Itinerary for S. America

Hello Amy 😊

I am never a great itinerary maker, but I can suggest you get a copy of S. America on a Shoestring by Lonely Planet. It covers all the S. American countries and I think it even suggests itineries.

A sleeping bag might be a good idea. It can be cold at high altitudes and hotels and hostels dont always give enough bed covers.

Mel Reply to this

I just came back from a three month trip in South America! It was unforgettable. You'll have an amaaaaazing time!

Where are your tickets to? I was flying into Buenos Aires, so I went from there to Uruguay (SO UNDERRATED) and then up to Brazil for some beach time, back into Argentina and across to Chile, then north to Bolivia and Peru and only then did I fly to Colombia, from where I headed into Central America. Even though there are some enormous distances, the buses are usually excellent (especially in Argentina - SO MUCH BETTER THAN HERE IN CANADA.)

I'm going to differ from the other opinions and say that you might not actually need a sleeping bag and it does take up an awful lot of room. Considering that you are going in Southern hemisphere summer, you probably wont' need one in most of Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil or Chile. There are very high altitudes in the Andes where it is definitely cold but if you are trekking you can rent a sleeping bag (companies often throw it in as a freebie if you're bargaining...) For long distance buses in Bolivia it is cold, but it's actually too cold even for a sleeping bag to help you. If you find yourself near Uyuni or elsewhere in the South, TAKE THE TRAIN. Do not try to rely on your sleeping bag for this - you'll freeze anyway. For hostels, I found very good quality beds and bedding for the most part. A sleeping "sac" made from a sheet sewn up one side or storebought in a good material like silk can guard against dirt and give you an extra layer, which might be better than a sleeping bag as it is just so much less bulky. I also bring a big scarf/shawl/blanket wool item that keeps me warm and is very multi-purpose. You just can't wear a sleeping bag out at night.

Enjoy South America! There is so much to see and do and you will have a wonderful time! Let me know if I can answer any more questions.

Reply to this

Do take a sleeping bag - the overnight buses can be very cold so even if you dont use it in hostels etc

Oh, I forgot about the busses. They are probably air conditioned. I cant remember. But, I am no fan of air conditioning, because I like to be warm. Maybe the sleeping bag will need to come with me afterall. Reply to this

Me and a friend wil be setting on our s.america adventure in Nov this year and all we've planned is where we land in s.america (Peru) and where we leave from (Brazil).

From the stories ive heard, planning a route is pointless because you meet so many people and your itinerary will change. Just go with the flow. Reply to this

Hey Mell - sorry I didn't get back to you sooner! I found the buses in that part of the world (the coast of Brazil and Uruguay) to be of good quality. There was heat on board as well as movies (usually in Portuguese). There was no food on any of my buses in Brazil and they weren't cheap but the ride was decent and the coaches seemed modern. It was in Bolivia and Peru that there were real problems with cold, especially as there are so many places at high altitude there.

For your trip, please consider Florianopolis (Ilha de Santa Catherina) as a great, relaxing Brazilian beach town. They say it is the next big thing and just so much more relaxing than Sao Paolo or Rio or someplace. I stayed at Sunset Backpackers and had a great time there. Definitely stay near the beaches on the island, not in the city itself. Then, in Uruguay, please explore some of the smaller towns. You will be there in the summer, actually at the perfect time probably on the shoulder of summer, and there are beautiful beaches and such lovely people. My paradise was called "Cabo Polonio" - you can read about it on my blog if you like. It's not a place for creature comforts but rather one to enjoy nature and beauty and peaceful serenity.

Have a great trip. Lots of luck with everything! Reply to this