Expert: Juan Carlos Valencia - 6/8/2009

Question
hi Juan Carlos
My boyfriend and i are intrested in backpacking south america during august. We only have 1 month and were thinking of possibly Columbia & Panama as we're looking for a combination of beaches and jungle  
This will be our honeymoon trip so anything you can recommend..? Columbia / Panama / Peru / Brazil
We want two destiantions
Hope you can help
Thanks

Answer
Dear Osnat,

congratulations on your marriage. I hope that your honeymoon is a good start for this new adventure in your life.

It's difficult to recommend destinations without knowing in more detail what you guys like or dislike.

You mentioned beach, jungle & backpack, so I assume that you are into budget, adventure travel and are fairly young and energetic, yet romantic. Here are some tips:

Panama could be great. The only issue is the weather. It's the rainy season there in august. But on the other hand, it's one of the safest countries in Latin America (except for the port of Colon). It has nice beaches, islands in both the caribbean and the pacific, the canal, jungles, natural parks, city & party life, some people speak english. I would recommend you to go to the San Blas Islands in the caribbean. It's paradise, although dont expect 5 star hotels there. It's like an independent country, run by the Kuna indians. They have some very basic hotels, a wonderful sense of community and their culture is very much alive and evolving. They are peaceful, proud people. And their territory is a vast area of multicolor seas and white sand islands. You may also go to Bocas del Toro, in the caribbean but on the far north of Panama. A great destination for Scuba diving (if it's not raining), with gorgeous natural parks and jungle treks. Plane tickets from Panama city to these places cost 50 U.S return or even less !

Colombia has so many places to go. You just have to be a bit careful about which to choose, as some areas are still not safe. I would recommend you to go Santa Marta, in the caribbean. Stay at the eco-lodge in Parque natural Tayrona. It's beautiful. You have to be careful in some beaches because of strong currents. But it's really worth a visit. You may camp there as well. Some of the best scuba-diving locations in Colombia can be reached from there or from the fishermen town of Taganga. There are lots of Dive centers there, some run by americans and europeans. The area is very safe. You may also take a jungle tour of the Sierra nevada de Santa Marta and could try to make it to Lost City, a precolumbian stone town in the slopes of the mountains, discovered fairly recently. You may go to Cartagena, although it's too crowded, but there you would see some of the biggest fortresses built by the Spanish Empire in the Americas, starting in the 17th century. The walled city is a treasure full of beautiful restaurants. A romantic dinner there could be a highlight for your trip. Stay at least 1 night at the Santa Clara hotel. It's too expensive, but then, it's your honeymoon. And you may go to the amazonian town of Leticia, in the middle of the jungle and just in front of the Amazon river and Brazil. It's the rainy season there, but it's an exotic place. there's a natural park called the Amaca Yaku, that has acommodation. There are tours all around the river and the jungle and in some, you can swim with fresh water, pink dolphins !

Peru is great, but I think it's the rainy season there as well. Machu Pichu is overwhelming, Cuzco is impressive. The food is as little known as terrific there.

And Brazil is huge. You may stop for a time in Rio but from there you may go to Salvador de Bahia and have a great time.

If you are based in the U.S, I think you can fly for cheap to Cartagena (Colombia). From there, you may travel by land to Santa Marta and Tayrona park. There are daily flights from Cartagena to Panama City and from there, it's dirty cheap to fly to San Blas or Bocas del Toro.

From Cartagena, you can fly to Bogota and transfer to Leticia. You could also fly for a cheap price to Lima (Peru).

Tickets between Colombia and Brazil are too expensive. Some tourists with time, navigate the Amazon river from Leticia to Manaos, and there, take a plane to Rio. But this trip requires time and as far as I know it's expensive. Yet, it could be unforgettable. Just bear in mind the mosquitoes!!!

Let me know if I can help you more.

Saludos!

JC