Sunday, May 27, 2012

South America 2011 and 2012: Summary

Rebecca
Highlights:
  • Day 3 of the Inca Trail, it was a moderate walk, through the Clouded Forest
  • Swimming with the Penguins in the Galapagos
  • Seeing the Macaws at the clay lick in the Amazon

Recommendations:
  • Take two swim suits for the Galapagos - this was by far the best advice I got and I'm glad I took it!
  • Be prepared to get wet on the Inca Trail - we were rather lucky, but most people we met had horror stories of days of rain
  • All we heard about Tahiti was how expensive it was. Reality for us, living in one of the most expensive cities in the world was that it wasn't really. The food/drinks in the supermarket was cheaper than home. Shop there for basics. Local restaurants were moderate cost if not inexpensive, eat where the locals do. Finally if you eat in the Hilton in Sydney you will pay $30+ for a hamburger, it should not shock you then when a hamburger in the Hilton Moorea is $30+.
  • It's nature not a zoo
Favourite Photo:

Machu Picchu, Peru - the end of our 4 day hike

The 7 Explorers - Rapa Nui/Easter Island

Favourite Meal/Dish:
  • I loved being able to eat raw fish/ika mata/ceviche everywhere!

  • Our dinner at Zig Zag in Arequipa was fantastic

  • As was dinner at in Rapa Nui


Low lights:
  • South America is a huge continent, there was just no way we could see everything

DH
Highlights:
  • Seeing Machu Picchu after the 4 day Inca Trail

  • The stunning Iguazu Falls - from both sides
  • Galapagos Cruise
Recommendations:
  • Avoid western chain restaurants - they always disappoint and we should know better by now!
  • Pre-plan with medication - you might not need the altitude sickness meds, but if you do you need Diamox it's better to have it then use the local version
  • Don't be disappointed if things don't go according to plan - go with the flow, you never know what you might experience
Favourite Photo:
It's hard to pick, but this one of the Devil's Throat is hard to beat



Favourite Meal/Dish:
  • Zig Zag, Arequipa
  •  The raw fish/ceviche was also good



Low lights:
  • TGIF - give western meals a miss, even though everything else was closed we would have been better off eating in the hotel

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