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South America

  • 21-02-2008 1:00pm
    #1
    bebhinn
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2 ✭


    I am a 21 year old comtemplating travelling to South America as an independent traveller for several weeks. Just curious to know if anyone would recommend USIT tours and the like or it it cheaper and better fun to go it alone!:)


Comments

  • #2
    Neamhshuntasach
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,171 ✭✭✭Neamhshuntasach


    Going it alone would be my choice everytime. The reasons being that i have more freedom to move on to places that are not part of a set itinerary. I can also stay in a place longer or shorter depending on how i like it. A lot of the tours split between camping and staying in hotels. This cuts down on interaction with other travelers in the hostels that are better craic and it's also more difficult to talk with locals as you don't want to lose your group. Although you do get free time in certain places. Also you may not get on with certain people in the tour group and you end up stuck with them for the duration. Organized tours also work out more expensive as you aren't in control of where you are.

    Ultimately it depends what you want out of traveling. Tours do have their pro's such as having a knowledgeable guide all the time and also getting to see all the main tourist attractions. You also cut out traveling on some bumpy bus journey's in crap buses. Just work out the pro's and the con's of each.


  • #3
    bebhinn
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2 ✭bebhinn


    thank you!think I'm going to try work a combination of both which will let me make major decisions myself-was worried those trips end up being like a school tour-tacy tourist style!I'll probably fly to Rio then make my way to an organised trip in Lima-don't fancy trekking machu picchu on my own accord! It's such a vast continent but good to know that its reasonably safe for female travellers going it alone :) any good tips on what not too miss?!


  • #4
    Neamhshuntasach
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,171 ✭✭✭Neamhshuntasach


    I'd actually recommend that you start off with the tour. That way if you don't like the tour option you can always go solo after it. Whereas if you go solo from the beginning and it turns out that you really like it that way. You will be stuck having to do a tour later on or lose the money if you decide against it. Also doing the tour first lets you get acustomed to a different culture and surroundings. It can be a bit intimidating in some areas at first.

    Also you can't trek macchu picchu by yourself. You have to go with a guide. you can easily hire them while over there. But you need to book a few weeks in advance depending on time of year you will be there. It is closed to the public in February.

    Highlights from what i've experienced and some stories from other travellers are, Rio, Buenos Aires, Iguazu falls, Patagonia, tierra del fuego, the ecudoran or brasilian amazon, the galapagos (expensive though), salar de uyuni, lake titicaca, cuzco, macchu picchu, angel falls, the pantanal, la paz. And from what i've been told, try colombia if you can. I'm going there this year and i've heard nothing but good things about it.


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