Before venturing to the South American continent I had already travelled in many far flung places like Australia, New Zealand, Belize, Fiji, to name a few.
I used to be a scuba diving instructor, so I would go wherever the underwater world was more or at least as beautiful and captivating as what was on offer above water.
It was only after coming back and settling back in Europe that a job in the travel industry, took me to Brazil, Argentina and Chile for the first time! They sent me out there after only a month of starting my new position, so saying I was exhilarated is an understatement!
My passion for this continent and these countries started with this trip back in 2015, and I haven’t stopped travelling there ever since. Here is a snapshot of my fondest memories from all the adventures in these amazing countries…
My favourite memory in Buenos Aires
When you meet a local who turns into your private guide in La Boca, this makes for a very special few hours in Buenos Aires.
It was my first trip to Argentina with my now husband. We were ending our holiday in Buenos Aires and were in La Boca. We went into a small shop selling antiques and vintage items, including beautiful old photos of the capital.
So I started chatting to the lady and the gentleman in the shop, as I usually do when travelling. Always find an excuse to interact with the locals.
To our delight, this kind man spent the morning of his birthday walking us around La Boca, telling us stories of growing up in the capital and this neighbourhood.
I have been back to Buenos Aires several times since, but I haven’t been able to find the shop again. I will, however, always remember this kind gentleman and this will always be one of my fondest memories of the city.
A close second favourite memory in Argentina: a night in a milonga!
Buenos Aires is one of my favourite cities ever, and for good reason. It is just spectacular, friendly and has a very strong culture. I always say, it is a city that lives and breathes its traditions. One of those, being the tango!
Spending the evening into the early hours in a traditional milonga, watching the portenos dance the night away, was an unforgettable experience I urge anyone to live once in their lives.
My favourite memory in Chile
As the saying goes, you never forget your first time in Patagonia!
And my first adventure there was simply spectacular. Four nights in a lodge inside Torres del Paine National Park were a once in your life experience. Being surrounded by such natural beauty felt surreal at times. It was challenging too, because of the many treks but I didn’t want to miss out on anything. Every step taken was worth the effort.
But the highlight, was the cruise onboard Australis from Punta Arenas to Ushuaia, I cannot recommend this enough. Travelling through the Chilean fjords you get to set foot on places that can only be accessed by the sea, as they are simply too remote.
I did miss out on seeing the penguins on this trip, but disembarking on Cape Horn, made up for this, and for an emotional moment. There is something special about this speckle of land, an intangible aura, besides the natural beauty.
The memory of meeting the Chilean navy officer and his family welcoming us, reading the poem on the Albatross memorial, and feel like I was truly at the end of the world, is my favourite memory in Chile. And one of my fondest of all time.
A close second favourite memory in Chile: a day in Barrio Italia, Santiago
Chile is a beautiful country with stunning and diverse landscapes, but when you travel, sometimes is the little local experiences that you remember most fondly.
A long walk from Lastarria to Barrio Italia and the day spent in this charming neighbourhood, sipping coffees, enjoying good food and mingling with locals, is one of my favourite days in the country. No walking back though, I took the metro!
My favourite memory in Brazil
I present you Juru, the Pantanal’s most photogenic jaguar!
Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, so seeing more jaguars than you can count on one hand in 5 days in the Pantanal, has to be one of my favourite experiences ever!
These wetlands are a very special place and a haven of natural wonder. Porto Jofre is one of the best places to witness this, and the best chance to see the jaguars. We were out on our boat with our guide and captain and we stumbled into the most famous jaguar of all, Juru – a name given by the locals. He is known to be a bit vain, and to like the attention. He was strutting around, in and out of the river, bit of a swim here and there.
There was only another boat and we enjoyed Juru’s company for at least half an hour, before other boats arrived, so after a while we left. We saw another 3 jaguars on the same outing, including two brothers chilling on the edge of the river, and we were the only boat there for a good while!
I will never forget this day, and I sometimes think about Juru, and wonder what he is doing right now. Maybe posing again for other cameras!
A close second favourite memory in Brazil: a night in Lapa!
There seems to be a common thread to some of my favourite memories when travelling to South America: music and dancing! I love both, and I find they are such an integral part of a country and culture. So, if it is tango in Argentina, it must be samba in Brazil.
Going out one night in the Lapa district, I ended up in this very low key nightclub, La Vaca Atolada, with live music and what felt like the whole of Rio de Janeiro was crammed in a small place. The caipirinhas were awful, my dancing even worse even if a kind mother and daughter were impromptu teachers, but the music and atmosphere were unforgettable.
Written by Val Garibotti
Top Travel Tip
“Travel is about discovery and digging under the surface of a country. Take your time, go off the beaten track and plan ahead if you can.”
– Valeria Garibotti – Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay expert
