My husband and I are just beginning to plan a trip to South America. I was going to buy a book but thought I would try this first. We are in our early thirties and have 10 days for a trip in November. I would like to start the trip with doing alot of exploring and then end the trip with some relaxation at a beach destination. We love outdoor exploration but with very nice accomadations. We also love good food but really are not interested in any shopping. We are also coming from North Dakota so i have to take in to consideration our travel time. The little research i have done was pointing me in the argentina, uraguay direction but i really have no idea!! I would appreciate any information !! Thank you

www.latinamericaforless.com

For me Peru and Rio...

November would be a good time to visit Argentina and Uruguay.
There is Bariloche and Calafate and Salta and Punta del Este ... you really should get a guide book and read about these places and see what appeals to you..

The summer beach season for Uruguay is actually fairly short, and runs from December to February, and either side of these times the weather might not be beach worthy...

For best beach down time in November in SA Brazil...

Peru remains my choice for spectacular adventure...

www.saexplorers.org www.andeantravelweb.com

have fun do research...

The easiest place for you for a rapd 10 day visit would be Colombia. Fly into cosmopolitan Bogota, a day or two there, culture, museo del oro, fine restaurants and accommodation. Then an internal flight to Cartagena, colonial wonderland and incredible hotels. Here you can visit PLaya Blanca before heading to Santa Marta and going to the world reknowned beaches of Tayrona and from SM catching a return flight to Bogota and your connections home.

So
Bogota 2
Cartagena 3
Santa Marta/ Tayrona 3
Bogota 1

and leave a day in there for travel purposes.

Argentina would be great. BA is fun with great food. We loved traveling around the NW in Nov. U could drive around it and explore the various villages, do some hiking in gorgeous scenery -- food was good, not really great in NW, accommodations can be very nice and very reasonable

I loved Peru for culture -it's a fascninating country, and Machcu Pichu is specatacular and something everyone should experience. But again not sure of the beach at that time of the year.

I would second Colombia. Cartagena is awesome, a wonderful city to expolore. We chose to fly from there to San Andres and Providencia, two small islands owned by Colombia, but actually closer geographically to Nicaragua. It was an awesome trip.

Difficult to answer without knowing what you are into: ruins, beach, nature, history?

Ruins.......... Peru (Machu Picchu, Nazca, Chan Chan, etc...)
Beach.......... Brazil (you name it)
Nature......... Brazil, Argentina (Iguazu, Pantanal, Amazon, Calafate, Bariloche, etc...
History........ Peru, Brazil (Cusco, Ouro Preto, etc...)

Maybe if you could