The Los Roques Islands are a federal dependency of Venezuela. The archipelago consists of about 350 islands, cays and islets and is hands down the most beautiful natural area in Venezuela. Being an almost untouched coral reef, the islands attract many discerning tourists, especially from Europe, which are fun to watch anchoring in their luxury yachts. The funnest thing to do is snorkel or scuba as the marine life is nothing short of spectacular.There is also great deep sea fishing for bonefish, mackerel and barracudas! A great place to check out is the sea turtle research center located on Dos Mesquises Island, its absolutely fascinating!
(Photo courtesy of Albert Caceres)
(Photo courtesy of Marianela Diaz)
(Photo courtesy of Albert Caceres)
Step into the most biodiverse place on this earth: Yusani National Park. Nestled deep in the Amazon, the park has the craziest animals I've ever seen. 105 amphibian species, 83 reptile species, 382 fish species, 567 bird species and an abundance of mammals! Combine that with an exceptional amount of flora and several uncontacted indigenous tribes and you can see why this park excites me so much! However, Yasuni National Park is threatened by oil extraction and the colonization, deforestation, illegal logging, and unsustainable hunting that accompanies oil-access routes. There are many different organizations supporting conservation efforts and I'm included a link for those interested in its conservation effort ( http://mdtf.undp.org/yasuni). Now despite the negative, this park is by far one of the most beautiful places in the world.
(Photos courtesy of Geoff Gallice)
Sip some coca tea at 11,975 ft above sea level in La Paz, Bolivia. La Paz is located in the valleys of the Andes, the city although busy offers some great spots to check out, including several cathedrals from colonial times, and the Bolivian Presidential Palace also known as the burnt palace as it has been on fire several times. Two things I found super cool when there was that water boils at 80 degrees (I was baffled) and that the La Paz Bus Station was built by Gustav Eiffel who also built the Eiffel tower. For those with a solid stomach you'll wanna hit the street vendors and try some local faves: empanadas, roasted pork sandwiches, lechon ( pig roasted on charcoal) and the fresh fruit juice stands!
(Photo courtesy of Mark Goble)
(Photo courtesy of Donvittore)
Spend your time exploring the historic neighborhood of La Candelaria, in downtown Bogota, Colombia. Declared the capital in 1538, Bogota grew around La Candelaria. A mix of yummy cafes, cobble stoned streets, 400 year old church and colonial homes it really is a true contrast to the high rises in the background. You'll want to visit the museums, especially the gold museum, as well as the libraries. Every Friday night and Sunday night Avenida Septima is closed and you can see all kinds of street performers, live music, and magic shows, its really fun especially if you don't mind crowds. Don't forget to take pics of the eccentric street names found on picturesque signs at every corner, I printed them and gave them away as querky souvenirs!
Go on the hike of a lifetime in Torres del Paine National Park, in the south of the Patagonian region of Chile. Named for the three immense rock towers that dominate the landscape, the park is filled with mountains, valleys, a glacier and an abundance of vividly colored lakes mostly due to rock flour suspended in their waters. You'll want to hike the W route, whose path lets you see the Grey Glacier, beautiful views of the snow covered mountain summits, and of course the rock towers. I don't recommend going off the path whatsoever, as it can get real easy to lose your bearings and it is also prohibited. The best time to go is between December and February during the southern summer, the weather is at its best and daylight hours are very long given the extreme southern latitude.
I could never talk about South America without talking about Rio! Carnaval, Sugarloaf and Corcovado Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, Copacabana beach, are all iconic of the Marvelous City. Alot of ppl think that Rio de Janeiro is the capital of Brazil, however it lost its title in the 60s to Brasilia. I have to recommend going during Carnaval because it really is that good and you still get to enjoy all Rio has to offer. Main things that must be done: balneario beaches, the cable car on Sugarloaf, catching a soccer game at Maracana Stadium and for the adventurous paragliding.The 2016 Summer Olympics will take place in Rio, which will mark the first time a South American city hosts the event, and the city is also hosting the final match for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Walk down Avenida de Mayo in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the avenue is often compared to Madrid, Barcelona and Paris for its sophisticated buildings of Art Nouveau, Neoclassic and eclectic styles. Buenos Aires is a bustling city and is filled with fun things to do, you'll want to check a soccer game, the intense rivalry between the Boca Juniors and River Plate is an experience in itself. Argentina's national dance is the Tango, and no trip to Buenos Aires is complete without some Tango, a good place to check out is the Confiteria Idéal just off of Corrientes, near Calle Florida. Spend a night seeing what it is like to be a real gaucho, at a gaucho party you'll get to learn all about Argentina cowboys, ride horses, eat traditional gaucho foods, and drink traditional gaucho wines. Sip some Mendoza which is rated amongst the worlds most popular wine and see why Argentina is renowned for its excellent selection of wine, Anuva Wines offers 5 different wines to taste, 5 different food pairings to go with those wines, as well as a general chat about the wine culture in Argentina.
(Photo courtesy of Alexis González Molina)
(Photo courtesy of John Gilbert Leavitt)
Grab a chivito (a delicious beef sandwich filled with egg, bacon, ham, lettuce, tomato, onions, mayonnaise) and a drink of mate (a brewed caffeinated beverage) in Montevideo, Uruguay's capital. Montevideo is not a large city so it's easy to get around. You'll want to check out the Ciudad Vieja - Montevideo's old town and enjoy the colonial architecture, and the Plaza de Independecia, the square at the end of 18 de Julio Ave, the city's most important plaza. Walk the beaches along the Rambla, which follows the city's entire coastline, there are also plenty of activities: swimming, biking, fishing, even skateboarding and roller skating. Chat with the locals at La Feria Tristán Narvaja Flea Market which takes place on Sunday mornings, and vendors sell everything from t-shirts to antiques at reasonable prices, its also a great place to stock up souvenirs.
(Photo courtesy of Jikatu)
Discover the "lost city of the Incas": Machu Picchu nestled high on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru. I recommend hiking the Inca Trail which has a 2 or 4 day option, and is a great way to arrive to as you first get to see the city through the Sun Gate. Once you get there, take your time walking around, I think its much easier when you hire a guide as they provide deeper insight on the city, its geography and uses by the Inca. Make sure to pack a water bottle and snacks as once you are inside the park there is no possibility to purchase anything. Don't forget your camera: aside from the astounding ruins, there is also the beautiful natural surroundings brimming with wildlife.
(Photo courtesy of Pedro Szekely)
Head out to Chile's cultural capital, Valparaiso, yet another South American world heritage site. No trip to Valparaiso is complete without riding the 100 year old ascensores (inclining elevator) to catch breathtaking views of the city and ocean. Party down by the harbor which is said to have the best nightlife in all of Chile, meet up with students and sailors at Bar La Playa, La Piedra Feliz, El Huevo and El Bar Inglés for a rocking good time! I recommend heading to Valpo (as locals like to call it) during the last week of the year for the annual carnival. Each year a different country is featured during carnival which ends with a "New Year's by the Sea" fireworks show, the biggest in all of Latin America, attended by a million tourists who fill the coastline and hillsides with a view of the bay.
