– TRAVEL destination –
South America
South America is the fourth largest continent in the world, with a rich biodiversity. It features the world’s driest desert, the highest waterfalls, the largest river basins and the longest mountain ranges!!
Our 4-month Adventure Through South America
We spent four unforgettable months travelling through a small part of South America — and honestly, it was even better than we could’ve hoped for.
I say “small part” because South America is made up of twelve countries, and we only managed to visit four: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay (okay, just a day trip, but hey, we got the passport stamp!), and Brazil. We also made it all the way over to Easter Island, which was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and something we’ll never forget.
Of course, no trip would be complete without the usual Nick and Nikki dramas — although, much to Nick’s relief, they weren’t all his fault this time!
We had a 24-hour flight delay at Heathrow, lost luggage for the first three weeks (cheers, British Airways), I managed to wash my passport twice in a washing machine, and to top it all off, Nick had to get a filling repaired in Ushuaia — normally a 20 min job at home but 2 hours later Nicks tooth was as good as new!!! Nick did look a little bit traumatised when he eventually escaped the chair.
BUT… it was all 100% worth it.
Every single country, city, town, and tiny village we visited had something magical to offer. From jaw-dropping natural landscapes to the warm, welcoming locals, South America completely stole our hearts.
The Adventure Begins — Chile
Our journey kicked off in Santiago, Chile, flying in from London and immediately diving headfirst into… shopping. Why? Because while we made it to South America, my luggage decided to take a scenic detour through Madrid and back to London before finally reuniting with me in Buenos Aires three weeks later. Drama!
Shopping wasn’t exactly high on my Santiago must-do list, but with only one outfit to my name, needs must. So it gave us an excuse to visit the largest shopping mall in South America The Costanera Centre.
Between retail missions, we still managed to explore the city — highlights included a brilliant walking tour with GuruWalks, a visit to Cerro San Cristóbal (Chile’s largest urban park) with stunning views over the city, and of course, a cheeky bit of wine tasting. Because, priorities.
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Detour — Easter Island
One of the most surreal and awe-inspiring moments of our entire trip was flying out to Easter Island (Rapa Nui).
Standing among the mysterious Moai statues with the island’s rugged beauty stretching out around us felt otherworldly. It’s the kind of place you dream about visiting — and it completely lived up to the hype.
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Our Adventure Starts in Chile...
Our adventure through South America was filled with unforgettable highlights and unique experiences that truly made it special.
And one of these was our once-in-a-lifetime opportunity trip over to Easter Island ( Rapa Nui ) Visiting Easter Island was a surreal and awe-inspiring experience, with its mysterious Moai statues and captivating landscapes.
The Bus Ride: Santiago to Mendoza
We took a 9-hour bus from Santiago to Mendoza, and it was one wild ride — literally. The route winds up through the Andes Mountains, with jaw-dropping views and hairpin bends that had us both holding our breath. One journey that really stands out.
The scenery? Unreal. Snow-capped peaks, deep valleys, and switchbacks stacked like a rollercoaster. At times, we were weaving through the mountains with sheer drops on one side — adrenaline-pumping and awe-inspiring all at once. Crossing the border at high altitude was chilly and a bit chaotic, but totally worth it.
As we descended into Argentina, the landscape shifted dramatically. The rugged mountains gave way to sun-drenched vineyards, and the promise of good wine became very real, very quickly.
We drank the best red wine ever in Mendoza. I couldn’t tell you the name — it was served on draught at a cozy little bar called Migaja’s. My mouth still waters thinking about it. Six very large glasses for less than £12. Dirt cheap and absolutely divine.
Later, from Salta, we visited the Salt Pans of Salinas Grandes — a blindingly white, otherworldly stretch of salt flats that felt like stepping onto another planet. From high mountain passes to flat, surreal landscapes, Northern Argentina kept surprising us at every turn.
From Buenos Aires to Patagonia
We then headed to Buenos Aires meeting up with Jo and Will for New Year’s Eve! We stayed in Tigre with Will’s family and had a blast over the three weeks, enjoying the delicious food and beautiful architecture. We checked out some tango shows and explored the historic neighborhoods. It was such a fantastic experience!
Also we had a day trip to Colonia, Uruguay. Anything. for a passport stamp.
We zig-zagged through Patagonia starting at The End of the World in Ushuaia in Argentina and travelled by bus over to Punta Arenas, Chile to go and visit Magdalena Island where there is a colony of over 120,000 Magellanic penguins you can walk amongst.
We bused up through Patagonia arriving in El Chaltén a small village in Argentina, located within Los Glaciares National Park. It is known as the trekking capital of Argentina and offers stunning views of the Patagonian wilderness.
And then onto El Calafate to visit Perito Mereno Glacier also in the Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina, and this glacier still grows approx. 2.2 metres a day despite global warming. It is also considered to be one of the most impressive natural spectacles in the world. Yep, we thought it was impressive.
Brazil — Culture Shock & Cocktails
From icy landscapes to tropical vibes, we flew into Florianópolis in the south of Brazil. And I’ll be honest — that first week was tough.
Culture shock hit hard. We were constantly told to blend in, don’t look like tourists, keep your phone hidden, and don’t use Google Maps or Translate in public. It was stressful, overwhelming… and I seriously considered flying home.
But, once we dared to venture out, things got better. Way better.
Florianópolis has 43 beaches, and once we embraced the laid-back beach life (cocktail in hand, sun on our faces), the stress started melting away. Our toughest decision each day became: Which beach? Which cocktail? And honestly, we were okay with that.
Then came the place that completely captured our hearts: Búzios.
Ahhhh, Búzios… where do we begin?
This charming coastal town, known for its clear waters, stunning beaches, and buzzing nightlife, felt like something out of a dream. We stayed in the loveliest little guesthouse, where the hosts Alexandrea and Cliedson made us feel like family. Despite the language barrier (thank you again, Google Translate), their warmth and kindness stayed with us long after we left. (We’ll link to the guesthouse — “Meu Cantinho” — in case you’re heading that way!)
Our Journey Through South America In Numbers
"Explore the Wonders Of Asia
5 Fascinating Fast Facts
- Asia is the largest continent in the world.
- It has 48 countries including India, Vietnam, Japan, China and 44 more!!
- Russia and Turkey have land in both Asia and Europe.
- Asia has 2300 languages!!
- Asia has a population of 4.8 billion
I mean to say who knew???
– Explore Countries –
Chile
A walkers paradise. Argentina full of natural wonders and where you can get a great steak
Argentina
A walkers paradise. Argentina full of natural wonders and where you can get a great steak
Brazil
A walkers paradise. Argentina full of natural wonders and where you can get a great steak
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