Get in quickly, however, because backpackers are beginning to discover south america in droves. South america is one of the worlds most spectacular and intriguing trekking destinations. I quickly discovered that i liked it more than hiking with a partner or a group. Although travelling alone in south america might feel like a daunting prospect, youre never likely to be far away from potential travel companions. Things to consider maps to plan access, takeoff and return points, route of travel, approximate camping areas and. I show some of my moments backpacking in south america. Best backpacking holidays in america backpacking tours. Beginners guide for backpacking south america posted on april 5, 2017 april 3, 2018 by barry by barry with my cairo to cape town trip fast approaching, i have taken the time to look back over my south america backpacking journey. Backpacker advice backpacking tips, gap year travel planning. Backpacking southamerica for 5 months backpaco world. Backpacker advice provides travel tips for planning backpacking trips around the world.
Backpacking in south america was one of our alltime travel highlights. If you are contemplating backpacking central america, then this. Well, after 5 months of backpacking through colombia, ecuador, peru, chile, and argentina, we can safely say that weve fully field tested everything that we packed for backpacking in south america. Oceania and south america 1999 to 2003, 2005 helped in gaining. Between the physical stamina it takes to make it up and down a mountain and the preparation it takes to pack a backpack with all the essentials, very few people take on this feat. Dont miss out on the sensory experience of the south american market either. Well give you the lowdown of where to go in south america, travel itineraries and backpacking routes, tips and tricks for south america budget travel, country profiles, and much more. You want a bag big enough to carry the essentials but not so big that it gets in the way when you are on trains or buses and you may not realize how often you are going to have that bag on your back. Must be more difficult to prioritize when hiking gear must be included as well. During my backpacking in south america i attended a lot of organized tours to learn more about the history of the places or simply to see more in a short amount of time.
Naturally there are a number of things one does need to take into account as a woman traveling anywhere alone, and south america certainly has its own issues to look out for as a solo female traveller. Ultralight backpacking with kids with a little planning, its fun and easy chapter 27. We travelled light, said yes to as many adventures as possible, made friends to last a lifetime and saw things that wed only ever dreamed of. Welcome to a firstofitskinda definitive rundown of the best backpacking spot in each state plus two runnersup based on a survey of backpacker readers. Before we begin, lets start with this major premise. Here are a 9 essentials for backpacking south america. Help, guides and information about budget travel and gap years. Your ultralight backpacking first aid kit include a lot in a twoounce first aid kit chapter 28. I am leaving for a solo south american journey next month and this book included. The ultimate guide to backpacking peru hostelworld. Traveling solo in south america as a woman the legendary. South america is an easy place to find cheap and filling food.
Bring this, ditch that, roll your clothes, pack bottom heavy. This sort of challenge just doesnt happen on a bus tour when there are 39 other people who look just like you in close proximity. Yeah by downloading this pdf youve taken your first step into the mindblowing game of. Such are the stories you collected when you travel alone. But he makes clear how chavez, alone among venezuelan politicians of the. Tips for solo travel in south america lonely planet. South america backpacking packing list desk to dirtbag. I would like to take about 6 days and go to turkey. This south america travel guide will provide you with everything you need to know to prepare for your trip backpacking through south america. Not only that, but you also need to pack for different geographies and climates which will range from bonechilling mountains ranges to sweatinducing.
I then flew to columbia where i camped on the beach in hammocks and explored the beautiful walled city of cartagena before sailing north to panama. On the approach, skirt outcrops at bald rock and see table rock mountain looming to the south. I spent three amazing months backpacking around south america. The continent is made up of 12 nations, the biggest rainforest in the world, more than 371million people and 17,840,000sq km of land. If you like to book some activities in advance i recommend you to have a look into getyourguide as this platform offers the possibility to book tours from local tour operators. Download our backpacking south america pdf so you can access it on the. Most of the countries in central america have a common gringo trail which is all the hot spots in the country for tourism. From the summit, gaze across pristine forest and spy 6,000foot peaks lying on the horizon. You find make friends down there, most of the buses that you take in guatemala will be full of other tourists. South east asia might have once been the coolest backpacking hangout, but south america, with its exceptional diversity of cultures and landscapes, is quickly becoming the number one place for a backpacking adventure.
Looking ahead, south america is the biggest emerging backpacker route for. The us is hugely diverse, with skyscraper cities, open wilderness, sunny beaches, snowy mountains, arid desert, tropical seas and many spectacular manmade and natural landmarks. Great times, tales and tips through the adventurous southern continent. No one i knew wanted to come along, but i still wanted to go, so i did it by myself. The backpacker trail through south america is full of solo female travelers, happily making their way through across the continent. The complete backpacking packing list stingy nomads. Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in america. The complete packing guide to backpacking south america.
But when i travel alone, i take a very small suitcase. As one of many visitors in the backcountry, a carefully planned trip can help to protect yourself as well as the environment. The above list is the minimal amount of stuff youll want to pack for a multi country trip in south america and will be fine for two. Solo travel is a great way to get outside your comfort zone and do something courageous. Im going to greece for approximately 312 weeks in september. Evolution of the hostel traveller hostelworld group. Tips for traveling solo through south america budget travel.
There is also a bradt guide called the backpacker manual which is great, but sadly very. Peru is one of the most popular south american destinations for backpackers, and for good reason. French citizen christy offret shares her tips and adventures from the road, two months into her south american backpacking journey. I originally visited in 2008 with g adventures and did a brazilargentina tour followed by a separate tour to peru a fantastic trip in todays post, tfgs backpacking guru is sharing her. Also, i lived in south america mostly peru for those five months. Pdf scholarship on backpackers speculates some individuals may extend. I spent my firstmonth hiking around peru, exploring machu picchu and camping in the amazon. For those travelling south america who do not expect to camp but stay only in guesthouses, hostels, etc. Youve gotten on that flight, youve retrieved your backpack at the luggage. I got started when i hiked the long trail in vermont in 2008. Yeah by downloading this pdf youve taken your first step into the mind blowing game of. Home to one of the most intriguing wonders of the world, highaltitude mountains, lush rainforests, plunging coastal cliffs, the best seafood um hello, they invented ceviche and a plethora of fluffy llamas to befriend, peru is a backpackers dream.
We did all of this whilst travelling on a budget, often sleeping in rooms filled with bunkbeds. Crossing borders in south america is nerve wracking so youre going to want to have a light pack that border agents can rummage through and chances are they will. As a young backpacker with big ideas about seeing the americas your way you have just hit on the best way to do it. This blog post is available as a convenient and portable pdf that. See more ideas about backpacking, hiking and backpacking tips. Backpacking in south america free travel guide backpacker steve. But from safety concerns to budgeting and itinerary planning, there are plenty of things that might seem confusing if youre preparing for your first time backpacking in south. This lonely planet is also available as kindle ebook and covers the highlights in argentina, bolivia, brazil, chile, colombia, peru etc. The united states of america is perhaps the most iconic country in the world, but is nothing like the manic nation associated with hollywood movies. What to bring on a long backpacking trip so youre going on a big backpacking trip across south america and you need to pack for several months on the road. South america is a large continent consisting of a diverse array of climates, from the hot and humid amazon jungle to to the arid and cold andean mountains, so obviously this really depends on where you plan on going exactly.
Before we left for 5 months of south america backpacking, we spent months researching what to pack for south america or rather, i did jeremys less persnickety about these things. How i packed for 3 months in south america in 1 carryon. South america is an incredible continent with so much to offer the adventurous traveler. Whether its your first time traveling alone or youre a seasoned lone ranger, heres some top tips for solo travel in south america. The one thing i wish id known before traveling the internet is filled with backpacking tips for first time backpackers. Of course safety is a concern for women traveling alone, but outside of the biggest cities, like lima and quito, every place that tourists usually go is perfectly safe.
Explore for up to six months with this south america travel itinerary. It shows you want to learn more about how to plan your own 30day south america backpacking route. From its ranges rise the western hemispheres most impressive alpine peaks, and it is home to traditional indian peoples, as well as intriguing sites of aymara, inca, and preinca civilizations. Traveling alone doesnt mean youre alone the entire time. Backpacking around all the countries in south america will take you some time.