Travel and Vacation Digest » South American Beaches

Pichilemu, Chile

Ed — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 10:50:01 +0000

For those who desire surfing the best beaches in South America are the ones located in Pichilemu, Chile. The conditions seem to be just right for getting out there on your board and just practicing your surfing. For surfers it is all about catching the perfect wave and there is no other place in the world that will offer you up the perfect waves time and time again like the beaches of Pichilemu. Surfers not only flock here for the perfect waves but also for the chance to try their skills up against other surfers in the frequent surf competitions that are held here.

The three most visited beaches by surfers are Punta Lobos, La Puntilla and Infiernillo. La Puntilla is the best beach to hit for beginners. The beach is equipped with all modern comforts such as restrooms, parking, dressing rooms and even showers. Therefore, there is no need to rough it back to the hotel with sand still clinging to you. For your surfing pleasure, La Puntilla offers up waves that run as long as a kilometer and are a constant left and fast. The sizes of the waves run between one and four meters when the swell comes clean.

For more experienced surfers there is the black sand beach Infiernillo. The waves here usually have a very hard left and tubular action to them. The waves off of Infiernillo can get up to four meters high and while they do not run as long as the waves off La Puntilla, they are more intense. That is what makes them more sport for the experienced surfer.

For the surfers who have the experience and are looking for the most extreme waves then the best beach in South America will be the Punta Lobos. It is here that waves can reach heights of six meters or more. The waves here are also run a hard left but there are more dangers here than just the waters. Getting to the water can prove difficult, as you must walk over rocks, cross-strong current channel and then climb the morros where you must wait to dive into the water. It is after all the spot for those wishing to ride a killer wave.

For the beginners that want to surf you need to under stand surfboard lengths. Different board lengths are recommended for different waves. For the waves off of La Puntilla, the board length should be 6.5 feet since the waves are small. For the big waves off of Punta Lobos, your board length should be 8.5 feet. However, again, these waves are not for beginners but the board length information is there for your knowledge.

While these beaches are the most famous beaches for surfers, you will not see any California type surfers in their baggies riding waves here. The water off all three beaches is extremely cold and thus wet suits are required to protect the surfer while surfing. In fact, many recommend that booties, cap and glove be worn in addition to the wet suits. So keep that in mind before trying your skills against the waves off these South American beaches in Pichilemu, Chile.

Ferradura Beach, Buzios Brazil

Ed — Tue, 18 May 2010 10:26:01 +0000

Whether you have been on a beach or you have just seen them on television, you are accustom to the way a beach looks. You see people lying around soaking up the sun, children building sand castles and hordes of people in the water enjoying the ocean water. In addition, what would a beach be if there were not some surfing and parasailing going on? How about the tropical islands where you see people relaxing in lounge chairs enjoying a tropical drink from a nearby cabana? There is more though that can go on than just sun soaking, water sports and tropical drinks. Well this is true if you were on Ferradura Beach located on the Buzios peninsula in Brazil.

Imagine lying there with the gentle breeze coming off the ocean and gently rolling across your body. The soft sounds of the waves against the shoreline playing gentle music for your ears. The smells of the flowers and other tropical vegetation surround the beach teasing your sense of smell. Now imagine the gentle hands of a masseuse massaging you as you lie there in your own tropical paradise, relaxing you into complete oblivion. This sounds like heaven and on Ferradura Beach heaven can be yours.

Located at the left corner of Ferradura Beach is a woman named Wilma Dias who awaits the arrival of many beach goers who seek her out for her exquisite massages offered right there on the beach. Wilma Dias has her personal tent set up as her massage office so that she can do her magic on each beachgoer that comes to her. Wilma Dias studied for five years in Israel to help her master her techniques. For those that want ultimate relaxation, she is there until 8 pm offering up massages under the moonlight. Her massages are well sought after and many times, there are lines of people waiting to get a massage. In US dollars, her prices are about 16.82 for 35 minutes and about 25.23 for 50 minutes.

Soaking up the sun and getting a massage though are not the only things that you can do on Ferradura Beach though. Many exotic bars are located there surrounding the beach and offer up food and drinks. The meals served up are that of the local flavor and what better way to experience Buzios, Brazil than to dine on the local flavor.

Windsurfing is a popular sport in Buzios with many national as well as international competitions taking place on the many beaches of Buzios. For beginners who wish to learn and improve their windsurfing skills, Ferradura Beach is the location. The waters off Ferradura Beach are calm enough that any beginner can get out there and learn the basics. Happy Surf is located on the left corner of the beach and has rentals for windsurfing. They also offer hobie cat and kayak rentals as well.

For those that wish to be out relaxing on the open waters off Ferradura Beach there is Day Off de Buzios who offer up Banana Boat and boat rides. Their boat rides can offer you a chance to relax while sitting back and taking in the exotic beauty surrounding you.

Palm Beach, Aruba

Ed — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:50:01 +0000

When It Comes To Clean White Sand And Warm Tropical Weather, Palm Beach In Aruba Offers You Both. Hotels That line the beach have workers who come out frequently to sift the sand. These workers ensure that shells and all other sorts of debris are removed from the beach so that you are able to relax and enjoy a perfectly clean beach. The tropical climate makes for the perfect weather for soaking up the sun while lounging on Palm Beach. Mature palm trees offer a nice respite from the glare of the tropical sun while lounging on the beach. Therefore, for those that do not wish to sunbathe but want to enjoy the beach, there are plenty of places along the beach to be shaded from the sun.

The beach is lined with plenty of high-rise resort hotels. The best part is though is that these resorts open their doors to the beach. This means that you can step off the beach and experience the snack bars and open bars located within these high-rise resort hotels. You do not need to be a guest to enjoy the offerings of the hotel. Not only can you grab some refreshments at one of the hotel's bars but you can also take in their exquisite gardens. The beauty within these gardens is as breathtaking as Palm Beach itself.

Palm Beach offers up a wide variety of water sports for those that wish to have a little fun out on the water. Windsurfing, hobie-cats, jet skis, kayaks are just a few of the water sports you can enjoy here. There are shops along the beach that rent the equipment to beachgoers for the day or by time blocks. If it is a water sport, there is a rental shop for it on this beach. With plenty of them scattered across the beach you should not have to walk far to find one.

The attire on the beach is swimwear throughout the beach. All sorts of swimwear such as one-piece swimsuits, bikinis, swim trunks and even Speedos are seen on the beach. For those that wish to grab some refreshments or visit the gardens of the surrounding hotels, you will need cover up clothing. Even if you do not think you will take in one of the high-rise hotel resorts, bring cover up clothing just in case. The attire is shorts and nice shirts and blouses. For those who wish to dine in one of the hotel restaurants please not that some are what is known as elegant casual. What this means is long pants and sundress are the required attire for dining.

Palm Beach is centrally located just south of Hadicurari and it is one of the best beaches in Aruba for people watching. It central location means that it is crowded with lots of people sunbathing, playing in the water and enjoying some great water sports. Have your camera ready so that you can capture some great shots while lounging on the beach.

El Rodadero, Columbia

Ed — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 19:27:01 +0000

El Rodadero is located along the Columbian coastline in South America. It is a modern area offering up all the modern features you would expect to see in any populated areas. Restaurants, hotels, equipment rentals and bars are all within close distance of the beach. This beach is a just as active after dark as it is during the daylight hours. This beach is an attraction to those of the younger crowd once the sun goes down. The safety of the beach is rumored to be just as safe after dark as it is during the daytime as well. Partygoers from the surrounding bars usually spill out onto the beach during the evening hours.

El Rodadero is located 10 minutes west of Santa Marta and is the main tourist center in the area. It is famous for its Aquarium and Sea Museum where you can see sea fauna still in its own natural habitat. This is accessible by a short boat ride from the El Rodadero beach.

Pozos Colorados is a short few minutes away from El Rodadero and offers up additional hotels complete with modern facilities just like those you would find in El Rodadero. Since the El Rodadero beach can be crowded at times, there is a chance that the surrounding hotels could be booked up and alternate accommodation will be needed. Since Pozos Colorados is close by accommodations are worth looking into. You can find restaurants and bars in Pozos Colorados as well that you can look into when the crowds of El Rodadero get to be too much.

For shade and comfort out on El Rodadero beach there are tent rentals that come complete with chairs. These offer a nice private place to relax on the beach without the glare of the sun being on your constantly. The chairs offered up in the rental of the tents are a welcome to most tourists on the beach. For those with kids on vacation with them these tents provide a safe way for children to play without risking major sunburns. Which is a comfort to parents who do not wish to spend their vacation tending to a child with sunburns.

A variety of beach games are usually going on during the daytime. For those that wish to mingle it is not hard to join in any on one of these games. A typical cliché but beach volleyball is one you can try your hand at while having fun with other beachgoers. For water activities, you can rent boats and floating equipment that is usually fairly easy to handle by anyone. The boats are peddled like a bicycle and will fit up to six people. So if traveling with family then this is a nice leisurely water activity for the whole family.

Remember that while El Rodadero is rumored to be safe even after dark, this is still a part of Columbia. Therefore, you should always be aware of your surroundings and take precaution to keep yourself safe while enjoying this great South American beach.

Ipanema Beach, Brazil

Ed — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:16:01 +0000

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is home to the famous Ipanema Beach. This beach was sung about in songs and made the Brazilian bikini famous. While it is considered an urban beach, it is still one of the hotspots of Brazil and the crowds flock to it year after year. The weather here is warm, the sand is white and the water is crystal clear. Since the crowds flock here, the beach itself is overly crowded. This makes for some great socializing and people watching while you are there.

While there, you can grab some refreshments from the street vendors that happen to stop by. There is no need to go walking in search of a cabana or hotel lounge for your refreshments, which is a great treat to those who flock to Ipanema Beach. The snacks include normal type snacks as well as seafood. Coconut milk straight from a coconut is another local flavor you can experience from a street vendor.

For those that wish to step away from the beach for a bit there are various facilities along the crescent of the beach. On Sundays there is the Hippie Fair offering up art from local artists and musical instruments. Listen to local musicians play in the streets as you stroll around the Hippie Fair. Since the Hippie Fair is outdoors for the most part you do not have to worry about a dress code. Just walk up from the beach wearing your beach attire and have some fun slipping back into the era of hippies.

There is no shade to be found on Ipanema Beach so you will have to rent a beach umbrella if you desire shade. The beach faces the east so the sun will be glaring on you as it rises in the mornings. Therefore, an umbrella will be ideal during the early mornings when the sun is rising up. For tanning times, the best times are midmorning to early afternoon hours. Remember that these are tropical climates so bring sunscreen even if you plan to rent an umbrella.

While this is one of the best South American beaches, there is no water sports offered up here. Instead, the sports are played on the beach and tend to be beach volleyball and soccer. For those that love to play soccer this is a great place to try your hand at playing soccer in the sand. There are games going on all over the beach that you can join in. Even if you are not an avid sports player, there is no mistaken that you will enjoy watching other compete in these games.

The warmest times of the year to visit Ipanema Beach in Brazil are December to March. The weather tends to run around 77F to 95F during these months. June through August is their winter months with temperatures running around 55F to 64F. Therefore, this is not the best time of year if you are wanting to enjoy playing in the ocean waters off of Ipanema Beach.

Staying Safe While Enjoy The Best South American Beaches

Ed — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:33:01 +0000

Taking a vacation and spending it on one of the best South American beaches is a sure fire way to achieve relaxation while surrounded by paradise. It is on one of these many beaches that you will be surrounded by pristine sand, crystal clear ocean water and exotic vegetation. How could anything be more relaxing and more perfect than that? All in all your South American beach vacation will be one of found memories. Not to mention an experience that you will soon want to repeat.

However, you should always remember that you are in a foreign country far away from home. Safety should always be your main priority while on your vacation. Many tourists come and go from many of the beach locations in South America without ever having a problem. There is though the chance that you could be the target of a petty crime such as pick pocketing. Therefore, you need to remember to be aware of your surrounding and to never travel away from your hotel room with very much cash on you. While you may wish to sample some of the snacks offered by food vendors or visit some of the hotels that open up to the beach, you need to carry small amounts of cash with you for these expenditures. When you must take your purse or wallet with you to the beach, you need to keep it on you at all times. For your purse, you can wear the strap over your shoulder and tucked next to your body. Try to keep your wallet touching you at all times, this can mean it is under your foot, you are sitting on it or while lying down it is under you.

Never ask anyone you just met on the beach to watch your personal belongings. No matter how friendly they may seem they are still strangers. While most the people you will meet whether other tourists or locals will be genuinely friendly and honest, you just never know who will and who will not be. So play it safe.

Also never leave the beach to head off alone with anyone you do not know. Nor should you venture off to any secluded spots on the beach with someone you do not know. This goes especially for women, since there have been a lot of women who have found themselves the target for unwanted male attention from local men. A lot of the times this is just that "Latin charm" that South American men are famous for coming out. Other times these unwanted advances are more serious than that. It is best to play it safe in this regard as well. A lot of women traveling to enjoy the best beaches that South America has to offer, have taken to wearing a wedding ring even if they are single. This helps to curb some of the unwanted attention they would normally receive.

The best South American beaches are you are to enjoy, just remember to play it safe. When you take the safety issues into account you are still free to have a great vacation and enjoy all that South America has to offer.

The Best South American Beaches For Experienced Surfers In Uruguay

Ed — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:14:01 +0000

With beaches comes surfers and South America has some of the best beaches for surfing. Almost every avid surfer is looking for that killer wave. That one wave that will get their adrenaline pumping and set them in a cast above the rest. These beaches will bring you the most adrenaline pumping waves that you could ever ride. Depending on how you ride these waves depends on whether or not you are in a cast above the rest or if you are just in a body cast. Keep in mind though that when you surf one of these ultimate waves, you will have a hard time topping it. After all the best South American beaches for surfers offers up killer waves.

Los Pesqueros beach is rated three stars out of five among surfers. It offers public access and is recommended that it only be surfed by those with experience. On the normal day, the wavelength is up to 50m with a swell up to 2m. The wave has a right and left direction. The power of the waves are hollow and fast. The waves here are sand bar waves. Wave quality is regional classic. As far as the crowds go this beach is not overly crowded on the weekdays. Giving you plenty of room to get out there and own the waves.

Zanja Honda beach is another three out of five stars among surfers. It offers public access as well and again this is for experienced surfers only. The waves' length is usually 50m with a swell up to 2.5m. Swells have been known to get higher though. The waves have a right and left direction. The power of the waves are hollow and fast. The waves here on this South American beach are point break waves. Wave quality is regional classic. This is another beach that is not overly crowded on the weekdays.

Los Botes beach is again another three out of five stars among surfers. Public access to the beach and only for experienced surfers. One of the major dangers while surfing off this beach is the rocks. Wavelength runs from 50m to 150m with the swell up to 4m. Waves here have a left direction. The power of the waves are considered fast and fun among avid experienced surfers. These waves are considered to be reef-rocky waves. Wave quality is regional classic. Not overly crowded on the weekdays but weekends are very crowded.

La virgen beach is four out of five stars among surfers. If you are ready to step away from regional classic waves then this is the place for you. The wave quality here is considered to be world class. There is public access to this beach and well only experienced surfers should attempt these waves. The wave direction is left and the wave type is considered to be reef rocky. Dangers while surfing here are the rocks. The wavelengths are usually 50m to 150m with swells usually at 4m. The power of these waves can only be called powerful. Weekday the crowds are not to bad here but weekends are overly crowded.

Depending on when you come to Uruguay to surf, will depend on the type of suit you will need while surfing. January and February swim trunks will work fine, March and April as well as November and December you will need a spring suit and May through October you will need a full suit.

Punta Del Este, Uruguay

Ed — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:12:01 +0000

Punta del Este, Uruguay is home to 20 miles of exotic South American beaches. People of wealth and privilege have long flocked to Punta del Este to soak up the sun and play in the ocean on these beautiful beaches. The problem that arises with this is that the beaches are packed full of tourists during the season. For those that want to enjoy the luxury of a South American beach without the hassles of tourists will need to get creative. While in Punta del Este, Uruguay, the best way to enjoy the luxury without the tourist is to creatively avoid the tourist hotspots. This is after all a resort island and tourists are everywhere. So how do you avoid them while still enjoying a South American beach? Go where the locals go. Just ditch the tourist beaches and head for the beaches that the locals love and enjoy.

These beaches are just as beautiful and exotic since they are after all still on a South American island but they are less crowded by tourist than the tourist beaches. One of the best beaches in Punta del Este, for the locals is La Barra del Maldonado situated in an exotic inlet. While you still may find a crowd here, the crowd will be that of mostly locals. Therefore, you have no fear of being overly crowded by a bunch of tourists and you are free to just relax and soak up the sun on this exotic beach. As well, youth activities such as beach sports take place on this beach during the daytime. If you are traveling with teenagers this beach is also a great way to let them have some fun while taking in the local customs. After all teenagers would really find the local flare in any tourist location more appealing then the tourist activities designed more for the adults. So when traveling with teenagers this beach offers something for all of you. You and your partner get a break from all the tourist crowded beaches and your kids get to hang out and play sports with the locals.

For those that love to stay in the tourist locations Punta del Este, Uruguay offers up some of the best exotic beaches packed full of tourists. Mansa is located on the bay side and is known as gentle beach. Then you have Brava, which is facing the Atlantic ocean. Both of these beaches are overly crowded with tourists during the peak season. This season runs from the beginning of December and ends in March. Therefore, if crowded tourist spots are your thing then these two beaches can give you just that during the peak season.

Since Punta del Este, Uruguay houses 20 miles of beaches you will need to find a way to become mobile while there. You can just stick to the beach that is near your hotel but if you truly want to get out and about, you will need transportation. One way is rent bicycles and enjoy the weather as you bike from beach to beach. Another way is rent a car if you feel comfortable driving in a foreign country. Shuttle services are also available; you will need to check with your hotel receptionist on how to acquire the appropriate shuttle service for the area. No matter how to get to and from the beaches, you are sure to discover some of the best beaches in South America.

Saving Money When Taking A Trip To One Of The Best South American Beaches

Ed — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:28:01 +0000

South America has some of the world's best beaches for you to enjoy. The problem is though is that sometimes a person thinks that their budget may not allow them to take that trip to one of the best beaches around. With a little creativity, you can take a trip to one of best South American beaches. When you know how to cut expenses, you can see that you can afford this trip a little easier.

First off, the big expense is the flight to one of these South American beaches. Most flights are cheaper when the flight is taken during the weekdays instead the weekend. So try to plan your beach vacation so that your flight and return flight will take place on weekdays. Also, purchase round trip tickets instead of two separate tickets. Most people think that they are getting a better deal if they do the tickets separately. This is just simply not true. In addition, there are some instances where you can get some great deals on flights by booking a last minute flight. If an airline has many cancellations they will sometimes offer those tickets up for a discounted flight. The only way that this is a good idea though is if you can travel at a moments notice. You will not want to wait until the last minute and then find that you are going to have to pay a higher price than you would have if you had booked a few weeks ago.

Another major expense is the hotel stays which can start to rack up a pretty high figure. When taking a South American vacation to enjoy the beaches, look into staying at the smaller local hotels instead of the major hotel chains. These hotels are called pousadas and you should look for that name in the hotel name when doing your booking. If the hotel name has pousadas in it then you are ensuring you are getting a fairly inexpensive hotel stay. The old adage of "Ask and you shall receive" also applies to these privately run hotels. When you ask for a discount of some sorts, more than likely they will give you one. After all, they would rather have you stay at a discount than not stay at all. Not all private run hotels will give a discount all the time but it does not hurt to ask. Since if they give you one then there is some extra savings.

Remember that when visiting a South American beach you are going to have to eat sometime while you are there. This can get expensive has most tourist attractions are highly over priced. The best way to save on your dining while there is to avoid the tourist hotel restaurants and restaurants that cater to tourists in that city. Instead, consider dining with the locals eat out at. When you dine a local restaurant that is frequented by mostly locals you will find the food is a lot cheaper than what you would pay in the tourist areas.

El Yaque, Margarita Island

Ed — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 12:53:01 +0000

El Yaque in Margarita Island off of Venezuela is one of the best South American beaches for windsurfers and families alike. Both love to come here for the warm weather, nice winds and shallow waters. The shallow waters benefit both windsurfers as well as families. Since the water is shallow, this is great beach for families with children to swim in the ocean waters. The winds allow windsurfers to maximize their time out on the waters off El Yaque beach. This is one of top five best places in the world that is recognized by windsurfers and kite surfers. El Yaque is home to some of the world's best-known national and international windsurfing events that take place throughout the year.

The beach is located just five minutes from the airport terminal giving you a very short distance to go upon your arrival. Hotels are within close distance and are great at accommodating families and even the windsurfers. These hotels usually have windsurfing packages that can combine your room stay with equipment rental. By combining them, you are sure to get a better discount than if you purchased them separately. By staying at one of these hotels, you will have continuous access to this awesome beach. Not to mention you do not have to be stuck in transit for very long upon leaving the airport. You can quickly get to the hotel of your choice located along the beach and settled in fairly quickly. That leaves you plenty of time once you arrive to enjoy the beach and all it has to offer. For those with children there is a pier located on the beach that children use to jump off of and into the water. This can offer some decent entertainment for your children as they can jump and play in the water with other children.

The weather is sunny almost all year long and unfortunately, there is no actual shade on the beach. You can rent beach chairs and beach umbrellas though from local rental shops that will offer you a respite from the sun while on the beach. The sunny weather year round also makes this a great location for those that wish to soak up the sun while on vacation. With the sunny weather, you can expect some crowds out on the beach as people from all over the world flock here. The crowds on this South American beach in Margarita Island are usually European.

Restaurants, bathrooms and shower facilities are also centrally located on the beach. While your hotel is probably going to be fairly close to the beach, it is still nice to have these features offered right there on the beach. After all, once you set foot on this beach you will have a hard time tearing yourself away from here. Remember to bring cover ups as some restaurants will not allow swimwear into the restaurant. Even if you do not wind or kite surf you will find the beauty and ambience here to be breathe taking and refreshing.