Welcome to the TravelPod forums

[chunkythefunk]

Hey People,

I'm going to South America in June(ish) and I plan to start my odyssey in Rio. I'm looking to have as much fun as possible before settling down and becoming a proper person, so, with that in mind, I would be eternally grateful for advice on hostels, things to do, places to see etc. Also, I am planning to go on my own, which frankly scares me, so what are good ways of meeting people either before or after I arrive.

Cheers

Charlie

[starlagurl]

Hey Charlie, you will meet a ton of people if you stay at cheap hostels and such. For sure. So don't worry about going alone.

If I were you, I'd check out some people's routes around South America like these ones:

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entri...47723/tpod.html

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entri...93956/tpod.html

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entri...78093/tpod.html

You can find more just by searching: http://www.travelpod.com/s/rio+de+janeiro?st=user

[skylab]

Not much to worry about. It all falls into place automatically.

[kathryn77]

Hi Charlie,

I worked in the bar at 'Stone of a Beach' hostel in Copacabana for 5 months - it's a great place to meet people. The other big hostel is 'Mellow Yellow' - staying at either of these when you arrive, you'll meet loads of people, and might even end up with someone to travel with initially. It's better on your own anyway, as you can choose when to travel with people and when to go off on your own. I LOVE Rio - so jealous!!

In fact, I love South America, and if I'd known how much I would love it, I would have done all of my big trip in that one continent! If I could narrow it down to my top 5...in no particular order...it would be...

- sandboarding in Huacachina, Peru (stay at the El Huacachinero hostel, it's ace!)
- seeing Macchu Picchu in Peru
- Rio....loved it
- Bolivia - the randomness of that country! (And cycling Death Road, of course!)
- Iguazu Falls (both sides)

...oh, but then, there was Buenos Aires....the salt flats in Bolivia...the wine in Mendoza...Uruguay....aggghhh, so hard to narrow it down!

Kathryn