I lived in Sao Paulo back in the 90s loved it there. My son was in first grade at the American school. We would stop at a coffee shop and have breakfast before school. Great memories of weekends and holidays at the beach. Just a wonderful time in my life.
As someone who has been to all 10 of the big countries in south america, it is my favorite place to go. I also have a set of rules that i travel by that have kept me out of trouble. Im in my room by 11pm at the latest and usually by 8pm. If i drink at all, i start early and end early. I go where tourist go. The backpackers towns are about as native as i want to go. The people are what make south america for me. I enjoy being with them.
Cool! If you can, visit Florianópolis, its one of the most touristic and safest cities in Brazil. There’s a lot of nature, hikes and beaches, really amazing city. The only thing that can be a problem its the slow traffic depending on the place you’re visiting.
We visited Ecuador and Colombia a few years ago. We stayed in Quito and there was so much air pollution, it really turned me off. We absolutely loved Cartagena and hope to go back.
I'm 🇪🇨🇨🇴 & family is from Quito/Bogota & they are cities. Were from NY & if you don't like NYC or the boroughs then I get you wouldn't like yet another city lol. But my 🇪🇨 family does live outside of Quito heading to the Andes up in Cotacachi. That might be better to visit, the snow covered mountains & much more peaceful & fresh air.
@Mr_and_Mrs_Seiler popayan and Tunja are nice medium sized historical cities in colombia. Many people don't like cities so big. Cartagena too may feel too big for some
Wow, I have to say, my experience in Peru was truly unforgettable. I remember visiting the Sacred Valley and witnessing a traditional Andean wedding ceremony. The vibrant colors, the infectious music, and the warmth of the locals left me in awe. But what really blew me away was the scenic train ride to Machu Picchu. The majestic mountains, the lush cloud forest, and the ancient ruins all came together in a breathtaking symphony. And let me tell you, the sunrise over the Andes was pure magic! But what really sealed the deal for me was the hospitality of the Peruvian people. I got lost in Cusco and a local family took me in, fed me, and even gave me a place to stay for the night. That's when I knew that Peru was more than just a destination - it's a feeling, a culture, and a people that will leave an indelible mark on your heart. Trust me, Peru is the crown jewel of South America, and it's a must-visit for anyone looking for an unforgettable experience!
I loved Argentina! Buenos Aires and Mendoza (my favorite with the fabulous wine and intro to Malbec). I was there in August so it was Winter but I had a blast. I even got to go sledding. It was hilarious as an adult who hadn't been sledding in 30+ years. I would love to go back! The Andes were wonderful too. Managed to take a day trip to Uruguay as well. So amazing. I spoke a few words in Spanish but kept coming out with Italian since I studied that. Oops. Grazie.... I think they understood but how embarrassing!
The people are incredibly friendly and accommodating. Even not speaking a whole lot of spanish. Lima was a little a more aggressive, but cuzco was great. Everyone in Quito was friendly and the in the galopogos. If you are heading to the Ushuai just remember the international airport is seperated from the domestic airport by about 1.5 hrs. Make sure to use the airport taxi service. Don't be fooled by someone grabbing you off the plan.
Patagonia and Tierra Del Fuego aren’t hot, humid and sticky. They are cold and have snow even in summer! The weather there is more like Alaska, South Island New Zealand or Norway.
Best sleep of my life was the 18 hour overnight bus from Buenos Aires to Iguazu Falls. Get the cama-style seats... like sleeping in a luxe dentist chair.
Mark represents a true American: kindness Al the way! Obrigada Mark por colocar a América do Sul de uma maneira tão realista, incentivando a valorização e o entendimento da cultura! Way to go Mark!
that last point you made reminded me of my recent trip to the dominican republic. staying outside of the resort you don't meet many other tourists it's just you and the locals
Hi Mark, I think your videos are wonderful and absolutely fantastic! I would love you to do some videos about Patagonia and Tierra Del Fuego, because it is a phenomenal part of the world that is more beautiful than Alaska, South Island New Zealand and Norway.
It's not all heat and humidity. The weather in the south of Chile and Argentina (Patagonia) it can be very cold in the winter, much more nice in the summer, and it doesn't have a thing in common with the tropical climate. Check out the weather in those areas before decide.
Great video. I think you oversimplified the weather issue. The equator runs right though the northern part of the continent, so that seasons are not completely reversed. From what I understand, it is more like a dry vs. wet season, geographic considerations - low vs. high elevations, and yes, the latitude. I'm happy that you brought up personal security. Right now, Ecuador is experiencing a crime wave that is caused by drug trafficing. This is also affecting the Galapagos. There are also political disruptions and protests in many of the countries. Best to consult the US State Department, the British Foreign Office, and the Australian Foreign Ministry on travel advisories. One also needs to consider the limitations that the governments have placed on visiting historic sites. Ex. Machu Picchu has a limited number of visitors allowed on a daily basis.
@@vermontvoice13 sorry about that, I was commenting before I got to the end of Mark's video. He covered everything pretty well about S. America. I have not been to Brazil, but i have hit Argentina, Peru, & Ecuador. Everything Mark said was true.
@@chrisdufala7917 good to know, would love to visit Brazil or most anywhere else in SA someday when I can afford to. Esp going to visit Machu Picchu is something that looks beautiful
@@vermontvoice13 Picchu is very beautiful. But can be a bit challenging to get there from cuzco. It's better to have it coordinated through a travel group. I would definitely avoid driving in Peru.
@@chrisdufala7917 oh yeah I would try to do some type of travel tour deal or whatever since I’ve never traveled outside of USA aside Canada before. Would for sure not drive in another country haha I wouldn’t feel safe doing so
The fact that you need to clarify that when it's winter in North America, it's summer in South America just blows my mind! I mean, kudos to you for being an amazing RUclipsr, but I can't help but chuckle at the thought of your North American audience scratching their heads, going, "Wait, what?!" You're not just dropping knowledge bombs; you're also educating the masses on seasons like a global weather wizard! 🌍🔮 I'm stationed at a venue in Sydney, Australia, and here comes a lady from America, confidently handing me a $50 American bill like it's the golden ticket to entry. I break the news gently that we don't roll with the greenbacks here. Her response? She labels our Aussie dollars as "Monopoly money" - you know, the kind you'd find in a board game. Apparently, we're living in a real-life game of economic Monopoly down under! 😄💸
I used to be Mormon and I went to Venezuela on my mission. It's so hard to get used to the pace of life outside the US when you leave. Most of the time I was cool with it all, but waiting at the ATMs to get money out would drive me nuts. The line would usually be 45 minutes long and the machines would regularly run out of money. One day in Barcelona I pretty much lost my mind after a machine ran out of cash after I had already waited 40 minutes
Você é um cara incrível! Que prestigia a realidade da vida...tudo isso é realmente verdade, natureza clima gastronomia e cultura haminica entre os tratamentos com as pessoas ❤
Great video Wolter! I’m going to South America next week, but I’m concerned about how to get cash in Argentina. As a U.K. citizen, I don’t naturally carry U.S. Dollars with me and it’s difficult to pre-order Argentinian Pesos, so I’m hoping cash is easy to withdraw from ATMs… I also need to get a Subte card, so hoping they’re are easily available! 🤞🏻
The card is super easy. As for atms. Get as much as you can when you go. Go in the mornings. I don't remember any problems with atms in Argentina. Call your bank and see which banks they work with and who will charge you the least. Lastly, Argentina is somewhere you need to pay attention and have some rules as to when and where you go. Be in your hotel by 9pm and you will avoid a lot of problems.
Check in the internet for "Libra Esterlina Blue", it's commonly the parallel market price, so you can get a lot more pesos for less pounds western union's fees are also very good
Thank you - I did look into this, but it’s quite a bit of time and effort to get this set up and get money transferred in (I think there is a minimum holding period too). There also seem to be llong queues at WU outlets to get hold of cash. As I’m only spending not much more than a week in BA (and a couple of days in Mendoza) it just didn’t seem worth the effort!
Mosquitos😂 I’m a southern Brazilian living in Florida. I have so much fun scaring my fellow Americans when they say mosquitos are bad in here!😂😂😂 nope! Florida: mosquito’s good! Southern Brazil: mosquitos bad!😂😂😂 Also, I would recommend getting your own bug spray if you have insect bites. My kids had many problems with severe reactions from mosquitos bite before moving to Florida. Mark, I would recommend visiting Santa Catarina! It’s a jewel state!
We're going to Sao Paulo & Rio in July, I'm asking about transferring in Panama. Many connections show 2 hours or less. Does that work ok there? And if of a long transfer time, say 8 hours, is it easy to sightsee a little? bit?
Feels a bit strange to deal with a whole continent like this. South America is more diverse than North America. There is a marked difference between Venezuela, Ecuador, Brazil and Chlle... As much as I like the video it is a bit misleading.
Where in South America is that a thing? I've heard that in the North of Brazil (Amazon area) that can be a thing, but I don't see how they'd need hot showers there very often...
@@manuelquiroga7994most locals never touch or even see snow in many places in Latin america. Doesn't matter if it's somewhere in the mountains there in this case
The host of this video speaks about South America in a typical USA perspective They viewed us as a single country. Are they ever are going to learn. Shame.
Totally. He said that he wasn't going to generalized things and he did that. 90% of the things he said (good and bad) don't apply to Uruguay, for example, and he has been here, so you realize that they can't take away they prejudices
I lived in Sao Paulo back in the 90s loved it there. My son was in first grade at the American school. We would stop at a coffee shop and have breakfast before school. Great memories of weekends and holidays at the beach. Just a wonderful time in my life.
As someone who has been to all 10 of the big countries in south america, it is my favorite place to go.
I also have a set of rules that i travel by that have kept me out of trouble. Im in my room by 11pm at the latest and usually by 8pm. If i drink at all, i start early and end early. I go where tourist go. The backpackers towns are about as native as i want to go.
The people are what make south america for me. I enjoy being with them.
Im in Colombia now! 3 months here.
I’m so keen to see Brazil! Hope it’s amazing for your family ☺️
Cool! If you can, visit Florianópolis, its one of the most touristic and safest cities in Brazil. There’s a lot of nature, hikes and beaches, really amazing city. The only thing that can be a problem its the slow traffic depending on the place you’re visiting.
Going in July 😊
@@Michaelpalmer4k that’s awesome! Hope you have an amazing time ☺️
@@Jjfire29 I know some Spanish plus a friend living there so I'm sure it'll be good
We visited Ecuador and Colombia a few years ago. We stayed in Quito and there was so much air pollution, it really turned me off. We absolutely loved Cartagena and hope to go back.
I'm 🇪🇨🇨🇴 & family is from Quito/Bogota & they are cities. Were from NY & if you don't like NYC or the boroughs then I get you wouldn't like yet another city lol. But my 🇪🇨 family does live outside of Quito heading to the Andes up in Cotacachi. That might be better to visit, the snow covered mountains & much more peaceful & fresh air.
I loved Cartagena too.
found cartagena to be a cesspit of prostitution, medellin is way better
@Mr_and_Mrs_Seiler popayan and Tunja are nice medium sized historical cities in colombia. Many people don't like cities so big. Cartagena too may feel too big for some
@@Ben-zg4vg cesspit???? Brit alert 😂😂😂😂
Wow, I have to say, my experience in Peru was truly unforgettable. I remember visiting the Sacred Valley and witnessing a traditional Andean wedding ceremony. The vibrant colors, the infectious music, and the warmth of the locals left me in awe. But what really blew me away was the scenic train ride to Machu Picchu. The majestic mountains, the lush cloud forest, and the ancient ruins all came together in a breathtaking symphony. And let me tell you, the sunrise over the Andes was pure magic! But what really sealed the deal for me was the hospitality of the Peruvian people. I got lost in Cusco and a local family took me in, fed me, and even gave me a place to stay for the night. That's when I knew that Peru was more than just a destination - it's a feeling, a culture, and a people that will leave an indelible mark on your heart. Trust me, Peru is the crown jewel of South America, and it's a must-visit for anyone looking for an unforgettable experience!
I loved Argentina! Buenos Aires and Mendoza (my favorite with the fabulous wine and intro to Malbec). I was there in August so it was Winter but I had a blast. I even got to go sledding. It was hilarious as an adult who hadn't been sledding in 30+ years. I would love to go back! The Andes were wonderful too. Managed to take a day trip to Uruguay as well. So amazing. I spoke a few words in Spanish but kept coming out with Italian since I studied that. Oops. Grazie.... I think they understood but how embarrassing!
I am a global traveller from Salvador Bahia and i assure u will have a truly unique experience when u come to Brasil, specially Bahia! ❤️✈️
The people are incredibly friendly and accommodating. Even not speaking a whole lot of spanish. Lima was a little a more aggressive, but cuzco was great. Everyone in Quito was friendly and the in the galopogos. If you are heading to the Ushuai just remember the international airport is seperated from the domestic airport by about 1.5 hrs. Make sure to use the airport taxi service. Don't be fooled by someone grabbing you off the plan.
Loved Peru! Heading to Colombia in June.
Patagonia and Tierra Del Fuego aren’t hot, humid and sticky. They are cold and have snow even in summer! The weather there is more like Alaska, South Island New Zealand or Norway.
Another banger from Wolter
Best sleep of my life was the 18 hour overnight bus from Buenos Aires to Iguazu Falls. Get the cama-style seats... like sleeping in a luxe dentist chair.
Good advice Mark. My wife found it very hard going with the heat when we visited Brazil(Rio de Janeiro) in 2007.
Mark represents a true American: kindness Al the way! Obrigada Mark por colocar a América do Sul de uma maneira tão realista, incentivando a valorização e o entendimento da cultura! Way to go Mark!
This is fantastic Mark!
Nice to see so much clips from Cuenca Ecuador! hope you had a good time
that last point you made reminded me of my recent trip to the dominican republic. staying outside of the resort you don't meet many other tourists it's just you and the locals
Super interesting. You have me rethink traveling to SA.
I love going to Peru.... In the winter, obviously. Lol 😂
Hi Mark,
I think your videos are wonderful and absolutely fantastic! I would love you to do some videos about Patagonia and Tierra Del Fuego, because it is a phenomenal part of the world that is more beautiful than Alaska, South Island New Zealand and Norway.
South America is the only continent I haven't been to (aside from Antarctica). I'm hoping to visit in the next few years.
Great points... I agree. I'm currently in a small town in Peru and haven't seen another caucasian ;)
I really like your vibe dude, and awesome content! 🏆
Hey Mark, cool video
I didn't know you lived here in Brazil. Good surprise
Seems super fun. But heat really does me in. You can’t get away from it.
So why don't you visit a colder place in Latin America then?
My fiancé and I are traveling to Japan for our honeymoon and I was wondering if you had any new tips for travel to Japan?
Oh my goodness. You’ve just convinced me never to visit South America. I despise the heat and humidity.
It's not all heat and humidity. The weather in the south of Chile and Argentina (Patagonia) it can be very cold in the winter, much more nice in the summer, and it doesn't have a thing in common with the tropical climate. Check out the weather in those areas before decide.
@@dchavezc86plenty of places are not hot including bogota, Quito, cusco and so on
Great video
Great video. I think you oversimplified the weather issue. The equator runs right though the northern part of the continent, so that seasons are not completely reversed. From what I understand, it is more like a dry vs. wet season, geographic considerations - low vs. high elevations, and yes, the latitude.
I'm happy that you brought up personal security. Right now, Ecuador is experiencing a crime wave that is caused by drug trafficing. This is also affecting the Galapagos. There are also political disruptions and protests in many of the countries. Best to consult the US State Department, the British Foreign Office, and the Australian Foreign Ministry on travel advisories.
One also needs to consider the limitations that the governments have placed on visiting historic sites. Ex. Machu Picchu has a limited number of visitors allowed on a daily basis.
Don't forget the altitude differences. When I was in peru, machu picchu was hot, but rainbow mountain was cold. Ecuador was always hot.
He mentions altitude in the video
@@vermontvoice13 sorry about that, I was commenting before I got to the end of Mark's video. He covered everything pretty well about S. America. I have not been to Brazil, but i have hit Argentina, Peru, & Ecuador. Everything Mark said was true.
@@chrisdufala7917 good to know, would love to visit Brazil or most anywhere else in SA someday when I can afford to. Esp going to visit Machu Picchu is something that looks beautiful
@@vermontvoice13 Picchu is very beautiful. But can be a bit challenging to get there from cuzco. It's better to have it coordinated through a travel group. I would definitely avoid driving in Peru.
@@chrisdufala7917 oh yeah I would try to do some type of travel tour deal or whatever since I’ve never traveled outside of USA aside Canada before. Would for sure not drive in another country haha I wouldn’t feel safe doing so
I love all the BBQ clips that Mark has of Brazil hahah
🇪🇨🇨🇴 If your in the cities or Andes mountains its not that hot in summer. I cant stand heat either lol were from the poncho wearing kind of weather
The fact that you need to clarify that when it's winter in North America, it's summer in South America just blows my mind! I mean, kudos to you for being an amazing RUclipsr, but I can't help but chuckle at the thought of your North American audience scratching their heads, going, "Wait, what?!" You're not just dropping knowledge bombs; you're also educating the masses on seasons like a global weather wizard! 🌍🔮 I'm stationed at a venue in Sydney, Australia, and here comes a lady from America, confidently handing me a $50 American bill like it's the golden ticket to entry. I break the news gently that we don't roll with the greenbacks here. Her response? She labels our Aussie dollars as "Monopoly money" - you know, the kind you'd find in a board game. Apparently, we're living in a real-life game of economic Monopoly down under! 😄💸
Everyone should visit Rio during carnival at least once in their lifetime, it’s nuts 🎉😅
Fantastic insights! Excited for my South American adventure. Thanks for the heads-up on weather and bugs. 🦟
Great to see you again! You have a beautiful family take care sir.
I used to be Mormon and I went to Venezuela on my mission. It's so hard to get used to the pace of life outside the US when you leave. Most of the time I was cool with it all, but waiting at the ATMs to get money out would drive me nuts. The line would usually be 45 minutes long and the machines would regularly run out of money. One day in Barcelona I pretty much lost my mind after a machine ran out of cash after I had already waited 40 minutes
I just returned from Lima. I had an amazing time but something really wrecked my sinuses. I think it was the sand in the air.
Você é um cara incrível! Que prestigia a realidade da vida...tudo isso é realmente verdade, natureza clima gastronomia e cultura haminica entre os tratamentos com as pessoas ❤
Great video Wolter! I’m going to South America next week, but I’m concerned about how to get cash in Argentina. As a U.K. citizen, I don’t naturally carry U.S. Dollars with me and it’s difficult to pre-order Argentinian Pesos, so I’m hoping cash is easy to withdraw from ATMs… I also need to get a Subte card, so hoping they’re are easily available! 🤞🏻
The card is super easy. As for atms. Get as much as you can when you go. Go in the mornings.
I don't remember any problems with atms in Argentina. Call your bank and see which banks they work with and who will charge you the least.
Lastly, Argentina is somewhere you need to pay attention and have some rules as to when and where you go.
Be in your hotel by 9pm and you will avoid a lot of problems.
Thank you - that’s very helpful 👍🏻
Check in the internet for "Libra Esterlina Blue", it's commonly the parallel market price, so you can get a lot more pesos for less pounds western union's fees are also very good
western union is a good option to exchange money from foreign bank accounts too
Thank you - I did look into this, but it’s quite a bit of time and effort to get this set up and get money transferred in (I think there is a minimum holding period too). There also seem to be llong queues at WU outlets to get hold of cash. As I’m only spending not much more than a week in BA (and a couple of days in Mendoza) it just didn’t seem worth the effort!
Mosquitos😂 I’m a southern Brazilian living in Florida. I have so much fun scaring my fellow Americans when they say mosquitos are bad in here!😂😂😂 nope! Florida: mosquito’s good! Southern Brazil: mosquitos bad!😂😂😂
Also, I would recommend getting your own bug spray if you have insect bites. My kids had many problems with severe reactions from mosquitos bite before moving to Florida.
Mark, I would recommend visiting Santa Catarina! It’s a jewel state!
Compatriota americanos sendo brasileiro 😂😂👌
I like the no tourists part, though the big cities are massive. I don't like crowds and lines.
So underrated..I heard it's easier and cheaper to visit from US. Compared to booking a vacation from Europe and elsewhere.
"Bring your after-bite"... did you say "Tiger Balm" Mark?
Feels like South America is underrated even through out Latin America
We're going to Sao Paulo & Rio in July, I'm asking about transferring in Panama. Many connections show 2 hours or less. Does that work ok there?
And if of a long transfer time, say 8 hours, is it easy to sightsee a little? bit?
Sunscreen is really expensive in Ecuador and Peru. Bring your own!
Not gonna lie, as a continent as a whole, South America has my favorite people. Super friendly 🙏
Mmm most of the things you said wouldnt applied to Uruguay
I love the beard
The food❤❤❤❤❤❤
Add Guyana to your itinerary
SOLD!!!😉
Hi... from Australia 🇦🇺
I went to Manaus just to avoid Americans and have no other option than to use my Portuguese and connect with locals❤
Feels a bit strange to deal with a whole continent like this. South America is more diverse than North America. There is a marked difference between Venezuela, Ecuador, Brazil and Chlle... As much as I like the video it is a bit misleading.
You forget to mention cold showers.
not a thing at all here lmao
@@vitoooooz Where is here?
@@johntziannis359 south america
Where in South America is that a thing? I've heard that in the North of Brazil (Amazon area) that can be a thing, but I don't see how they'd need hot showers there very often...
@@vitoooooz In the Galapagos Islands hot water was very limited.
❤❤❤❤
Worst: No Snow❄️☃️⛄️
Not for folks who hate snow, ice and cold weather
No snow?? Dude, just google pictures of the andes!!
@@manuelquiroga7994 LOL I prefer real 🤣
@@manuelquiroga7994most locals never touch or even see snow in many places in Latin america. Doesn't matter if it's somewhere in the mountains there in this case
have they got taps in south america
Would like to travel to South America,but the crime there is really the elephant in the room.
The host of this video speaks about South America in a typical USA perspective They viewed us as a single country. Are they ever are going to learn. Shame.
Totally. He said that he wasn't going to generalized things and he did that. 90% of the things he said (good and bad) don't apply to Uruguay, for example, and he has been here, so you realize that they can't take away they prejudices
I Love The Women Of Brazil And Medellin!