuries ago but only discovered in 1995. Go in June to watch the city's schools and clubs take over the main square to create artworks in sand and flowers for Corpus Christi or time your visit to coincide with the festivities celebrating Arequipa Day in mid-August. The city has a thriving restaurant scene, which will delight foodies, offering local specialties like Rocoto Relleno (spicy stuffed peppers), Chupe de Camarones (shrimp stew), and Queso Helado (frozen cheese). Numerous cafes and bars invite you to while away your time relaxing and chatting with friends. One thing's for certain, in the place that calls itself the city of the eternal spring, you won't want to leave. This two-day itinerary provides the perfect introduction to this delightful city for a first-time visitor. It points you to the city's main sights, leading you around the historic centre, uncovering the best views, and showing you where to catch a colectivo to get out into the surrounding countryside. Whether you only have a couple of days before head
Buenos Aires Best Kept Secrets: 2-Day Itinerary
Buenos Aires, the name evokes images of tango, steak and fútbol. But there is so much more to this rich and beautiful city that goes beyond any tourist brochure. Truth be told, there is something for everyone whether you are a nature lover or a tango aficionado. Most people know where to find Evitas grave in the Recoleta Cemetary but not everyone can say that they've been to see "Floralis Generica" (a giant metal flower that opens and dawn and closes at sunset), the Botanical gardens or even the Evita Museum. And where in the world is Parque Tres de Febrero and what exactly is it? The itinerary consists of a balanced mix of museums, popular attractions, parks and hidden gems that most tourists miss as well as an appendix full of secrets about the city that only an expat would know. There are even places on the itinerary that were a surprise to my Argentine friends who are native to Buenos Aires that they didn't even know about. The added bonus to this itinerary is that a good amount of the attractions are not only fantastic but free as well :) When I first landed in this city in 2009, it was then that I realized how rich, complicated, and fascinating Buenos Aires was. Selecting the right guide to take with me before I left home made all the difference and I saw and experienced things that went beyond cliché tourist traps. My guide kept me busy every single day for a whole 6 wks for hours and hours per day. Because of that experience, I have always valued and understood the power of a good guide and when my turn came, I wanted to use my knowledge of the city to make sure that others are spending less and having more fun than they could possibly dream of in a city that never sleeps.....
Cusco and the Sacred Valley - a five-day itinerary for a first-time visitor
Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, is Peru's top visitor destination. Around two million foreign visitors travel to this part of South America annually, with numbers steadily growing year on year. Aside from nearby Machu Picchu, the jewel in Peru's tourist crown by some considerable margin, there are enough historic and cultural attractions in the Cusco area to keep visitors occupied for weeks. Cusco, with its colonial architecture set around characterful squares, warrants a whole trip in itself. The historic city is centred on the bustling Plaza de Armas. The imposing cathedral and its tiny neighbour, the Iglesia del Triunfo, face off against the Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus, built by the Jesuits to rival their Catholic counterpart. The most important temple of the Inca Empire, Koricancha, occupies a prime location on Avenida El Sol, just a short walk from the plaza. Neighbourhoods such as San Blas, with steep cobbled streets packed with cafes, bars and galleries, have much to delight tourists. Higher still, exploring the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman, with its enormous blocks of stone and impressive Inca engineering, is a must on every visitor's itinerary. But that's not all. Cusco is a short drive away from the Sacred Valley, crammed full of Inca archaeological sites amidst stunning highland scenery. The agricultural terraces and storehouses of Ollantaytambo offer a fascinating glimpse into the everyday life of the Incas. The valley is settled and farmed to this day and the bustling markets at Pisac and Chinchero draw thousands seeking the perfect souvenir to take home. Therein lies the problem: there's so much to see that careful planning is essential. Knowing what to leave out and what not to miss is crucial to making the best of your time here. Lesser known attractions such as the circular terraces of the Inca’s agricultural laboratory at Moray or the incredible salt pans, the Salineras de Maras, are often overlooked as the tour buses hurtle pas
Little Known Lima 3-Day Tour
If you're traveling to Peru, don't be so quick to cross Lima off your list. This megacity holds many gems for tourists; you just need someone to show you around! My 3-day itinerary takes you to 5 of the hottest districts in Lima and introduces you to the best of Lima´s underappreciated attractions. Sights & places you'll see with this itinerary: Visit catacombs in Central Lima! Try some authentic chifa in Chinatown. See the largest fountain in the world at the Magic Water Circuit. Walk through pre-Colombian ruins juxtaposed against Lima´s city skyline in Miraflores. Go dancing at a bar named for a Beatles' album. Shop till you drop for handicrafts near Parque Kennedy. Visit Lima's olive grove park in the San Isidro district. Eat fresh ceviche at Islandia. Explore the art galleries and beaches in Lima´s bohemian district, Barranco. Learn how to master the Peruvian combi system like a local. Plus a lot more! The Main Focus of this itinerary: Showing tourists exactly what Lima´s 43 districts have to offer. Providing directions to facilitate taxi, combi, or walking transportation. Lima can be an intimidating city to get around; this guide includes map and pictorial aids to help you find your way! Why You Should Buy The Guide Saves you time: no need to do any research on Lima! Saves you money by advising you how much cab and combi rides should cost so you don´t get ripped off! The destinations have been carefully selected to suit the young, independent (or small group), budget traveler. What does the itinerary include? PDF document Numerous pictures pointing to key landmarks to help you get where you need to go, as well as maps for nearly every main area of the city. My contact information if you need anything else or have any other questions while in Lima. Itinerary Table of Contents: How to Use This Guide Transportation Tips on getting around Lima Hotels--I tell you the best districts to plan your stay. The 3-day itinerary -- The detailed itinerary keeps you busy f
Sights & Sounds of São Paulo - 3-Day Itinerary
São Paulo is one of the 5 biggest cities in the world, so if you’re coming to São Paulo, you need to know the best of where to go and what to see. This is exactly what this itinerary provides! You’ll get 46 pages information including travel tips from a local’s point of view, hot spots, eating recommendations as well as loads of maps and directions detailing where to go and how to get there. The itinerary provides heaps of insights, tips, advice and up to date information you don’t usually get from regular travel guides because it was written by a non-native who has become a local after living and travelling in and around the city for many years now. The itinerary is intended for people of all ages and interests whether you’re travelling by yourself, with friends, with a partner or a family. However it is probably more suited to people between the ages of 20 – 40 who aren’t averse to walking a lot, those who are travelling on a budget and those are interested in seeing as much of the city as possible. The destinations in the itinerary cater for those interested in Brazilian culture, history, art, music, night life and those who wish to sample the innumerable delights of the culinary kingdom known as São Paulo. The itinerary mainly focuses on the popular places of São Paulo as advised by locals, with a few hidden gems of my own selection thrown into the mix. You’ll get to see the glitz and glamour of Oscar Freire in Jardims, the enormous Parque Ibirapuera, São Paulo Zoo (containing around 3500 different types of animals in an environment mirroring their original habitat), Paulista Ave, Itaim Bibi (the new Paulista), the urban bohemia of Vila Madalena as well as many historical churches in the centre of the city, beautiful historical and modern art galleries, graffiti hot spots as well as many local art and craft markets which regularly appear throughout the city. All destinations have recommended restaurants, bars and cafes as well as lots of detailed maps and direct