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admin · Site Admin Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Posts: 24

Hi, Please use this thread to post useful info and weblinks about travel in South America. Thanks!

admin · Site Admin Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Posts: 24

Some useful weblinks:-

Go South America: travel tips, deals & info for all over the continent
http://gosouthamerica.about.com/

South American Explorers Club: one of the most trusted sources of info about South America. Includes info about jobs and volunteering, plus a magazine.
http://www.saexplorers.org/

admin · Site Admin Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Posts: 24

Some tips for traveling safely in South America:

1. When taking taxis from an airport to your hotel, travel in the more expensive airport taxis and ensure that the drivers have official identification. Never take a taxi waiting outside the airport grounds.

2. When traveling from your hotel to the airport, go with a taxi recommended by the hotel.

3. Try not to arrive in a new city or town late at night if possible.

4. Travelling in a group is better where possible.

5. Learn the basics in Spanish/Portuguese before you arrive . Don't expect that everyone will speak English.

6. Keep your valuables hidden and don't wear expensive looking jewelry.

7. Avoid going on your own to remote areas/ruins where tourist would be expected to go.

8. Talk with hotel staff or with other tourists to find out which areas are best avoided.

9. When leaving bars / clubs late at night take a taxi home no matter how close your hostel is. Outside most discos you'll find a street vendor selling cigarettes. Often these people know all the taxi drivers and can recommend a safe one.

10. When arriving in a new town, keep to your original plan and stay in the hostel that you have decided on. Don't let the taxi driver persuade you that your hostel is fully booked and that he knows a cheaper and better one. He'll be working on commission!

11. When arriving late in a new city, try to reserve your hotel in advance, preferably with a hotel that has an airport/station collection service.

12. On public transport have your day pack close to you at all times, preferably with the straps attached to you or padlocked to the luggage rack. On buses your pack will usually go outside, either on roof or in the luggage compartments. On long distance buses ask for a receipt for your bags. On shorter rides just keep an eye out each time the bus stops to off-load bags. If your bags are stolen, stay with the bus – you will probably require a declaration from the bus company accepting responsibility for the loss in order to claim any money from your insurance company.

13. If you have to leave your passport and credits cards together place the credit card in a sealed envelope and sign your name across the flap. At least when you return you’ll know for sure no-one else has been using it.

14. Leave your valuables in your hotel safe when making day trips or longer tours. Obtain a receipt not just for your money belt/wallet etc. but for its contents, with each item listed.

15. If the pavements are really crowded, especially in market areas, walk in the road.

16. If you suspect someone is following you, stop and stare them in the eye until they go. If you really get a bad feeling about a place, go with your first instincts and leave.

17. If you daypack is on your back try to walk without stopping. If you need to stop, sway your pack gently from side to side so that you can feel if anyone is tampering with it. For added safety wear it on your front.

18. Alternatively buy a cheap bag from a local shop and use that instead. In some places a daypack spells ‘tourist’

19. When putting your bag down on the floor, to take a photo or just to sit in a café, remember to put your foot through the strap. Not only will it be impossible to snatch, you also won't forget it!

20. Walk like you know where you are going! Step into cafes or shops to consult a map.

admin · Site Admin Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Posts: 24

The 3 most popular Carnivals in Brazil

Salvador:
Celebrated along 26 km of streets filled with approximately 2.2 million people. The biggest street party on Earth, and also a free giant open-air festival of Brazilian music. In Salvador it’s all about participating in Carnival, and not only watching when some of the best Brazilian bands and singers are in action. Takes place from Thursday 8 pm to Ash Wednesday 5 am.

Recife/Olinda:
Carnival in Recife and Olinda is celebrated by approximately 1.5 million people along 12 Km of streets. About 100 dolls that are 3.6-meter tall, some dating as far back as 1932, are unique to the Saturday parade in Olinda. Meanwhile, O Galo da Madrugada, which is the biggest Carnival bloco in the world, parades in Recife featuring 28 trios elétricos. One can also do a daytrip to the city of Bezerros (107 Km from Recife) to see the 100-year-old parade of Papangus on Sunday morning. From Friday 7 pm to Ash Wednesday 1 pm.

Rio:
Takes place along a 700-meter runway, also know as Sambódromo, an open-air stadium built 21 years ago to house the two-day extravaganza that dates back to 1932. About 70,000 people cheer from the grandstands. The main parade (on Sunday and Monday) consists of 6 samba schools per night with 4,500 people each, in colorful costumes and on floats; so it’s very nice for photos and video. Tends to be largely ignored by the locals. From Saturday 9 pm to Tuesday before Ash Wednesday 11 pm, although it’s a local holiday only on Tuesday.

Dangers & annoyances:
Rio - Armed robbery against foreign tourists.
Salvador – An opportunistic pickpocket putting a hand in your pockets is an annoyance that may happen while being squeezed in the middle of the crowd.
Recife - Beware of pickpockets here too. Armed robbery sometimes happens on a much smaller scale than in Rio.