Hay guys. Question. Im looking (just prelim right now) at places for a relaxing vacation for my wife and some others likely for this summer. We want something in Central or South America, but have no idea of good places to visit.

Our criteria is basically this in order of likely magnitude: 1. good food, 2. great beaches 3. neat things to see (maybe a jungle tour? temples, waterfalls?), 4. decently cheap with cool local culture

Any of you peeps know Central or S. America enough to dish some recommendations to help guide our decision? Any help is really appreciated

4/11/2008 8:45:50 AM

Costa Rica.

4/11/2008 8:47:46 AM

im getting ready to go to Chile at the end of May. I can let you know how it is if you're interested afterwards. that may be too far out though for you.

4/11/2008 8:48:32 AM

im going to belize next june, so like ^, if you still havent gone by then, i can let you know how it is

4/11/2008 8:51:45 AM

Ski Patagonia!!!

4/11/2008 9:18:53 AM

Itacare, south of Bahia, Brazil. Small city, nice beaches, great food (just stay away from "vatapa"), but I don't know if there are jungle tours.
The northeast of Brazil is very nice, mostly if you stay away from big cities (Recife, Fortaleza, Salvador). I also use to say to my american friends to stay away from Rio when they think about going to Brazil (go to northeast of Brazil instead...).
Some other places in Brazil that I've heard are nice: Porto de Galinhas, Morro de Sao Paulo, Costa do Sauipe, Ilha de Comandatuba.
If you want to go to the jungle, I've heard of a nice hotel in the middle of Amazonas (north of Brazil), close to Manaus, and a city called "Bonito", in the center-west of Brazil.

4/11/2008 1:45:54 PM

chile was gorgeous...i sincerely enjoyed it...but the area we were at was very much like the pacific northwest, so i don't think beaches are quite what you're looking for...sledding down a volcano and some truly awe-inspiring hikes in the andes was what occupied a lot of my time

4/11/2008 2:21:27 PM

brasil,

curitiba is nice, and not as touristy, its also a fairly large city. plus theres beaches

4/11/2008 2:41:24 PM

You should probably add 5) less than likely to be kidnapped.

4/11/2008 2:52:03 PM

Drink the water.

4/11/2008 3:01:53 PM

^^Turistas?

In this case, add this too:
6)There are no giant Anacondas

4/12/2008 10:57:33 AM

Curitiba is really awesome, but I think for US summer it wouldn't be nice. It will be winter there, and Curitiba is one of the coldest winter in Brazil (not even close to US winter, but winter anyway).
Actually, weather will be ok on the northeast of Brazil, but not nice. Better go there on south hem. summer (Jan, Feb).
Central America is better for north hem. summer if you want to go to the beach.

4/12/2008 11:11:21 AM

my friend books trips to costa rica, panama, and belize. i'll post his contact info once i find his business number.

4/12/2008 8:36:35 PM