So I've been researching the Tucan Travel (won't put the website as it'll be snipped) and my god the Ultimate South American Tour looks fantastic!! But altogether it would cost about £6000. But they supposedly take care of you and sort out accomodation etc. Would you say this is good value for money, or would you be better off organising it all yourself and just get trains etc? Anyone done the Tucan Travel?
Reply to this I personally dont like tours. They are too restrictive. And they cost more than independent travel too.
How long is the trip for? It is probably not as good value for money as travelling independently.
Mel
Reply to this well it is for 170 days. I know what you mean about restrictive, but it'd be nice to feel like everything is taken care of? Maybe? No? Nah hehe
Reply to this For 170 days that isnt such a bad price. If I calculated it right, that makes it around 35 pounds per day. That includes everything, except flights to and from S America I presume.
Reply to this do you reckon? I hadn't actually calculated it. This is a thinker. Its just a lot of money upfront thats all! New topic time...what is the most you have paid upfront for a trip.
Reply to this I generally just buy a plane ticket and a guide book. Those are the only up front expenses I generally pay. Sometimes there is a visa expense I pay too, if I cant get the visa on arrival.
Which countries in S. America does the trip cover? Places like Argentina and Brazil for example are more expensive than places like Bolivia for independent travellers. As an independent backpacker, I would expect to spend between 20 and 50 Euros per day in the more expensive countries, depending on what I do on a particular day.
Reply to this Oh, and there are the up front medical insurance costs, which depend on how long I will be going for. They generally cost something like a few Euros per day for each day spent travelling.
Reply to this I have met people who have done Tucan tours and were very happy but they had a few weeks to see as much as posible.You are going for around 6months and I can promise you you'll be disapointed you are locked into an itinery.Everyone you meet will have stories that "You have to see" but you won't be able to.Also there are places you will want to stay and get to know a bit better.
Half the fun of the adventure will be working out how to get places and never knowing what will happen tomorrow.Please think about my comments before you sign anything and any Qs you have please feel free to message me.
Reply to this Thanks Paul, I don't like the thought of being tied down to an itinerary, but thenagain I like the thought of knowing how I'll get from place to place and knowing where I'll be staying. Especially in South America where it can be very dangerous to travel via public transport.
Reply to this Public transport in Sth Am is great.Please remember that millions of people travel this INCREDIBLE continent and only a few have bad experiences but being human these are the stories that people talk about.Even the people who have been robbed ect still happily continue their journeys.I spent 6months there last year and have just arrived back in Aust ,last night :-( , after another 5month adventure.I've already started planning my return next year.
Colombia is by far my ,and most others, favourite but all Sth Am is incredible and 170days is plenty of time to have a good look from Ushuaia ,Tierra del Fuego Sth Argentina, to Capurgana ,Nth Colombia.
I am feeling very sad now that this years adventure is over and soon I will have to get off this lounge and face the real world.
Reply to this awww i feel for you hun the home blues are the worst!! I think I may do it independantly!!
Reply to this I think I may do it independantly!!
Good decision, in my opinion. I think a copy of the South America on a Shoestring, by Lonely Planet may be a useful purchase for you. It is full of practical information for the independent traveller.
Mel
Reply to this I was going to ask re Tucan travel and did a search . I was chickening out of doing it myself .. But not for financial reasons .. I guess half the fun is working it out as you go n that way learning more and more .. I'm spending about 5-6 months starting with carnival next month. I'm only sad as I don't get to share experience with a friend but I'm sure I'll make new ones (: I'd like to send my draft itinerary to someone willing to help edit it a little ?
Only places I would like to use tour company for is Peru ( ensure inca trail and machu tickets) and Galapagos islands cruise.
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