Salta Lights Up the Night!

If Salta is pretty during daytime it is at night that it really comes to life with its beautifully lit historical center. Sidewalk cafes and the plaza are filled with people. During weekends there is a band that plays folk music and anyone who wants can join in the dancing. It is a truly festive atmosphere.

Sunny Salta by Day

Salta is the tourist hub in Northern Argentina. It is a well preserved colonial town very similar to old towns of Spain with beautiful churches, museums, and a plaza with sidewalk cafes. From here, you can take tours or travel to the other interesting tourist spots like Humahuaca, Cafayate and San Antonio de los Cobres.

It is in Salta that you will meet the warmest and friendliest Argentines. Food and accommodations are also reasonably priced.

Argentina's Iguazu Falls: Awesome!

The Brazilian side of the Iguazu Falls provides the best panoramic views, but the Argentine side offers a more spectacular experience of the Falls, up, close and personal.

At the Garganta de Pablo, the best part of a visit to Iguazu Falls, you get to the platform at edge of the main falls and you see and feel the fury of the raging torrents of cascading water that falls to several thousand feet below. It is truly an amazing experience. The place is covered with mist and vapor and will refresh you on a hot and humid day.

There are many paths in Parque Nacional Iguazu that leads to different areas to view the main falls and the other falls. You need at least a day to leisurely enjoy the majestic scenery in the park.

To get to the park, you can take a bus from the bus terminal in the center of Puerto Iguazu and pay AR$20(US$5.50) for a return ticket. Entrance to the park is AR$100 (US $28). A visit to this park is definitely one of the highlights of a visit to Argentina.

Impressive Iguacu Falls

Brazil shares Iguacu Falls with Argentina. Although smaller in area, Iguacu Falls in Brazil is still impressive. It is easy to go the Falls from the town of Foz de Iguacu. You simply catch a bus from the local bus station costing R$2.65 (US$1.50) to bring you to the Parque Nacional de Iguacu.

At the Park, you have to pay an entrance fee of R$41 (US$23) for a full day tour of the Falls area. There is a free double decker bus that you can take to go to the different sites in the park. You will need at least half a day to fully enjoy the scenery at the park and best time to come is in the morning.

Rio's Beaches

Copacabana


Flamengo


Ipanema

Rio de Janeiro is blessed with three stunning beaches alongside each other. Ipanema Beach on the north side is where the you will find the cleanest sand and waters and this is where the wealthy Brazilians go. In the middle of Ipanema and Flamengo is Copacabana beach which also attracts the middle class crowd.

My favorite is Flamego Beach where you will find the best scenery.The polluted sea is more than compensated by the real great views of the Pao de Acucar and the Cristo Redentor. Across the beach is the Parque do Flamego where there a number football fields and sports courts, and paths for joggers and skaters.

Sweet Pao de Acucar

Pao de Acucar (Sugar Loaf) provides stunning views of Rio de Janeiro confirming that Rio may indeed be the most beautiful city by the sea in the world.

Again there was a huge crowd when I got there, but still the breathtaking scenery from the peak of Pao de Acucar did not disappoint! To get to the peak, you need to take a cable car. Another option for those who are really physically fit and adventurous is to do the granite hugging climbing tours to the summit.

Rio's Peak

Atop the Corcovado Mountain, the statue of Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) stands watch over the city of Rio de Janeiro. This world famour statue on top of the mountain as seen from the Flamengo beach area is impressive. But what is more awesome are the spectacular views of Rio and its surroundings at the top of the Corcovado Mountain.

Unfortunately, I was there during Good Friday of the Holy Week which is long weekend holiday in Brazil, and the place was crowded with local tourists. Furthermore, I was with a tour group and we had only a short time to enjoy the place. This top tourist attraction of Rio de Janeiro is a place to be enjoyed and savored at leisure. I would have wanted to linger and enjoy the awesome views at my own pace. Maybe next time...