Best South American Country?

[Timmy35]

In the spirit of the times, I was wondering whether many PHer's have lived in or travelled through South America.

It's a huge continent, and the countries seem quite diverse. Were one to be seeking a place to settle for a few years, rather than simply pass though, what would be the best of them in terms of safety.....taxes, healthcare, infrastructure, property prices, and climate.

Agentina, Brazil, Panama, Mexico etc etc?

Just curious!!! To know where might be worth a visit!

[Neil_H]

My parents did a cruise around SA last year and I think it was Chile that they reckoned was the most 'developed'.

[MrVelox]

Panama I would say, that or Brazil. But Brazil has huge crime problems.. a la SA.

[Gravy]

My boss has travelled to a vast number of countries and says that Chile is at the top of his pile - absolutely stunning by all accounts.

[chris_w666]

Is it really that bad today Tim?

[johnfm]

Best Beach - Roatan (Honduras)

Best 'feel' - Cartagena, Columbia.

[mechsympathy]

Of Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile, Chile is the most European. Argentina is apparently pretty similar.

[Kaelic]

Bosses daughter has just spent a year in Argentina and loved every moment of it, she is heading back there on a more permnament basis at the begining of next year. She says the cities are safe and the people are really friendly.

Have an old school friend who is teaching in El Salvador and he seems to think its amazing, again really friendly people etc... I just dont think its as stable as Argentina.

[dan1981]

I spent a fair bit of time travelling in Peru, Chile and Argentina.

Peru is fairly undeveloped especially off the beaten track.

Chile is nice in the bigger cities but again further out is not that good.

For me Argentina wins hands down. Very very European. but with SA prices.

BA, very nice city apparently some crime but i didn't experience any.

Further south - Bariloche - big ski resort in the winter but absolutly stunning in the summer, lakes, mountains the whole lot.

Argentina for me. oh and the steaks........

eta piccy - and yes it really does look like that. Gorgeous.

Edited by dan1981 on Tuesday 7th October 10:52

[FPC]

On a trip to Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay, Chile won hands down. Much more developed and stable. Argentina certainly cheaper but quite run down / poor in the parts we saw.

[Timmy35]

Interesting stuff. The Mexican lass I was chatting to on the weekend was all for Argentina....but friends who have been there all like Chile as well.

I'd guess that with the links to Spain, Argentina would the best served in terms if flights. Of Arg / Chile & Peru.

I know there is or was a resident PH'er in Buenos Aires. Until recetly at least. As the Singapore PH colony is thriving, perhaps the S.Am branch needs a boost.

Ohhhh um I assume with the Argies there are no hard feelings over us beating them in the war, and the whole cheating at football thing? Or had I best not mention those?

Edited by Timmy35 on Tuesday 7th October 10:28

[thehawk]

Probably Argentina and parts of Brazil. There are towns in Brazil that are made up of people from German heritage and they are very civilised. Especially an area like Santa Catarina

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Catarina_(state...

[Timmy35]

thehawk said:

Probably Argentina and parts of Brazil. There are towns in Brazil that are made up of people from German heritage and they are very civilised. Especially an area like Santa Catarina

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Catarina_(state...

ta. That looks worth investigating.

[sharkfan]

Timmy35 said:

thehawk said:

Probably Argentina and parts of Brazil. There are towns in Brazil that are made up of people from German heritage and they are very civilised. Especially an area like Santa Catarina

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Catarina_(state...

ta. That looks worth investigating.

There are actually large parts of Chile, Argentina and Peru with German ancestry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_German#South_and_Central_America). We visited the Germanic part of Chile in the south (Puerto Varas) where there are some very bizarre sights such as Chilean villages with houses which would not look out of place in the Alps!

Having visited Bolivia, Peru, Chile and Argentina I'd vote for Argentina. BA is an amazing city and the rest of the country is great from Patagonia in the south through the wine country up to the tropical north bordering on Brazil. An epic country in every sense of the word...

[wadgebeast]

Brazil's a huge country - depends on where you choose to live! Rio is just fantastic, but has some very very rough parts. no different to London really - you wouldn't go around flaunting your wealth in tower hamlets would you? Sao Paulo is a bit of an industrial hole. Brazilia is safe and new and respectable, but right slap bang in the middle of the country.

I've met lots of chileans through my work but have yet to visit there. I get a very good impression from them though.

[Timmy35]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Indeed, not forgetting seriously hot women and propery prices that are buttons compared here.

It's an area of the world massively rich in commodities, and generally unlikely to be directly affected by a large scale war in the Northern Hemishere/ Asia.

Also an area unlikely to suffer starvation, or mass population dislocations, as the population density is so low....at least in Argentina....and it's geographically cut off from major population concetrations elsewhere.

All in all, a good port in a storm.

Edited by Timmy35 on Tuesday 7th October 11:14

[thehawk]

Timmy35 said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Indeed, not forgetting seriously hot women and propery prices that are buttons compared here.

Not to mention the fact that the seriously hot women love taking it up the tucker chute.

[MrVelox]

So this is in Brazil apparently.. wow!

[Andy Zarse]

When I went to Venezula I thought it was a sthole run by rightwing dictators. These days its a sthole run by socialists.

A three day jungle trek up the river to the Angel Falls was pretty cool, but other than that I didn't think much of the place.

[Timmy35]

thehawk said:

Timmy35 said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Indeed, not forgetting seriously hot women and propery prices that are buttons compared here.

Not to mention the fact that the seriously hot women love taking it up the tucker chute.

as Bedford said......what's not to like.