South America is a continent with a colourful colonial past which has shaped the rich culture you can find across its 14 diverse countries today.
With its fascinating cities and abundance of natural beauty, it’s also one of the most up-and-coming travel destinations in recent years, especially for backpackers looking for authentic cultural experiences, outdoor adventures and plenty of fun party hostels.
Brazil is the largest and probably the most famous country in the region, with the exciting seaside city of Rio de Janeiro and its annual carnival – the biggest of its type in the world.
But there’s plenty more to do in South America than celebrating carnival in Brazil.
Colombia is somewhere I was fortunate enough to explore slowly over two fantastic months. There are so many amazing places to visit in Colombia, from the colourful Spanish Colonial City of Cartagena to the hipster vibe of Medellin.
In Argentina, you’ve got the vibrant city of Buenos Aires with its unique attractions such as the unusual Tierra Santa, the world’s first Religious Theme Park and the dramatic and picturesque scenery of Patagonia which it shares with neighbouring Chile.
Plus don’t forget about the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia or trekking the famous Inca Trail in Peru.
Leaving behind the cold British Winter, I landed back in Buenos Aires with its 33 degree heat. I was staying with friends who had rented an apartment in the city and at risk of falling from one bottle of wine to another, we decided to search for an activity to distract us from the Malbec. … Read more
Slightly odd that I’m writing this from the UK…but will cast my mind back to the days of warmth… It was an early start for the trip to Mendoza. One final trip to the post office (nothing) and a mad dash to the bus station. Lesson leanrned: don’t believe that locals know what they are … Read more
I arrived in Santiago after my 23-hour bus ride (almost) without incident. ‘Almost’ in the sense that I got off the bus at a ‘pit-stop’ (I say pit as the bus terminal smelt like one) and the bus drove off with my rucksack on it. Calmly howling at the top of my voice in Spanglish … Read more
Recharging in La Paz…kind of After my Intrepid tour ended I holed up in Loki (hostel in La Paz) for a few days to recharge and catch up with myself. The potential problem was that Loki was so inviting I was at risk of never leaving. The rooms were less than a fiver a night, … Read more
The first thing I noticed about Quito is that none of the seat belts work in the taxis. But that is the least of your worries. You might think the biggest concern would be the recent politicial situation but despite the national state of emergency declared just days before we travelled, it all seems to … Read more