I've always wanted to go and visit South America. I have some Brazillian friends and really enjoy their culture. I've also wanted to visit Curitiba in Brazil which has some of the World's best city planning. Definately would like to go see Machu Pichu and Cuzco in Peru, Buenos Aries which I hear is a great city and try skiing in Pantagonia. The person I met in Sri Lanka is back visiting Suriname and from what she told me that sounds like a very interesting country. Its tiny and not very populated with most of it undisturbed jungle.
My Spanish is pretty good so I don't have a problem with that. I think it's an insult to go to another country and not trying to make an attempt to speak their language, why should they speak English? I've been to Buenos Aires and Mexico City and the only people who knew English were the hotel concierges, so it's okay.
How about Barranquilla? That's where I'd be going but I don't hear a whole lot about it or the current situation there.
if you are a male between the ages of 15- 99 I highly recommend brazil..I spent some time is rio and there must be something in the water because the women there have the most amazing a$$es. my god. I think it is great that people are beginning to go to other places such as S america a little more and getting away from the europe mold. I think europe is great but there is a such a world down there that doesnt get much publicity. To me s america is like the new world still unexplored. In rio you should stay in the copacabana or ipanema area and not venture from that area too much. It can be dangerous but so can beaumont tx. I am married now and I am still kicking myself that I never made it to colombia.
I spent almost three months in Quito, Ecuador and absolutely loved it. If you ever want a place where you can find mountains, jungle, beaches, spanish style cities, exotic Islands, then Ecuador is it. The night life may not be as crazy as other places or the women so abundantly beautiful, but there are def. gorgeous women to be had. I just love latin women being a latin man myself, and I will be making that pilgrimage to Colombia/Brazil/Argentina/Chile probably in that order.