Hello,
Next month I’ll be in South America (28yo male travelling with a mate).
We’ll be doing a tour for most of the time (where our itinerary is fixed) but before the tour we’ll be spending three nights in Rio, two nights in Buenos Aires and two nights in Lima. Pretty tight I know, but worth it!
I’m after any tips!
Accomdation/Areas?
Safety?
Day Tours?
Must do/see?
Thanks for the help!
My friend is from Brazil and he gave me the following advice:
1. DO NOT go to the beach in Rio after dark
2. No matter what, DO NOT go to the beach in Rio after dark
3. Keep a 50 euro note on you at all times for when you are mugged (if you don't have any money, things can go bad)
4. When you are mugged, hand over the money and don't make eye contact or say anything
I was in Rio for a week (was in Brazil for 6 weeks), I only felt unsafe walking at night in Salvador and on my first day after arriving in Sao Paulo (mainly due to media hyping it up as dangerous). Keep your wits about you, don't wander off into dark places by yourself and be careful of the tricks pick pockets play and you won't have any issues OP.
I lived in BA for a long time.
San Telmo and Palermo are awesome. I'm not a fan of Lima but each to their own. Rio is OK - make sure you eat at the pay-by-weight places, they're awesome.
Careful in BA, I was held up once and friend had her bag snatched too.
Things to do: See Boca Jrs and/or River, the ferry over to Colonia (Uruguay) is pretty cool and a good way to spend the day. Otherwise, FOOD and lots of it. Eat as much asado as you can.
another ex Ba resident here :-)
crime there is generally opportunistic, not violent, as in Brazil.
bag snatching or wallet picking, but you can also be held up if you're in the wrong place.
keep your valuables to a minimum when out (cash, credit card, phone and hotel key in front pockets)
try not to use your smart phone in public as it can be picked middle of your call while you're unaware of whats going on behind you (it happened to me, long story) my Mum uses a candy bar disposable crappy phone when she's there.
My favorite place is Avenida de Mayo, near Congress, I recently found out it looks just like Barcelona. the rest of the city is quite similar to Madrid.
don't go anywhere near the Shanty towns
If you're young, go clubbing. clubs open at 2am, and run until 7 in the morning. it's freaking amazing, nothing in Australia compares to that. It's a rite of passage there, people start going at 18yo, until whenever they decide they had enough.
take a taxi straight to the hotel or a bus. don't walk around drunk, as it'll make you a huge target.
have fun, and be safe.
PS: See Boca juniors, not River plate. Boca juniors is the working class club, but you need to go with someone who's local, football games can be mad.
River plate is for "felines".
I echo the "go with someone" to see Boca. The first time I went solo I was terrified leaving the stadium after a defeat. I made friends with locals eventually and they acted very much like a safety blanket. Even if you speak Spanish (Castellano), gringos stand out like a sore thumb.
There's a great club on Florida, can't remember the name but many nights/mornings were spent there.
In Lima you gotta eat one of the Bembos burgers. Delish.
Thanks for all the advice everyone!
Lima is sick for partying! Stereotypical party hostels are a great place to start.
Felt completely safe when I was there with mates.
You'll get approached to buy drugs, do it! We got whizz fizz initially but the good stuff the next time round.
Try Pardos Chicken