[Sylvanfan]

I've been to pretty much all the places you list but between 15 and 20 years ago. Sao Paulo is an urban mess get out as soon as you can. I liked Ihlya de Santa Catarina near Florianapolis. I remember a bikini contest at Pria de Joquina at a surfing competition. Lots of cool places to stay on the Island. There was a hard to access beach that we went to with a local Brazzilian that was pretty cool and than got a boat to a nearby town so we could take the bus back. Make sure to wear a shirt on the bus though I remember getting on and the driver wouldn'tgo till I put my shirt on. If you can learn Portugese try and at least get a few phrases. Most people cant speak English and even with a translation book, many really didnt read either. Argentine side of Igauzu Falls is the better side to walk around even though Brazil has the better view.

Val Pariso is far better than Santiago, cool town with a lot of Furniculars to go to the different neighborhoods.

I mostly did Argentina and Chile on a cruise ship but Punta Arenas, and Peurto Montt would have been decent places to spend a couple days. I enjoyed B.A. as far as big cities go. But the way the Spanish is spoken in Argentina and Chile is different even though the words are spelled the same. Good time of year to go and that far South should be good weather.