South America
By maximax8
@maximax8 (31053)
United Kingdom
August 21, 2011 1:26pm CST
I traveled to Colombia earlier this summer and really liked it there. I went to Cartagena De Indias and Santa Marta. There are many other places I would like to visit in South America if I can ever afford it. Most of all I would love to go to Machu Picchu in Peru. I would like to visit my friend that lives in Chile. I am keen to visit Rio De Janeiro. If I won the lottery I would be able to afford to sail around the Galapagos Islands.
Have you ever been to any place in South America?
Why is South America less popular to visit than North America?
Do you wish to visit any places in South America?
6 responses
@marguicha (215405)
• Chile
22 Aug 11
Hi Maxine,
I live in South America, as you know, so for me it is easy to visit as air fare is less expensive.
But I don´t agree with you about the popularity of South America in relation to North America. There are many tourists that go to the US, but most of them visit just a couple of places.There are many visitors from all over the world at Disney, New York, Washington D.C. and maybe some beaches in Florida and California. It happens the same with South America. There are places that are a must for many tourists and others that they don´t visit at all.
In my country there are many tourists that come to the south to see the native forests and the glaciers. But I don´t understand why not many come to see the desert. We have the dryest desert in the world and the experience of being there is absolutly out of this world.
Rio De Janeiro is beautiful and many tourist go there for the carnival. But in all cities in Brasil they have carnivals at the same time. And going to another city or even town is more interesting as it is not a tourist show but the feeling of real people. Baia is a place worth seeing and a lot less dangerous than Rio.
In the frontier between Brasil, Argentina and Paraguay are the world´s greatests falls and the Itaupu dam, also the greatest in the world.
You were at Cartagena de Indias. Only the forts, the Inquisition building and the walls ar worth the trip even if one had no time for more.
By the way, you´d better save money soon to visit me. I have two rooms for you but I am not going to last forever, as it seems
So, hurry up!
So, hurry up!
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
23 Aug 11
I, for one, would love to visit that desert you speak of, I did a report on Chili and Peru when I was in school and learned of it. I also know that there are ruins in it, along the rivers - I think it would be SO COOL (well, in the winter anyway) to visit.
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
23 Aug 11
Hi Marguicha my dear friend. I know that you have been able to visit some of the places on my travel wish list due to you actually living in South America. I know what you mean about people visiting North America and just seeing one or a few places. I have been to California and Hawaii plus last year Canada. Cartagena De Indias is a must see destination but it is out of the way for European people. There is a budget island going from Florida and it is cheap. I had to fly from London via Madrid and Bogota. I would love to hear about Baia and have heard Rio is quite dangerous. Somewhere dangerous like Nairobi I carry a transparent plastic bag and only a daily amount of money. I have wanted to visit you for ages and will save up big as the airfare is huge. Many hugs and I hope that you are as well as possible.
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
23 Aug 11
My fear of traveling south of the U.S. border has less to do with money or crime and all to do with allergies and illness... I have tons of food allergies and if I were to get sick while traveling, I fear that I would have a hard time being properly treated because of those allergies and other problems...
For example, my mother went to Kenya, and she had to take TONS of medicine before she could go, both shots and pills - I figure with my allergies I'm never going to get to travel there...
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
25 Aug 11
Galapagos was wonderful. I hope you get to go there eventually. Other than a city tour of Quito before going to Galapagos, that is my entire South American experience. You will be pleasantly surprised at how unafraid the animals are. And hopefully (if you like to snorkel) you will get to snorkel with sea lions...
@GreenMoo (11834)
•
22 Aug 11
I've never been to South America, but it sounds tremendous and I would love to have the opportunity.
I'm glad you enjoyed your trip to Columbia. Isn't it supposed to be a dangerous place for foreigners to visit? I have a friend who's partner is Columbian and says so.
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
23 Aug 11
I hope that one day you are able to visit South America. Parts of Colombia are very dangerous and it depends which area your friend's partner came from. Cartagena De Indias is considered safe and it is popular with international tourists. I heard a few warnings about Santa Marta plus its surrounding area. However I felt safe there.
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
8 Sep 11
I have seen a lot of places thanks to national geographic channel and cable TV in general. Unfortunately I have never been to any of the places you mentioned. In fact I have never been out of my country. 
. Probably, I'll never be able to see those places but who knows?
. Probably, I'll never be able to see those places but who knows? 
@DeX0303 (50)
• Colombia
23 Mar 12
I'm from Colombia and it's a good country, u can find a lot of stuff to do in many cities and towns, i think the problem here is the bad publicity media is being giving of for decades, we have problems here like any other country but, yeah it's a third world country after all... i would to go to brazil or argentina in SA, those are great countries as well
