the freedom and simple beauty is too good to pass up.

um encontro na Lagoa, Rio de Janeiro.

Barra Da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro.

.The sky broke like an egg into full sunset and the water caught fire. 

Rio de Janeiro in a nutshell

o Rio de Janeiro continua lindo...

Rio de Janeiro on a shoestring...

Perhaps a little biased but ideally I suggest you kip in either Ipanema or Leblon. That way you are in one of Rio’s nice neighbourhoods and away from the packed tourist spots. From what I gather 2 suggestions of budget places are the "Ipanema Beach House" -  www.ipanemahouse.com  hostel and Lemon spirit hotel www.lemonspirit.com
If you have the cash to spend on accomodation a top choice is the Fasano Hotel - www.fasano.com.br

With the enormous variety of places to eat out, I suggest you start by ordering a
"Picanha a Brasileira" at the famous "Garota de Ipanema" restaurant- (crossroads Vinicius de Moraes and Prudente de Moraes) Although this has increasingly become popular amongst tourists it is one of my absolute faves. Id suggest a stop over at lunch time, order for a caipirinha and get a "brasileira" between you and friends. A little background on it- This is the spot where Vinicius de Moraes used to sit and watch as the girl from Ipanema used to walk by on her way to the beach. The song "girl from Ipanema" later to follow…

Another similar spot is the "Garota da Urca"- Urca Neighbourhood.
On a sat/sun afternoon the Bar Urca - www.barurca.com.br is spot on perfect too. Grab some finger foods and drink overlooking the Marina. Traditional amongst Brazilians.

Work up your appetite before you head to Rodizio Porcao. www.porcao.com.br There is one in Flamengo beach and another at Ipanema. While Flamengo is a better option for its beautiful view, both will equally satisfy your desire for good quality Brazilian meat. Vegetarians should stay away!

Obvious visits include:

• The lagoa (lagoon) stop in one of the kiosques and get a caipirinha. A nice way to do this is to hire a bike and cycle around it. 
• The Corcovado (Christ), a suggestion being taking the tram to the top just before dusk – this way you see the city both by day and by night. If you prefer to take a taxi, make sure he waits for you while you are up there!
•  If you are in luck, and happen to be in Rio on a Sunday (when the road is closed) I recommend hiring a bike and cycling along the calcadao beach from ipanema all the way along to Copacabana and back. You will fit right in with all the other cariocas. 
• Visit of course, the Pao de Acucar (Sugar loaf) but as many would say it offers a similar experience as that to the Corcovado.
• LAPA (historical centre) - visit the Arcos / Selaron staircase / http://selaron.net/Matos/english/selaron.htm - Pop to Bar da Boa for a cold Antartica (beer) - See http://www.lanalapa.com.br/default.asp for excellent options at Lapa.

Copacabana at night can be packed with Prostitutes. Stay clear.

Activities suggested include

• Spending a saturday at Praia da Barra (Barra beach) along where the kite surfers all hang out. - Barraca do Pepe spot- www.pepe.com.br 
• Take up hang glinding for an afternoon launching off the Pedra da Gavea in Sao Conrado. www.riohanggliding.com 
• If you want a taste of Brazilian Carnival, there is a place at the Lagoa where you can go and see the samba schools practicing

Santa Tereza

Eat as much Lula Frita (Calamari) as you can, drink many caipirinhas and soak up the sun!

Find a place to have a feijoada (brasilian typical dish) on a saturday, pop to Santa Tereza (the historical part of Rio) -  stopping at the Aprazivel www.aprazivel.com.br , an excellent restaurant for lunch.

(I hear from friends there are excellent guided tours round Santa Tereza and Lapa- will try to include one here). Have a wonder up and down Ipanema, Leblon, popping in and out of shops, stopping at one of the many juice bars to quench your thirst. BB LANCHES (leblon)a personal fave -  Put on your havaianas and shades and get into the general Carioca way of life...

Santo Andre, Bahia

Santo Andre, Bahia

Doing South America.

A  few suggestions amongst millions of choices!

Brasil
Too many places I would suggest visiting but of course one simply must:
Rio de Janeiro (see link below for my top tips on Rio) - this is ever changing and I'm not great at keeping it updated but some are classic that never really change!
http://wings-unclipped.blogspot.com/2010/07/o-rio-de-janeiro-continua-lindo.html


Argentina
Buenos Aires (see link below for my top tips on BA)
http://wings-unclipped.blogspot.com/2010/07/buenos-aires-in-nutshell.html

Patagonia- go down to the south and see the glaciers

Get to Salta where it all gets very rural.. too brilliant for words. From here you get the bus and start travelling north!!! I definitely recommend a visit to the Andes- get on a raft and back in with nature.

Bolivia

Top tip: make sure you take altitude tablets. Badge got altitude sickness when we were out there and I tell you camping in a Bolivian hospital is the WORST experience in the world! The border is a dodgy place, you wouldn't want to get stuck there like I did.

Salt Lakes

La Paz

When in La Paz make sure you do the World's Most Dangerous bike ride with "gravity" http://www.gravitybolivia.com/index.php?mod=tempview1&id=1251406369
Whether you're a cycle nut or not it's worth every penny of this for the adrenaline you get and the view around you. 8 hours of biking down dirt tracks surrounded by jungle and cliffs. Stay the night in the hotel that you have dinner in- really lovely!

Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca- a suggestion is to hire an old motorbike and explore the lakes.Spend a night in Copacabana. Pop to the irish man's little place by the water, order his local delicatessen.

Spend some quality time with a Bolivian family - get with it, try there clothes, there food, no electricity. indulge on fresh air and live the simple life for a while. 

Visit isla del sol.

Peru - Machu Pitchu
Top tip: However tired you are you simply MUST MUST climb up to WAYNA PITCHU as the view from the top is by far the most incredible!!! People spend days getting to machu only to miss out on this extra climb. Dont let sore legs and lungs defeat you. climb. Cusco for a night out.

Are you a jungle lover. do the Amazon.

If time is limited... From Cusco buy a flight to Puerto Maldonado. Not something for the faint hearted - sleep in huts, wash amongst piranhas and alligators, you will see tarantulas everywhere- fish at dawn, go out in a canoe at night - explore. Silence. creepy crawlers. Amazing.