Category: Chile

🚁 Helicopter Tour Rankings: The Best and Worst Routes in South America

I have a deep love for flying, and whenever there's an opportunity to witness breathtaking sights from above, I seize it. Here's my personal ranking of helicopter tours across South America:

🤮 Chile: Nazca Lines – 4/10

School textbooks claim that the geoglyphs in the desert are only visible from the air. That's a lie! There are metal towers along the highway where you can see everything perfectly. Tourists are taken over the desert in a shaky small plane, the views are monotonous, and it's nauseating. Not recommended.

😎 Brazil: Rio de Janeiro – 10/10

The most beautiful helicopter tour on the continent! Ocean, beaches, an impressive city on hills, and the statue of Christ overlooking the city. At the same time, it's the most carefree airport security system. Bags aren't checked, and no one even asked for documents. Apparently, the aura of the city's saint protects everyone.

😁 Brazil: Iguazu Falls – 8/10

The most powerful waterfall system in the world. The most famous part is the "Devil's Throat," a circular area surrounded by waterfalls on 270 degrees. It's powerful and beautiful: the helicopter flies right up to the Throat! I deducted two points because from below, on a boat, you can go into the waterfall itself, and that's much more impressive!

😎 Argentina: Martín García Island – 9/10

An island where a former president was exiled, located on the border with Uruguay. An ideal location for a date: a beautiful flight over the delta of the La Plata River, interesting island architecture, lunch in a small authentic restaurant, and crocodiles on the promenade.

😁 Argentina: Buenos Aires – 8/10

It's just very pleasant to fly over your city and examine your favorite places.

🥲 Peru: Machu Picchu – 0/10

A place where there's no helipad, but it would be great if there were! The ancient Inca temple is protected on all sides by high Andes mountains, and you can only get there by train. But a flight would be much more beautiful!

My Real Experience — One Year, One Incident (Involving a Monkey)

People often ask: “Max, is it actually safe to road trip through Latin America?”

Рассказываю про свой опыт (Аргентина/Парагвай/Уругвай/Бразилия/Чили/Перу/Эквадор). За год на меня всего один раз напали мелкие воришки: обезьянки в джунглях залезли в сумку с едой в дорогу и стащили чипсы. Будьте осторожны!

Rule #1 — Steer Clear of Tourist Zones in Big Cities

🌃 Avoid tourist-heavy areas in major cities. Locals know that’s where the gringo money is. We stand out, and the chances of your phone or wallet getting snatched are higher. In big Brazilian cities, it can be straight-up dangerous.

Mountain Villages Are Shockingly Peaceful

🗻 In highland villages, people often don’t even lock their doors. No bars on windows, fences are waist-high - total opposite of city paranoia.

Common Sense Still Applies — Don’t Get Lazy

😎 And the obvious stuff:

Don’t talk on the phone in the street,

Don’t leave valuables on café tables,

Don’t drive into favelas after dark,

Make sure your hotel has parking (in Cusco, even 5-star hotels don’t),

For long stays, pick gated neighborhoods with security.

Latin America Is Safer Than Its Reputation

In my experience, the danger is way overhyped. Your odds of getting robbed in London, Barcelona, or San Francisco? About the same.

What’s Safety Like in Your City?