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[mercenarri]

Hey everyone,

So I've planned a trip to South America (and some USA and Canada) and I'm planning on leaving October this year. I have no idea when I'll get back, but its not on my mind at the moment. I'm going to get a single flight to Rio de Janerio, and then go from there with a general plan on where I want to go and see.

Here are the places I wish to see, in order, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil all the way to Vancoucer, Canada. There are many little towns that I've researched that I will be passing by for a day or two, but these is the main sights I wish to see:

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Iguazu Falls, Brazil/Argentina
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Ushuaia, Argentina
Patagonia, Chile
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Rurrenabaque, Amazon, Bolivia
Machu Picchu, Peru
Lake Titicaca, Peru
Nazca Lines, Peru
Panama City, Panama
San Jose, Costa Rica
Guatemala, Guatemala
Belize City, Belize
Mexico City, Mexico
Los Angeles, United States
San Fransisco, United States
Seattle, United States
Vancouver, Canada

A couple of questions about this trip if I may. I'm not fussy at all when it comes to living standards, accommodation, travel times, etc. Living in youth hostels every day would be okay for me, I'd like to do everything on the cheap. I will also be going overland everywhere, so will not require flights. What would you suggest my budget will need to be for a trip like this? I'm thinking around £6,000. Would this be okay or too little? Note that the USA and Canada isn't as much as a priority as South America for me, so I can sacrifice them.

Another question, looking at the itinerary, are there any places that you can recommend I visit that I've missed? Anything like small towns and sights would be much appreciated

Any kind of advise would go a long way for me. As you can imagine going solo around South America is making me a little nervous. Thanks for reading! I'll post updates of planning, and pictures of the trip as I go.

[mercenarri]

Oh man, so many treks! I'll try to arrange both the Salcantay and Alpamayo treks if its possible.

A note on booking tours - I've been advised to book Machu Picchu about a month in advance, but would I also need to book things like the Iguassu Falls, Salcantay, Nazca Lines, Patagonia tours much in advance?

I ask because the problem with this is there's no absolute time I'm staying at one certain place. Would it be possible at all to just show up at these places and book the tour there and then? I don't like being structured too much by time.

[nixsboys]

A note on booking tours - I've been advised to book Machu Picchu about a month in advance, but would I also need to book things like the Iguassu Falls, Salcantay, Nazca Lines, Patagonia tours much in advance?

The Inca trail does get booked up pretty quickly so you will have to know when you want to go. I would not worry about Iguassu Falls as buses tend to come in and out. As you are approaching from the Brazilian side try and spend a day looking at the Falls before crossing over to Argentina. I stayed at Puadimar Campsite in Foz do Iguacu and the falls are a 10minute local bus away. They also arrange tours to the falls across to the Argentina side which leave every morning.

http://www.paudimar.com.br/eng/detalhesinf...tivo.php?p2=487

Dont think you will be catching taxi's but if you are make sure they stop at the border to have your passport stamped. I had a couple of friends who had to be smuggled back over the border just to get their stamps to avoid fines when they final left brazil (a bit of a nightmare)