The Ultimate South American Trip

We had been dreaming of this trip for ages and after discussing with almost everyone we could, reading several travel blogs, watching countless videos on YouTube and reading a few books, we couldn’t believe that we were actually going to be traveling to t

We were working for months in order to plan our itinerary and no matter how much we had planned, it seemed that we would miss out something or the other and so, we had to decide and choose what’s best for our budget and the timeline we were going to be visiting which would be almost 3 months. Me and my wife are both avid travelers and the passion for explorations and adventure is no less than the other.

 

Hence, it was even more difficult as we wanted to just do everything where we decided that we would want to experience the mountains, the oceans, above and under, different terrains and landscapes, monuments, modern and ancient colonial cities, engineering and architecture, culture, the wildlife, wilderness,  deserts, adventure sports, world wonders, beaches, islands, waterfalls and more. After looking into many countries in South America where there is something you would want to see in each one, we decided to choose Argentina, Peru and Brazil where we would be able to see it all and so we did. (217)

 

We started from Argentina and travelled from down south all the way to the north, traveling the famous Ruta 40 which is almost 5200 kms on road where we explored the Patagonian region, went to see the famous Mt. Fitz Roy that we used to see in the movies, the condors, the Perito Moreno Glacier which is one of its kind, visiting the honeymoon and party paradise of Bariloche which also is the ski capital of Argentina to explore the lakes and many viewpoints which also is the Chocolate center of Argentina. We treated ourselves to Condor Resort and Spa which is one of the best luxurious places to stay in Bariloche with the lake view and best amenities. We also took a day tour cruising around the Lake Frias to reach the border of Chile and Argentina where there was a hallmark as Che Guevara had travelled through on his road trip across South America. We saw stunning landscapes, amazing sunrise, magnificent birds, a 1500 year old tree and many foxes. The foxes were so friendly that we could feed them some bread and meat. We also climbed up a hill to visit the El Bosque Tallado park which is full of sculptures and when we visited there, it was all snowy which made the place look absolutely spectacular. We also visited many ski towns as Bariloche was also a ski center.

 

We then visited Mendoza which is the wine capital of Argentina from where comes the famous Malbec. On our way we randomly visited San Rafael as we had met some traveling buddies who were willing to drop us to Mendoza. It was an unexpected gift as we got to visit some amazing places with colorful terrains that were just one of a kind. We also made it to Uspallata on the way which is the land of the highest mountain in the whole of South America, the Aconcagua where we hiked to the base came to enjoy the beauty of this great mountain. This also is the land of the Andes where the sunrise and sunset were totally out of the world. We also visited the Inca bridge which was made in the Inca times by the Incas and the architecture of the bridge how they made it as fascinating to see. We drove then over 1400m to see the cristo redentor which is placed at the border of Argentina and Chile from where could could view the pristine Andes. From there, we moved to Catamarca which was one of the highlights of our trip where we saw over 20 volcanoes, visited the incredible Pumice Field and El Penon. Took the Adobe route to understand the culture of the natives all the way to Fiambala where we visited the hot springs, it was majestic. We then went for a road trip to Ruta de los Seisimiles which was an exciting road trip where we had to reach the border of Chile by passing through many six thousanders volcanoes. Driving on the road where there was no one but us, with the guahanacas, vicuña, wild donkeys and foxes passing by where the terrains changed in every turn of the road.

 

From there on, we headed to Salta which is the remote north west of Argentina with staggering beauty with traditional colonial and indigenous towns, cactus studded landscapes and rainbow hills. We flew to Iguazu from there to catch a glimpse of the great Iguazu Falls which is the worlds largest waterfall system that stands at the border of Brazil and Argentina. It was a truly spectacular experience to witness this grandeur of nature where if there would be a natural wonders list, this would definitely be one of them. (735)

 

It was almost the end of our trip and we were heading back to Buenos Aires to meet our friend who had been guiding and supporting us on this endeavor. We visited many restaurants to enjoy the delicacies of the city and went around visiting various museums. We then went to the traditional town of El Caminito La Boca where the Spanish and the Italians had stayed in the mid 19th century which is the home of Tango. We watched many shows here and loved to see how the town was preserved as it is and has become a classical symbol till today which the tourists come to experience and enjoy.

 

After finishing our journey to all across Argentina, we left a few things for later and now we’re on our way to visit Peru, the home of Macha Pichhu, the world wonder. We were thrilled when we landed and drove a few kilometers as it all felt like home, many things, the homes and structures, looked like Nepal. We landed in Lima in the capital where we were staying at a friends home. We visited the historical sites, restaurants, night clubs and the party streets along with the beaches for a couple of days. We then headed to Paracus where we went to see the Sea lions and the penguins. We also drove around the desert and got a chance to see the flamingos which we had missed in Argentina.

 

We then flew to Cusco which is a historical masterpiece, embezzled with the colonial Spanish architecture infused with the Incas. We visited here the architectural marvel made by the Incas, in its lost city where stood the grand Macha Picchu. We visited in many other places, the moras moray, the salt flats, Qorikancha, Ollaytambo, the sacral chakra of the world which is also regarded as an energy center by the Incas and more. We also visited the city of Arequipa, Amazon where we visited the river of mirrors in the Pacaya Samiria Natural reserve, flew a plane over the Nazca lines to watch the mysterious geoglyphys made 2000 years ago and went for some adventure in the desert oasis of Huacachina.

 

It was an experience fully indulged in culture, one of the best foods we have on earth which Peru is known for, warm and kind people and mind boggling creations of the ancestors. Everywhere we went, there was cultural dance, music, art, architecture and serenity amidst the chaotic crowds of the tourists and locals who swelled in serendipity. We took a few hikes to see the rainbow mountain which was explored not far ago and Humantey lake made from glacier waters. It was mesmerizing to view these places as we were amazed by the creation of humans and nature.

 

We had all planned things perfectly and didn’t have a day to waste and now it was time for us to head on to the largest country in South America, Brazil! We landed in Rio De Janeiro, the home of another world wonder, ‘Crist the Reedemer’. As we were driving around the city, it felt like a movie, all the vegetation, beaches, the hills, people and everything have a chilling vibe where we would just fit in, a space which is open, fun and free.

 

 

When we were reading and researching about Brazil, we were very afraid as we heard many unfortunate stories about this place and had met no one, who hadn’t had a hard time there. But it wasn’t so for us. We had the best times of our life and had no issues on our travels. We visited the Sugarloaf Mountain, Museum of Tomorrow, Copacabana beach, the Real Gabinete Portugues de Leitura, Metropolitan Cathedral and more in the city. Holding our Caipirinha, we engrossed ourselves in the dazzling streets of Rio and travelled everything ourselves.

 

We then headed to Ihla Grande and Angra dos Reis where we cruised around hopping on the islands, snorkeling with the fishes, dancing and soaking up the sun in the majestic beaches. We also got lucky to see some whales as it was time for them to migrate and this was the best time to see them which we did. From there, we moved to Paraty which is a historical traditional town from the 17th-18th century backed by Brazil’s Costa Verde. We then travelled to São Paulo from where we wanted to add a cherry on top at the end of our trip by skydiving which we did and it was the best.

 

 

Pratik Karki, a entrepreneur and visionary change maker, holds key roles as the Chief Administrator at Kathmandu International School, CEO of Canaveda, and President of Udhyogi Group Public Limited. His holistic vision aims for a sustainable world, touching various sectors like education, healthcare, technology, agriculture, textiles, and construction. Alongside his global travels, he is a storyteller and active in spirituality and healing, offering free services to numerous individuals.

 

Princess Shivangini Rana, a self-taught abstract artist in Kathmandu, hails from a royal lineage in Tripura, India. Her artistic journey, influenced by her illustrious ancestors, led her to boarding school in India and further studies in Switzerland and Spain. Recognized for her vibrant, mixed-media paintings, Shivangini's evolving creativity is driven by her keen eye for color and curiosity, evident in her unique artworks crafted in her home studio.