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I'm planning on doing my dissertation somewhere in South America. I'm thinking maybe Argentina although I might do Central America instead depending on what my project is.

Any advice on preparing for such a trip? I've got over a year to prepare myself etc.

Cheers

my girlfriend spent a few months studying in guatemala if that's any use

Do you know whether it was organised through her studies or did she organise it on her own?

I went to Bogota Colombia in 2000 with my ex whose family was from there

What was Colombia like? It's a possibility you see.

If you want advice on central america pm me, havent got a fucking clue about south america. I think dazza was screwing some indigenous inca bird in peru for a while- might be worth dropping him a line.

a bit of both i believe. to be fair, mex's knowledge of central america will put anyone else on here to shame so i suggest you listen to the man himself ;)

It was ok actually. Obviously their is a lot of shit going on there but we ended up at my ex's families farm down there in the forests there was great in a hammock just chilling out etc. Many museums etc there. Lovely country, shame for all the crap going on there really.

I'd love to go to South America, in fact I had it all planned out that I would travel the world and Brazil was my #1 destination.

I left blighty 10 years ago and my first port of call was Thailand from which I would then explore into other places across the world.................................

Still in Thailand....

Doh!

Like Mex said I screwed Peru and had a jaunt into Bolivia. 

Out of the two I would highly recommend Peru, spanish is a necessity either way.

Drop me a line if you need any info.

Cheers folks.

 Guyana is interesting...mate used to live and work there. The only English speaking country on mainland South America, and they play cricket.

 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, is Guyanese, so it must be OK.

I spent three weeks travelling in Peru and Bolivia in 2001.  I wasn't too sold on Lima, but Arequipa, the Colca Canyon, long bus rides over the Andes, Cusco, Macchu Pichu, Copacabana/Lake Titicaca and La Paz...all stunning.

The altitude affects people in different ways.  I didn't get sick, but did take to sleeping for 12 hours a day at one point.

(Never been to Argentina though, in case you were wondering.)

Went to Brazil in 2006, great time, did not go to Rio but we were centred on Salvador, - a great city.  Lovely people, but you got to watch some of them - same as any town or city I suppose (especially Oxford).

I'd love to go into the amazon and use my SAS skills (I've read Bravo-two-zero) to survive. I'd facking love that.

i promise not to kill any Ocelots though.

As Bravo two zero was set in the Iraqi desert, it might not be the best reference material.

Michael Atherton married a Guyanese girl I believe

I have ingested stuff produced in Aouth Amercai does that count?

In the last few minutes?

I spent a month going through Chile and Argentina about a year and a half ago - back when our economy was still good - and so thought Argentina was amazing, partly because we were pretty wealthy (even as backpackers), partly because the country is amazing and the people are nice too.

Buenos Aires is nice but also safe enough around the centre but getting out of there and heading south to Mendoza was great with a combination of desert, mountains and vines. Bariloche, despite being a tourist town was probably my favourite place of all - right next to the Andes and the Chilean border. Skiing, like wine and steak is also cheap.

Chile though I was less keen on as the Chileans tend to be far more stand-offish and it was the five day national holiday when we arrived in Santiago so the pollution was more than just the usual smog on the Andes, the whole city stank of piss and pissed Chileans. Other parts seemed much nicer but they don't seem that interested in helping you if your Spanish is only okay rather than immaculate.

As for the rest I have no idea - I have to stay away from anywhere remotely warm due to being so white that I'm more like a pale blue. Except Cordoba was about 35 degrees even in winter.

PM if you want to ask owt.