CAPE TOWN planejando

Most visitors to Cape Town visit the Waterfront, Camps Bay, Robben Island, Cape Point and the Stellenbosch/Franschoek winelands. However there are many other superb places to visit provided you have a rental vehicle.
For the very best view of Cape Town you must drive the short distance to Blaauberg (or Blouberg, as it is sometimes described) beach. The beach provides an almost endless walk with the view that appears on almost every tourist brochure. Ideally, head there in the early morning and have breakfast at one of the restaurants - Cafe Blouberg and Onse Huise are but two.
From Blaauberg head over the hills to the suburb of Durbanville. On your way visit some of the wineries that are equal to any in the Stellenbosch/Franschoek area. For some of the best shopping in Cape Town visit Tygervalley shopping centre, (very close to Durbanville) or a little closer to the city, the huge Century City shopping mall.
For some of the best swimming beaches visit Gordons Bay and Strand, near Somerset West. Beyond Gordons Bay is probably the most scenic drive in the Cape and if you do this drive you could proceed all the way to Hermanus.
For the most beautiful mountain walk (not hike!) drive to the top of Ou Kaapse Weg (above Tokai and Constantia suburbs) and enter the nature reserve through the gate just beyond the view-site. Drive as far as the road allows and then walk from there. You will be rewarded with the most beautiful views of the Cape Peninsula.

Referências importantes do viajante

zagat
fodor´s
lonely planet
destinia (hotéis em promoção)

CROSS THE ANDES IN A BUS

Now, a great tip! Cross the Andes in a bus (from Santiago to Mendoza)! Don´t rent a car so you can drink some wine on the way... and enjoy the view. It costs around 20 US$ and it´s a beautiful trip. It lasts about 7 hours but it´not bad at all! Go to the bus station and buy a ticket in a 2 floor air conditioned bus, try to get the first seats on the second floor. You will have the best view and bigger place for your legs!
Mendoza is a cozy and fresh town thanks to all the trees in every street. The city was burned in the late 1800´s and it´s was replanned and rebuild. It´s very pleasant to walk around, always on the shadow. You can enjoy the General Martin Park which reminded me of Central Park, this huge fresh park with all kinds of trees and of course, the typical palm trees, and a placid lake.
I stayed at the Nuevo Hotel San Francisco in Chacra de Coria ( about 60US$ a double room) outside of town. I would spend about 6 US$ to go to the center of Mendoza but it was worth it. The hotel is beautiful and has a wonderful pool. Since Mendoza is very hot this hotel was a blessing!

VIÑA DEL MAR

I went to Viña del Mar just because I have never been to the Pacific Ocean before. I come from Rio and my trip was not to be on the beach...so it´s not a must. But if you are curious... the road from Santiago to Viña is very good and beautiful as well. You pass by the Casablanca Valley which has many good vineyards too.

TERMAS LA COLINA

Now, the tip for the radical adventurous traveller: Termas La Colina, natural thermal pools on the volcano San Jose, about 2 hours from Santiago. Go to Cajón del Maipo and drive straight to the end! The road isn´t good but I did the way with a simple GM corsa. There´s an alpinist base (simple hotel) where you acn spend the night with a good wine and a astonishing view from the volcano. You can camp also near to the Las Colinas thermals. It´s wild but surely worth it!

LAS CONDES, SANTIAGO

Las Condes is quite far from downtown but if you want to meet this new and rich area of Santiago make a try! Residential area with beautiful houses and good malls. For the sunset time try to make a reservation (you will need one!) at the terrace of Zanzibar, wonderfully oriental decorated bar and restaurant. If you wish to stay longer try the marroquean lamm, delicious!

FLYING TO CHILE

Now I´m flying from Rio to Santiago do Chile over the Aconcágua in the Andes. It´s an amazing view! Normally all flights are during the day so you can enjoyt a lot.

I flew with the Gol, a popular brazilian airline, and costed around 500 US round trip from Rio. Lan Chile also offers good prices in their lastminute online service.

You find many interesting hostels but if you´d like a hotel you may choose Villafranca Petit Hotel, I paid around 60 US. Very cozy and you have breakfast hearing classical music, that´s a difference! They are located in Providencia which is a quite central but quiet and chic neighborhood.

Don´t miss the pisco sour at the Liguria Bar, the decoration and the waitress service are a must. Another thing you must do is to eat at Donde Augusto in the Mercado Central ( the old train station, beautiful!), but they open just for lunch. Reserve a day to walk around the area ( Santiago is not a dangerous city) and ask for the ceviche and then ask for any fish, you will die!

RIO DE JANEIRO

Have a cold beer watching other people landing on the sand and just relax!
At night try to stay at Ipanema and Leblon, it´s safer and you have plenty of bars and restaurants options. Begin with a caipirinha menu at the Zaza Bistro (http://www.zazabistro.com.br/, rua Joana Angélica 40, Ipanema), the food is contemporaneous asiatic, stay with the drinks and snacks, later you may have dinner at the Sushi Leblon,if you are a japanese food lover (rua Dias Ferreira,182,Leblon).If you prefer to go to another bar try Botequim Informal (check the addresses http://www.botequiminformal.com.br/), normally noisy but the chopp (fresh beer) is excelent and so are the snacks and the food as well.

For an authentic night adventure yourself in Lapa, old part of Rio in downtown with old buildings. Go to Rio Scenarium and have a great time with brazilian music in a magical place made with antique furniture.

And for meat lovers go to Porcão Rio´s at the Aterro de Flamengo.Excelent food, best view of Sugar Loaf and beautiful arquitecture.

And on Sundays don´t miss the handcraft market ( Feira Hippie) at Ipanema!

HANGLIDING IN RIO

TRAVEL TIPS for better travelling!

Nice and fresh tips are always welcome when you go to a new place.

I´ll start with Rio de Janeiro, the city I live. You cannot miss hang gliding, I know it sounds a bit "hecktick", but is a must. I went flying with the pilot Ricardo Modelo (tel. (21) 9887 2022), and it was awesome! The best thing to do in Rio!!!He showed me pictures of 70 years old ladies flying with him as well as 9 years old children.Some of his pictures are on the blog: http://www.hangglidingrio.blogspot.com/