In a future I would like to do a gap year to fulfill all
my bucket list and dreams, so in this entry I will explain a part of my gap
year, with one of the big travels I would want to do.
The first destination I would do, in my gap year, is a
multi-country trip to South America. The duration of this travel are 164 days,
the price is from £5.599, yes, so much money, but I think that have a lot of
countries to visit. I want to say that I have chosen this trip because I have
to choose but this job was very difficult because in a future I would like to
be volunteer, do more big travels, dreams, help another people... but I have to
choose the first.
First of all I will explain an introduction with general
information. So this multi-country trip includes visit the countries:
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru,
Suriname, Venezuela. The price of the trip is £5.599 and de duration 164 days.
This trip includes 38 nights in hotels, 77 nights camping, 38 nights in
hostels, 5 nights in a hammock, 1 nights in basic, multi-share hostels with
limited facilities 113 breakfasts, 105 lunches, 80 dinners, Travel by Tucan
Travel Expedition Vehicle, taxi, on foot Tucan Travel tour leader, Tucan Travel
driver. We can see that includes very things.After read the
itinerary of this trip I do a summery very schematic and simplify where it is
understood better the trip and I can see better the pros and the contras and I
also can compare better the prices. So the route is:
DAY 1: We starting the trip in
Venezuela where we will spent our first day in Caracas. We can also access an optional excursion for 45$.
DAY 2: The second day we continue to the coast, to the quaint beachside village
of Santa Fe where we can do sports like swimming or kayak and visit the National
Park, protected for its biodiversity which includes five
different species of dolphin, several species of turtle and many marine birds
and reptiles.
DAY 3 to 6: We got to Ciudad Bolívar,
located on the Orinoco River. From here we will have the choice to take an
optional excursion out to the falls. We will fly out to Canaima. If we do not
wish to travel out Angel falls on the optional excursion we can enjoy some
free time in Ciudad Bolívar with accommodation included.
Day 7 to 8 - En route. As we head
south towards Brazil, the landscape of Venezuela turns to savannah. We spend another night camping en route near Boa Vista as
we head towards Manaus.
Day 9 to 15 – Manaus. We have a couple of days to explore Manaus before
there is the option to join an exciting three-day excursion deep into the
jungle by boat or dugout canoe in search of caiman, fresh water dolphins,
jaguar and many other creatures in this threatened rainforest. (If you choose
not to take the jungle excursion, you will have extra free time in Manaus. We
also have a couple of days to finish sightseeing. In the web say that is highly
recommended visit to the fascinating waterside markets.
Day 16 to 20 - Amazon Ferry. From
Manaus we cruise down the world’s longest river, the Amazon. Accommodation on
the riverboat is in hammocks for four or five nights (depending on the river
current) and usually, each boat has a bar and restaurant onboard. Note that
this is the only way to get from Manaus to Belem unless you fly and our Tucan
Travel vehicle will also travel by boat.
Day 21 to 22 – Belém. Belém,
referred to by locals as ‘Para’, is located in the northern part of Brazil on
the banks of the Amazon estuary being the gateway to the Amazon with a busy
port.
Day 23 to 23 - En route. we will
stop overnight to camp en route close to Bom Jardin.
Day 24 to 24 - Sete Cidades NP. We camp inside the park which contains
mysterious rock formations over 190 million years old, caverns and natural
swimming pools.
Day 25 to 25 - Ubajara NP, famous for its caves, forest scenery and
waterfalls.
Day 26 to 27 – Jericoacoara. We’ll spend a couple of days here enjoying the
unhurried lifestyle, amongst beautiful beaches and rustic wooden buildings
surrounded by plants and flowers.
Day 28 to 30 - Canoa Quebrada, famous for its beautiful beaches and Canoa
Quebrada is a fishing village built on a sand dune with long deserted beaches
ideal for relaxation and swimming.
Day 31 to 32 - Praia da Pipa. As we work our way down the coast we will
take another break with a stopover in Praia da Pipa, one of Brazil's most
famous beaches.
Day 33 to 34 – Olinda. Continuing
south along the coast our next exciting destination is the old colonial town of
Olinda.
Day 35 to 36 – Maceio. Further down
the coast we come to Maceio, where you have the opportunity to hire jangadas
(typical Brazilian sailing boats).
Day 37 to 39 – Salvador. Continuing
up the coast we head for Salvador. It is in this area, just outside Mercado
Modelo, where we can find the Bahians practising the foot fighting sport of
Capoeira, which was originally brought to Brazil by Angolan slaves. Another key
feature of Bahian life is the Afro-Brazilian religion of candomblé and you may
be able to see one of their amazing ceremonies, alternatively, in the evening
we can enjoy the traditional music of the area with its strong emphasis on
percussion.
Day 40 to 41 – Itacaré, has beautiful beaches to be relaxed on as we head
towards Rio de Janeiro.
Day 42 to 43 - Porto Seguro. The beautiful coastal town of Porto Seguro has
miles of palm fringed beaches and bars, which are great places to sample
delicious fresh fruit juices, or the Brazilian national cocktail of caiparinha.
Day 44 to 44 - En route.
Day 45 to 46 - Ouro Prêto. Founded in 1711 it is now a UNESCO World
Heritage Site and National Historic Monument due to its outstanding Baroque
architecture.
Day 47 to 47 – Tiradentes. One of the best colonial towns in Brazil, its
300 year old buildings and churches offer charm and create atmosphere.
Day 48 to 53 - Rio de Janeiro. The city has so much to offer from its
natural sites to its famous landmarks including Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf
Mountain) and Corcovado with its famous ‘Cristo Redentor’ (Christ the Redeemer
statue) - both of which offer great views over the city. Please note that the
four nights spent during Rio Carnival are not included in the tour price and it
is essential to pre-book accommodation.
Day 54 to 56 – Parati. The town is renowned for its historic town centre,
the coast and mountains in the region.
Day 57 to 58 – Enroute. It will be two days driving inland from the coast.
Day 59 to 61 - Pantanal (optional excursion). The Pantanal is excellent for
wildlife watching as the region is more open and flat than a jungle setting.
Day 62 to 64 – Bonito. Bonito is renowned for the unbelievable blue of its
rivers and cave lakes.
Day 65 to 65 – Enroute. We hit the road making our way south.
Day 66 to 67 - Foz do Iguaçu. Next we arrive at the little Brazilian town
of Foz do Iguaçu (Iguazu Falls), where some 275 separate waterfalls cascade
over a two-and-a-half-kilometre-wide cliff face. For a bird's eye view over the
entire falls you can take an optional scenic helicopter ride.
Day 68 to 69 - Puerto Iguazú. Here we visit the falls from the Argentinian
side where you can walk through rainforest and along boardwalks directly above
the falls and you will also find the famous Garganta del Diablo, Spanish for
“Devil's Throat”, where fourteen waterfalls drop with such force that there is
always a massive cloud of spray overhead.
Day 70 to 70 - En route.
Day 71 to 74 - Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires is a beautiful city with lovely
green parks, plazas and wide boulevards. Our hostel is an excellent location,
within walking distance to many of the city's highlights and close to transport
links to the rest of the city.
Day 75 to 75 - we camp en route.
Day 76 to 77 - Puerto Madryn. From here we can visit the
nearby Valdés Peninsula that is renowned for its wildlife and you will
hopefully see penguins, sea lions, elephant seals, armadillos, guanacos, rheas,
southern right whales, killer whales, Patagonian hares and a great variety of
seabirds.
Day 78 to 79 - En route.
Day 80 to 82 – Ushuaia. Here we can take an excursion on the Beagle Channel
to visit the Isla de los Lobos or we also have the option to visit the Tierra
del Fuego.
Day 83 to 83 - En route.
Day 84 to 88 - Torres del Paine National Park. We have plenty of time to
trek the main trails in the park to see the famous Torres and both the Francés
and Grey Glaciers. We will also have the chance to travel by ferry across Lake
Pehoé to wonder at this unbelievable panorama.
Day 89 to 90 - El Calafate. We reach the pleasant town of El Calafate. This
is our base for visiting the Moreno Glacier, 80 kilometres away.
Day 91 to 92 - El Chaltén, with the picturesque Fitzroy National Park
nearby where you can enjoy some of Argentina's most scenic hiking.
Day 93 to 93 - Perito Moreno. There
are some long drives but some spectacular scenery. We will stop en route
depending on travel times, and camp for the evening.
Day 94 to 96 – Bariloche. This town
is a famous winter ski resort, but it also has plenty to offer during other
seasons.
Day 97 to 99 – Pucón. A small resort
on Lake Villarrica below the perfect cone-shaped Villarrica volcano. The whole
area is surrounded by lakes, mountains, forests, rivers and waterfalls and we
have two free days to take advantage of the activities on offer such as volcano
treks, white water rafting, horse riding, mountain biking and water sports.
Day 100 to 102 – Santiago. Pedro de
Valdivia established Santiago in 1541 but, except for Santa Lucia hill where
the original fortress was constructed, not much remains of its original glory. Santiago
is a very clean modern city with fountains, parks and buildings and of course,
excellent nightlife.
Day 103 to 105 – Mendoza. Mendoza is
the location where General José de San Martín organised the army with which he
liberated Chile and Peru from Spanish rule in 1818. Unfortunately, few historic
buildings remain after an earthquake devastated the city in 1861.
Day 106 to 107 – Cordoba. Cordoba is
a busy modern industrial city near the geographical centre of Argentina in the
foothills of the Sierras Chicas Mountains.
Day 108 to 108 – Catamarca. The city
offers both natural and cultural attractions and offers many activities.
Day 109 to 109 – Cafayate. We may
catch a glimpse of traditional subsistence farmers at work. Stunning
multi-coloured sedimentary rock formations offer beautiful photo opportunities
near Cafayate.
Day 110 to 112 – Salta. A variety of
excursions await you here including rafting and mountain biking although the
most popular is horseriding through the valley and working up an appetite
before enjoying a huge Argentinian barbecue with plenty of local wine to wash
it down.
Day 113 to 113 – Tupiza. We will
take a rest before we hit the roads of Bolivia.
Day 114 to 116 – Uyuní. To visit what is claimed to be the
largest salt flat in the world, the brilliantly white and vast Salar de Uyuní.
We will have an overnight stay in Uyuni.
Day 117 to 118 – Sucre. The official
capital of Bolivia even though the governing of the country actually takes
place in La Paz. Sucre is a small attractive city where, by law, all the
buildings are painted white. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to
its well-conserved downtown with buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Day 119 to 120 – Potosí. you the
opportunity to visit one of the mines (optional) where you will learn from
first-hand experience some of the hardship that miners still suffer. You soon
realise that the mines are worked today in much the same way as they were under
Spanish rule.
Day 121 to 123 - La Paz. La Paz is
built in the basin of a spectacular ancient crater caused by a meteorite. La
Paz is one of the best places to see a traditional peña show of Andean music
and dance where local musicians play their time-honoured instruments such as
zampoñas (pipes) and charangos (ukulele). There are plenty of excursions
available in La Paz.
Day 124 to 126 - Puno & Lake
Titicaca. The site has the famous Gate of the Sun, the Acapana Pyramid with six
magnetic pillars and an underground temple. From Puno us have the chance to
take an excursion to the islands of Amantaní and Taquile.
Day 127 to 127 – Cuzco. The
landscape gradually becomes greener as we get closer to the former Inca capital
of Cuzco, which means ‘Navel of the Earth' in the Inca language of Quechua. Cuzco
is our base for the next eight days for some really special optional excursions.
Day 128 to 130 - Optional Amazon
Jungle. Covering the greatest area of South America, the Amazon Jungle is a
must see part of your trip. We will take a quick flight from Cuzco, deep in to
the jungle to Puerto Maldonado where you will board canoes to take you further
in to the canopy. We will journey out to Monkey Island where monkeys are
rescued and rehabilitated, cared for by the jungle lodge. We will also have a
chance to swim in nearby lakes.
Day 131 to 133 - Optional Inca Trail Trek. If we have chosen to hike the
Inca Trail you will cross spectacular passes and visit more Inca ruins en route
to the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu. A local guide will lead this
expedition and there will be cooks and porters to carry the main equipment,
leaving you with just a small daypack.
Day 134 to 135 – Cuzco. Return to
Cuzco for the night and celebrate reaching Machu Picchu.
Day 136 to 138 – Arequipa. popular
attraction are: El Misti volcano, ‘Museo Santuarios Andinas, the Colca Canyon.
Day 139 to 139 - Puerto Inca. Heading
down from the Andes we make our way to the coast to Puerto Inca
.
Day 140 to 140 – Nazca that is renowned
for the mysterious parallel lines and geometrical figures etched into the
desert floor. Here you can take a flight in a light aircraft to see the
‘monkey', ‘hummingbird', ‘condor', ‘spider' and even what appears to be a
spaceman. There are many more designs to be seen on this 30-minute flight. To
this day no one is entirely sure why they are there.
Day 141 to 141 – Huacachina. a
desert oasis surrounded by massive sand-dunes.
Day 142 to 144 – Lima. The Historic
centre of Lima is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the city has many fine
colonial buildings and some of the best museums in South America including the
Gold Museum, Museum of the Inquisition and the Catacombs below the San
Francisco Church. Peru's capital has plenty to offer and many of the sights.
Day 145 to 147 – Huaraz. Fist we
explore a ruined temple by the side of the highway. We then head inland until
we hit the Cordillera Blanca Mountains and the small town of Huaraz.
Day 148 to 150 – Huanchaco. Which is
renowned for great beachside seafood restaurants and the reed boats that the
fishermen use to ride the huge surf, reputedly, one of the longest left hand
breaks in the world.
Day 151 to 153 – Mancora. We have
two full days in Mancora where we can enjoy the sun, surf and relaxation.
Day 154 to 155 – Cuenca. Visit the
historic area, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, between the river
Tomebamba and the street Gran Colombia to the north, General Torres to the
west, and Hermano Miguel to the east. There are plenty of sites here in the
city to fill your time.
Day 156 to 158 - Rio Verde/Baños. We make our way into
the Andes, along the edge of the rainforest where we reach Baños, camping just
outside in Rio Verde, a health resort renowned for its hot thermal springs.
Day 159 to 161 – Misahualli. The next three days you can
take an optional excursion into the steaming Amazon Jungle staying in
thatch-roofed bungalows on the shore of the Arajuno River. We’ll also have a
chance to meet and learn about the communities that live in the jungle which
may include a visit to a local shaman, learning about the local crafts such as
pottery and weaving, shooting arrows from a blow pipe and learning how they
catch animals and fish.
Day 162 to 162 – Otavalo. We move onto the famous
Otavalo market which is located north of Quito. It's a wonderful place to shop
for all kinds of handicrafts and to take really good photographs.
Day 163 to 163 – Quito. The city has two main sections,
the old and the new city. The latter is the main commercial area and has all
the good restaurants and bars, whereas the old city is the colonial sector with
steep calles, busy plazas and local markets.
Day 164 to 164 - Depart Quito. The adventure of a
lifetime comes to an end today.
A part from the route, as I said before, the trip costs £5.599 and It is so much money but I think
that I save during all the years that I study and after my studies I would take
a gap year to last as long as the trip.
A part from the route, as I said before, the trip costs £5.599 and It is so much money but I think
that I save during all the years that I study and after my studies I would take
a gap year to last as long as the trip.
