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[lucky]

The TravelPod South American Start Kit
Tips and Frequently Asked Questions

Permanent Link: http://www.travelpod.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1458



This starter kit isn’t meant to replace a guide book. It’s a collection of top tips and frequently asked questions about the region. If you are headed to South America, make sure to have a glance.

Contribute if you can by replying to this post!

Blogging
- Although it may not be the fastest, Internet is generally available just about everywhere in South America.
- Most computers at Internet café’s have USB ports which you can use to upload photos from your camera to your blog.
- Some café’s can burn your photos onto CD for you.
- Taking a laptop to north-western countries like Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador is a challenge due to security and rough roads.
- Keep notes in your paper journal then write your entries when you get to a café.
- If you would like to write your entries outside of a café, consider getting a small and sturdy palm pilot or the like with a fold out keyboard.

Security
- Generally speaking, it’s best not to wander around cities ( especially big ones ) at night.
- Keep your passport and valuables in a hidden money belt and never take it out when outside.
- Walk with assurance, don’t look lost, even if you are.
- Use zip or Velcro pockets and pin them shut.
- Put a hanky in your pocket on top of your wallet to make it difficult to pick.
- To beat pick pockets, turn your wallet sideways in your pocket and put a rubber band around it.
- When arriving in a new city from your home country, try to book your first night’s stay before you arrive.
- Don’t draw attention to yourself, hide all of your expensive goodies.
- Remove or obscure big name labels on bags and cameras.
- In tight areas like public busses, keep your expensive stuff very close to you. If you need to, turn your daypack around so that it’s sitting on your front side.
- When sitting to eat or look at something, always wrap your leg through your daypack’s strap or hold on to it somehow.
- If your day pack has a rain cover, use it when in cramped spaces to keep quick hands from opening zips.
- Travel Insurance is a good idea and is generally cheap, make sure that it covers the types of activities you plan to do. TravelPod offers adventure travel insurance.
- Be very aware if someone touches you, bumps into you or even brushes nest to you. Contact is a common trick to distract you or it could be someone dipping into your pack.
- Although not the “be all end all” for security, a daypack locked in a pacsafe locked to something solid in your room can avoid casual theft of your stuff for the day. If it’s very valuable leave it in the hotel safe.

South America Sights

Machu Picchu, Peru
Travel Blogs | Photos & Videos | More about Peru

- You cannot trek the Inca Trail on your own. You need to book a tour.
- You need to book at least 2-3 months ahead of time for the Inca Trail in high season. In low season you can reserve a few weeks in advance.
- High season is June to September, Low season is October to March.
- Maximum group size is 16 people
- Acclimatize for at least 2 days before doing the Inca Trail.
- Drinking and eating Coca based products will help you acclimatize ( ie: coca tea, coca leaves, etc… )
- If you aren’t used to high altitudes, reserve at least 2 days for acclimatization.
- The classic Inca Trail trek is 4 days ( trek to Machu Picchu and take the train back ).
- You can take the train to Machu Picchu if the trek sounds like it’s too much for you. More info on the trains: www.perurail.com.
- Get a walking stick or two. You can buy them in Cusco for only a few USD.
- Save a day or two to visit the Pisac and Sacred Valley which is very close to Cusco before you visit Machu Picchu. It’s beautiful and will help you acclimatize.
- Take the time to explore Cusco, it’s a great place.
- You can store your extra baggage in your hotel or tour operator’s office for the duration of the trek.


Iguazu Falls, Argentina & Brazil
Travel Blogs | Photos & Videos| More about Argentina | More about Brazil

- Both sides are beautiful in different ways. The Brazilian side gets you closer to the falls and the Argentinean side gives you a more panoramic view.
- The Argentinean side is usually cheaper.
- Taking a tour ( which isn’t much more than transportation to and from the falls ) is definitely the most convenient way to get to the falls and back from your hotel in Foz or Argentina and is probably not much more expensive.

Torres del Paine, Chile
Travel Blogs | Photos & Videos | More about Chile

- Camping is cheaper but renting gear in Puerto Natales can be expensive.
- Refugios close in low season, look into this before you go if you don’t plan to camp.

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Travel Blogs | Photos & Videos | More about Ecuador

- Plan to spend at least 7 days.
- Doing it on your own can be just as expensive as booking with a tour agency.
- Book at least 2 months ahead of time if you plan to go in high season ( June – August ).

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Travel Blogs | Photos & Videos | More about Bolivia

- By doing the typical Uyuni to Uyuni Salar tour in reverse order ( ie: east to west ) you can see the sunrise at the Salar AND at the geysers. All agencies can do this, just ask.
- Make sure that your agency has good food and transportation. The best way to find out is to ask other travelers who have just returned from a tour.
- Don’t put give too much credibility to the “independent” tour company rating system which they have in Uyuni and will flaunt to you. Our tour broke down 4 times and our cook never showed, the company was ranked #3.


Health
- Generally Malaria isn’t a problem unless you enter deep into the Amazon BUT check www.malariafacts.com for more accurate info and if in doubt, take the meds.
- Generally, it’s best to avoid drinking the local water.
- If you have a sensitive belly, ask for the vegetarian options on trek and trips.
- Info on http://www.high-altitude-sickness.com.
- If you have bad diarrhea, avoid Imodium at all costs unless you absolutely need to travel somewhere that day. Imodium keeps your sickness trapped inside and can make you sicker.

Travel
Busses
- Sit in front of the bus is possible. Sitting directly above the wheels guaranties a very bumpy ride on many South America roads.
- On overnight busses make sure to lock your daypack up well before going to sleep.
- Generally you will get a ticket when checking luggage on a bus. Make sure to ask for a ticket if you weren’t given one.
- Tipping the guy who puts your luggage into the bus storage is a good idea and is expected in some places. A large tip isn’t expected, any small change will do.

Taxis
- Take care when choosing taxis. Always have your hotel call one if possible and especially at night.
- Tell your driver where you want to go by using a street corner instead of an address. For example, “drop me off at the corner of X and Y street”.
- Try to get a receipt when possible. This can be useful to track down lost or forgotten items and also provides another layer of security.
- Write down and show the driver the name of the location you are going to avoid miscommunications.

Air travel
- Some smaller airlines require that you reconfirm your flight before departure. It’s a good idea to get in the habit of doing this with all flights.
- Some Aerolineas Argentina planes have a horrible back of the plane seat with no windows which doesn’t recline. Ask for a seat in the middle or front of the plane.

- There is no road between Panama and Colombia, flying is your best bet.

Language
Learn a little Spanish before you go. It’s likely that you won’t find as much English as you think you will. Speaking Spanish will certainly give you a better, richer experience with Spanish speaking locals during your trip.

Here are the basics:
Hello / Hola
Goodbye / Adios
Thank you / Gracias
Where is / Donde esta
the washroom? / el bano
The bus terminal / el terminal
How much is it? / Cuanto cuesta?
Beer / Cerveza

- Taking a few weeks of Spanish lessons in South America can go a long way to helping your Spanish out.
- In almost every country you can fine short Spanish programs and stay with a local Spanish speaking family during your stay.
- If traveling with a partner, try speaking Spanish between yourselves daily.



If you found this useful, once you return from your trip please take the time to help by contributing to the FAQ and also by replying to posts.

South America is a wonderful place to visit, be safe and enjoy the culture, people and places!

[Jessica_CDN]

Lucky, thanks so much! I'm heading to SA this fall, and have found all your posts so useful!

[lucky]

Lucky, thanks so much! I'm heading to SA this fall, and have found all your posts so useful!

I am glad that they are helping out... make sure to post when you get back.

Have a great trip!

[guanohappens]

Traveling in Guyana I found toilet paper, soap, and wastecans to be sparse. Pack toilet paper, soap, and plastic zip-lock bags in case you must carry your used TP to a future wastecan. Removing the cardboard center of a TP roll makes it more packable. Even more packable are incomplete rolls--save the last half or so of the rolls of TP you use at home to pack for travel.

[philmc]

For those people thinking about volunteering in South America
these is a directory of free and low-cost volunteer opportunities
here: www.volunteersouthamerica.net

[philmc]

Agree with what Lucky said about language.
You will get much more out of your trip with
some basic Spanish under your belt. Learn some
basics before you go - a teach-yourself book is
a good idea - and think about starting your trip
with Spanish classes, this can be done in most
cities. Quito in Ecuador has the most Spanish
schools and is pretty cheap. I did 3 weeks in Sucre
(Bolivia) which was great, also Arequipa (Peru)
and Bariloche (Arg) & Buenos Aires would be good
choices IMO. Your Spanish will just about work
in Brazil.

There is very much a "Gringo Trail" in parts of
South America, with Cusco at the centre, and
including Machu Picchu, Nazca and Colca canyon
(All southern Peru) and various other places.
The Gringo trail is great for partying with
other travellers, but take time to go off the beaten
track, eg surfing in northern Peru, inland to Cajamarca,
go by River to/from Iquitos (N. Peru). Or head south
east into Bolivia to Santa Cruz, and take the train
into Brazil.
Bonito (Brazil) is a small eco-tourism place
definitely worth a visit.

[winster]

For those people thinking about volunteering in South America
these is a directory of free and low-cost volunteer opportunities
here: www.volunteersouthamerica.net

Thanks for the link. I plan on taking off again in the next year or two and that really helps.

[vermaakjeanne]

I'm planning a trip to SA next year March-April, and would like to know whether anyone has advice on how to get from Bariloche area (Chili/Argentina) to the north of Chili. Is there a train that does this stretch at all, or are buses basically the best option other than flying? Any suggestions?

[hdh]

I'm planning a trip to SA next year March-April, and would like to know whether anyone has advice on how to get from Bariloche area (Chili/Argentina) to the north of Chili. Is there a train that does this stretch at all, or are buses basically the best option other than flying? Any suggestions?

There's a Chilean rail network, but it basically only serves the centre of the country. Argentina for all practical purposes doesn't have rail. So bus is probably your best bet. It's quicker and cheaper to go the Argentine side (assuming you're starting in Bariloche): bus to Mendoza, then to Salta, then across the border to San Pedro de Atacama and on north.

[vermaakjeanne]

There's a Chilean rail network, but it basically only serves the centre of the country. Argentina for all practical purposes doesn't have rail. So bus is probably your best bet. It's quicker and cheaper to go the Argentine side (assuming you're starting in Bariloche): bus to Mendoza, then to Salta, then across the border to San Pedro de Atacama and on north.

Thank you Dave... I think that's exactly the kind of advice I was looking for, especially since you mentioned San Pedro de Atacama which is pretty much where I was thinking for our next stop and to move on from there...

Jeanne

[hdh]

I'd suggest not tryng to do it in one hit. Bariloche-Mendoza and Mendoza-Salta are both 18-hour runs and Salta-San Pedro's about 12. (See www.andesmar.com for typical schedules - they're far from the only company but have a decent website). Mendoza and Salta are both pleasant towns to spend a few days in, and Salta in particular has some pretty spectacular scenery nearby if you can afford to rent a car for a day or two.

[corelliz]

Iguazu Falls, Argentina & Brazil


- Both sides are beautiful in different ways. The Brazilian side gets you closer to the falls and the Argentinean side gives you a more panoramic view.

It says the exact opposite in the latest Lonely Planet Guide! According to them you get close up on the Argentian side. Which is true????

[brabzzz]

Panama to Colombia (and VV) is now perfectly easy to do via the overland/boat route along the coast, starting in Puerto Obaldia, Panama and ending in Turbo, Colombia.

Its the cheapest and most scenic way over, and then you´re free see the San Blas in your own sweet time and budget if you want. Touristy boats are now up to $400...

[aiga]

Hey!

I am just trying to find out what kind of shoes should I take to my Latin American trip? I will be doing treks, jungle... I am trying to find one good pair of shoes that I could use everywhere! I heard that you need completely different shoes for jungle...
My plan is to start from USA (all national parks and stuff) than fly to Costa Rica for couple of weeks, then boat trip from Panama to Columbia, then month of Spanish lessons in Quito, head to Machu Pichu, Month of jungle animal volunteering in Bolivia and somehow to to Iguazu Falls. I do not have my full plan but I know I will want to do all kind of treks where awailable! I will be carying 60l backpack with me.

So please help me out here!