South America Trip

ko4jm6y9iwv2lc

This summer myself and a friend are planning on going over South America for the summer. We are trying to plan our trip out at the moment. We are trying to decide whether to book an all inclusive trip with the likes of USIT etc, or organise the trip by ourselves. Has anyone any experience travelling on one of these organised tours?

I must add neither of us speak a word of Spanish, Portuguese, would this cause much problems if we were trying to do the trip alone? I have read through most of the other South America threads but couldn't find any with much info on organised tours.

All advice greatly appreciated. Cheers!

Balmed Out

its easy to do on your own even without the language. easy enough to pick up basic spanish too. get a linguaphone type cd set from your local library and yould have enough to book rooms, get directions etc in no time

darrenh

Go it alone. Its cheaper and more fun. Learn the basics of Spanish. Enjoy what ever you do its an amazing place.:)

v.e.r.b.a.l

do it alone. definitely!!

there's a very easy-to-follow backpacker trail with really luxurious buses etc. plus you can get off the trail just as easy.

you'll get by fine without Spanish, but learning even the basics of conversation will open up a lot more windows of experiences for you. take a few lessons before you go or download a few podcasts on your iPod.

my favourite continent! i'm jealous...

ko4jm6y9iwv2lc

v.e.r.b.a.l wrote: »

Do it alone, definitely!

Thanks for the replies. I was hoping people would say go it alone. My mate is a bit cautious though that's why she wants to do the tour. She would prefer having the trip planned out before we leave.

v.e.r.b.a.l wrote: »

There's a very easy-to-follow backpacker trail with really luxurious buses etc. plus you can get off the trail just as easy.

Where would be the best place to find info on these backpacker trails?

v.e.r.b.a.l wrote: »

My favourite continent!

Its looks amazing alright. We are planning on leaving the last week in May and coming home the first week in August. To be honest I have no idea what to expect, really excited though!

v.e.r.b.a.l

When i say a "well-defined backpacker trail", i mean that there are a lot of places that most backpackers go to and getting from place-to-place, you'll find a lot of other travellers and make lots of friends. It's also very easy to find yourself as the only tourists in town! (you get used to the strange looks!!)

If you want any info on places to go, itineraries or routes i'll be glad to help!

ko4jm6y9iwv2lc

Just booked flights today, we decided to do the trip by ourselves. Cant wait!

v.e.r.b.a.l wrote: »

If you want any info on places to go, itineraries or routes i'll be glad to help!

Hoping you might be able to advise us on our itinerary. We will be flying into Rio, planning on spending around 5 days there, before making our way down to Ilha Grande. We are thinking 2 nights in Ilha Grande will be enough. Next stops then are Paraty and Sao Paulo, anyone ever been before, are they worth the visit?

Then we hope to go to Iguaza Falls. We have been told great things about this place so plan on spending at least 3 nights. Buenos Aires is our next stop, however after this we a unsure about whether to continue on south to Bariloche or cut straight across to Mendoza. We have 9 weeks to make this trip, would we have enough time to go Bariloche, or would we end up rushing?

After Bariloche/Mendoza we intend striking on north toward Salta, La Paz, Cuzco, and finally Lima were we will be flying home from. On this part of the trip we hope to visit salt falts, machu picchu, and do a jungle trek.

So do you think that is a reasonable itinerary given we have nine weeks to travel? All advice appreciated!

jobless

hey,

out of the places you mentioned ive been to salta, la paz, cusco and Iguazu falls last summer...

You definately made the wise choice doing it alone.... a little research online and purchasing the lonely planet guide will have you sorted.

As regards the places above.... 2 nights in Iguazu is enough if you time you flights/buses in out ok.... I would highly recommend one day doing the argentinian side and one day doing the Brazil side.... both highly spectacular and although you may think 'whats the point seeing it from both sides' it it definately worth doing trust me... a major highlight for me.

Salta is a nice town and worth a couple of nights....here i did the white water rafting and zip wire.... great fun altogether...

I loved la paz....

cusco is nice but only go there if you doing the inca trail or other trails...

ko4jm6y9iwv2lc

jobless wrote: »

I would highly recommend one day doing the Argentinian side and one day doing the Brazil side.

Will definitely consider that, thanks.

jobless wrote: »

Salta is a nice town and worth a couple of nights here i did the white water rafting and zip wire.

Sounds cool. Just wondering did you find out about the rafting and stuff through hostels once you arrived or had you it pre booked?

jobless wrote: »

Cusco is nice but only go there if you doing the inca trail or other trails.

We are going to do the Lares trek, Inca trail is already booked up I think!

TonyD79

I did your route in 9 weeks aswell. Wasnt too pushed on Mendoza and loved Bariloche. I spent 3/4 days there when I hadnt planned to go there when I arrived in Argentina. Theres a great Irish run hostel called Pudu there aswell. I went from BA down to Puerto Madryan for the whale watching and penguin colony then went over to Bariloche.

If your doing the Salt Flat tour from Uyuni make sure you book your bus ticket to La Paz when you get there and before you do the tour. Would also recommended the Loki Hostels in La Paz etc for meeting people and they do good grub if your not into the local stuff. You would want to book them ahead of time on their website as they do get booked out.

jobless

Houston Early Petroleum wrote: »

Sounds cool. Just wondering did you find out about the rafting and stuff through hostels once you arrived or had you it pre booked?

yeah nearly all hostels will have information on things to do etc.... most you will be able to actually book through the hostels....
In salta we just had a look around the main square and we found the company we wanted (there are a few). It was great fun... the zip wire was the longest in South america you couldnt actually see the end of the line on the opposite side of the valley...
We also did a day trip around the foothills of the andes from salta...... 14 hrs in a 4x4... i was sore after it but it was good fun..

dont worry about booking anything in advance in South America except transport

ko4jm6y9iwv2lc

TonyD79 wrote: »

I went from BA down to Puerto Madryan for the whale watching and penguin colony then went over to Bariloche.

What time of the year did you go travelling? We would be hitting Bariloche around the end of June.

TonyD79 wrote: »

Would also recommended the Loki Hostels in La Paz etc for meeting people and they do good grub if your not into the local stuff.

Googled Loki Hostels, they look cool alright, a few others recommended them as well so they definitely seem to be the spot to stay.

Do you know of any websites where we could check bus routes, prices and timetables?

TonyD79

I went in October 2010 so it was warm in Brazil and mild everywhere else. I had to go to the bus station the day before in Rio to book a ticket to Iguazu. From there onwards its a case of booking tickets at each station you arrive in as they dont really cater for tourists booking online. Most buses are overnight so they usually leave from 4 onwards.

Each company offers different standard of coachs which vary in price. The ones in Argentina were top class with the seats acting as beds aswell so its worth paying for the first class which you get meals included. Would love to be going to Bariloche in their winter months -snow boarding and skiing would be on the cards then.

Regarding booking things in advance certain hostels do get booked up nearer the time ie I booked Loki in La Paz and Cuzcu in advance but arrived a day before the booking and had to find another hostel for the first nite so it helps if you book in advance if you know roughly when you have to be in a place ie a couples of days before doing inca trek etc. If your only there for 9 weeks then you have less time to play with but you dont really have to worry if your not on a tight schedule for booking hostels

Pisco Sour

Houston Early Petroleum wrote: »

Just booked flights today, we decided to do the trip by ourselves. Cant wait!



Hoping you might be able to advise us on our itinerary. We will be flying into Rio, planning on spending around 5 days there, before making our way down to Ilha Grande. We are thinking 2 nights in Ilha Grande will be enough. Next stops then are Paraty and Sao Paulo, anyone ever been before, are they worth the visit?

Then we hope to go to Iguaza Falls. We have been told great things about this place so plan on spending at least 3 nights. Buenos Aires is our next stop, however after this we a unsure about whether to continue on south to Bariloche or cut straight across to Mendoza. We have 9 weeks to make this trip, would we have enough time to go Bariloche, or would we end up rushing?

After Bariloche/Mendoza we intend striking on north toward Salta, La Paz, Cuzco, and finally Lima were we will be flying home from. On this part of the trip we hope to visit salt falts, machu picchu, and do a jungle trek.

So do you think that is a reasonable itinerary given we have nine weeks to travel? All advice appreciated!

I've actually booked my own South America trip this week aswell. 10 weeks in total. Flying into Rio, then heading to Ilha Grande, Paraty and Iguassu Falls, before heading to Buenos Aires. Then I'll head into Colonia and Montevideo in Uruguay for a few days before heading back to Buenos Aires to get my flights down to El Calafate in the south of Argentina to see the Moreno Glacier. From there I'll make my way north to Puerto Madryn, Bariloche, Mendoza and then into Santiago. Then La Serena and then up through the Atacama Desert in the north of Chile, stopping at a couple of places along the way before heading into Peru. Staying a few days in Arequipa to acclimatise to the altitude before flying to Cusco, and after a few more days acclimatising I'll do the Inca Trail. Then fly from Cusco to Lima, and then finally after a few days in Lima, fly down to Santiago for a few days before heading on to Auckland.

dory

04072511 wrote: »

I've actually booked my own South America trip this week aswell. 10 weeks in total. Flying into Rio, then heading to Ilha Grande, Paraty and Iguassu Falls, before heading to Buenos Aires. Then I'll head into Colonia and Montevideo in Uruguay for a few days before heading back to Buenos Aires to get my flights down to El Calafate in the south of Argentina to see the Moreno Glacier. From there I'll make my way north to Puerto Madryn, Bariloche, Mendoza and then into Santiago. Then La Serena and then up through the Atacama Desert in the north of Chile, stopping at a couple of places along the way before heading into Peru. Staying a few days in Arequipa to acclimatise to the altitude before flying to Cusco, and after a few more days acclimatising I'll do the Inca Trail. Then fly from Cusco to Lima, and then finally after a few days in Lima, fly down to Santiago for a few days before heading on to Auckland.

You're not going to Bolivia?!? :eek:

OP, sounds like a great trip. As for Sao Paulo, it's a business type city. Great if you want shopping, or to see some fashion shows or something, but not much in the way of tourist attraction. Might be nice to see it but I really wouldn't spend too much time there.

For the salt flats tour I would recommend you start in Tupiza. You get to see a bit of the trail the normal tour doesn't go on and it's great. It's where Wild Wild West films were done back in the day.

As for the Spanish, it's like not knowing English in Ireland. Very possible to hand sign your way around, and hotel reception people will speak it, but your trip would be immensely better if you even know the basics. Download a Pimsleur course and you'll be flying. The tour guide on our 3 day jungle tour and 4 day salt flat tour didn't speak a word of English. The non-Spanish speakers were very frustrated.

Have fun!

ko4jm6y9iwv2lc

dory wrote: »

OP, sounds like a great trip. As for Sao Paulo, it's a business type city. Great if you want shopping, or to see some fashion shows or something, but not much in the way of tourist attraction.

Not planning on spending long in Sao Paulo really, main reason for going there is to catch a bus to Iguaza Falls.

We are just looking at booking a hostel in Rio for our first few nights. Would Ipanema be the best place to stay and if so could anybody recommend a good hostel?

darrenh

Houston Early Petroleum wrote: »

Not planning on spending long in Sao Paulo really, main reason for going there is to catch a bus to Iguaza Falls.

We are just looking at booking a hostel in Rio for our first few nights. Would Ipanema be the best place to stay and if so could anybody recommend a good hostel?

We stayed in Mango Tree Hostel. Its was a nice spot to get settled in and used to life on the road. Its only 2 mins to the beach as well.