South America

Travel through South America by country:

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela

Travel through South America by popular city:

Bogota, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro

Travel through South America by popular things to do:

Adventures in the Amazon, Falkland Islands, Iguazu Falls, Tierra del Fuego

Learn from Tech Crunch: get your visa early

by Grant Martin on

Here in the United States it’s easy to forget how difficult it can be for many of the other 194 countries on this planet to cross borders. Lengthly and time-consuming visas are required for many travelers, resulting in weeks of paperwork, long lines and hassle from customs officials and airports around the planet.

For most of our journeys, all that we have to do is show up at a border, flash our passport and get a stamp.

Traveling to countries like China, Vietnam, Russia and Brazil, however, is a bit more challenging. These nations require special, pre-approved visas that need to be authorized by a local consulate, an agency that checks your intentions, processes your request and issues you a special visa. It’s not a difficult process, it just takes a little bit of planning and, most of all, time.

There’s a lively discussion going on at Tech Cruch this morning centered around the journey (and subsequent article written) by Sarah Lacy en route to Brazil. The article is basically a complaint against slow visa processing and the general papwerwork requirements of the institution,citing the bureaucracy’s sloth resulting in her canceled trip to South America.

She writes: “You want foreign investment and attention, Brazil? Here’s an idea: LET PEOPLE ENTER THE DAMN COUNTRY. You want to show your IT prowess? How about outfitting your consulates with computer systems that work? Or maybe rolling it out slowly so other offices could handle the overflow. Or training people on it first. The country should be embarrassed, and its businesses should be furious.”
Among other issues, she blames a new computer system implemented by the Brazilian Government in slowing down her application.

There are currently 534 comments countering Ms. Lacy’s argument, many pointing out that anyone who took four months to plan their trip and learn Portuguese should have spent more time filing for a visa. Others are angry at the apparent elitism from an American who expects all-star treatment during the customs process.

I’ll reserve my judgement, but I will add one more data point. Last Tuesday I express mailed my passport to the Chicago Consulate. It was sitting in my mailbox the following Wednesday, and I’ll be happily on my way to Rio de Janiero on the 25th. To anyone who missed their appointment with Ms. Lacy this month, send me an email and I’ll buy you a beer. I swear, most of us are nice.

British man driving himself around the world

by Kraig Becker on

A little more than a year ago, Roy Locock set out from his home in the U.K. with the simple plan of proving someone wrong. He had been told by friends that there was no way he could possibly drive around the world. But now, 14 months later, he’s not only through the most challenging part of the journey, he’s in the home stretch, having reached Regina, Canada yesterday.

Roy left the U.K. and drove across Europe, into Asia, where he eventually arrived in India. From there, he caught a boat to Australia, drove across that country, and caught another boat to South America. Turning is car north, he continued to drive, until he crossed into North America, eventually arriving at his current location in Canada. He’ll head east from Regina, eventually reaching the Atlantic coast, where he’ll grab one last boat back home.

Before setting out, Roy decided he needed to find just the right car to accompany him on his journey. He admits that he wanted to travel in style and look good on his long distance road trip. He eventually settled on a 1977 MG Midget convertible that he lovingly dubbed “Bridget the Midget”, a car that the he says he had wanted since he was a teenager.

The around-the-world drive isn’t just about proving his friends wrong however and it isn’t just about the adventure either. Roy is also driving for a cause, as he has been raising funds for UNICEF, a charity that met his two criteria, of having an international reach, and directly benefited children in the process.

With a little luck, Roy should be home in just a few weeks time. But he isn’t in much of a hurry. He has enjoyed his time on this journey, and admits that he likes the freedom of the open road. The question is, how many others has he inspired to get in their car, drive down the street, and just keep going, in the process.

[via the Lake Powell Chronicle]

Gadlinks for Wednesday 9.2.09

by Brenda Yun on


Buenos dias, Gadlingers. I want to apologize for my brief absence over the weekend. I was lodging in Colca Canyon, the world´s deepest canyon, and was therefore unavailable to post my usual Gadlinks. Fortunately, Aaron´s been holding the fort. Here now is today´s dose of Gadlinks, a quick whirl around the travel blogosphere.

´Til tomorrow, have a great evening!

More Gadlinks here.

Photo of the Day 8.29.09

by Brenda Yun on


Since this is my last weekend in Peru, I felt it would only be appropriate to send along a postcard from this scenic land. And talk about waking up and having this as your morning vista! This gorgeous photo by rickmccharles has a whole slew of beautiful snapshots of Andean Peru. This particular shot was taken on the Ausangate Circuit, which — well — pretty much speaks for itself if you ask me. The Andes sure make for nice photos, don’t you think?

If you have some great travel shots you’d like to share, be sure to upload them to the Gadling pool on Flickr. We might just pick one as our Photo of the Day!

The Five Most Overrated Tourist Attractions

by Kraig Becker on

Want to know what the world’s most overrated tourist attractions are? You’re in luck, as the Times Online has compiled their selection of the Five Most Overrated Tourist Sites, naming some very famous places, while suggesting alternatives that they feel are more worth our time.

The U.K. newspaper isn’t afraid to criticize one of the motherland’s top tourist attractions either, putting Stonehenge at the top of the list. They note that you can’t touch the monument, or even walk around it, and it isn’t exactly located in one of the most scenic locations either. As an alternative, the Times suggests that you skip “the Henge” and visit nearby Avebury, which has a larger stone monolith that allows for more access to the public.

The other four sites on the list that they recommend that you avoid include Petra, Jordan, the Colosseum in Rome, Machu Picchu in Peru, and Angkor, Cambodia. Generally, the Times is put off by the large crowds they attract, as well as the inconvenience of coming and going from these famous spots, several of which are fairly remote.

Personally, I think this list is best used as a way of keeping your expectations within reason when traveling to these sites that have become overrun with tourists. For instance, who in their right mind wouldn’t want to visit Machu Picchu when traveling to Peru? Just be aware that it is a crowded monument and getting there isn’t always easy. Patience will go a long way towards providing an enjoyable experience.

Those looking for new places to visit, off the beaten path a bit, will enjoy the alternatives suggested in the article however, as they are generally less crowded and are not on the radar for most travelers. Their alternative suggest for Machu Picchu for instance is the Isla del Sol in Bolivia, which is a much quieter location when compared to the Peruvian landmark.

So, what do you think of the list? What would you add to it? Any experiences with the ones they’ve selected?

%Gallery-64352%

%Gallery-38511%