Backpacking across South America

[Casket]

Ok background.

Almost 19 years old, putting away money to backpack somewhere in 1.5 years, will quit job etc etc and go for as long as I can.

Over the pass 6 months I have been planning this trip for Europe and mapped out all the festivals I wanted to go to and all the countries I planned on seeing. I would start out in Ireland and do the UK for about a month and then hop the channel and fit in as much as I possibly could.

However last night I had a rather profound conversation while we were getting drunk at a horse riding ranch with a bloke in his 30s. We had a joint or two and were discussing travelling. This bloke had been all over the world, would work in Oz to save up 10k or so to leave for 3-6 months somewhere in the world.

The plan across Europe would have been to go to alot of the smaller towns no one goes to, get off the beaten track if you will.

He told me that I should think about backpacking across South America, as it is something you will get great benefit out of when your young, not many people get to do it, you can do Europe any time and it was the best time of his life.

So has anyone backpacked across South America? How was it? Money, Women, Sights etc etc.

Any info would be great.

[jsheppard1]

too late


i already saw hostel

[kingdd]

Awesome idea man. I would love to do it myself someday. You should read some of the writings of Terence McKenna. He and his brother traveled through the Amazon visiting with the indigenous tribes and participated in their rites of passage and ceremonies including extreme hallucinatory trips and spiritual quests.

It's pretty deep reading, but extremely interesting. McKenna claimed that he found somekind of portal to the afterlife in the Amazon. He called it the fabled 'Fountain of Youth', a lapse in the perception of time. Even today, no one has quite figured out what he was talking about.

[Staberella]

If you're planning on backpacking through S. America I'd look up all articles on the political state of certain countries. It can get dangerous.

[master_plan]

Originally Posted by Jassdolly

If you're planning on backpacking through S. America I'd look up all articles on the political state of certain countries. It can get dangerous.

stfu u chinese kunt

south America >>> Europe i was born there

[Geoff_Saari]

Lived there many years , go to South America , your money will last you longer , the women are epic and theres a lot of superb natural beauties to check out e.g. Iguazu waterfalls , Machu Pichu , Amazones , etc

I know its not in South America but make sure you drop by Costa Rica, its pretty close

Lemme know if you have Qs

[Staberella]

Originally Posted by master_plan

stfu u chinese kunt

south America >>> Europe i was born there

Eat dookie. I'm not chinese btw you guatemalan mango.

[BeachBMW]

Originally Posted by Jassdolly

If you're planning on backpacking through S. America I'd look up all articles on the political state of certain countries. It can get dangerous.

As an international traveler, I can't second this comment enough!!!

Some of the most dangerous, corupt, and uncomfortable countries to backpack through.

[Geoff_Saari]

Originally Posted by BeachBMW

As an international traveler, I can't second this comment enough!!!

Some of the most dangerous, corupt, and uncomfortable countries to backpack through.

Just watch out for certain parts in Colombia , other than that , backpackers should be fine anywhere in S.A.

[hamdemic]

Originally Posted by BeachBMW

As an international traveler, I can't second this comment enough!!!

Some of the most dangerous, corupt, and uncomfortable countries to backpack through.

especially if your an American, stay away from the north, northeast coastal area.
I went to peru this last summer, south America's a pretty big place and resources can be far and few in between. central America's way safer for solo travel both environmentally and politically. but if you're set on south America, just be aware of whats going on in whatever country your in.

[poolshark472]

Originally Posted by Geoff_Saari

Just watch out for certain parts in Colombia , other than that , backpackers should be fine anywhere in S.A.

x2, and stay away from the Tri-border region in Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil and Ciudad del Este. It is infamous for its lawlessness. Many of the major cities in S.A. have some very dangerous slums.

[Casket]

Cheers, and will do.

I am open to backpacking anywhere, as I stated my orginal goal was Europes. After having had this conversation I realised that everyones goal was Europe, why not try something completely different? I am only young and I may appreciate Europe a bit more when I am older and can appreciate art and all that ****. It would all be about the party party party. Going down the amazon on a bamboo raft as opposed to taking a train in Europe.

Hell I'll even backpack across Africa if I decided that would be better.

I will definately look up political states in the countries before I leave.

[sword_]

Originally Posted by master_plan

stfu u chinese kunt

south America >>> Europe i was born there

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=7027401

[hamdemic]

lol i was gonna suggest to you australia, but then i saw your location

[master_plan]

Originally Posted by Jassdolly

Eat dookie. I'm not chinese btw you guatemalan mango.

u all look the same short ugly and have almond eyes ur problably a hideous flip

lawl guatemlan

i said south American u dumb ****

[BeachBMW]

Originally Posted by Geoff_Saari

Just watch out for certain parts in Colombia , other than that , backpackers should be fine anywhere in S.A.

wrong, completely

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel...rica-BR-1.html

http://www.allsafetravels.com/Region...px?regionid=15

[Staberella]

Originally Posted by master_plan

u all look the same short ugly and have almond eyes ur problably a hideous flip

lawl guatemlan

i said south American u dumb ****

Stop ****ting on someone's legit thread you piece of ****. you want the OP to get his fuking head cut off in some back asswards S.A, country that's your business. You're from S. america (according to you) you have no business telling anyone that has black hair and brown eyes to STFU dick.

[Casket]

Originally Posted by Geoff_Saari

Lived there many years , go to South America , your money will last you longer , the women are epic and theres a lot of superb natural beauties to check out e.g. Iguazu waterfalls , Machu Pichu , Amazones , etc

I know its not in South America but make sure you drop by Costa Rica, its pretty close

Lemme know if you have Qs

Hey good stuff, and yes I know my money will last longer and that will be a big part of the decision making.

I think the biggest problem is me not knowing the local language? How do you think I'll go? Is there much tolerance for this? I know I'll pick it up but very slowly.

Cheers

[Geoff_Saari]

Originally Posted by BeachBMW

wrong, completely

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel...rica-BR-1.html

http://www.allsafetravels.com/Region...px?regionid=15

Depends on where youre from and what youre used to , I was raised there and was never mugged in my life nor had any problems

If youre American and go there with an attitude and expecting everyone to speak english then yeah , watch out

[Casket]

Originally Posted by BeachBMW

wrong, completely

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel...rica-BR-1.html

http://www.allsafetravels.com/Region...px?regionid=15

Cheers for the links

[Geoff_Saari]

Originally Posted by Casket

Hey good stuff, and yes I know my money will last longer and that will be a big part of the decision making.

I think the biggest problem is me not knowing the local language? How do you think I'll go? Is there much tolerance for this? I know I'll pick it up but very slowly.

Cheers

As soon as they find out youre from Oz and as you long as you try to say things in the local language , youll have a blast !

[Casket]

Originally Posted by Geoff_Saari

As soon as they find out youre from Oz and as you long as you try to say things in the local language , youll have a blast !

That's what I'm hoping. I would love to hook up with some locals in each country and share their life with them. I'm thinking I can do Europe at any other time, but I'd love to throw myself right in to the deep end...

[HeatherAC]

Originally Posted by master_plan

u all look the same short ugly and have almond eyes ur problably a hideous flip

lawl guatemlan

i said south American u dumb ****

Enjoy banned camp dickwad

[master_plan]

Originally Posted by HeatherAC

Enjoy banned camp dickwad

**** u bunny rabbit

[Ozkar]

Colombia is safer than people think. Besides, the nicest placest in Colombia are also the safest.

[Ringo Star]

Do Europe instead. South America is a great place to visit, but for a backpacking experience, Europe cant be beat. It has an established infrastucture, but is incredibly diverse when it comes to culture. You want to visit the South American countries individually. Back packing through them is no small feat.

Depends what you after. If you looking for a cultural experience, adventure, girls and some life experience, Europe is your best bet (Go eastern europe and the med more then western europe!!!)

If you looking for life experience more then anything else, the SA is the way to go.

my 2 cents

[MedusaThrills]

Originally Posted by Casket

Ok background.

Almost 19 years old, putting away money to backpack somewhere in 1.5 years, will quit job etc etc and go for as long as I can.

Over the pass 6 months I have been planning this trip for Europe and mapped out all the festivals I wanted to go to and all the countries I planned on seeing. I would start out in Ireland and do the UK for about a month and then hop the channel and fit in as much as I possibly could.

However last night I had a rather profound conversation while we were getting drunk at a horse riding ranch with a bloke in his 30s. We had a joint or two and were discussing travelling. This bloke had been all over the world, would work in Oz to save up 10k or so to leave for 3-6 months somewhere in the world.

The plan across Europe would have been to go to alot of the smaller towns no one goes to, get off the beaten track if you will.

He told me that I should think about backpacking across South America, as it is something you will get great benefit out of when your young, not many people get to do it, you can do Europe any time and it was the best time of his life.

So has anyone backpacked across South America? How was it? Money, Women, Sights etc etc.

Any info would be great.

If you go to London, i shall meet you (no pedo) (yes serious)

[BNR]

Originally Posted by Jassdolly

Eat dookie. I'm not chinese btw you guatemalan mango.

hey now, I'm part guatemalan. I'd love to do something like that, I'm gonna try to travel south america when the world cup is at Brazil. It can be dangerous, so start reading up on the areas you plan on travelling

[Project_BelAir]

I was watching a show on National Geographic(Locked up Abroad) this guy got kidnapped in SA, it's REALLY common, I'd choose a different place!