Anonymous
Post 11/26/2023 15:10     Subject: Places to travel with kids in South America?

Anonymous wrote:This thread is super annoying. I don’t know who is more annoying, OP or the responses.

South America is huge. It’s not all south of the equator and much of what’s south of the equator (and all of what’s north of it) is tropical so the time of year doesn’t matter much. What matters is the altitude and whether you are in the dry or wet season.

Anyone who would recommend either Bogota or Lima to a first time visitor to the continent has a screw loose. You start with Buenos Aires and Rio if you want a city. And, sure, there’s Machu Picchu but you spend as little time as possible in Lima when you do that.

Ecuador is a great country to visit as a first timer as well. It’s a compact country that offers highlands and breathtaking mountains and volcanoes as well as rainforest. You don’t go there for beaches though.

Sigh. I shouldn’t even bother with this thread. It’s too annoying.


What language do they speak there?
Anonymous
Post 11/26/2023 15:08     Subject: Places to travel with kids in South America?

Anonymous wrote:Skip Argentina unless you like fascism!


Actually, I do. What is that town with the old nazis?
Anonymous
Post 11/26/2023 14:35     Subject: Places to travel with kids in South America?

Visit Argentina:

Buenos Aires for a European city feel, Mendoza for wine country, Bariloche for hiking like someone mentioned above, Iguazu if you like Niagara Falls, somewhere in the far south to see glaciers
Anonymous
Post 11/26/2023 14:26     Subject: Places to travel with kids in South America?

We liked Argentina. We went on a history tour in Buenos Aires and visited several cultural sites. We visited Bariloche and did some great hikes. If we had more time, we would visit wine country and the falls. Something for everyone!
Anonymous
Post 11/26/2023 12:23     Subject: Places to travel with kids in South America?

Anonymous wrote:This thread is super annoying. I don’t know who is more annoying, OP or the responses.

South America is huge. It’s not all south of the equator and much of what’s south of the equator (and all of what’s north of it) is tropical so the time of year doesn’t matter much. What matters is the altitude and whether you are in the dry or wet season.

Anyone who would recommend either Bogota or Lima to a first time visitor to the continent has a screw loose. You start with Buenos Aires and Rio if you want a city. And, sure, there’s Machu Picchu but you spend as little time as possible in Lima when you do that.

Ecuador is a great country to visit as a first timer as well. It’s a compact country that offers highlands and breathtaking mountains and volcanoes as well as rainforest. You don’t go there for beaches though.

Sigh. I shouldn’t even bother with this thread. It’s too annoying.

We get it. You’re too cool for this thread.
Anonymous
Post 11/26/2023 12:06     Subject: Re:Places to travel with kids in South America?

Chile is a great place to visit. Santiago has a Mediterranean climate (hot in summer and cool in winter-keeping in mind that their summer is during our winter). We visited the city then drive to Valparaiso and Vina Del Mar to the Pacific coast. we also went up to the Andes (we were there in February so it was summer and there was no snow/skiing). If I had extra time, I would have also visited Easter Island (which is part of Chile but is really a South Pacific island).
Anonymous
Post 11/26/2023 11:50     Subject: Places to travel with kids in South America?

This thread is super annoying. I don’t know who is more annoying, OP or the responses.

South America is huge. It’s not all south of the equator and much of what’s south of the equator (and all of what’s north of it) is tropical so the time of year doesn’t matter much. What matters is the altitude and whether you are in the dry or wet season.

Anyone who would recommend either Bogota or Lima to a first time visitor to the continent has a screw loose. You start with Buenos Aires and Rio if you want a city. And, sure, there’s Machu Picchu but you spend as little time as possible in Lima when you do that.

Ecuador is a great country to visit as a first timer as well. It’s a compact country that offers highlands and breathtaking mountains and volcanoes as well as rainforest. You don’t go there for beaches though.

Sigh. I shouldn’t even bother with this thread. It’s too annoying.
Anonymous
Post 11/26/2023 11:35     Subject: Re:Places to travel with kids in South America?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Thank you! Will take a look at some itineraries!


Ps None of us spoke Spanish and the guide at Macchu Picchu spoke very good English.


Thank you! That's good to know!

Also, is there a better time of year to go or recommended amount of time to spend there? I'm wondering about summer break vs winter or spring break. I know the seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere.


Issue will really be rainy season versus dry season, particularly if you also intend to go to the rainforest -- July/August/Sept is likely best. I hiked the Inca Trail in late November and the weather was mostly fine with some rain, but we got a bit lucky. On another trip I went in August (and on this trip also went to Manu) and the weather was drier/better.
Anonymous
Post 11/26/2023 11:30     Subject: Places to travel with kids in South America?

When we went years ago we spent a day or so in Lima but was told it wasn’t safe and really didn’t seem like there was much to keep us there so I am with the other posters that at most it’s an add on to the Sacred Valley and other places in Peru.