South America with Children?

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We would like to travel to South America with our children (8 and 5), this year. Have thought of Ecuador, Peru or Venezuela. Has anyone had any experience of this? All the tour companies seem to be for adults only. We would like to do some independent travel but perhaps link with a gourp for part of the trip. Any thoughts / experience? Thanks.

[Dan]

We met an Aussie family in Peru in 1999. They were Mum, Dad and three girls of 12, 9 and 4. They were experienced independent travellers, with tales of Vietnam and other Asian trips. They were loving South America, and we met them a few times in different towns along our route.

South America is an easy destination to explore. As long as you know which town you want to get to, the bus conductors will do all they can to get you on their bus! The international language of pointing will get you decent meals. Where do you plan to stay? We were using the many cheap hotels on the continent (we went to Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile for 9 weeks), but I'm not sure you'll find rooms equipped for young families. Most hoteliers will try to accommodate you, but your flexibility will determine how much you all enjoy the experience.

Wherever there is a tourist attraction you'll be able to book tours locally very easily and cheaply.

Venezuela is very different to much of SA (being rich in oil!), but much of the country is rural and poor. My sister knows it well having lived there for three years recently.

You don't mention Bolivia, but if any of you would enjoy a trip into the wetlands near Rurrenabaque (in the amazon basin) to see loads of cute and not so cute wildlife, and you'll be there outside wet season, you'd be mad to miss out on the experience.

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Dan.
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The Avatar? Not really a tropical paradise... it is South Shropshire, UK.