Four month itinerary of Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru starting this Sunday. Any feedback would be gratefully accepted!
Hi Guys and Girls
I am leaving this a bit late to post up considering I am leaving in 4 days (Woo Hoo) but would be extremely grateful for any feedback and/or advice regarding length of time in any one place, any blinking mad omissions or anywhere you think should/could be omitted, and so on..
Arriving on Sunday morning (01/06) in BA
BA - 4 days
Uruguay (Montevideo/Colonia) - 4 days
Iguazu - 4 days
Last night in BA - 1 day
Bariloche - 6 days
El Bolson - 4 days
Osorno - 1 day
Valdivia - 2 days
Pucon - 4 days
Bus trip to Santiago - 1 day
Santiago - 1 day
Valparaiso - 3 days
Puente del Inca - 1 day
Upsallata - 2-3 days
Mendoza - 4 days
Cordoba - 3 days
Tucuman - 3 days
Tafi del Valle - 2 days
Cafayete - 2 days
Cachi - 3 days
Salta - 6 days
San Pedro de Atacama - 5-6 days
Uyuni (Salt flats) - 4 days
Potosi - 2-3 days
Sucre - 3 days
La Paz - 4 days
Rurre - 5 days
La Paz - 1 day
Copacabana - 3 days
Isla del Sol and lake - 3 days
Puno - 2 days
Arequipa - 4 days
Colca canyon - 2-3 days
Cotuasi canyon - 2-3 days
Arequipo - 1 day
Cuzco and MP - 10 days
Lima - 2 days
Total 119 days
I will usually travel by bus except maybe to Iguazu and Rurre where I may take a flight one way and bus it back. Travelling time getting there is included within the time spent in each place. I am aware that I will be rarely travelling off the beaten track but I will be alone and this is my first time to SA. Also I will be on the go quite a bit but I kinda prefer it that way. The trip is big on Argentina and Bolivia and a bit low on Chile and Peru. Also have nothing booked re MP in Sept yet, looking at maybe Lares trek, any advice would be most appreciated.
Thanks a million!
Reply to this Sounds like you've planned it very well. You're seeing many of the same places we've passed through in the last 10 months.
Personally, I would take longer in Santiago and less in Valparaiso. Also, Campana National Park (between Santiago and Valparaiso) is a good day or two day trip.
After Salta, the Quebrada de Humahuaca is well worth seeing, it's one of the most scenic parts of Argentina. I would spend time here instead of Tucuman. You could then backtrack to Jujuy and catch a bus onwards to San Pedro.
If the Inca trail is booked up I would recommend the Salkantay trek.
Reply to this By bus ??? Suspect you could spend a lot more time traveling between some of these locations, particulary because in some of these places regular bus service are not available. Our experiences have been focused on Argentina and Chile but we could keep such asumption for the whole region. http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/jagrz/
Reply to this I can assure you there IS good and regular bus service to the places you mention. I've been to all but two (Cotohausi & Rurre) on your list and we travelled to each one by bus. Travelling by bus will eat in to your time however.
Reply to this Hi Barry, Jose
Thanks a million for your advice. Think I will definately go to the Quebrada de Humahuaca now - it looks great. Also looking into the Salkantay trek - I love the pictures Barry! Thanks again
Reply to this Sorry Barry, but I don´t know (or even imagine), any bus traveling from Cafayate to Cachi, a really narrow way at Quebrada de las Flechas. What kind of service between Atacama and Uyuni. It is impossible. Just two examples. Aquamarina could spend a lot more time traveling between some of these locations. http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/jagrz/
Reply to this Hola Jose, Marina,
Cafayate to Cachi is possible by a combination of buses and taxis, but I think it would be better and cheaper to go Cafayate to Salta and then from Salta to Cachi. There's lovely scenery on the bus trip up to Cachi from Salta.
San Pedro to Uyuni is possible (I believe) by bus via Calama (1 hr from San Pedro). There is also a weekly or twice weekly train between Calama and Uyuni.
Regars,
Barry
Reply to this Thanks for the input guys, I´ll bear all this in mind...
Reply to this Regarding the traveler who told you to spend more time in Santiago than Valparaiso. Unless you're trying to get some skiing in, I would spend more time in Valparaiso than under the smog and amongst the busy rushers in the street. good luck with your travels. i'm about to leave santiago and start my 2 month backpacking
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