Welcome to the South America branch!

Welcome to the Thorn Tree's South America branch.

The countries covered by this branch are: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile & Easter Island, Colombia (note spelling), Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands, Falkland Islands, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela.

We hope you find plenty of useful information about travelling to South America here. It is highly recommended that new users check out the some of these useful FAQ threads on this branch before posting a new thread:

• Brazil FAQ thread
• South America FAQ thread

Brazil Frequently Asked Questions

For the benefit of everyone dropping by the Brazil branch for the first time, please read this FAQ first. And I hope there can be some sort of way to moderate the thread to keep it updated and clean. I know there are some AWESOME regular contributors here who enjoy giving advice; I feel this thread can really help to condense the information available.

I'll go first, with some general thoughts from the South America FAQ. Many thank to Apollo for starting that thread and for a great idea. Hopefully we can have a similar thread for Brazil.

1) Use the "Search" function to find out if someone has already asked your question. Many questions have already been asked before, and regular contributors to the forum get tired of answering the same thing over and over again.

2) Read a few pages of posts. The most frequent... more »

Peruvian

Hi all, I have poor internet access and trying to book a flight with Peruvian. I gather there is no Gringo tx but is there an "airport use" tax from Lima to Cusco? It mentions this in t&cs but cant be sure. ANy help great!

Amazon tour ideas

Me and my partner are doing some travels in South and Central America next year in April and May. One must for us is to see the Amazon Rainforest. Covering such vast lands, I would like to know if there is a particular place where the most/best tours run. I have seen the majority of tours happening in Peru, Ecuador and Manaus. I would imagine that Manaus is the best being in the heart of the Amazon but I may not be correct! Any advise on this would be useful as not really sure where to start as my knowledge is limited on what companies to go with and where particularly in the Amazon to visit.

Many thanks, Donna

Does anyone know the agency Kipachi Peru Travel? Feedback please!!

Hi,

I'm going to South America soon and am looking to book the Salkantay Trek to Macchu Picchu. I might use a company called Kipachi Peru Travel. yet I can't find reviews for them anywhere.

Has anyone have some feedback for me? Are they trustworthy and organized?

Please help.

Thank youuuu :)

The road from Tarija to Sucre: Any different from on to Tupiza?

Hi all

Currently I'm in Tarija in Bolivia.

I've taken my fair share of very dodgy bus rides in places like Laos and Indonesia - drivers going ridiculously fast on old buses/minibuses on roads with sheer mountainous drops. And I have a fairly high tolerance as a result.

However, I've heard some particularly bad things about the road from Tarija to Tupiza. Night buses in particular.

Now - I'm not doing that. But I am going from Tarija to Sucre (night bus). And looking at a map it seems to go partly the same route.

We go down Route 1 to Potosi. Route 20 comes off part of the way along - which goes on to Tupiza

My question: Is the road from Tarija to Potosi as bad as the road from Tarija to Tupiza. Or is the dodgiest part the road we don't do - route 20?

Anyone done the road from Tarija to Sucre by night?

k more »

Paraty over Christmas and New Year

Hi,

My girlfriend and I are travelling around Brazil in December and January. We are thinking of basing ourselves in Paraty for a while. Is it possible to stay here and venture out for day trips around hot spots? We dont want to go onto Ilha Grande over New Years as we have heard from locals that is it mayhem and not so nice. This was our original plan but are now weighing up our options to stay somehwere and trip around.

Anyone have any good suggestions? Anyone have a cracking place to spend NYE?

Cheers
Aussieteachers

Paraguay visa for US citizen in Posadas

Has anyone obtained a visa for Paraguay in Posadas, Argentina for entry through Encarnación? If so, how long did the process take? Some of what I've read said as little as one hour, and I'm hoping that's really the case.

(Cross-posted in Argentina forum.)

I need help please.

I'm Libyan and I tried to get Argentinian tourist visa in argentina embassy in libya but I got refused ? What I should do ? Can I inter argentina by other visa ? By American Latin visa maybe ???

train for Machu Picchu ?

I ha ve my tickets for Machu Picchu on June 13, I will leave Cusco on June 12 and intend to spend the night of the 12 in Aguas Calentes.
How can I reach Aguas Calientes ? I think the best way is to take the train from Ollantayambo? Is it easy to go from Cusco to Ollantayambo ? How long does it take ? At what time does it get dark ? ( for the time of the train ) Which train is it nice to take ? Better book ? on internet ? PERU Rail or INCARAIL , or just walk in at the train station ?.
For Machu Picchu site ? necessary to get a guide ? If yes do we just walk to the site and get one at the entrance ?
When going back what would be the nice way to see the rest of the sacred valley for 2 of 3 days ?
Thanks for all your good advices