One month in South America- please give me advice on organizing my trip?

Question

I'll be spending six weeks already in Quito in an intensive pre-med program; I'll have the weekends free so I can visit some other places in Ecuador. Then I'll spend two weeks in the Amazon studying native medicine. After that I'll have an extra month and I really want to travel around. I'd love some advice/recommendations! Please help, I really don't know how to go about doing this. 10 points to best answer :)

I definitely want to do the ancient sites of Peru, however long is necessary to do them properly. What is the best way to visit Cuzco, Macchu Picchu, etc.? And then where else do you recommend I go? I'm willing to take a flight to another country if I need to

Just FYI I speak Spanish and French well but no Portugese, I have a fair amount of money but I'd like to keep it somewhat cheap, and I'm not picky. I want to be safe (since I'll be alone), but otherwise I'm no stranger to hostels, I'm not a snob and I'm perfectly willing to hike a lot and take public transport. (Though I do love trains) ;) While I'd love to make the most of my trip, I don't want one of those ultra-packed we'll-see-every-sight-and-then-leave kind of trips, I do want something a little more relaxed where I can really interact with people

OK I know this is a lot but I need help. Thanks!

Answer 1

if you wanna be in the better beaches in south america. come to maragarita in venezuela and Archipielago Los Roques in venezuela..in mountain come to the longest and highest fonicular in the world.. Teleferico de Merida.. lookig for it in google or wikipedia.. bye bye

Answer 2

I think I answered another question of yours, but I can give you more detail here.  Since you'll be in Ecuador, I would say the best way to get to Cuzco would be via airplane.  You can fly directly from Quito to Cuzco.  From Cuzco, you take a train to Macchu Picchu, that's the only way to get there.  I would recommend buying your train ticket to Macchu Picchu early.  Figure out when you want to go to Macchu Picchu and buy your train ticket at least 2 days before you want to leave.  There's a little town at the base of the city where you can easily find a hostel, there's a plethora.  We only stayed one night, because you can see Macchu Picchu in a day and then easily make it back to the afternoon train back to Cuzco.  The town doesn't offer much beside lodging and food.  There are two ways to get up to the top, you can take a bus which is outrageously priced compared to a normal bus fare in Peru, or you can hike up to the top.  It's up to you what you'd rather do.  I would allow at least 5 days in Cuzco/Macchu Picchu.  It's a beautiful area of the country.

I would also recommend going to Colombia.  Cartagena is a beautiful city, especially in the old city.  It's very quaint and magical. It feels like the true Colombia.  Santa Marta is also a wonderful city in Colombia along the coast.  It's a nice little town with a nice beach and plenty of lodging and restaurants.  If you like hiking, you can do a trek to Ciudad Perdida and the tourist office you sign up with is located in Santa Marta.  It's a 6-day trek throught the Colombian jungle where you end up at Ciudad Perdida which is another ancient civilization, but it's not overrun by tourists.  The only way to get there is via this trek or helicopter.  It truly is beautiful there.  You're one among maybe 20-25 people versus 500 at Macchu Picchu.  Plus, the guides are very friendly and knowledgeable and the food is good, there are natural swimming holes at every campsite that feel fantastic after a day of hiking.  You sleep in hammocks and it's just magnificent.  I couldn't recommend it more.  Plus, you'll meet lots of people from foreign countries.  If you do anything in your month of travel, I would do that.

Anyway, have a fantastic time.  I'd recommend making it out to the coast during your weekends off.  It's a great place to relax.  Montenita is especially nice.  

Answer 3

Hello,I am a hot Latin american,jajaja.

you can visit many pretty sights,the countries most turistics of Spouth america are:

colombia:San andres,Santa martha,riohacha,cartagena,bogota,medelli... cafetero,and the amazonas.

venezuela:Margaritas islands,caracas,maracaibo.

brazil:rio de janeiro,san pablo,hippanema,salvador do bahia,amazonas.

argentina:Buenos aires,Cordoba.

Now day Colombia is not dangerous,this country is a hidden paradise,I recommend to you visit Colombia.you can informnarte here:

riohacha:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riohacha

cartagena:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartagena%2...

cali:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cali

santa marta:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Marta

san andres:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Andr%C3...

Eje cafetero:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eje_cafeter...

Amazonas:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_...