Tomorrow I will officially become a South American Explorer. I am going on a trip deep into the Paraná Delta with the South American Explorers. They are a non-profit organization established in 1977. The organization sponsors expeditions and educational and scientific projects. They also promote community service and related organizations. SAE organizes activities that are open to members and non-members. South American Explorers exists mainly through membership contributions.
Simply by paying a small membership fee, members are given access to extensive information in several clubhouses located throughout South America (Buenos Aires; Cusco, Peru; Lima, Peru; Quito, Ecuador). SAE has numerous maps, information from previous expeditions, and trip reports. In addition, SAE members can take advantage of many discounts ranging from accomodation and restuarants to tours. They offer many other services and their clubhouses are a great place to relax and meet other travelers.
The SAE delta trip is Saturday, February 16th. The trip will take participants to the town of Tigre. From there, they will catch a boat that will cross the Paraná River and venture deep into the delta. Trip participants will then depart the boat at a fishing club for a relaxing lunch and swim in the river.
The trip is an all-day affair, leaving at 7:30 am from a monument in Buenos Aires commemorating the Falklands War. It will return to Tigre in the early evening and participants can either stay overnight in Tigre or catch the train back to Buenos Aires after strolling through Tigre.
Sunday has many options. The itinerary may include taking in an English soccer match at an English pub, browsing one of the popular Sunday markets in Buenos Aires, watching the famous Boca Juniors play a fellow Argentine soccer club, and watching tango in a public square in the evening.
I will arrive in Buenos Aires at 10:25 am Argentine time on Sunday, February 10th (Argentina is 4 hours ahead of US Central Time). I will be staying with a host family for two weeks in Buenos Aires while I attend a Spanish class.
My return flight leaves from Quito, Ecuador on May 6th and I will arrive in the USA on May 7th.
Where will I be between February 10th and May 7th? Honestly, I’m not sure but below is a list of things that I hope to experience. Obviously I won’t be able to do everything on the list due to time constraints.
- Learn Spanish and tango in Buenos Aires
- Watch a Boca Juniors match in Buenos Aires
- Drink wine at the National Wine Harvest Festival in Mendoza, Argentina
- Tour an Argentine winery
- Eat an enormous steak at an Argentine asado
- Stay at a guacho ranch
- Ride a funicular in Valparaiso, Chile
- Trek Patagonia
- See Easter Island
- Drink mate in a sleepy Uruguayan coastal fishing village
- Be the only American on a Paraguayan bus
- Celebrate Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Ayacucho, Peru
- Hitch to Cachora, Peru. Hire a local guide and mules for a 10-day trek to Choquequirao and Machu Picchu
- Learn how to surf on the northern coast of Peru
- Swim with the sea lions at the Galapagos Islands
Top row:Soccer in the Sun and Shadow by Eduardo Galeano; Webster’s New Pocket Spanish-English Dictionary; sunglasses; Leather-covered book bought at J. Peterman’s in NYC; Flip Video Ultra Camcorder; Camera bag; 30GB iPod
Bottom row:Footprints South American Handbook 2008; Moleskin journal; Peruvian leather shoulder bag
2nd row: Ziplock bag w/ rechargeable battery kit and plug adapter; Wide-angle camera lens kit; Soccer ball (I decided not to take this to save space); Gloves; Bag w/ boxers & socks
3rd row: Ziplock bags; small locks; First-Aid kit; Bag w/ Kleenex, earplugs, etc.; Extra shoestrings; Sandals; Pants; Cargo pants; Bag w/ Cubs hat, shirts, towel, etc.
Below you will find four posts that have YouTube videos of various locations where I will be visiting during the next three months. Full credit to the YouTube users for their great videos! I will have a small camcorder with me and I hope I can create some videos on par with the ones that they have posted. They may not be the best technical or aesthetic videos but they do make you want to visit the places.
