Hello Wil.I love Sth America and I hope your dream of seeing this beautiful ,friendly continent comes true.I will tell you a few of my favourite adventures.
You mentioned Machu Picchu.This is 1 of the wonders of the world so you have to see it but it is a ratrace.I hated Cuzco/Machu Picchu and I'm glad I've seen it becouse it means I don't have to go again.
My favourite trip in Peru was Iquitos.Iquitos is the biggest city in the world that's not accesableby road.You get a bus (Civa Buslines) to Moyabumba.Stay at the "Country Club Hotel".It is cheap and they will orgonise a "Colectivo" (like a shared taxi) to take you to Tarapoto (worth spending a night) and then on to Yurimaguas.From here you get on an old local ferry (2nd deck half the price of top deck but PAY THE EXTRA.Top deck is open so doesn't stink ands less chance of getting robbed in the night) to Iquitos.You can get another ferry from here to Columbia ,Bolivia and Brazil (Great trip I've heard but very long time on a boat).I flew back to Lima from Iquitos.The river trip was just as you'd imagine with grass huts and Indians coming to meet the ferry in dugout canoes.I will remember this trip for the rest of my life.
In Bolivia there is the Death Road and San Pedro Prison in La Paz.The "Death Road used to be the only route East from La Paz.100s of buses n trucks fell to their deaths from this mountainous road ,thus the "Death Road".In early 2000s a local bus with went over killing 40 odd people.The locals rioted and the government agreed to build a nice bitumen road.Now the "Death Road" isa only used by a bunch of crazy travellers who ride the 63kms on pushbikes in 3 or 4 hrs.I've never gone so fast on a bicycle in my life.Good day."San Pedro Prison" is in the tourist centre of La Paz.It is the jail made famous in the book "Marching Powder".You can do tours and even spend nights in there.I suggest you read the book.Great story.
I didn't go to the "Pampas" but most people I met did.On a 3day trip from La Paz you get to catch n eat pirranas ,catch and release Anacondas and camp in the jungle.
The Salt Lakes Sth of La Paz are worth a look.I went to Tupiza and went 4wheel driving into the mountains for 3days following the last week in the lives of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid".This might be boring for you but I was in Primary School when the movie came out ,so I spent years pretending to be Butch or Sundance.Then I went into Argentina across and back into Bolivia at dif crossing and went to Santa Cruz.Lovely area
If you don't go to Paraguay you aren't missing out but it is worth cutting across there on way to Iguazu Falls.Just remember of all the countries I speak of here Paraguay is the only 1 you need a visa.Maybe Brazil but I stuck to Spanish Sth Am
Iguazu Falls are a must .Amazing.I went on the Argentine side which was reasonably cheap and laid back.Others I spoke to who went on Brazilian side complained of being harrased and how expensive it was.
I didn't think much of Buenos Aires but is worth a look.I strongly advise that you jump on the boat ,in BA, and spend a week or 2 in Uraguay.Many people don't do this but the Uraguians are friendlies people I've met.Peruvians and Bolivians are so freindly but have no education but Uraguians are very well educated and alot speak English.
Also in Argentina is Puerto Madryn.This is a Wildlife Sanctuary You can go Whale watching ,see seals and penguins ect and see many of the Animals that only exist in Argentina.Then keep going Sth to Ushuaia.The boat trip from Nth Island to Sth Island in New Zealand was the most awe inspiring thing I've ever seen.The boat trip from Ushuaia equals it easily.
Calafate isn't too far from Ushuaia and here you can see the Moreno Glacier.An iceblock as big as Buenos Aires
I could write forever but I hope this is some help to you and DON'T JUST DREAM IT ,DO IT.You may find it hard to make that 1st step from a small town but if you buy the plane ticket the rest will fall into place.Also don't rely on your mates.It'd be great if you all travelled together but if you wait for them you may be waiting forever.Buy that ticket now and believe me the adrenaline rushes you will get weekly is heaps better than any drug invented
In 3 weeks I fly back to Lima but this time I travel Nth through Ecuador ,Colombia ,Panama ,Costa Rica ,Nicuragua ,El Salvador ,Honduras ,Guatamala and Belize into Mexico.I only have 5months to do this trip but its better than nothing
If you have any questions message me .I'll be happy to help if I can and maybe we'll meet on th road 1 day
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