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[wilde]

Me and my flatmate are planning a trip from Mexcio City to Rio in Brazil. We have our flights out there on 16th September and a flexible flight back booked from Rio on 24th Feb. Other than this we have no plans. Want to get as much information as possible from people that may have done something similar.

What route did you take?

Did you do the whole trip by bus or get any internal flights?

Is this a relaistic time frame for the distance we have to travel?

How much did you budget/spend?

How good was your spanish?

Do you meet many poeple doing similar routes and journeys?


I am trying to decide which coutries to do and how to manage certain boarders. Has anyone done this trip including Venezuela and if so what route did they take?

If anyone had any advice or information I would be really interested ot have a chat with you.

Cheers!

[jeremystravels]

Apparently crossing the border region from Panama to Columbia is one of the most dangerous areas to travel in. It is highly recommended to fly over this area from all accounts I have seen. I would imagine 5 months would be plenty of time to see many cities and countries though.

[kathryn77]

Yep, I heard that too

In fact, I was told that the road comes to an end in the Panama Canal and becomes jungle, making it impossible to overland it.

I would check out flights - also, I don't know for sure, but you may be able to go by boat to Columbia or Ecuador?

[kathryn77]

PS. I thing 5 months is fine - I had very basic Spanish when I arrived in South America, but did a 2 week course soon after arrival. You can do courses in Mexico/anywhere really if you need to and want the basis for your journey. It's great for haggling/getting to know the locals better. The Lonely Planet phrase books are good, as they give you the pronunciation too - that's how I began with the Portuguese for Brazil.

I didn't go to Venezuela, but my friend Kev did and had a great time: Kev's travelblog

It was a few years ago, but I've posted his link above in case no one responds specifically on Venezuela here - you can also do searches by countries within travelpod

[mmbcross]

Briefly (and I'm sure you have come to the same conclusion).

1. Suggested route

Mexico:
Puebla,
Oaxaca
San Cristobal de las Casas
Guatemala:
Quetzaltenango
Lake Atitlan
Antigua
Rio Dulce
Side trip to Tikal
Honduras:
Copan
Nicaragua:
Costa Rica:
Volcan Arenal
Corcovado Park
Panama:
Don't try the Darien Gap. Fly Panama to Cartagena or Quito
Colombia:
Cartagena
Bogota
Cali
Popayan
Ecuador:
Quito
Riobamba
Cuenca
Peru:
Mancora
Chiclayo (Sipan)
Trujillo (Chan Chan)
Huaraz (Callejon de Huaylas)
Lima
Nazca
Cuzco (Machu Picchu)
Lake Titicaca
Bolivia:
La Paz
Potosi
Uyuno (Salt Lakes)
Chile:
Santiago
Puerto Montt
Lake Crossing
Argentina
Bariloche
Mendoza
Buenos Aires
Spend a night at an estancia on the pampas
Uruguay
Colonia (day trip by ferry from BA)
Brazil
Iguaçu Falls
Curitiba/Paranagua
São Paulo
Rio de Janeiro

2. Take overnight buses whenever possible. These are really luxurious so you save time and a hotel night. Only air portion from Panama to Cartagena or Quito and Buenos Aires to Iguassu.

3. You should be able to do this in 5 months.

4. I did it so long ago that my budget would be totally out of date. Just keep in mind that all costs in Latin America will be much lower than North America or Europe.

5. Take a week for an intensive Spanish course in Mexico or Guatemala. It won't have you speaking Spanish fluently, but it will give you a head start.

6. You are going to meet people with similar routes all along the way.

Hope this helps.
If you need more detail, let us know as you get closer to the date.

[wilde]

wow thanks that all amazing thanks!

[rbisset]

You could always try getting a boat from Panama to Cartegena, Colombia. My mate did this and it cost the same as flying. At least you'd be able to say you went all the way overland.

[philipj.fry]

hi! a buddy and I are also doing the same trip. we're flying in mexico in october, and got a flight backhome from Rio in June.