South America.

Brazil

Brazil shares a border with almost every other country in South America, with the exception of Chile and Ecuador. Only slightly smaller than the United States, it contains almost as many citizens as the rest of South America’s countries combined. Brazilians are one of the most racially mixed peoples in the world, formed from a fundamental mix of Portuguese, Indian and African with Dutch and French influences, as well as elements of German, Italian, Polish and even Japanese. Portuguese is the national language but, in the same way that Americans speak American rather than English, it can be said that the Brazilians speak Brazilian rather than Portuguese.

A land of colour, flavour and sound – with the samba providing the heartbeat to the nation here – cities such as Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo beautifully assault the senses, while enchanting Colonial towns scattered across the country give you a real flavour of the Brazilian people. A heady mix of geographical wonders include the great interior, much of which is covered by the rainforest basin of the Amazonas states and the Negro River, which, south of the city of Manaus, joins the Solimoes River to become the Amazon River – one of Brazil’s greatest attractions. The long coastlines offer impressive landscapes, like the Guanabara Bay at Rio deJaneiro and, of course, world-famous beaches including Copacabana and Ipanema. The Amazon River and coastal beaches offer ample opportunities for a dip and activities such as kayaking and rafting.

Salvador the country’s vibrant capital (a complex fusion of European and African), offers an intriguing blend of the historic and contemporary, exemplified in its Baroque churches and Colonial buildings. Cosmopolitan cities, such as Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, are packed full of local markets to explore, designer stores to tempt you and top restaurants to entertain your palate. Don’t forget to ride a cable-car up Sugar Loaf Mountain, stopping to marvel at Rio’s famous ‘Christ The Redeemer’ statue.

Climate

Brazil’s climate varies from hot and dry in the interior, to humid in the rainforests. It can get cold on the south coast and in the mountains during the winter. The rainy season occurs from January to April in the north, April to July in the north east and November to March in the Rio/Sao Paulo area.

Temperature

These figures show Brazil monthly average maximum temperatures and monthly average rainfall.

Temp °C

Rain mm

January 30 203
February 30 186
March 29 183
April 27 146
May 26 107
June 25 71
July 24 66
August 25 76
September 25 96
October 26 129
November 27 159
December 28 207

 

Useful Information

Capital : Brasilia
Language : Portuguese
Currency : Brazilian Real
Voltage : 110V
Health : In certain areas of Brazil, precautions against malaria are necessary.
Visa : For up-to-date resort information, contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Brazil for the most up to date information.

The Brazilian Government strongly enforces immigration and entry laws. You should ensure you have a proper and valid visa prior to your arrival and remain aware of your visa status while in the country. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.

Australians will be detained on arrival for not having the correct visas and will be prohibited from entering Brazil. A visa will not be granted on arrival. If you have any concerns about the status of your Brazilian visa, you should contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Brazil.

Brazil is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as endemic for yellow fever (see Health section). Some airlines may require passengers to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate before being allowed to board flights out of the country. If in doubt, check with your airline.

If you have visited Brazil in the last six days prior to your date of return to Australia, Australian Customs officials will ask you to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate on entry into Australia.

If you intend to leave Brazil and return during your trip, you should obtain a multiple entry visa before leaving Australia. You should also ensure that an exit stamp is placed in your passport by Brazilian immigration authorities when you depart Brazil. On arrival you must complete an arrival card, which has a carbon copy. The carbon copy must be retained and presented to immigration authorities on departure. Failure to do so may result in delays and possibly a fine when departing Brazil.

If you are travelling to Brazil through the United States of America, or if you are transiting in Honolulu or other US points of entry, you are required to meet US entry/transit requirements. Make sure you check with your nearest Embassy or Consulate of the United States your visa requirements well in advance of your travel. You should also read our travel advice for the United States of America.

Brazilian law requires that for all travel, Brazilian children (including dual nationals) travelling alone or with one parent must carry a letter of consent from the non-travelling parent(s) authorising travel. The letter must be in Portuguese and certified by the Brazilian embassy or consulate in Australia or by the Juvenile Court in Brazil. There is an office of the Juvenile Court at all airports in Brazil.

Make sure your passport has at least six months’ validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.

 

 

 

Argentina

Many people still regard Argentina as the quintessential wild frontier – a land of passion, drama, and contrast, all summed up by the iconic tango. During the summer, adventure-lovers come here to explore the hiking, biking and horse-riding trails and traverse the flat plains of the pampas, the high peaks of the Andes Mountains and the extraordinary landscapes of Patagonia. In winter the excellent snow coverage in the Lake District around Bariloche the Sierras de Córdoba and Los Glaciares National Park means great conditions for skiers and snowboarders, while those in search of high-octane activities can opt for glacier treks or climb the frozen waterfalls.

Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires, meanwhile, is an altogether different place. Filled with contradictions and curiosities, it’s often referred to as the ‘Paris of the Pampas’ – the well-heeled, tree-lined Avenida 9 de Julio is said to be modelled on the Champs Elysees and a visit here allows you to soak up the distinctly European-style café culture and indulge your tastebuds in one of the many excellent restaurants – you’ll find steak fresh from the wide grasslands on every menu. The Palermo Gardens and the Recoleta Quarter’s French architecture make the city perfect for lovers of all things beautiful. While the various divisions – such as Hollywood, Soho, Alto, Chico and Palermo Viejo, in the Palermo district – are filled with chic boutiques oozing leatherware in every cut and colour. It’s a great place to explore, whether you simply want to admire the local designers’ offerings or if you’re a savvy shopper looking for a bargain; there’s plenty to be had – shops are fabulous and inexpensive.

The spirit of BuenosAires, however, is definitely Latin and best exemplified in the tango; its wistfully erotic rhythm is everywhere. Watch the Rojo Tango show at El Cabaret, witness local dancers performing it, legs intertwining as they skim across the floor – you could even take a class and learn to tango yourself.

Climate

The climate varies, from the heat and extensive rains of the sub-tropical Chaco in the north, through to the pleasant climate of the central Pampas and the sub-Antarctic cold of the Patagonian Sea in the south. The main, central area is temperate but can be hot and humid during the Argentinean summer (from December to February) and cool in winter.

Temperature

These figures show Argentina monthly average maximum temperatures and monthly average rainfall.

Temp °C

Rain mm

January 29 107
February 28 102
March 26 121
April 22 96
May 19 76
June 15 62
July 15 62
August 17 67
September 19 69
October 22 111
November 25 101
December 28 92

Useful Information

Capital : Buenos Aires
Language : Spanish
Currency : Argentine Peso
Voltage : 220V
Visa : For up-to-date resort information,

Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Argentina for the most up-to-date information.

Australian tourists are charged a “reciprocity fee” of USD100. The fee is valid for multiple re-entries within a period of one year as of the date of first entry. The fee is applicable at all ports of entry, including airports, ports and land border crossings. Passengers arriving on cruise ships are exempt.

The reciprocity fee is payable on the Argentine Migration website. Travellers should print the receipt and submit it to Argentine immigration authorities at the port of entry

Australian citizens whose passport shows they were born in Argentina are exempt from the fee and should pass through the Argentine passport control line on entry in order to be exempt from the payment. Australian citizens holding a business visa are also exempt from payment.

Argentina has introduced biometric entry procedures at Ezeiza International Airport, Jorge Newbery International Airport and at the Buenos Aires ferry terminal. Visitors to Argentina are required to have their thumbprint scanned by an inkless device and have a digital photograph taken on arrival.

Children (under 18 years of age, as defined by local law) travelling alone or with one parent may be required to provide a letter of consent from the non-travelling parent(s) to the Argentine authorities. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Argentina well in advance of departure from Australia for further advice.

If you are travelling to or from Argentina via the United States you will need to meet US entry/transit requirements. You should check your visa needs well in advance of travel with the nearest Embassy or Consulate of the United States. See also our travel advice for the United States of America.

The World Health Organization (WHO) lists Argentina as a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission and recommends travellers to all departments in Misiones Province and parts of Corrientes Province (Beron de Astrada, Capital, General Alvear, General Paz, Itati, Ituzaingo, Paso de los Libres, San Cosme, San Martin, San Miguel, Santo Tome) are vaccinated against yellow fever. Iguazu Falls is located within Misiones Province.

Some airlines may require passengers to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate before being allowed to board flights out of the country. If in doubt, check with your airline.

Australian Customs officials will ask you to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate on entry into Australia if you are aged one year or above and have stayed overnight or longer in Misiones Province in the six days prior to your date of return to Australia.

Make sure your passport has at least six months’ validity from your planned date of return to Australia and carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.

 

 

 

Peru

The birthplace of surfing, water sports-lovers who visit Peru will adore the white-knuckle rafting, the board sports and the spirit of ‘anything goes’. Those who prefer to keep their feet on dry land can discover the world-famous and awe-inspiring Machu Picchu; the mist-shrouded Inca citadel was found, quite by accident, by the American Historian, Hiram Bingham, who stumbled upon it in 1911 while searching for Vilcabamba. Invisible from below and completely self-contained, surrounded by agricultural terraces sufficient to feed the population and watered by natural springs, MachuPicchu seems to have been utilized by the Inca as a secret ceremonial city. First views of the self-contained, ancient site will take your breath away, while exploration of the ruins will take you far back in time; we guarantee the experience will be an extraordinary one and stay with you for life.

The country has other charms besides MachuPicchu; the Nazca Lines, giant sketches created on such a large scale that they can only really be truly appreciated from the air; desert coastal plains stretching as far as the eye can see; a vast green carpet of jungle, home to the greatest diversity of plants in the world, while for wildlife-lovers, no trip to Peru should be considered complete without a visit to the ColcaCanyon to see the Andean Condor take flight – the largest flying bird in the world, it’s a truly breathtaking sight.

Having admired Peru’s rich and compelling archaeological heritage and marvelled at its great natural beauty, head to the capital city, Lima. Founded in 1535 by a Spanish conquistador, the city comprises an eclectic mix of modern and Colonial architecture and operates at a much slower pace than its South American counterparts due, perhaps in part, to the more sedate constitution of its people and its seafront location.

Peruvian cuisine combines a variety of ingredients gathered from the coastal, mountain and Amazon regions. The cold sea current also makes the waters rich in fish, and because of the particular type of plankton consumed by them, they are particularly tasty. Fish and seafood restaurants are, therefore, plentiful and worth visiting after a busy day shopping in the open marketplaces or immersing yourself in Peru’s golden past, courtesy of one of its museums.

Climate

The climate in Peru varies considerably, region by region. The best time to visit Machu Picchu is May or October when it is milder at night and dry and sunny during the day (do avoid the month of February, when the Inca Trail is usually closed). The rainy season occurs from November to March.

Temperature

These figures show Peru monthly average maximum temperatures and monthly average rainfall.

Temp °C

Rain mm

January 26 1
February 27 1
March 26 0
April 25 0
May 22 1
June 20 2
July 19 3
August 19 3
September 19 2
October 20 1
November 22 1
December 24 2

Useful Information

Capital : Lima
Language : Spanish
Currency : Nuevo Sol
Voltage : 220V
Visa :
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) can change. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Peru for the most up to date information.

You should only cross or approach Peru’s border with Ecuador, Bolivia or Chile at an official checkpoint. If you do not have an entry stamp for Peru from an official entry point in your passport, you may not be permitted to leave on your planned date of departure and instead could be fined.

Peru is listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as endemic for yellow fever. Some airlines may require passengers to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate before being allowed to board flights out of the country. If in doubt, check with your airline.

If you have visited Peru in the last six days prior to your date of return to Australia, Australian Customs officials will ask you to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate on entry into Australia.

If you are travelling to Peru through the United States of America, or if you are transiting in Honolulu or other US points of entry, you are required to meet US entry/transit requirements. Make sure you check with your nearest US Embassy or Consulate your visa requirements well in advance of your travel. You should also read our travel advice for the United States of America.

Children (under 18 years of age) who are Australian/Peruvian dual nationals, Peruvian nationals or resident in Peru and are travelling alone or with one parent, in addition to the child’s passport, may require a letter of consent from the non-travelling parent(s) and a copy of the child’s birth certificate. Both documents should be translated into Spanish and notarised and certified by the Peruvian Embassy or Consulate in Australia.

Make sure your passport has at least six months’ validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.

 

 

 

Chile

Nestled between the towering Andes and the beautiful Pacific Ocean, Chile stretches for 4,300 kilometres along almost half the continent. A land of staggering contrasts, visitors can discover Ojos del Salado, the country’s highest mountain – at an eye-watering 6,893 metres – as well as its plains, including the world’s driest desert, the Atacama. Explore Chile’s huge glacial fields, climb its volcanoes and swim in its rivers and lakes, before taking some time out to relax on one of its many excellent beaches.

With the islands of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and Isla Robinson Crusoe just off its coast, a trip to Chile can be combined with onward adventure, but there’s lots to keep you occupied on land too, with the lush forests of the fjords and large expanses of vineyards – Chile is the world’s fifth largest exporter of wine. Hedonistic hearts can be indulged in Santiago, or may enjoy exquisite seafood in the port town of Vapparaíso, while the adventurous can try their hand at adrenaline outdoor pursuits in Pucón. Home to some of the friendliest and most hospitable people in the continent, the Chilean culture is easy to fall in love with.

 

Climate

Chile’s spring (October to November) or autumn (March to April) are when the humidity is low, it seldom rains and temperatures are cooler than during the Chilean summer months (December to February). May through to August is the cold, rainy season.

Temperature

These figures show Chile monthly average maximum temperatures and monthly average rainfall.

Temp °C

Rain mm

January 26 1
February 25 2
March 23 4
April 19 15
May 16 35
June 13 86
July 13 92
August 14 72
September 16 32
October 20 21
November 23 11
December 25 2

 

Useful Information

Capital : Santiago
Language : Spanish
Currency : Chilean Peso
Voltage : 220V
Visa : For up-to-date resort information, visit

Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Chile for the most up to date information.

Australian tourists entering Chile through Santiago International Airport are required to pay a reciprocity fee. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Chile for up to date fee information.

Visas are required for work permits, study and for Australian diplomatic and official passports holders and must be arranged prior to arrival in Chile from your nearest Embassy or Consulate of Chile.

If travelling with children aged under 18 years, parents may be asked to provide a copy of the child’s birth certificate, particularly if they do not share a common surname.

Children under the age of 18 years who are not accompanied by both their parents must present a notarised document certifying the agreement of the absent parent(s) and a copy of the child’s birth certificate when arriving in or leaving Chile. A parent who has sole custody of a child must present the court order conferring custody. These documents must be notarised by a Chilean consular officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Santiago or at a Chilean Embassy or Consulate overseas prior to travel. The date of execution of the documents must not be more than three months prior to entry or departure. The same document may be used for entry and exit. It is recommended you carry three copies of each document.

If you are travelling to Chile through the United States of America, or if you are transiting in Honolulu or other US points of entry, you are required to meet US entry/transit requirements. Make sure you check with your nearest US Embassy or Consulate your visa requirements well in advance of your travel. You should also read our travel advice for the United States of America.

Make sure your passport has at least six months’ validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.

For entry and exit requirements for Chilean dual nationals, see the Information for Dual Nationals Section above.

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