South America travel tips for Australians

[AFF Editor]

South America is becoming an increasingly popular destination for Australians, but there's less information available about planning a trip there compared to some of the more commonly visited spots.

We've put together a comprehensive guide to help Australians thinking about visiting South America, which you can read here:

The Ultimate Guide to Visiting South America

South America is becoming a more and more popular destination for Australian travellers. Our guide explains what you need to know if you're thinking about visiting this fascinating continent, including lots of practical travel tips.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

In the following article, Matt also shares his top 10 destination recommendations in South America:

10 Places Worth Visiting in South America

South America is a huge and diverse continent! To help you decide where to visit, here are Matt's personal top 10 destinations worth visiting in South America.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

In this thread, you're welcome to comment on either article, ask questions and share your own tips about travel to South America!

 

[RooFlyer]

A vote for Cartagena on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. Fantastic Old Town and the best food I've struck in South America (just pipping the steaks in Argentina).

 

[SYD]

Flying tips
QFF Gold and higher can access LA lounges in Sth Am when flying LA (under a reciprocal arrangement even though LA left OW).

If buying a fare between Oz and SCL but planning to visit multiple places it pays to play around with the multi-city search tool. An open jaw booking could save a few bucks and then fill in the gaps with points flights or seperate tix.

For QFF rewards flights, although you can’t search and book directly some one way flights originating in ports other than SCL, you can readily check availability by searching SCL-XYZ-SCL or open jaw (see below*).

*the fast ferry between Colonia, Uruguay and BA takes about 1 hr.

Cash/Card
In Uruguay, no cash required. This time last year we used CC or DC everywhere because foreign cards receive an automatic partial rebate of local sales taxes for hotels, car hire and restaurants. Apparently it’s a post COVID thing and has been extended (but check if planning to visit).

Also, some ATMs in Uruguay dispense crisp new USD$50** bills. You’ll probably pay an ATM fee but if Argentina is your next port of call, you’ll still save a lot of money converting those USD to Peso (as per the article).
**they say US$100 bills are best but the 50s seemed to work fine.

Last year, we wander along Calle Florida, asked the Cambios for their rates before finding a small exchange place in a small side mall (not an official place) but had a slightly better rate than the randoms on the street.

Wineries
If you like Argentinian Malbec, add Mendoza to the places to visit.

HOWEVER, unlike Australia you generally can’t just rock up to cellar doors in Argentina and Chile and expect to do a wine tasting. Most require a pre-booked tour. You literally get a tour of the winery before doing the tastings. There are some exceptions but you need to do some research. I’ve self drove around Mendoza and out from Santiago but both pre COVID so not sure what they’re doing at the moment.

Food
Santiago isn’t as glamorous looking as BA, but they do have a much wider range of good food options (including excellent seafood). I do enjoy a good Argentinian or Uruguayan steak washed down with a local red but you can’t do it everyday for a couple of weeks!

Visas
Surprised @RooFlyer didn’t mention this! Don’t leave your Chile visa to the last minute.

Thread 'Obtaining a visa for Chile'

Dec 4, 2023

I started another thread about what I saw as the bizarre process for applying for a visa for Chile. Starting this new one as I think it best to have a clear explanation of the process post application that I and others have experienced. One was my Travel Agent's boss, who had exactly the same experience as me (even down to payment issue - see below) and someone else here on AFF.

I lodged my application for multiple entry to the Melbourne Consulate on-line in mid-August, for travel in early December. This was probably too early - I'd say 2 months prior would be best. Got an email...

• RooFlyer
• Replies: 46
• Forum: Passports, Visas, Immigration & Customs

• 
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[RooFlyer]

Surprised @RooFlyer didn’t mention this! Don’t leave your Chile visa to the last minute.

Its linked to in Matt's article

Oh, yes, the malbecs in Mendoza and pinot noirs at nearby Valle de Uco - how could I forget! Good comment about how to visit wineries.

The Argentine 'Lake Country' just east of the Chilean border NE of Puerto Montt is beautiful and easily accessible (Parque Nacionale Nahuel Huapi) . You can take hire cars across the border, but it takes a little bit of preparation and paperwork. JohnM and I drove across from Chile to the Lake Country, then up the eastern side of the Andes to Mendoza and back to Santiago (that link). Fabulous countryside.

 

[anat0l]

Marking this for reading later. Besides Antarctica (which requires serious money), South (and central) America is the only continent I haven't visited yet.

 

[bPeteb]

The north of Brazil is beautiful. We flew up to Sao Luis (one of Brazil's more dangerous cities we found out after getting picked up by our guide at the airport) and then travelled to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park - Wikipedia. Just amazing.

We also loved Sao Paulo, really loved Brasilia and went to the Pantanal, driving from Cuiaba.

We packed a lot in those rushed two weeks. We'd already brushed along the coast of Brazil on a cruise years before - Recife, Salvador and Rio.

We built a much longer trip around an Intrepid tour centred around walking the Inca Trail. Started and ended in BA and loved it. Lima was a gem. The Peruvian Amazon amazing. Cusco spectacular as was La Paz in Bolivia. Lake Titicaca was somewhere I'd wanted to see since seeing a black and white National Geo special as an ,10yo where Jacques Costeau dived the lake.

We very much need to go back and this time it will be Chile.

 

[LAH]

Looking really forward to adding more to this discussion when I have a bit more time. But, wanted to post a little tip here to do with areas to visit wineries. So, believe it or not, Bolivia has some really good wines which they export. Visit Tarija - not know by many people at all, but a real gem. Getting to Tarija is the issue. There's no short way! Flights in and out are either from Santa Cruz, Cochabamba or La Paz : all airports in Bolivia. My preferred way : but it isn't easy however you will be rewarded with spectacular views, is from Jujuy(or Salta), northern Argentina, to the Bolivian border by bus : BIG TIP : break the journey and stay in Humahuaca for the night. Arrive at the border town of La Quiaca, and cross by foot to the border town of Villazon, Bolivia. From Villazon it is about 4 hours by bus (not for the fainthearted) to Tarija. Dependinng on what time you arrive in La Quiaca, you may need to spend the night there. There are simple but decent hotels. *Note : I have never organised a taxi/private driver between Villazon and Tarija, but I am sure there are agencies in Tarija that will send a driver to the border. Yes, this probably all sounds a bit hard, but, if you have time, it is worth it. By the way, before you travel from Jujuy or Salta, you can visit the vineyards around Cafayate, and stay in some gorgeous small haciendas. Buen Viaje!

 

[kpc]

Having previously been to Sth America 5x and planning to spend 2 months next year in Sth America, will watch this thread with interest, and add from time to time.

 

[Traveln]

We'll be going to South America on a tour for 20 days and then add on 3 nights in the Amazons - Peru. After that, fly to Cusco for a few extra nights. Then fly back to Santiago the day before leaving for Sydney. Can we rely on the Latam flights not to be changed/cancelled? Otherwise we may have to look at going back to Santiago a bit sooner which we'd rather not do. The internal flights were booked separate from the Qantas return flight which means Qantas is not obliged to wait for any internal flight we booked if there are any changes. Has anyone had any issues with Latam internal flights regarding delays/changes etc?

 

[SuePa]

I loved South America! I spent a total of 18 weeks there, but that was in 2000 and 2004, so things are probably quite different now. I went to most of the places mentioned by Matt, but wasn't really interested in the Galapagos Islands (weird, I know ) and it wasn't safe to travel to Colombia at that time.

I'd add the Atacama Desert and the Pantanal, an enormous wetland area located mostly in Brazil, to Matt's list.

 

[anat0l]

Probably should have asked upfront - for all posting here that have been to South America before, do you speak Spanish or Portuguese?

Matt's article does touch on this issue, but interested to hear other experiences.

I am Asian descent; no idea what are the ethnic backgrounds of all who have posted here, but if I go to South America (actually, pretty much anywhere in the world), I have an instant gringo tag in bright paint all over me.

 

[SYD]

Probably should have asked upfront - for all posting here that have been to South America before, do you speak Spanish or Portuguese?

Matt's article does touch on this issue, but interested to hear other experiences.

I am Asian descent; no idea what are the ethnic backgrounds of all who have posted here, but if I go to South America (actually, pretty much anywhere in the world), I have an instant gringo tag in bright paint all over me.

We did the grand tour in 2001 (ticked off many of the bucket list items on the list) but didn’t have a word of Spanish (or Portuguese) between us.

Which we did find a bit daunting so I went to a specialist TA to cobble together the internal flights, accommodation and a “meet and greet” / Transfer in a few places.

That trip inspired us to learn Spanish and we’ve been back to Sth Am many times (and Mexico, Central America, Cuba and of course Spain).

Over the years, there’s a lot more English spoken - especially in tourist areas but a few key phrases can come in handy or at least help you navigate signs, menus* etc

*menus can be fun. Google translate won’t necessarily know each type of fish by its local name or some idiomatic phrase used to describe some secret recipe…

 

[anat0l]

Oh, another thing I should add: transport.

Apparently, I've read enough Wikivoyage to find that riding taxis in almost any South American city or town is only for the brave or the stupid (and the linguistcially well armed).

How did people manage as far as, especially, transfers to and from the airport, especially if you arrived or departed at weird hours?

 

[SuePa]

Probably should have asked upfront - for all posting here that have been to South America before, do you speak Spanish or Portuguese?

Matt's article does touch on this issue, but interested to hear other experiences.

I am Asian descent; no idea what are the ethnic backgrounds of all who have posted here, but if I go to South America (actually, pretty much anywhere in the world), I have an instant gringo tag in bright paint all over me.

I have tried learning other languages, but just don't have the knack for it. I'm always embarrassed when I visit other countries and do my best to, at least, remember hello, please and thank you.
On my first trip to SA (10 weeks ), I picked up some basic phrases and found enough English speaking locals to be able to manage. Many children were learning English and wanted to chat, so I think English would be more widespread in many places now.

 

[SYD]

Oh, another thing I should add: transport.

Apparently, I've read enough Wikivoyage to find that riding taxis in almost any South American city or town is only for the brave or the stupid (and the linguistcially well armed).

How did people manage as far as, especially, transfers to and from the airport, especially if you arrived or departed at weird hours?

It can vary. Uber operates in several places, so that can take out some guess work.

Generally, driving in many of these countries is actually ok. I’ve rented hire cars in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.

I’m heading to China soon and will have to do the old print the hotel address in Mandarin before I leave trick. No Google translate - no Google…

 

[JohnM]

For many years I included S America on my annual DONEx. It worked nicely when QF flew to SCL and LAN was in OneWorld.

I've been to Chile, Argentina (both many times and top to bottom), Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru. I've now done as much as I would like and age moves things along, but over many years it, like Africa, was a favourite destination.

Just do it, if you have a hankering.

I generally rented a car and travelled independently, even before the days of portable GPS, and I have zero to minimal Spanish or Portuguese. No problems.

My Spanish consists of the usual hello, goodbye, please, thank you.

However, my (intentionally ) zero Espanol when I was stopped by a cop in Argy for failing to have my headlights on during the day was very helpful in avoiding a shakedown.

Mexican standoff. Me: "I do not understand what you are saying, sir." - repeatedly in measure tones, while being glared at and accused - repeatedly, of an "infracción".

El stupido Australiano 1: crooked cop 0.

Hyuk, hyuk...

 

[antycbr]

BA tips -

Uber is dirt cheap.

Go see something at the Teatro Colon - I saw the BA Philharmonic perform Gershwin. Amazing.

If you need to order food delivery download the local app and then screenshot through Google Translate and you can get delicious empanadas delivered through Pedidos Ya.

Tigre is a good and cheap day trip.

My understanding is that credit card rates have changed so that using foreign issued credit cards means you get charged a rate close enough to the cash rate that it’s not significant for small transactions.

 

[RooFlyer]

Probably should have asked upfront - for all posting here that have been to South America before, do you speak Spanish or Portuguese?

I've very many trips all over Sth America, for work & leisure over 25 years with no Spanish or Portuguese other than the basics for good manners. I can't recall any major issues. @JohnM and I broke down in a very remote area once and we managed to rustle up a lift to the nearest equally remote village, get a mechanico to come out, repair etc.

Translate apps make language a very small issue these days

Apparently, I've read enough Wikivoyage to find that riding taxis in almost any South American city or town is only for the brave or the stupid (and the linguistcially well armed).

'Bravery' has been required a couple of times; once, in Santiago the driver was on 3 devices simultaneously - had the soccer running on one, directions on another and arguing with someone on the third. We survived.

The temptation will always be to arrange a car through the hotel but in my experience these are expensive and not necessarily calmer, but I have done it on arrival a few times to avoid the taxi scrum. Uber makes it better, though.

 

[bPeteb]

Oh, another thing I should add: transport.

Apparently, I've read enough Wikivoyage to find that riding taxis in almost any South American city or town is only for the brave or the stupid (and the linguistcially well armed).

How did people manage as far as, especially, transfers to and from the airport, especially if you arrived or departed at weird hours?

Neither of us speak Spanish or Portuguese. Back in day we carried small Lonely Planet phrase books and used them.

We took taxis to and from our hotels in BA from both airports. Same in Lima. Same in each city in Brazil. We just had the hotel names in either Spanish, or Portuguese, for the trips from the airport and had our hotels book the trips to the airport.

 

[significance]

Oops! Thanks for mentioning yellow fever vaccination! We are visiting the Amazon in Ecuador very soon and had already seen our GP and got a raft of vaccinations, but for some reason, he missed mentioning yellow fever!

Our flight into Ecuador is into Quito, which is in the safer part of the country, but our flight out is from Guayaquil, which is in the "reconsider your need to travel" part. Something for other travellers to watch out for! We are a bit nervous but will only be passing through on the way to the international airport there.