Just a preliminary recommendation: if you treat yourself to a trip within these incredible lands, do me a favor and do not book a tour through an agency in France such a good pigeon. Expect to be on site and book your tower via a local agency (do not worry: it's everywhere). Your wallet will thank you.
So let's get to the top 10:
- Cuzco (Peru)
Perched at 3,400 meters above sea level, the city of Cuzco was the capital of the Inca empire in the old days of human sacrifice and monkey brains sorbet. Today, it has evolved into the most touristic city of Peru, with its vendors true Inca bracelets made in Bangladesh, its stands of longitudinal massage, its Australian backpackers so cocainés a snowblower is not sufficient to detoxify. .. And for good reason: Cuzco is none other than the "base camp" of Machu Picchu, the ruins of the Inca city suspended atop peaks in the middle of the jungle.
I will not lie to you: I'm not a big fan of old ruins and piles of stone but in general there that structures the natural site was still put me a slap.
Here are a few modest shots that I took during my visit to the site in 2008:
To get from Cuzco to Machu Picchu, 2 great opportunities: the lazy way (the train) and that of adventurers (the trek). Avoid the Inca trail that has become more popular than the slip of DSK at a party sponsored by Dodo brine.
In addition to the trails leading to Machu Picchu, a lot of other opportunities for treks, some pretty beefy.
In short, a highly recommended destination to see at least once in his life.
- San Gil (Colombia)
Small town / large village in the region of Santander (north of Bogota), San Gil is the self-proclaimed capital of adventure sports in Colombia. And it's true that these are not the opportunities that abound: rafting, kayaking, canyoning, caving, climbing, abseiling, etc.
Rafting on the Rio Suarez is a vérirable bloodbath, with Class IV rapids. By cons do not drink the cup, the river water is polluted enough unfortunately ...
There is a nice little ecological park in the heart of San Gil with giant trees, parrots, and other natural curiosities.
In addition, San Gil is a 40 minute bus ride from Barichara (photo-cons), one of the most beautiful villages in the country by Colombians. The atmosphere is very peaceful and there are a lot of possibilities for walks in the surrounding area.
It's more in this region of Santander you can indulge yourself with gourmet specialty of the region, the hormigas culonas (ants with big ass), no relative of Christine Boutin.
- Ushuaia (Argentina)
The city located at the end of the world (almost) literally. It's a strange atmosphere of this legendary port of Tierra del Fuego, the last bastion of civilization before the big south. Besides the extreme latitudes own special light, the place exudes a vague feeling of the unknown and "findumondesque" it takes experience to be able to personally define it. For the more adventurous (and wealthy), there was even cruise ships (comfort after all limited) options into Antarctica. Attention it cost an arm ($ 4,000 minimum).
In Ushuaia, it is not discovery activities and excursions that are missing: walkers and nature lovers will find their account. The National Park of Tierra del Fuego is truly a wonder ...
- La Huasteca Potosina (Mexico)
Wet region of eastern Mexico known for its lush vegetation and waterfalls with a thousand shades blue, Huasteca Potosina no shortage of attractions for lovers of water sports, climbing, exploring caves, and I could go on ...
The main attractions are waterfalls Tamul the huge cave swallows (Sotano de las golondrinas), the surreal castle Edward James in Xilitla, the Bridge of God ("Puente de Dios") and I forget .. .
It is highly recommended to rent a car to get around in the area (do not count too much on bus connections ...) as the attractions are many.
The place is named after the legions of swallows gather there at sunrise and sunset. This is a very impressive sight to see these astronomical amounts of volatile spin around the crater peeping such pre-pubescent teenage herds before Justin Bieber in full descent of bath salts.
- El Chalten (Argentina)
The kingdom of hiking in Patagonia in the south, or at least the southern Patagonia Argentina because the Torres del Paine park (southern Chilean Patagonia) is said to be even more impressive, but I did not set foot, my professional integrity will not allow me to include it in this ranking ... No, no need to insist I am incorruptible.
Anyway, back to the small village (1,000 inhabitants) of El Chalten. If you like trekking, you will get value for your pesos. Each more beautiful than the other trails, mountain scenery breathtaking, amazing wildlife ... and featured in the middle of all that, the local star: the mythical Mount Fitzroy, I'm not me private to photograph every angle.
I wish I could tell you that it was me who took the photo but being against photography that Patrick Sebastian is subtlety, this is unfortunately not the case ... In any case, it can give you an idea of the beauty of the site.
- La Paz (Bolivia)
So, as you say right away, the capital of Bolivia's largest city is one of the ugliest corners that I have ever seen.
Here, the interest is not in the city itself but of course surroundings.
Spread in the mountains between 3200 and 4100 meters, with more than 2 million inhabitants, La Paz is a good pandemonium as they do not like.
The only positive side: the wrestling matches, which is a local landmark not to be missed. If you treat yourself to, you will be pleased to see dwarves dressed as ninjas fight the power play against the Bolivian plump in traditional dress. Frankly it would be a shame to die without having seen it.
The downhill training of the "Road of Death" (camino de la muerte): the Yungas Road (official name) connects La Paz to Coroico village. She dives 4700 meters to 1200 meters in about 45 kilometers. In 1995, she was named "the most dangerous road in the world." Why, you ask?
Well it's quite simple: in the part most "problematic" (about 25-30 terminals), the road is a dirt road 3 meters wide rocky well, with a slight ravine next to it. Ho, nothing too serious, a straw, ma'am: a few tens of meters and 800 meters of vertical drop in the worst case. This unusual configuration before 2006 resulted in the deaths of 100 to 200 per year in Bolivia (since a new paved and safe route was opened, which drains the vast majority of traffic).
In short, downhill mountain biking is a great moment in which you get your dose of beautiful scenery. We go mountain peaks in a landscape of jungle in 3:00, which is quite exotic.
Climbing Huayna Potosi Huayna Potosi is a good big mountain 6088m located 25km from La Paz. It has the reputation of being the mountain over 6000 meters the world's most accessible for beginners, this does not mean that you can climb into the moonwalk while whistling of Patrick Juvet: the brave who go there still have the look of the undead when they return. That's why I did not set foot. Anyway, it seems that it is worth it.
The many and varied treks: as I am a big slacker, I do not dwell on all shipments that are available to you but I promise you they are not missing opportunities.
- Parque Tayrona (Colombia)
Located on the Caribbean coast, north-eastern Colombia, Parque Tayrona is an earthly paradise: mix of beaches, lush vegetation and mountains, it is a unique natural site.
You can swim in clear blue water before enjoying a delicious grilled Poissonnet.
Or maybe a big fat lobster?
In both cases, the prices are fair ...
If you want to sleep over at the seaside, you can rent a bungalow chti. The less fortunate will be satisfied with a hammock and will serve as sustenance for local mosquito if they have forgotten their nets.
The more adventurous BDSM leave trek in the jungle: a hike of several days that will take you to the Ciudad perdida (Lost City).
Warning: after 4 days in the jungle in the middle of mosquitoes, it tingles a bit anyway: mourners abstain.
- Huaraz (Peru)
Here is what is for me arguably the best mountain destination in Latin America: the Cordillera Blanca, and his "base camp": the city of Huaraz. Pictured above the highest point in Peru is seen in the background: the imposing Mount Huascaran very (6768m).
Star trek in the region is the trek to Santa Cruz, epic walk 3 or 4 days that will take you to altitudes around 5000 meters amidst the peaks, deep valleys and azure lagoons.
The trek has (rightly) the reputation of being one of the most spectacular in the world. We must admit that the views are to die for.
I did a full post on my blog "Crossing the New World" when I was there in 2008.
As you can see, the scenery of the countries of the Cordillera Blanca are neither more nor less than an entire massacre (hereinafter against Alpamayo, considered by many climbers and photographers as the most beautiful mountain in the world) .
It is quite incomprehensible that the vast majority of tourists arriving in Peru do not go see the Cordillera Blanca (poor tourism promotion?), Especially since it is relatively accessible from Lima (6am bus with the added bonus of landscapes extraordinary on the way) but in the end it's not so bad: tourists are suddenly not so many that it and the treks are not "highways" as the Inca trail from Cuzco.
- Los 27 charcos Damajagua (Dominican Republic)
My favorite of this classification: this is undoubtedly the least known destination in the list, a paradise lost in the middle of the Dominican Republic (NOT: This is not just a country of beaches and German shorts).
In fact it is so confidential that even most Dominicans have never heard of.
But what is it exactly?
Located thirty miles south of Puerto Plata (north coast) 27 charcos site is surrounded by tropical forest and low mountains. In this impressive setting, a small river (the Rio Damajagua) winds through canyons and mini gives rise to small waterfalls, with the added bonus of rock slides and rock pools of turquoise water.
The route is dotted with swimming sessions in passages collected (see below cons) raids natural slides and jumping several meters. Not only is it beautiful but then they do not get bored for a second. A kind of giant in the middle of nature Aqualand.
You'll understand if you want to explore the Dominican Republic from a different perspective than your all-inclusive hotel in the beach with Raymond and Dede who palabrent the last expo tuning, not to mention Paolo in his moule- gringue balls that makes your sixteen year old girl, get your fingers, rent a car (or simply if you are in Puerto Plata, go through an agency that will take you there) and go for the 27 charcos. You probably will not regret it.
- Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia)
Here at last is the number one in the rankings, probably hard to deny ...
Visit the Salar is perhaps the earthly experience that is closest to a trip to another planet. Located at 3650 meters above sea level, is the largest salt desert in the world.
The towers reserve directly in Uyuni, a strange "city" with false air of far west, but still well ugly.
You will start by Jeep along with other comrades to 3 days of discovery of incredible landscapes.
After the salt desert, after the countries equally dramatic Lipez.
Shown against a lagoon with flamingos.
Yours truly as one of the "stone trees" in the middle of the desert called Salvador Dali.
The Licancabur at the Chilean border, overlooking the Laguna Verde.
And finally, the highlight of my collection: a photo of this beast taken with my life.
Here, finally, if there is indeed a destination that should not be missed in Latin America, it is the Salar de Uyuni.
Other destinations that I could not include in this classification (for lack of going there mostly) but deserve probably be included:
Pucon (Chile)
The capital of adventure sports in Chile: water skiing, downhill skiing, hiking, rafting, kayaking, hot springs, climbing the Villarica volcano (in the background of the photo-cons).
In short, we should not get bored ....
Parque Nacional el Cocuy (Colombia)
It's really far away from everything (from 12 to 13 hours by bus from Bogota) but suddenly it's so inaccessible that are found almost anyone. According to many Colombians, it is one of the most beautiful places in the country. It is also on my to-go list.
In short, definitely find out if you are allergic skin to other tourists.
Parque Nacional Torres del Paine (Chile)
As mentioned above, this is the counterpart of El Chalten Chilean in (even) more beautiful, it seems.
This is probably also slightly more touristy.
Salta and Northwest Argentina
Strange that I forgot northwestern Argentina in my top 10 because I'm gone and I just loved it. You will find unique landscapes, mountains of every shade of green to tan to golden, to burgundy. Well, about that, the wines of the Salta region are delicious and not expensive at all. And more people are friendly and if you like good meat (beef ribs gargantuan nets that melt in your mouth ...), you will enjoy. In fact if I was brave, I would restore Salta somewhere in my top 5 but I'm too lazy for that.
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