How safe is it to travel to South America at this time?

There were certain areas repeated myself!

bookwormbabe

I take it you are travelling independently? We went to Peru back in 2008 and it was a great holiday, but it was an organised tour. I must admit I would have hesitated to go on our own, and certainly would not consider it now.

I think I should have mentioned up thread, we booked through Kuoni so although it was just the two of us and not a group, they tailored it to our specifications, I did want to include Chile and Peru, but that would have been too expensive. We were met at airports and our tours were escorted. There were certain areas we were told not to go to certain areas on our own in both Buenos Aires and more particularly in Rio.

I just loved the whole experience, some of my greatest travel memories.

I take it you are travelling independently? We went to Peru back in 2008 and it was a great holiday, but it was an organised tour. I must admit I would have hesitated to go on our own, and certainly would not consider it now.

My dh would def. go anyway - I’d be a lot more cautious. But then he went on his own to India shortly before Christmas, largely to visit a very old friend who was not at all well.

I thought he was mad, but in the end was v glad he went, since the old friend died soon afterwards. And dh (and the rest of us) all caught COVID over Christmas anyway.

I still shudder to think of dd and SiL attending a wedding in Brazil when she was just a few months pregnant with Gdd1. We didn’t know until some time afterwards about the (IIRC) mosquito-borne zika (?) virus, that caused terrible deformities in unborn babies - apparently rife at the time of their visit.
Thank heavens the baby was fine.

You’re not over-reacting and I wouldn’t go. We were lucky enough to visit the area in 2019, followed all safety advice and had a great time. But if our Government travel guidance had been not to travel, we definitely wouldn’t have gone. The advice isn’t given lightly.

Have you looked into the cost of travel insurance for your trip? Can you even get a quote?
I definitely wouldn't be travelling against government advice!

You’ve looked at the US government’s advice, as your insurers probably have too, if someone here said it’s fine, would you go contrary to that advice?
I’d rather take professional advice than that of a random stranger.

Its not covid I would be worrying about?

I believe they had very bad rates of covid at one time, not sure now. We went to South America for my 60th visiting Buenos Aires, across the River Plate to Uruguay. The Iguazu Falls on the Argentinian/Brazil border and finally Rio de Janeiro. Will always be one of the best holidays ever. Didn't have any bad experiences, but you have to be careful and steer clear of certain areas. It won't be hot in June/July in Argentina, it can be chilly in their winters we were told. If you go, hope you enjoy it.

Covid would be the least of my worries visiting South America.

Have a look at the kidnapping and murder statistics.

I’m so glad I went to South America when I did. My brother took a job teaching English to the locals. They had an apartment in Armenia ( yes there’s an Armenia in South America as well). A long tiring journey but well worth it. If you do go, don’t forget to bring back a pound of Guava Halva. Yummy ?
Covid is nothing compared to the warnings we had from friends about the Colombian drug barons. We saw no violence. We visited a coffee plantation owned by the parents of one of the pupils. Just magic !

I hear Blackpool is lovely at this time of the year?
Well if you do go I would say you are very much UNDER reacting.!