cos8mati

Hi. A friend and I are planning a 2 week trip to South America in the Fall. We have narrowed down our choices to Chile, Ecuador or Columbia . They all offer great experiences so it's been difficult to decide. We enjoy culture, museums, traditions, outdoors, nature, volcanoes, rainforest, hiking, wildlife etc. The list is endless. We are foodies and look for restaurants where the locals go vs tourist traps. We like to explore places off the beaten track incorporated with must see tourist attractions. We like to travel to a country before it is on everyone's radar. Once we decide which country to visit, we can begin planning our activities. We tend to like exploring on our own but in some instances a private guide or group tour is the best/only way to experience that activity. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

mlgb

"We like to travel to a country before it is on everyone's radar."

That would be Colombia, although it is rapidly rising!

I would put Ecuador next, and Chile below that.

However I might also throw in Bolivia at the top, if you haven't already been there.

cos8mati

Thank you. We hadn't thought of Bolivia but after reading your comment I am now seriously thinking of this as another option. Any particular reason Bolivia seems to be your first choice?

mlgb

Many! Culturally, a large % of the population is indigenous, and many proud of their heritage still wear the traditional attire, even in the big cities. There are some outstanding museums (the ethnographic one in La Paz especially, but also a few that are specific to the textile crafts tradition in smaller cities such as Sucre). Smaller cities including Sucre and Potosi, the weaving villages around Sucre and market town of Tarabuco which is very interesting on market day.

Fabulous sites such as the Salar de Uyuni which can be visited more cheaply than the equivalent in Chile, including volcanoes, salt flats, and the colored lakes such as Laguna Colorada...which often includes flamingo flocks. Oh yes, Lake Titicaca is half in Bolivia. Copacabana is an interesting port. I didn't go to Tiwanaku although it is a cradle of civilization, the site itself does not seem well restored to me. If you visit Titicaca it is easy to go in toward Cusco for visiting Inca sites.

Other hiking opportunities (although I did not). Plus the adventure bike down the "Death Road".

There is also possiblility to visit the rain forest.

La Paz has an amazing setting, and interesting market district.

A good place to start is the website of a travel agency "Kanoo Tours" based in La Paz which has lots of information.

glover

I'm putting in my vote for Colombia here, where we've been twice for extended period in the last several years. Posted trip reports...

For Bolivia, a place that we've not yet been but are interested in, also look at
Trip report by crellston here on fodors. They had great adventures there!

mlgb

Mine is getting a bit long in the tooth, eg I know there have been improvements in the roads between Uyuni and Potosi.

http://www.fodors.com/community/sout...e-nov-2011.cfm

Amy

Although I really enjoyed my time in Chile, Colombia seems to be more what you're looking for...although I haven't yet been to Ecuador or Bolivia. (Definitely on the short list for me, especially Bolivia!) Here's a trip report with a fair bit about Colombia in it from this past summer: http://www.fodors.com/community/sout...r-colombia.cfm

crellston

Given your criteria, I agree with mlgb that Bolivia should be on, if not at the top of your list for the reasons already given. We had an amazing time there. In addition to the places already mentioned by mlgb, I would add in Madidi National Park which we visited, if I recall correctly at the suggestion of Glover ( thanks glover!). It is quite easy to get to from La Paz and a lot less expensive than other Amazon countries.

Chile, although containing some amazing sights has the drawback of being expensive compared with the rest of SA. Also, being a long thin country, getting about can be very time consuming.

Ecuador has the advantage of being very compact and is sometimes described as being a mini South America in one country, having, as it does, jungle, mountains, beach and savanna all in one neat and easily navigable package. It cannot however be described as " not being on everyone's radar"

Columbia I haven't been to but am planning to visit later this year and am expecting great things having read glover's trip report and the more recent one by yestravel.

You can get to my TR of Ecuador, Bolivia and a small part of Chile by clicking on my screen name above. Alternatively, similar words, with the addition of some photos are on our blog @ http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog...ai/6/tpod.html

cos8mati

Thank you all so much. Great information. Countries I hadn't thought about. Eventually want to visit all of them plus but with only 2 weeks I have to set priorities. Will check out links - fabulous resource. Happy, and safe, travels.