2011 Guide to Latin America - (Page 16)

MEXICO GUATEMALA Guatemala City San Salvador BELIZE Belmopan San Pedro Sula Tegucigalpa HONDURAS EL SALVADOR Managua NICARAGUA San Jose Barranquilla Pta. Gallinas Maracaibo COSTA RICA PANAMA Panama City Medellín ena Caracas VENEZUELA G oc Or in o A T L A N T I C O C E A N Cabo Corrientes dal Cali Mag Br Punta Galera an co Huila COLOMBIA Bogota U in Or I A N A o GUYANA Georgetown Paramaribo FRENCH GUIANA Cayenne oc H I G H L A N D S SURINAME Guayaquil ECUADOR Mar a nón Chimborazo Quito Ne gr Macapá na az o o B. de Marajó I. de Marajó Belèm B. de São Marcos Fortaleza Put umayo J apurá Manaus s Am To c a n t i n s S J uruá E L V A S THE EASTERN TRIO Punta Aguja P ia us ur M ad e ir a T a p a jó I. Fernando de Noronha Cabo de São Roque Recife Xingu ua ag Ar Nevado Huascarán Pa r n ai ba N T Gu A S La Paz ATA ALT Lake Poopó BOLIVIA S C H A C O P A C I F I C O C E A N N an á C A M MATO GROSSO Brasília BRAZILIAN HIGHLANDS A R A N CHILE Nevado Ojos del Salado ilc N om PARAGUAY ayo T P ar Belo Horizonte I Reprêsa Ilha Grande Volcán Llullaillaco U Sala Itaipu Res. M D It’s the Atlantic rim of South America that links Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay together—well, not really, for Paraguay has no coastline. But the two smaller nations are neighbors of continent-size Brazil. Visitors following the coast north from Punta del Este pass from Uruguayan u SER A R DO Asunción AR Rio de Janeiro Sao Paulo M O G a y Mar Chiquito Pôrto Lagôa dos Patos Lagôa Mirim A T L A N T I C O C E A N S E ARGENTINA Rosario N Co lor ad o P A Ne M Chu bu t P Santiago A gr o S Buenos Aires URUGUAY A U ru g Montevideo FALKLAND/MALVINAS ISLANDS West Falkland Strait of Magellan Tierra del Fuego C. San Diego Cape Horn East Falkland gaucho country into Brazil’s southern cowboy state of Rio Grande do Sol, while visitors from Paraguay meet those from Brazil at Iguassu Falls. Capital Cities The iconic Casapueblo hotel in Uruguay. BRAZIL This is the giant of South America, not only its largest country but a nation well-endowed with beautiful places and people. It’s the razzledazzle of Carnaval that puts Brazil in the spotlight annually, with more fame headed its way when the nation hosts both the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics. When planning travel to this sub-continent-size country, consider the “essentials” by geographic regions. SOUTHEAST: Because doing business is SAO PAULO’S business, South America’s largest metropolis enjoys the fringe beneﬁts of some of Brazil’s best hotels and restaurants, plus wonderful museums and fabulous nightlife. + Just to mention RIO DE JANEIRO is to conjure up a kaleidoscope of picture-postcard images: Sugar Loaf Mountain, the immense statue of Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado, the dazzling strands of beaches, museums including one dedicated to Carmen Miranda, and the costumed extravaganza called Carnaval. Everyone loves to stay and play at one of Rio’s seaside hotels, stepping out to dine Brazilian-style at a churrascaria and take in a Las Vegas-style samba revue. + One of the favorite “escapes” from Rio is BUZIOS, a chic, low-key resort of small inns, great restaurants, and quiet sandy coves. L16 + From Rio, it’s an hour by air to BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil’s ﬁrst planned city, whose major attractions include the Pampulha Architectural Complex and the new Inhotim Museum’s modern art collection. “BH” is the starting point to visit the seven “Gold Cities,” picturesque little towns, such as the Ouro Preto whose magniﬁcent baroque churches with golden interiors were built during the 18th century gold rush. THE SOUTH: This region’s greatest natural wonder is Iguassu Falls, whose 275 cataracts spill in a torrent over a precipice more than 1.5 miles wide. Observation platforms extend out over the falls, and raft trips take adventurers up to and under the falls. For the full panorama experience, view the falls from a helicopter and visit this watery spectacle from the Argentine side. NORTHEAST: The oldest city in Brazil is SALVADOR DA BAHIA, the arrival port for slaves brought to work the sugar plantations. The gathering point was the Pelourinho, now a UNESCO designated quarter with buildings painted a rainbow of colors, superb colonialera churches, mansions and convents converted to boutique hotels. The beaches of the State of Bahia are about the most special strips of sand in the country, and among those deﬁning Brazilian chic are Trancoso and the 15 beaches of Itacare. + Other points on a Northeast itinerary will include the beaches, churches and historic monuments of RECIFE and its neighbor, OLINDA village (now a UNESCO monument), a charming cradle of Brazilian culture. + Farther up the coast is SAO LUIS, a 17th century treasure-trove of historic colonial buildings, faced with Portuguese tiles. THE NORTH: Who can resist the call of the wild along the Amazon River, which ﬂows east from Manaus to empty into the Atlantic 1,000 miles later at Belem. In MANAUS, the Italianate Opera House—built during rubber-boom glory days—along with the Customs House and the Municipal Market are leading attractions, while down-river (six miles), the “meeting of the waters” is an impressive natural spectacle. Travelers enjoy the rainforest up-close when staying at riverside jungle lodges or taking expedition cruises on the Amazon and its tributaries. + The AMAZON BASIN covers 40 percent of Brazil’s territory, extending all the way south to the Pantanal, the largest freshwater wetland in the world and one of the continent’s top locations to easily see amazing wildlife—from giant anteaters and tapirs, to jaguars and more than 600 species of birds. Airline gateways are Cuiaba and Campo Grande. recommend.com P I N Lake Titicaca PLANALTO DE O apo ré CI S S A N Lima PERU SI ER RA DO BRAZIL Barragem de Sobradinho Sáo ATI CA o ncisc Fra S NGA D E S Ar M O U CAM in os S PA RE Salvador Mamo ré IPL AN O A DESERT P do Sa lad o http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2011 Guide to Latin America

Tourism Boards
Introduction to Latin America
The Andean Quartet
Patagonia Partners
The Eastern Trio
The Northern Wildlands
Cruising Central & South America, Expedition-Style
Eco-Lands
Mayan Worlds

2011 Guide to Latin America