 Is not knowing Spanish a problem? |
AfricaAntarcticaAsiaCentral America CaribbeanEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaOceaniaSouth AmericaOceans and SeasIs not knowing Spanish a problem?South AmericaTopic Type: Other | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I am looking to travel through South America, i dont know where. I'm thinking of getting a ticket to Argentina and then backpacking, i want to see Argentina, Chili and Peru. I don't speak any Spanish and i want to know if i could turn up and then book an English speaking tour? Or meet other back packers who can and travel with them. Also where do u recommend flying into first? And should i travel by bus or plane? I'm an Australian University student. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Johnwwwwwwww John Williams Post Count: 1 Msg: #1 551 days ago, July 8th 2007 | I am looking to travel through South America for 1 - 2 months. I dont know where. I'm thinking of getting a ticket to Argentina and then backpacking, i want to see Argentina, Chili and Peru. I don't speak any Spanish and i want to know if i could turn up and then book an English speaking tour? Or meet other back packers who can and travel with them. Also where do u recommend flying into first? And should i travel by bus, plane or Tour? I'm an Australian University student. | Stefan SA Stefan Post Count: 2 Msg: #2 551 days ago, July 8th 2007 | [Edited: 19:41 - Stefan SA - subsequent response] Stefan SA Stefan Post Count: 2 Msg: #3 551 days ago, July 8th 2007 | ¡Hola John! Creo que es mejor para entender español (I believe it is better to understand spanish). | We are from the dark continent and even though we are rivals on the rugby field, we have a passion for South America and travel there each year. I will share some thoughts with you - use it if you can! From Australia, your best bet might be to fly non-stop to Santiago de Chile (SCL) with LANChile (and then buying yourself a LANPass - see www.lan.com). Not sure if this is necessarily the cheapest. To find English speaking tours is not impossible but usually difficult and it costs more if there is an English-speaking guide. Any Spanish that you can master before you go will be useful (try www.studyspanish.com for some basics). LAN can take you to both Argentina and Peru. Buses are fine in Argentina and Chile, OK in Peru provided that you buy the most expensive ticket you can afford. Normally the more expensive buses are more modern and better maintained although this is not a problem in Argentina & Chile. You will meet many backpackers along the way, especially the stretch from Lima to La Paz via Cuzco (& Machu Picchu) and Titicaca. From La Paz you could do the Uyuni salt tour and cross in to Chile (San Pedro de Atacama) and then south to Santiago and then either further south to the lake district and doing the lake crossing into Argentina from Puerto Varas (to Bariloche). From there you can travel to Buenos Aires and explore the city. Get yourself a decent guidebook to do research before you untertake your trip - I recommend Footprint or Rough Guide - I have found Lonely Planet a bit disappointing. There is also a new brand on the market - MOON Guides, but I haven't used them. So, fly into Lima (via Santiago) and then travel down to Bariloche and end your trip in Buenos Aires, flying back to Sydney via SCL. For intermediate flights, the LANPass might prove very useful. Ensure that you have the required innoculations. I reckon that if you travel on your own, with other backpackers, you could probably see all the sights for about half the price that an organised tour would cost. In some places though, day tours can be a very useful (e.g. to the sacred valley). On the other hand, a 4-day tour of the Uyuni salt flats can also be very rewarding and you can organise it on your own when you reach Uyuni. Always make use of local outfits to do your day tours (i.e. do not support ex-patriates who charge ridiculous prices for the same thing and effectively exploit you). Check equipment and vehicles and rather pay a bit more for a decent outfit. Never do a tour of more than 4 days / 3 nights with the same operator, unless you have found that you connect well with them, then you can do more of their tours, if interested. Let me know if you have further questions. ¡Adiós! Stefan South Africa  Suzy Q Susan Russell Post Count: 8 Msg: #4 550 days ago, July 8th 2007 | Hi There, | You definitely should check out Brazil! Most of the backpackers do Brazil, then Bolivia, Peru and Chile. Also, check out www.lonelyplanet.com (Thorn Tree Forum), they have a very active forum with a lot posts every day. Good Luck, Suzy  Breznev Ali M. Post Count: 6 Msg: #5 521 days ago, August 7th 2007 | To practice Spanish in my opinion is essential if you want to travel across south america, especially if you want to be in contact with the population, and understand the culture and way of life. | Number of Users: 4 | Number of Posts: 5 | ||||||||||||||
