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South America - approx. 2 weeks

  • 31-01-2008 9:36pm
    #1
    Guess_Who
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 409 ✭✭


    A friend and I are planning on going to South America in the summer.

    I'm not long back from a year backpacking so am looking at something on a budget, seeing a few different places but without trying to cram too much into 2 - 2.5 weeks. I'd like to enjoy places rather than rush through just to say I've seen them.

    Any suggestions?

    I went trekking in Thailand last July, in terms of effort and fitness required etc. is the Inca trail similar?

    Sorry I've done no reasearch yet!

    Thanks


Comments

  • #2
    Meathlass
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,023 ✭✭✭Meathlass


    Guess_Who wrote: »
    A friend and I are planning on going to South America in the summer.

    I'm not long back from a year backpacking so am looking at something on a budget, seeing a few different places but without trying to cram too much into 2 - 2.5 weeks. I'd like to enjoy places rather than rush through just to say I've seen them.

    Any suggestions?

    I went trekking in Thailand last July, in terms of effort and fitness required etc. is the Inca trail similar?

    Sorry I've done no reasearch yet!

    Thanks

    The inca trail needs to be booked months in advance, it might even be too late for summer. South america seems a strange place to go on a budget, the air fare alone will be 1000 euros. 2.5 weeks is such a short time in South America. If you are really intend on it I would just fly into Buenos Aires and make my way overland to Rio and fly out of there, 3 days in BA, 1 day to Igazu Falls and 2 days there, 4 days to see Rio, 1 full 24 hours travelling from Igazu to Rio, you've already used up 11 days, you could stop off at a beach on the way between sao Paulo and rio. (sp itself isn't worth the stop with such a short time)

    If you wanted to do the inca trail you would need a connecting flight from ba to lima and then to cusco, a min of 2 days to acclimitise in cusco and 4 days for the trek. All that air travel will really push the costs up.

    What sort of a budget are you looking at for the 2.5 weeks? Would you consider somewhere closer to home?


  • #3
    kraggy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,414 ✭✭✭kraggy


    South America is so vast that stopping to enjoy things means you'll only get to see very few things.

    One option would be Peru (and maybe La Paz in Boliva too, time permitting).

    Fly into Lima. 1 night there.

    Bus to Huacachina (Oasis in desert, sandboarding, nice village, 1/2 nights there.

    Bus to Arequipa, 4 nights there including Colca Canyon trek (2) nights (deepest canyon in world)

    Fly/bus to Cusco to see M.Pichu. 2/3 nights altogether (note this is is seeing M.P. in a day trip not Inca trail, which I did and would say is perfect)

    Then into Bolivia for a few days (Lake Titticaca, La Paz) then back to Lima.

    This seems hectic but it's grand. You see alot but not over-stressed.

    Just be smart and get night buses, therefore saving on time and accommodation. (the buses are luxurious, fully reclining seats)

    Good luck.


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