Anchorage (Alaska) to Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) 2008
A PAN-AMERICAN ADVENTURE FROM THE ARCTIC TO THE ANTARCTIC, AND BEYOND
40
WEEKS = £4495 + £1495 local
payment (LP)
Depart Anchorage 28th May 2010 – End Rio de Janeiro 4th March 2011
Overview
ALASKA - CANADA - USA - MEXICO - BELIZE - GUATEMALA - EL SALVADOR - HONDURAS - NICARAGUA - COSTA RICA - PANAMA - COLOMBIA - ECUADOR - PERU - BOLIVIA - CHILE - ARGENTINA - URUGUAY - PARAGUAY - BRAZIL
From a dip in the Arctic ocean to bear watching in Yellowstone National Park, from the buzz of Mexico City to the pristine beaches of Honduras, and from the magnificence of Machu Pichu to the greatest show on earth at Rio Carnaval, this is the trip that goes in depth into the Americas!
If you have a love of the outdoors and a passion for culture then this is definitely the expedition for you!
Click here to see a detailed route map with highlights
You can also download the route map as a PDF
Highlights
- Denali National Park
- Jasper & Banff National Parks
- Yellowstone
- Grand Canyon
- Teotihuacan
- Islands of Belize
- Cartagena
- Amazon Jungle
- Machu Picchu
- Atacama Desert
- Moreno Glacier
- Ushuaia
- Foz do Iguaca
- Pantanal
What's Included (and What's Not)
We of course realise that not everyone is going to visit every ruin, raft every river and hike every trail along the way so we have left most of these activities as optional and therefore kept the expedition payment to a minimum.
Included
- Services of your expedition leader/ driver
- Use of expedition vehicle and equipment
- Diesel, mechanics, shipping and any other costs relating to our truck
- An average of two meals a day while camping (usually breakfast and dinner)
- All camping and hotel/hostel costs
- Compulsory ferry tickets
- All entry fees to National Parks that we visit in the truck
as a group including Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Jasper, Banff,
Grand Canyon and Torres del Payne.
Not Included
- Personal travel insurance
- Personal spending money
- Visas
- Border taxes
- Lunch
- Meals while in hotels
- Entrance fees to optional sites and parks
- Any optional activities
- Any unforseen contingency route expenses
- Any flights (expected - Panama to Colombia)
- Tents
- Break during shipping of our truck from Panama to Colombia
Proposed Itinerary
Our proposed itinerary is here to give you a rough idea of where we will be going and what we will be doing during our expedition. This itinerary is the ideal route we would like to take providing all political situations are acceptable during the time of our travels. Obviously things can change and we may have to take an alternative route at some stage which is easily achieved in the Americas.
Week 1 & 2: ALASKA
Nowhere on earth conjures up such vivid images as Alaska. The natural
splendour and abundant wildlife make Alaska the perfect place to start
our expedition through the Americas.
Anchorage is our meeting point and is Alaska’s only true city,
but even here wild moose still chomp through suburban flower gardens
and graze alongside the highways. A short drive away the tiny port
town of Whittier is set impressively amongst mountains, glaciers and
a glistening fjord from where we have the chance to explore the Prince
William Sound by cruise boat. Breaching humpback whales, pods of orcas,
porpoises, seals and sea otters are all common-place here as well as
over 200 species of birds. Keep an eye out for bears on the shore!
We now head north for the interior heart of Alaska taking in the dramatic
remains of the Independence Mine along the way.
A thousand lakes and tundra capped hills line our way to the wonderful
Denali N.P., alive with browsing bears, lone wolves and herds of grazing
moose and caribou. We base ourselves here for a couple of days allowing
time to explore the magnificent hiking and biking trails on offer.
We feel that our journey through Alaska would be incomplete without
a visit to the far north so we continue on to the town of Fairbanks
where we prepare and provision ourselves for the Dalton Highway. This
desolate road will take us into the arctic circle, onto the tundra
and up to the town of Deadhorse where you have the option to take a
tour around the US’s most productive oil fields and stand on
the frozen Arctic Ocean. This northern route has proved to be a wildlife
viewing highlight with grizzly bears, musk ox, arctic fox, caribou,
moose and black bears being spotted.
Returning to the south we head towards the Canadian border and find
the quirky settlement of Chicken. Fewer than 20 people reside here
but travellers are well catered for at their infamous bar. Remember ‘What
happens in Chicken stays in Chicken!’
The Top Of The World Highway now takes us east to Canada.
Week 3 & 4 : CANADA and ALASKA
Our first stop in Canada, Dawson City, made famous by the Klondike
Gold Rush, remains evocative of it’s past and is well worth exploring.
From here the Klondike Highway takes us along a wonderful road running
through almost utter wilderness (8 black bears spotted in one day on
this route) before returning to Alaska’s south-east and basing
ourselves in the picturesque town of Skagway.
From here you have the option of undertaking the 3 day Chilkoot Trail which leads
you through a giant wilderness museum tracing the steps of the Klondike bound
prospectors. You can return to Skagway via the White Pass and Yukon Route Railway,
undoubtedly the most stately way to see the dazzling scenery hereabouts.
Our vehicle must now return to Canada in order to continue south but for those
who are keen to explore this area further you may want to utilise the ferry service
to work your way down through the beautiful islands of this archipelago.
The glorious river and mountain landscapes of the Skeena Valley now take us south
towards the Canadian Rockies.
Jasper N.P. offers us wonderful hiking and stunning camping amidst craggy peaks
and the worlds 2nd largest glacier fed lake, Maligne.
Banff N.P. is good for rafting, kayaking, fishing, wildlife viewing, walking
and hot springs. Lake Louise has to be seen to be believed!
Week 5, 6 & 7 - USA
Glacier NP offers a good introduction to US Parks and lives up to
its name by offering stunning glacier-filled landscapes.
Dropping down into the state of Oregon we explore Hells Canyon National Recreation
Area. At nearly 8000ft deep this is the deepest canyon in North America and the
Snake River has been flowing through it since the beginning of time. Jet boat
tours through the canyon are awesome!
We continue on to Yellowstone NP, prime Grizzly Bear country! Bison are also
common around here. This park also accommodates more than half the worlds geysers
which put on an amazing display.
Just south of here we enter Grand Teton NP, a fantastic surprise with great camping,
crystal lakes and dramatic jagged peaks. Wildlife is also abundant here.
A days drive away is Salt Lake City, the Mormon’s H.Q., offering us a good
insight into the way of life around here and also the possibility of catching
a Utah Jazz basketball game.
We continue south along the scenic central corridor and reach the fabulous Bryce
Canyon N.P. Hiking through the canyons and Grand Staircases (a series of step-like
uplifted rock layers) is amazing with pink cliff formations, wondrous pinnacles
and points, steeples and spires, cliffs and crevices and odd formations known
as hoodoos ,all well worth exploring.
Crossing into Arizona we arrive at the north rim of the Grand Canyon and spend
a few hours marveling at this massive slice carved into the desert floor. However,
the multi-coloured rocks and cliffs are best appreciated by hiking down to the
canyon floor from the south rim where you get to camp overnight alongside the
Colorado River.
On our way to Las Vegas we have the chance to visit the Hoover Dam where we can
take a fascinating tour through one of the world’s tallest dams.
A short drive away we enter Nevada and reach the gambling capital of the world,
Las Vegas. Whether you gamble or not, this city is an oasis of bright lights
that should not be missed.
Week 8, 9, 10 & 11: MEXICO
Our journey down to Los Mochis takes us through magnificent cacti
filled desert scenery where you have the option of partaking in an
epic train journey, the famous Chihuahua al Pacifico, which takes you
through the spectacular scenery of the Sierra Madre and Copper Canyon
before reaching the small town of Creel where you have a day to explore
the area before returning to the coast.
Winding roads with vertical sided canyons now lead us up into the beautiful colonial
heartland of Mexico where we pass through numerous sleepy towns en-route to the
pleasant and lively town of Zacatecas. This compact cobble-stoned town offers
historic churches, convents and ruins making a pleasant days outing.
The ruins of Teotihuacan are our next stop and are mysterious relics of an ancient
civilisation. This site also contains the worlds 3rd largest Pyramid.
From ancient to modern we now reach the capital, Mexico City. Far from being
the dirty squalor that so many think it is, this busy metropolis is clean and
welcoming, filled with a rich history and pulsates with energy making it well
worth a few days exploration.
Cactus-filled valleys and wide open plains lead us to the charming city Oaxaca,
a mixture of colonial glory and indigenous market-places. This world heritage
site is crammed full of culture with wonderful museums, churches and markets.
The surrounding area offers inspiring archaeology in the form of the Monte Alban
Ruins, featuring pyramids, walls, terraces, tombs, staircases and sculptures,
all remnants of the ancient capital of the Zapotec culture.
We now head for the Chiapas highlands and the Sumidero Canyon where you can take
an exhilarating boat ride through the steep sided cliffs giving you the chance
to pass by several waterfalls, enter caves and even pass by some quite large
crocodiles.
The quaint town of San Pedro de las Casas is close by and a real relic of the
past. A day here is great fun.
We continue on to Palenque, perhaps the most beautiful of all the Maya ruins
in Mexico. Set amongst lush jungle the ruins are a warren of exploration and
will keep your camera busy all day.
We now head into the Yucatan Peninsula and visit the ruins of Chichen Itza before
reaching the famous beach resort town of Cancun where we have time to enjoy the
white sand beaches and fine restaurants lining the waterfront.
Week 12: BELIZE
We enter this small country from the north and our first stop is at
Orange River. A boat trip through the jungle here will afford you the
opportunity to see crocodiles, iguanas, turtles, coatis, howler monkeys
and plenty of birds but the real adventure is arriving at the Lamanai
ruins hidden in the dense jungle at the end of the boat journey.
Belize City will be our next base where you have the option to explore the beautiful
Caribbean-style island cayes just offshore. This is a fantastic spot for diving
and fishing. Those who stay on the mainland can visit the close-by baboon sanctuary
or just laze on the beach.
Week 13: GUATEMALA
We enter Guatemala in the lush lowland jungles where we can explore
the once lost Mayan cities and pyramids of Tikal that lie hidden beneath
the tree canopy.
Narrow jungle roads now lead us south through beautiful scenery of sheer-sided
hills and thatched roof homes offering us an insight into the real Guatemala.
These central highlands lead us to Lake Atitlan, commonly referred to as the
Most Beautiful Lake in the World. The two volcanoes and numerous traditional
villages that surround the lake are best explored by boats which traverse the
lake daily. The colourful market town of Chichicastenango is also close by offering
some bargain buys and interesting Maya Shrines.
Week 14: EL SALVADOR
Crossing into this lively and perhaps most friendly of the Central
American countries we follow the coastline and base ourselves at the
surf beaches close to La Libertad. Surfing and fishing are the order
of the day.
The capital San Salvador is a lively place where we have a day to explore this
once war-torn city.
A short drive away we reach Suchitoto, a treasured colonial town and buzzing
cultural centre with good hikes to nearby waterfalls.
Week 15: HONDURAS
We head straight for the wonderful Bahia de Honduras where we base
ourselves at a camp on the north coast close to La Ceiba. From here
you have the option of visiting the nearby Bay Islands where the diving
is spectacular. White sandy beaches, coconut palms and gentle sea breezes
typify these islands and the clear waters, rich reefs and intriguing
underwater caves make this an idyllic location to undertake a dive
course. Actually, this is possibly the cheapest place in the world
to do an open water course. Those who choose to stay ashore can keep
busy with jungle trekking and boat tours.
From here we now leave the coast and follow the back roads through the countryside
and get a real appreciation of Honduras’ fabulous landscapes en-route
to the Nicaraguan border.
Week 16: NICARAGUA
The colonial town of Leon is our first stop and is base camp to the
world’s only volcano boarding tours. It is definitely a black
run!
Winding our way through coffee plantations and pine forests we skirt past Lake
Managua and arrive at Volcan Masaya, one of Central America’s most active
volcanoes. Situated in a National Park the area offers great hiking around 2
volcanoes, 5 craters and a beautiful lake. Close by we visit the town of Masaya,
famous for it’s Indian arts & crafts and leatherwork.
Our next stop is the charming city of Granada, situated on the shores of the
vast Lake Nicaragua. The city’s cobbled streets and laid-back attitude
make it a great place to hang out for a while. From here we can explore the lakes
volcanic Ometepe Island. The lake itself is amazing in that it is a freshwater
lake full of saltwater fish. These fish exist in no other lake in the world.
Week 17: COSTA RICA
We head straight for the pristine cloud-forests of Monteverde where
hanging bridges offer dramatic walks through the jungle canopy. For
those seeking more adrenalin you can even go ‘Sky Trekking’ (flying
by zip wire through the forest).
We continue inland and marvel at Volcan Arenal, Central America’s most
active and perfectly formed volcano. From our base here in La Fortuna you have
the option of undertaking numerous wonderful excursions including volcano trekking,
sky trekking, turtle watching, boat tours through pristine jungle, rapelling,
bungy jumping and wildlife watching tours.
Back down on the Pacific coast our last stop in Costa Rica is at the well-renowned
Manuel Antonio beach where you have the option of spending the day in Manuel
Antonio N.P. with plenty of wildlife and pristine beaches on offer.
Week 18 & 19: PANAMA (and break to allow shipping of our truck)
We head directly for the beaches of Santa Clara where we have the
opportunity to enjoy the surf as well as clean and prepare our vehicle
for the shipping. If the vehicle is not properly cleaned it will not
be allowed into Colombia.
The road takes us on to Panama City, the capital, where the worlds greatest short-cut
and engineering marvel, ‘The Big Ditch’ or Panama Canal is something
that has to be seen to be believed.
As the road ends shortly after Panama City it is from here that we must
ship our expedition vehicle to Colombia or Venezuela (depends on what
service is available at the time). We estimate that the shipping and
customs should take about 2 weeks to complete so this is a good opportunity
to have a break from the truck and head out on your own for a while.
The Galapagos Islands and Cuba are popular destinations during the break.
Week 20 & 21: COLOMBIA
We meet our truck at the port of Cartagena on the Caribbean coast.
Legendary for both it’s outstanding beauty and fascinating history,
this town really is a living museum of colonial Spanish architecture
and is well worth a few days exploration.
We now move South to the vibrant and modern city of Medellin where we have the
chance to mingle with the friendly locals and enjoy the magnificent nightlife.
Further south we reach Cali, also a wonderful city and the launch pad for anyone
wanting to visit the enchanting island of Gorgona, a unique natural wonder which
is home to some diverse wildlife found nowhere else on earth.
A spectacular and challenging road now leads us on to a perfectly preserved pearl
of colonial architecture known as the White City, Popayan. This is a laid-back
town where kicking back in a sidewalk café or trekking to the thermal
hot springs is a great way to pass the day.
A twisting turning road now takes us south to Ecuador.
Week 22 & 23: ECUADOR
Slightly
north of the equator our first stop in Ecuador is the colourful market
town of Otavalo where traders flock to from as far away as Colombia
to ware their goods. Everything and anything can be found here including
wonderful traditional crafts.
The lively city of Quito is next offering
us sumptuous cuisine and great nightlife.
Dropping out of the Andes we enter pristine Amazon jungle where you have the option to partake in an Amazon Jungle excursion. Those who opt for the jungle trip will be staying at the beautiful Shangri-la Lodge with commanding views of the rainforests and river systems. Tubing, bat-caving and waterfall climbing are interesting day outings from here or just lazing in a hammock enjoying the view is acceptable. Those who opt not to take the jungle excursion can enjoy the regions activities such as kayaking and hiking from our base in the small jungle town of Tena.
Further up the road we reach Banos, a great little town alive with adventurous excursions. Horse riding, canyoning, mountain biking, rafting and kicking back in the hot springs are all on offer here. You also have the option to ride atop the famous train that takes you through the spectacular switchbacks of the Devils Nose.
The colonial air of the town Cuenca is our well preserved last stop in
Ecuador. Try the succulent Cuy (roasted guinea pig), it’s fantastic!
Week 24, 25 & 26: PERU
The northern beaches of Peru are our first stop with great fishing and wonderful water sports.
Continuing south we camp in the desert
on our way to the famous Peruvian Chan Chan ruins. These vast and unusually
decorated crumbling ruins of the imperial city of the Chimu domains
make it the largest adobe city in the world. This area also boasts
fascinating pyramids and temples well worth a day’s exploration.
We continue on to Lima for a taste of bustling city life and a look
into Peru’s
history in the fabulous museums.
A little further south we visit the National Marine Reserve of Paracas. From here you can boat out to the Ballestas Islands which are home to thousands of seabirds and hundreds of sea-lions.
The
mysterious Nasca Lines are our next attraction where an exhilarating
flight reveals pictures of whales, monkeys, spiders and even spacemen.
Made by stones laid out on the desert floor these pictures still baffle
archaeologists as to how they were made without having the benefit
of aerial supervision.
The mummified remains of ancient tribesmen also litter the area and
back down on the coast we visit Cusco’s pre-Columbian port, Puerto
Inca. This excellent site is in good condition and the beach camping
is great.
We now climb up into the Andes and spend a couple of days
in the charming city of Arequipa (2500m). Besides giving ourselves
time to acclimatise the town boasts beautiful churches and plazas,
mouth-watering cuisine and lively markets.
Continuing upwards into the heart of the Andes we reach the small town
of Chivay, where you have the option to go Condor viewing in one of
the deepest canyons in the world. Condors ride the early morning thermals
and fly by at eye level giving us great photo opportunities. For
those of you who do not visit the condors you have the option to relax
in Chivay’s therapeutic hotsprings.
A rough track now takes us
through tiny villages and awesome high altitude scenery before we emerge
into the ancient Inca capital of Cusco. This tourist Mecca is abuzz
with energy and it’s beautiful squares, plentiful nightlife and
wonderful restaurants make it a great place to explore and live it
up a little!
It is also from here that you will start one of your greatest optional
excursions, the Inca Trail. This exhilarating 4 day walk lives up to
it’s reputation
and ends at one of the world’s most beautiful sites, Machu Pichu.
WEEK 27 & 28 BOLIVIA and a taste of ARGENTINA
A short drive across the border brings us to the attractive town of Copacabana on the shores of Lake Titicaca. This town is an intriguing first stop in Bolivia with lively markets selling cheap wares.
La Paz, the highest capital city in the world, is our next impressive
stop lying at the bottom of a huge canyon and surrounded by mountains.
The city also boasts the worlds highest golf course and ski slopes
for the sporty ones to have a go at. The city itself is a lively
place with nearly every inch of street space taken up by native women
in bowler hats and voluminous skirts squatted down selling everything
from fake designer labels to coca leaves. There is even a witches
market where you can find dried llama foetuses, magical love potions and an array
of other weird and wonderful stuff. This city will leave you reeling!
Moving
on, the colonial masterpiece that is Sucre is a great place to wander
around and soak up the lively student town atmosphere.
A little further on is
another gem of a town named Potosi. This is the highest city in the
world at over 4000m, and was once the wealthiest city in the world
due to it’s prolific
silver mines. The mines still operate and you can take a tour into
their depths through a series of tunnels and shafts. At the end of
the tour you can even buy dynamite and have a go at your own excavation.
We
continue on to Uyuni where you have the option
to visit the areas large salt flats in a 4x4 jeep.
Travelling on we reach Tupiza. The drive through flowing river beds and deep red canyons gives the area a distinctly wild-west feel where horse riding, mountain biking and hiking are popular day trips.
Argentina
Crossing into Argentina we drop out of the altitude and reach the town of Salta. This welcome taste of civilisation gives you the opportunity to sample a world famous Argentinian steak as well as a fine red wine. The more adventurous have the chance to go rafting. Dirt tracks skirting salt flats and volcanoes now lead us over the Andes and into Chile.
Week 29 &30: CHILE
We drop steeply out of the Andes into our first Chilean town of San
Pedro de Atacama, located in the world’s driest desert. This
dusty frontier town is straight out of a spaghetti western and the
relatively low altitude brings a welcome change in weather.
Desert meets ocean and we follow a coastal route taking in magnificent scenery
with great beach camps. Here we buy our seafood straight from the fishing boats
and enjoy the stunning beaches of Pan de Azucar N.P. from where boat trips are
on offer to explore the rich sea-life of otters, seals, sea lions and birds.
The Atacama Desert is said to have the clearest skies in the world and a night
of star gazing here is definately in order.
The lively modern beach town of La Serena is a pleasant stop en-route to the
capital, Santiago. The city’s tree lined streets and wonderful architecture
create a serene atmosphere but dig a little deeper and you discover a vibrant
social scene. Huge coffee bars, tiny rock bars, sumptuous cuisine at restaurants
like the ‘Fat Cow’ and streets crammed full with late night dance
clubs all make Santiago unforgettable.
We now head east, over the Andes and into Argentina.
Week 31: ARGENTINA
This
area is a particularly scenic part of the country and your journey
to the ski town of Bariloche will be enjoyed admiring the wild countryside
of pine forests, turquoise lakes and bubbling brooks.
In Bariloche itself we have a day or so to wander the streets of this quaint town and sample the famous chocolate.
We venture south to Los Alerces NP and enjoy the striking beauty of the region by camping near a lakes edge. Hikers – this is paradise!
Week 32: CHILE
We now cross back into Chile and start the beginning of an awesome journey along the Camino Austral, an area likened to Alaska and New Zealand’s south island. Futaleufu is our first stop here and is a world-class destination for fishing, kayaking and white-water rafting and actually boasts having the world’s most dangerous river.
Our route south is a wild domain of steep-sided fjords, rushing rivers, evergreen forests, creeping glaciers and high volcanic peaks. The town of Coihaque is our friendly base for a couple of days allowing time to explore the areas attractions, including the amazing San Rafael Glacier reached only by boat or airplane.
Settlements now become few and far apart as we bush camp our way south, around the gorgeous shores of Lago General Carrera and back into Argentina.
Week 33, 34 & 35: ARGENTINA and CHILE
We
are now in Patagonia, land of the raging winds. Our next stop is at
the Los Glaciares N.P., an area famous for it’s incredible
hiking trails around Mt.Fitz Roy, glacier trekking on Perito Moreno
and breathtaking boat excursions through the glacial waterways. Nestled
into these extreme landscapes are the small villages of El Chalten
and El Calafate, both great places to relax and enjoy a hot meal.
Across
the border again we visit Chile’s Torres del Payne N.P. Our idyllic
campsite next to a turquoise glacial lake affords us great views of the jagged
mountain peaks towering skywards. The hiking is once again stunning and a great
way to see guanaco up close.
We now cross the Magellan Strait and enter Tierra del Fuego, largely a land of
windswept bleakness but harbouring some fantastic little treasures. The charming
town of Ushuaia, dramatically located between huge mountains and the icy Beagle
Channel, is our base for exploring the regions trekking, kayaking, fishing, boat
cruising and of course, great bars and restaurants. This is also the closest
land point to Antarctica and is commonly referred to as The End Of The World.
Back
on the mainland we now start our journey north through the most barren
and windswept landscape that you will probably ever encounter. Good
river and surf fishing abounds but that is about all until we reach
the Valdes Peninsula, one of the planets most significant marine reserves.
This area is home to thousands upon thousands of sea lions, elephant
seals and penguins. Preying upon all these are the magnificent orcas
and their beach attacks are a spectacle not to be missed.
Hugging the Atlantic coastline we continue north up to the Argentinian
capital, Buenos Aires. If you are not a city person, this is probably
the city that will change your mind. Glorious architecture, wide tree-lined
streets and open-air Tango shows are but a few of the city’s attributes. Culturally, this
is the place to be with exquisite restaurants, interesting museums and fabulous
music concerts. Whatever your heart desires you will find it in Buenos Aires!
Week 36: URUGUAY
We
now cross into a country that is one of South Americas best kept secrets,
Uruguay. The broad cobbled streets of the historic Colonia del Sacramento
is a world away from the busy streets of Buenos Aires and is a relaxing
first stop here.
Further east we reach the capital Montevideo, a pleasant city with a great food
market where you can enjoy all the South American seafood and meats prepared
by butchers and fishermen in the heart of a market frenzy.
The beaches of Punta del Este are our next stop and are amongst the best on the
continent.
The thermal pools of Salto are our final destination here before returning to
Argentina.
Week 37 & 38: ARGENTINA, BRAZIL and PARAGUAY
We now enter a vast system of wetlands known as the Esteros del Ibera
where we get to experience close-up observation of wildlife such as
caiman, capybara, marsh deer, howler monkeys, boas, the rare maned
wolf and over 300 species of birds.
The road north takes us close to the Rio Parana and scattered Jesuit Mission
ruins which we can explore at our leisure.
Our next stop is at the fabulous Argentinian side of the Foz do Iguacu waterfalls.
They are one of the world’s natural wonders, more than 3 km wide and 80m
high with 275 falls plunging and crashing off a series of tiers, making them
the most beautiful falls in the world. Power boating around the falls is a must
if you don’t mind getting wet.
Just across the border we now visit the Brazilian side of Foz do Iguacu waterfalls
where a helicopter ride can give you a birds eye view of the falls. We also get
our first taste of Brazilian food and dancing here before crossing the border
into Paraguay.
We move eastwards through lush scenery to reach the lively capital of Asuncion,
blissfully located on the banks of the Rio Paraguay. The city is full of bustling
markets selling everything from cheap electronic equipment to ladies underwear
and also boasts some wonderful museums and intricate architecture.
From here we continue north via lazy river towns and impressive geological formations
to reach the towns of Concepcion and Pedro Juan Caballero from where we have
the opportunity to visit Cerro Cora N.P. This park protects dry tropical forest
and savanna grasslands in a landscape of steep, isolated hills rising above the
central plateau and offers superb walks.
We now return to Brazil.
Week 39 & 40: BRAZIL
Continuing north we reach the eco-tourism boom town of Bonito situated
on the edge of the Pantanal. From here we can snorkel down one of the
world’s clearest rivers coming face to face with numerous large
fish species and even caiman. Subterranean cave diving is also a popular
activity in this area.
From Bonito you now have the option of visiting the Pantanal in 4x4 jeeps. This
is a region of plentiful wildlife, few people and no towns. Days are easily whiled
away game viewing and piranha fishing, and occasional confrontations with anaconda
and caiman will keep the adrenalin pumping.
We now head back to the coast, by-pass Sao Paulo and arrive at the colonial village
of Parati. Here the steep jungled mountains seem to leap into a sea filled with
hundreds of islands and jutting peninsulas. Mobile one-man bars wander the cobbled
streets mixing up caipirinhas to cool down weary travellers returning from the
islands. The place is quite simply idyllic!
A couple of days relaxing in Parati puts us in good stead for the non-stop party
we are about to attend in Rio de Janeiro. The city is absolutely effervescent
and the atmosphere is contagious. Days can be enjoyed on the beaches of Ipanema
and Copacabana and wild nights are spent dancing away at the Sambodrome.
