Juliaca was great. The people there are very kind, and make you feel at home. About the weather - a bit too cold sometimes but the sun was shining most of the time. I am looking forward to going back.
If you want to enjoy a safe and beautiful place with all the basic commodities, you should visit Ubatuba.
A beautiful place by the "sea!" Nice people, an enchanting island (Isla del Sol! Amazing!), Cerro del Calvario (at four thousand meters with an unbelievable view), home to Virgen de Copacabana church, Incan ruins. I would definitely recommend it as a place to go!
A beautiful city! It was a great surprise to know Montevideo and I recommend everybody to do the same. You won't regret it.
I've been in Saquarema last February and what a great surprise Ii had with the very nice city and amazing beaches. The average prices are half than Rio prices. I recommend to visit Saquarema -- it's really nice and sunny!
Medellín … Medellin is a great place to visit, but better if you know somebody there. I had friends to show me around. The food is great, women are beautiful, and the people friendly. However, there are definitely things to be cautious of, like any large city.
If anyone is looking for an excellent Spanish school, I highly recommend the 'Spanish School San Pedro'. All the teachers are fully trained, and they have an excellent assortment of language and history books. Lessons take place under palapas outside in a beautiful garden. I spent about 3 month there all together, and learned a huge amount of Spanish. It's located next door to the Solar Pools.
Boquete is a lovely place. But a bad man there runs a hostel called Hostal Paraiso, he may approach you at the bus stop there. His name is Pancho or Francisco. He acts friendly, but the man is a cocaine fiend, and I`m pretty sure he was selling drugs at the hostel. He stole about $30 from us (by refusing to give us our change) and attacked us verbally with threats when we argued with him about it.
Itacaré is a magical city with a cool athmosphere, beautiful beaches, the river, the sunset, the people, the forro nigths, everything in Itacaré is so nice.
We're just leaving Taganga now. Our friends were robbed at gunpoint last night and we talked to three other groups of people who were robbed with knives during the last week. The people in the town and police were very apathetic about it. I was also told of two incidences (in the last week) of police searching/intimidating backpackers looking for contraband/bribes as well.
Love the city. Full of life, friendly people and very cheap. The U.S. dollar goes a long way there. Been there with my wife to visit her family five times and was also married there. Make sure you visit the Malecon 2000, which is a large waterfront park located on the Guayas river in the downtown area. Lots of tropical plants and flowers and original jungle trees wihch date back to before the city was founded (our wedding portraits were taken in this park). Also visit the small chapel and lighthouse at the top of the Santa Anna hill in the Old Guayaquil section for spectacular views of the city. Lots of shopping and dining. Visit the Mall Del Sol which is a large American-style shopping center located in a very nice area across the street from the Sheraton Hotel and five to ten minutes from the airport and downtown. Don't carry lots of cash because you won't need it.You can find bargains anywhere except the for the malls. Artesanal is a good place to bargain shop for souvenirs…
Córdoba … Cordoba is beautiful, beautiful city -- and the great mosque of Cordoba is breathtaking. It was such a beautiful place it made us want to cry.
Baños … We found that Banos was the high spot on our vist to Ecuador.
Búzios … Buzios is a small resort town with a bunch of mediocre hotels, restaurants, and it's full of old people and mothers pushing baby buggies. This town is overhyped and needs a facelift.
[I deleted the long story about his taxi being searched etc because I didn't know how relevant it was for a city comment and it was also hard to understand, but if it should be put back in let me know.]
If you visit Argentina you cannot miss Esquel. The city doesn’t have a lot, but the area is fantastic. If I could, I would go back every summer.
Arraial d'Ajuda is a very special place -- beautiful people, cool people, nice beach. There are so many things to do and to see. It's one of the best places in Brazil. I loved it.
Limón is an incredible place, I love it! Great beaches and cool people. If you are going back to San José, don't even think to eat or spend time in Burger King of Guápiles. The worst of the worst in the world.
Bogotá … I love so much Colombia and Bogota it is a beatiful capital! I love it.
Buenos Aires is amazing! We spent a week there and were completely entertained. Don't miss Recoleta. The food and shopping are fantastic -- and cheap. Do not waste a day going to Tigre -- it's boring.
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