Curitiba to Buenos Aires. - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**BigE** · 01-27-2007, 04:35 PM

I'm thinking of planning a backpacking trip from Curitiba, Brazil (where I have family) to Buenos Aires, Argentina. I will be looking at late December (after Christmas) through the 1st week of January. I was wondering if anyone have any recommendations. I will also be going through Uruguay.

Has anyone been to Florianopolis and Montevideo?

**TheJake** · 01-27-2007, 05:18 PM

I have been to beautiful santa catarina a.k.a. Florianopolis. Let me try to refresh my memory on why i liked it.... oh yeah super nice beaches, european looking brasilian girls, churrascaria's and a cool city vibe. Very cool place.

I'll try to remember the name of one of the beaches i hit...

**TheJake** · 01-27-2007, 05:33 PM

OK I remember now.

I met some people at the HI Hostel that I stayed at there and we went to Joaquina on the bus system. Then we got stuck there somehow and ended up walking very very far to the next little town thing. We tried to hitchhike but there were four of us and it didn't work so well. Floripa reminded me very much of a southern california beach town. I really dug the vibe there and in retrospect I stayed much to short. There are a couple really look lake like things that I saw a lot of windsurfers on.

The HI Hostel was pretty chill. It was a typical sterilized HI place but it was close to the city life and restaurants. There was another there called Backpackers but I believe it was closed for renovations when I was there though I heard good things about it. I think that one is on a beach too.

Like I said overall I dug floripa. It was a bit more expensive than some other cities in brasil but it was also much nicer than most cities in brasil. Very clean and that bridge at night is fantastic.

*note about the pics. The guy in most of the pics is a dude named Sam from idaho. One of the four americans I met on my travels in south america. Sam eventually ending up rooming with me in fortaleza a distance of almost 1800 miles. oh and sorry about the blur. The heart was ready but the hands unsteady.

Inside the hi hostel. Very clean and sanitized type of place. They do have a pretty cool balcony though.

some kind of crazy green tree. It was special for reasons I don't remember.

self explanatory.

one of the streets. I think this was after walking home from a market. I vaguely remember having to pretend to be russian to get away from a crazy person that spoke English, Spanish, French and Portuguese. I think he wanted money but i don't remember the specifics....he might have wanted the girls...

I show you this picture because that beer down at the bottom was the best beer I had in Brazil. Floripa was the only place I ever found it. A Bohemia dark ale... damn tasty.

the airport...

Next trip I definitely want to spend more time in that fair city. Thanks for making me remember.

**BigE** · 01-27-2007, 06:07 PM

Thanks Jake. I definately want to go to santa catarina. Looks awesome and the pics are very nice.

**florencia9699** · 01-28-2007, 01:26 AM

For general info on Buenos Aires just search on the search bar for "buenos aires" as i've spoken endlessly about my city. On any specific questions just ask away here or PM me!!

**BigE** · 01-28-2007, 03:22 AM

OK. Cool!

**BigE** · 02-06-2007, 03:56 AM

O.K., I think my trip will look like this:

1. Curitiba, Parana, Brazil.
a. Parangua Railway
b. Check out real estate on beaches of Parana

2. Florianopolis, Santa Catrina, Brazil.
3. Montevideo, Uruguay
a. ferry to Buenos Aires
4. Buenos Aires, Argentina
a. Iguacu Fall

This includes all of the major stops, but I would like to add some interesting side trips. Let me know if there is anything I should add. I don't have to add everything. I will be visiting Curitiba often enough and if I like it, I may buy a house near the beach in Parana for my eventual retirement.

**florencia9699** · 02-16-2007, 08:31 AM

BigE.. I was thinking that although most Argentines go for summer vacations to Florianopolis, those who have also been to Buzios say it's 10 times better. And Brazilians preffer their northern beaches as well... considering you'll be 350km from San Pablo you should deffinitely give it a try!

**BigE** · 02-16-2007, 08:55 AM

Thanks Flo! I'll look into it.