What is the best country(s) in South America to visit?

Question

I'll be goign to South America for 2 weeks, we would like to stay in only 1 country (maybe 2 countries) so we can get the most out of it . I heard Peru and Argentina are the MUST go countries, please share your experiences:

1) what country would you strongly recommend?
2) what was your favorite country/ city(s) and why?
3) What country or city you wouldn't recommend?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

1) Brazil
2) Rio de Janeiro
3) Orlando Florida

Peru and Argentina both have some great places to visit, but IMHO Brazil has a whole lot more and its a whole lot more fun. Of course Brazil is also a whole lot larger, which can mean travel times and expenses are higher, but the sheer wealth of amazing natural wonders and seductively suave cities is a very tough travel proposition to beat.

Source(s):

* Best places to visit in South America: http://www.epinions.com/content_53618033…

Answer 2

My favourite countries = Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru.
Must see things: Iguazu Falls in Argentina.
I guess you would want to go to Machu Picchu in Peru.
La Paz in Bolivia is must see.
Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia is awesome.
Isla Ballestas and Paracas in Peru is a great and inexpensive day.
That's my 2 cents worth.

Source(s):

My site and experiences:
http://www.southamericanpostcard.com/

Answer 3

Brazil
It is not the tow that Rio de Janeiro was chosen to base the soccer World cup and the Olympic Games of 2016, is not only Rio de Janeiro, Iguaçu Falls the waterfall is only seen on the Brazilian side, being looked on the Argentinean side doesn't see her anything. Itaipu the largest hydroelectric of the world is a show the part.
Has forest near the beach, has forest near the river, has cliffs together of the sea, has a desert full of lakes of drinking water.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUgCHXzQg…

Answer 4

Hi and congratulations on wanting to go to Latin America. I would have to recommend either Chile or Argentina as have lived in both.

I would have to say if it is your FIRST time going, why not go to Buenos Aires, coined "the Paris of South America" for a few reasons. Consisting of incredible food, beautiful architecture, and wonderful exchange rates, certain things in the city of "Good Air" (literal translation of Buenos Aires) never ceased to amaze me: pizza that actually tasted like pizza; bodies of water that didn`t smell like sewage; charming couples holding hands in public instead of feverishly sucking on each others faces, and people speaking a form of Spanish that I could actually understand! You will be able to visit (and cross :) the world's widest road on Avenida 9 de Julio. Careful though, driving in BA is crazy - they have their own system and rules including driving on the lines instead of in between them. Don't worry, their taxis, or 'remises' are very safe and friendly and can take you everywhere. As you have probably heard, they are known for their beef and wine but you might have to get used to their late hours. Restaurant are full around 11pm-12am here compared to the US typical hours of 6-8pm. (some OPEN at 11pm) Nightlife is amazing boasting some of Latin America's top discos and bars. The city has incredible museums and streets like Recoletta that mimic those of Paris with sidewalk cafes and preserved historic buildings throughout the city. You will catch a glimpse of one or two dog walkers with 15 dogs in tow, which is common. The Palermo Park is gorgeous and mimic's New York's Central Park. Tango shows are also a common sight on Recoletta and San Telmo streets. On the down side, crime is higher in BA than in Santiago but crime is prevalent in most large cities.

For comparison purposes, a little background is necessary. First, Chile is one of the most expensive countries in Latin
America; the American dollar won't take you very far here. It is also a very isolated: the Pacific Ocean lies to the west, Antarctica to the south, the Andes mountain chain to the east, and one of the driest deserts in the world, the Atacama, to the north. Consequently, Chilean culture has developed largely on its own. Emblematic of this uniqueness is the rapid-fire, slang-heavy Spanish of Chile. It is often difficult for natives of other Spanish-speaking countries to understand a Chilean. As many people will agree, the food lacks a certain something in Chile. For example, ordering a pizza will get you little
more than tomato paste on a glorified piece of bread. Your choice of cheeses at the supermarket is frequently between one in red packaging and another in blue packaging. Water does not figure prominently into the urban landscape of Santiago.

In Santiago, there are noticeable differences. The smog and miles upon miles of continuous arid sprawl are difficult not to notice, but one has to remember that even the least attractive cities have good qualities. For example, Santiago has great empanadas! And to my disappointment, I never once saw a street vendor selling sopapillas in Buenos Aires. In many ways, Buenos Aires will always surpass Santiago. Antiquated European architecture will always be lacking in Santiago.

Those who live in BA or "Portenos" are known to be a bit arrogant compared to residents of Santiago. Both are very unique and are definitely worth a visit. One can only gauge a place by their own opinion, however. :)

I have to say there is NO country I wouldn't recommend - each has its own unique charms. Keep in mind things like crime are prevalent EVERYWHERE. I would even recommend Antigua, Guatemala which many people in the US think is extremely unsafe due to a stigma. It's one of the most romantic niches in Central America. :)

Have a great time whatever you decide!

Source(s):

Lived in both countries

Answer 5

Well my friend... I'm French and I'm in Colombia. You can judge the condition of a country if haven't been there, my Ecuadorian friend.
It's Colombia because it has: The most beautiful river Caño Cristales, Colombia has the second largest biodiveristiy, in the world, because it has two jungles, el Darién and el Amazonas, they have plains in the east of the country, they have many valleys so the skylines are amazing, they have el Cabo de la Vela, a desert in la Guajira, that's the northes point in Colombia, they have the Pacific region the most humid in the world, they have San Andres and Providencia the most island beach in the Colombia (The sea has seven colours) they have the most beautiful beaches, in Santa Marta, and San Andrés, El Cabo de la Vela is also amazing. Shopping in Bogotá and Medellín, is great to go to Bogotá (I'm here) Because it's a colonial city, with amazing backgrounds, but it's aslo modern, and host the Shopping mall Santa F´e one of the largest in Latin America, and Unicentro another one widely visited, bit htere are even more: Atantis, Unicentro de occidente, etc... Also you search for friendly people, in Bogotá I have been trated as a god, they love, and I love every single friend I have here, I stayed here because of them, you forget, the rest of Colombia when you meet them. And Colombia has many different cultures throughout all the country, for example: Costeños: They make the Barranquilla Carnival, they are joly, and have typical dances but I don't know the. Sorry!!
The guakira, is indigenous of Wayuu people, and they are very tradittional, in bogotá is more alike Europe, because their culture is in the colonial, streets, in the treatment of the people, and the spanish repercution they have there. So you find each two year the Festival Iberoamericano, the largest in the wolrd.(Really) And the education in Bogotá... well maybe if you look up in google for the Latin American Athens (Atenas suramericana) Bogotá ist's the best because it hosts, 10 Universities, hundreds of theaters (Colon theatre of Bogotá), hundreds of museums (Gold museum) etc.... Colombian education ranks in the best 50 in all the world in 179 countries.

It's not unsafe, most of the people think is unsafe, but I have lived 9 years here, and I'm OK, Caracas is even ranked the most dangerous in Latin America but the people go there. Don't worry you're safe.

Ifthis didn't convinced you I have a video (I made it!) it's about Latin America it has the mos impressive pictures in Latin America: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pPoF68uD…

In Colombia a put the Church of Lourdes (Iglesia de Lourdes)
Caño Cristales (The river with 5 colours (I'ts true))
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (The 5th largest peak in the world)
San Andres (The sea has seven colours)
El Cabo de la Vela (Personally my favourite)


Colombia has eveyrthing the Andean mountains, the San Andres and Providencia Island, Malpelo and gorgona in the pacific are considered by someonce as the best scuba-diving place. THey have Forests (Bogotá suburbs), Deserts (Guajira and Tatacoa) , Mountain ranges (Andes), Bogotá is the 90 most expensive city in the world, so it's very cheap and the quality of living is one of the best in Latin America, is the 6th GDP in South America after, Buanos Aires, Sao Paulo, Santiago, Belo Horizonte, and all of them are very developped. They have 2 coasts (Caribbean and the Pacific) PLains, in the east, there are even xtreme sports in San Gil Santander, is like an aventurous city, and also there is Cartagena the Indias UNESCO declared it are patrimonous. They even have snowy mountain in Los Nevados Parks, and the Coffee is the most delicious in the world. And... I would rught much more but I'm tired but thre is alo more to see.

Don't go neer to Ibagué. It's full of whores, and it's really unsafe.

Source(s):

I'm French living in Colombia.

Answer 6

Brazil or Chile