I'm planning a 3-4 month trekking trip to South America. The idea is to grab a backpack with my stuff and fly to a major city, soak in some of the local atmosphere, meet fellow backpackers and then set out to trek in the vast expanses of rugged wilderness. Right now I'm trying to make up my mind as to the countries and locations I want to visit. I'm not planning anything specific because a big part of the trip is finding out what I want to do as I go along, based on people I meet and stories I hear, but I do want to have an overall plan. I'm leaning strongly towards Argentina and Chile despite the (relatively) high costs and overcrowding during the summer season (December-February), mostly because I'm drawn to the glacial landscapes of Patagonia. Also from what I've read it gets too rainy further up north during that time of year in Peru and Ecuador, which are my other possible destinations. Either way I'm pretty sure I'll visit parts of Brazil and Bolivia at some point during my trip.


I'd love to hear tips/advice/recommendations/travel accounts from anyone who's visited those countries on a similar trip... any information is useful, from prices and weather to specific regions and treks.

no advice, but that sounds completely awesome!!!

Sounds fun!

But do have all your shots?

Stay away from the water.

Yeah, I know I need to get those if I want trek the jungles of Boliva and Peru. I've had a whole bunch before but I can't find my immu booklet anywhere Yellow fever is probably the most important vaccination.

Also, be careful about where you go. Not every country is bad, but Colombia, among some of the countries, does have the repuatation for drug trafficking for a reason.

Watch out for natives with their poison arrows...

Don't lick the frogs.

I've been all through Peru, and parts of Bolivia. In Peru, I'd recommend going to Iquitos, it's on the amazone river. From there you can explore the jungles. You can aslo hire local guides. This may sound weird, but these are actually a great help if you haven't been in the jungle before.

I want to go to Patagonia too. All the more reason to get back to South America, I love the continent.

What else can I say, beware of pickpockets and hotelburglars. Don't go walking around with flashy videocams and stuff, you'll get a knife on your throat in an alley. I'm not kidding, it can be really dangerous there. I escaped several attempts to rob me... They do the weirdest things, they walk up to you with some headphones, "Hey friend, check out this music!", and if they manage to distract you, tada, your pockets and your bacpack emptied before you know it. Get rid of luggage asap. Never carry around more money than you think you'll need to spend on a single day. Also, razorblade artists... the stories are true. It happened to me on my first night in Peru. I just left my luggage at a hostel somewhere and decided to take a walk around the neighbourhood. After 20 minutes or so, I stook my hand in my sidepocket, only to discover it had been cut open at the bottom. I got very lucky, my wallet was just 'hanging' in there, diagonally stuck. They do it in a split second when they pass you by, you won't notice anything... your pocket will empty itself and all they have to do is pick your stuff up from the street. So, I immediately switched to using a moneybelt (under my clothes).

But, good idea, other than that kind of thing, South America is great. Make sure you do some kind of Andes trek, it's gorgeous.

Oh. And can you deliver a message to my old friend Mr. Kurtz?

My uncle and I were planning to backpack in Peru last year, but he pansied out. We were mostly looking into taking sections of the Inca trail and seeing Machu Picchu.

Oh yeah, the Inka trail. If you're going to see Machu Picchu, take the Inka trail. I was lucky to do it in the quiet time of the year, so I had it all for myself.... the Inka trail is the way to go visit Mach Picchu. If you've walked days to get there, it is such a reward to finally see it with your own eyes. These people who come in by buses or helicopters don't know what they're missing. Spoils all the magic.

Sounds absolutly miserable. Before going for that long try just a week.

Don't watch City of God before you leave. :p

Thanks for the comments. The safety issue is an important one, but as long as one takes certain obvious precautions, such as the ones mentioned by ORJ_JoS, there's no reason to worry. In any case the highest crime rates are in the major cities, where I intend to spend as little time as possible. Rural areas and open country are the safest places in the continent, except extremely popular tourist locations like Machu Picchu and the Cotopaxi in Ecuador. One notable exception though is Colombia, where kidnappings and drug wars make things a little less pleasant, though that in no way means Colombia isn't worth visiting (I just don't intend to go there on this trip). Chile and Argentina are considered the safest countires anyway, so I'm not worried.

As for the Machu Picchu, I definitely hope to do the trail if time/budget/weather permit it, and of course I'll be doing the full trek. No organized bus tours for me. I'm going with the purpose of spending days and days in the backcountry and "off the beaten track".

Argentina is okay, but a couple tips from my teacher (who was born there):

A. Avoid taxis if possible
B. Keep as little money on you as you possibly can
C. Credit cards provide no security, and are rarely accepted.

The sourhtern part of CHile is beautiful. Glaciers, mountains, forests. It's well worth checking out. The Andes in Chile and Peru are really great too. Machu Pichu is a big tourist thing, but damn impressive, none the less.

That's the way to go, dude!

By the way, you're right about rural areas being more friendly and safe, but don't rule out the guerrillas in certain countries. When I was in Peru, I couldn't travel certain places because Sendora Luminosa was active there. They kidnap and hijack tourists from time to time.

Oh, that reminds me: I wanted to ask if anyone knows if it's possible/legal to carry pepper spray on flights and around South America. Might come in handy.

Always bring bug repelant and weatherproof gear. It can make or break your trip.

I'm sure you can check it. I doubt you can carry it on the plane.

This could be you Fardreamer.

Hehe, now THAT'S the kind of backpack I want.

Well I don't think you'd want her as your backpack now - especially since the woman's most recent role was Chandler Bing's father in FRIENDS.

Brazil.

The women's bee-hinds are superb.

Take a multi-fuel stove (can use gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, propane etc.) and a water filter AND water purification drops or tablets.

^ Good advice.

Time for you to go check out the Motorcycle Diaries.

That movie would be a total must-see for you.

Just start in the South and work your way up. Thats what I'd do.

But yes, did I mention you should watch the Motorcycle Diaries?

Thanks for the gear advice. I'm in the process of researching the gear I need to get for the trip, one of the first things I realized was that I'll need a multi-fuel stove instead of the small butane burner I have. GoreTex boots and a really good (and big) pack are obvious other purchases I'll need to make (I already have a tent/sleeping bag/mattress). The problem with gear is that it's so easy to just spend and spend on it, before I know it I'll have burned through $1500 of my budget. I'm going to try to get most items used from eBay and the likes, and skip useful but non-crucial things like a water filter (the taste of iodine can be neutralized by vitamin C powder).

Seen it on the big screen. Amazing movie.

You're confused about what a water filter does. It doesn't purify the water, it just takes the nasty little crap out of it that you don't want in your system. Then the purifier (iodine tablets) get rid of virii and the like. I'd very much suggest a water filter.

I'm jealous.


Make sure you get all your shots so you don't come down with Tuberclosis or the Yellow Fever.


When I get older, I want to do something like that only in the Rocky Mountains.
Other then that, have a great time!