Bonnie's South America Travel Blog

José Gervasio Artigas is revered as Uruguay's greatest national hero. Called the Primer Jefe de los Orientales and Primer estadista de la Revolución del Río de la Plata, (First Leader of the Orientales and first statesman of the Rio de la Plata Revolution,) Artigas was born in Montevideo on June 19, 1764.

Click on the link or the photo for more information about this historically important figure.

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Guest author Ariana Svenson of Apus Peru Adventure Travel Specialists recounts for us her experiencces In the house of the Negrillos, another name for the better known Festival of the Virgin of Carmen, held annually in the high Andean village of Paucartambo, near Cuzco, Peru.

Photo of a particpant in the annual religious and pagan festival is displayed with the kind permission of Ariana Svenson - Apus Peru Adventure Travel Specialists www.apus-peru.com.

In this episode, the players face another mission in the freezing Andes, then travel to lower altitudes through the scenic Uspallata valley, for their next mission. Issues of trust and affronted dignity make for some surprising twists.

Photo of the Uspallata valley is displayed with the kind permission of Clarence Fisk.

Check out previous episodes and other Adventure/Reality Shows filmed in South America.

Once a Dutch colony, called Dutch Guyana, the architecture and cultural influences of the Netherlands remain in colonial buildings of downtown Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname. Click on the link or the photo for more information about this scenic locale.

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Photo displayed with the kind permission of Robert Caputo / Getty Images.

Where a Buck’s Still Worth a Buck (The New York Times): "OVER the last five years, Argentina has been steadily recovering from its currency collapse in 2001. While the turnaround has yielded a bevy of new hotels and restaurants, the country is still surprisingly inexpensive for American visitors, with hotel rooms often half the price of their European counterparts, and steak dinners, even at high-end parrillas, rarely costing more than the equivalent of $25."

The author mentions accomodations, dining, and travel within Argentina

In the Andean mountains of Argentina, the players, now only eight, and host of the reality adventure show called The Mole, gather to overcome obstacles, high altitude difficulties and to identify the player sabotaging the game, and win a substantial cash prize.

Through the Chilean Atacama desert, to San Pedro de Atacama and nearby scenic sights, including the famous El Tatio geysers (seen here,) then over the Andes to Argentina with a group of notorcycle riders. Read the first installment and enjoy the photos in this accounting of Great journeys: From Chile to Argentina by bike (guardian.co.uk).

Photo of El Tatio geysers thanks to Victor Kabath Portillo.

Yellow fever warning for Peru (travelbite.co.uk): "The Peruvian ministry of health has confirmed six cases of yellow fever, including four deaths, and a further eight probable cases, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) reports. High risk regions of Peru for yellow fever infection include areas east of the Andes mountains (although this does not include Cusco or Machu Picchu) and in other mountainous and jungle areas. Travellers should ensure they have an up-to-date yellow fever vaccination before going to Peru. "

Reead more about Health Hazards and Vaccinations for Travel in South America.

The Monastery of Santa Catalina in Arequipa, Peru is not a single building but many within a complex of 20,000 square meters that was home for Dominican nuns for centuries. Opened to the public in 1970, this religious community is one of the finest examples of colonial architecture, art and life in a city within a city.

Photo displayed with the kind permission of Anna Maj Michelson.

Click on the link or the photo for more information about this historic locale.

Do you have a photo that you'd like to see featured as our photo of the week? Or as part of our photo galleries?

If you do, send it to me via the Submit a Photo Form.

Heavy load for porters on Inca Trail (San Joise Mercury): "Porters on the famed Inca Trail trek to the jungle-shrouded ruins of Machu Picchu recall the fleet-footed chasqui—Inca messengers who darted over the vast road network of South America's most powerful empire. Chewing wads of stimulating coca leaves and trading quips in Quechua, the ancient language of the Incas, they sprint up the centuries-old, ruin-dotted path at dizzying heights in the Andes. But instead of carrying news or fresh seafood delicacies from the coast, they haul propane tanks, camping equipment and four days of food for wealthy tourists from worlds away—all for as little as $8 a day."

The author discusses the conditions the porters face, the changes to fees and accessibility of the trail, plus recommends several tour operators for the trip to Machu Picchu.

Photo of a group of porters on the Inca Trail thanks to ClipArt.com.