travelling alone or group trips-south america

df1985

Im considering going travelling this summer to south america, thing is though im the only one out of my firneds interested and wondering does anyone have experience of travelling around south america by themselves?

or does anyone know of group tours where people by themselves can go along?

ideally-brazil
peru
argentina
chile

InKonspikuou2

I'd always pick going at it yourself without a group tour. Much more freedom to see and do what you want. You get to meet a lot more people through hostels. Whereas with a tour group you are stuck with the people you started with. Great if you get on with them all. But if you don't it will wreck your head. You also skip through places quite quickly and free time can be limited. What happens when you really like a place or you feel tired of moving around or sick. You have to go on. But if you go by yourself you can stick around somewhere and then make up the ground if necessary.

I have been around the continent a few times by myself and never had any problems. Granted i am from there and speak Spanish. But even regardless of that i can't see how it would be much more different. Plenty of people speak English in tourist places. But it would be worth it to pick up some Spanish. Even the basics.

fikay

As the previous poster said, learn a few basic Spanish phrases. I found, particularly in Peru and Bolivia that if you make an effort people are more than willing to help you out. I'd also recommend doing a bit of research with regard to what you want to do and how much it will cost you. Other than that book your ticket and go for it.
I initially headed out with a couple of mates but after a while we all went on our own separate excursions as individual interests dictated. While I had great craic pissing it up and whatnot when we met back up again, I'd say, for want of a better expression, that the whole 'independent travel' thingy was the most rewarding.
GO, DO IT, I'M JEALOUS!!!

EDIT: Go to Bolivia, it's beautiful

vinylbomb

Agree with all the above, and also - have no fear of travelling alone, because you are never really alone, you'll meet so many people you wont believe it - and not having a mate there to turn to will force you out of your comfort zone and make you interact with new people all the time.

Brilliant experience, and South America is such a breath-taking place, its the last place left to go do some real exploring (IMO), its stolen my heart anyway!

dory

I'm another one for go it alone. Group travel can turn into a long piss up which gets old very fast.
And also, go to Bolivia!!

darrenh

Alone is the only way to go. A bit daunting when your flying out of Dublin all alone, but absolutely fine 24hrs later.

Scráib

I've never been on a holiday by myself, but I've been to SA with two friends and it's class. Personally I'd love to go back by myself because being in a group somehow stopped us from talking to new people, as vinylbomb says we never left our comfort zone.

The hostels put on their own events, and the crowd they attract are the same 'New experiences, new people' as you would be so it's easy to get talking to anyone.

I say bite the bullet! SA is a great continent!