Need Help Planning A Trip [21 Male, first time]

Hello,

I am going to be graduating college in May, and my full time job will start July 19th. I’ll probably go to Las Vegas right after graduating, so starting in June, I want to go traveling for a month, possibly a month and a half. I want to go places before I start working. I don’t want to visit the city/night life - I want to see natural things i.e. safari in Africa, rainforests, pyramids, waterfalls, old churches, etc. Basically anything that is interesting, natural, and possibly historic.
The only place I have been, outside of America, is India. So basically, anything besides India and America I would consider. I don’t know about Europe, mainly because I don’t know if it is sort of the natural sort of atmosphere that I am looking for, at least not based on face-value, but if you think otherwise please tell me why. Right now, I am thinking Costa Rica, or Africa, or Australia/New Zealand. Who knows, maybe even two out of the three, or all three. What do you guys think? Should I go somewhere else? Where would you recommend I go based on what I want to see. Also, if anyone knows any good deals for flying, or other deals once I actually land (i.e. discount for a safari or something), please let me know of that as well.

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks. Reply to this

How old do you have to be to rent a car? I will be 22 by the time this trip is done (birthday in April).

I think I have narrowed it down.


Right now, I am leaning toward Central and South America.

I am thinking the rainforests and sights of Costa Rica > then to Quito, Ecuador in order to take a trip to the > Galapagos islands > Iguazu waterfall in Argentina > Patanal in Brazil/Bolivia > San Pedro de Atacam in Chile > go north via Nazca to > Machu Picchu, Peru

Is this the most efficient way to go about it? I might as well visit Brazil while I am in the Patanal, right? Check out those Brazilian beaches?

This sounds very expensive! I don't even know if I will even be able to do half of it!

Also, how will I actually go about seeing all these things? Will I have to go through a company that specializes in adventure packages? Or is it possible for me to just do these things without that? Maybe I will just use a company in order to go to the Galapagos, and for the rest, just backpack it? Is that possible?

Anyone with any information is appreciated.
Thanks. Reply to this

Just do your research.
There are loads of resources online (esp this website) and thru numerous amounts of travel guides. I even use Wikitravel for the simple version because when you are just looking for specific info, it's a good tool.

Talk to people if you can and at the end of the day you'll end up meeting loads of people at hostels anyways. So have a no worries attitude and get out there.

I was pretty nervous when I first started travelling on my own, but after a while you build your confidence and meet so many people that it becomes the experience of a lifetime. The hardest part is planning it, but remember that things don't always go the way you planned it as well.
So be prepared to wing it if you have to and change plans as you go.

Use tour companies for places that are harder to reach, but I usually find that tours are overpriced and don't really give you the freedom. Although I have heard Intrepid is really good from quite a number of people but they are also pretty pricey.
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Thanks for your help so far.

I am thinking of sacrificing a few places because of cost and time reasons.

Here is what I MUST see:

Costa Rica - rainforests/other activities
Peru - Machu Picchu
Brazil - Amazon River/Rainforest/Iguazu Falls
Argentina - Iguazu Falls

What I want to see:

Galapagos Islands
Patanal in Brazil
San Pedro de Atacam in Chile
Brazilian Beaches

I am willing to sacrifice the latter list, but what do you think about the list that I MUST see? Would this be possible and affordable?


The problem is that I cannot begin the research yet because I do not know what point A is and what point B is - I have decided where I want to go but I do not know the most efficient way of traveling. I'm pretty sure I'll go to Costa Rica first, because it is the closest, but then I am unsure.


I think I will pass on renting a car, and just backpack it. Although I am kind of nervous since I have never done this before. I am told that I will need a tour to visit Machu Picchu as well?
I am in the process of learning spanish via Rosetta Stone (and I did take 3 years of it in high school)


Thanks for the references Mell, I will check them out. Reply to this

I have updated my trip out of concern for time, please let me know what you think. Also, for the most part, Brazil is not included in this updated itinerary. I think your idea about making 3 itineraries is really good, and I will definitely do this, but first I need to find some focus on what I am doing. After I have some focus, I will definitely do that!

My concern for time is due to a lot of people telling me that I will not have time to do the following plan in 5 weeks:

Machu Picchu > Lake TitiCaca > Parque Nacional Madidi > Noel Kempff > Amazon Rainforest/River/Brazilian Beaches (I am not sure where to put this, but I definitely want to do this) > Pantanal / Parque Nacional do Pantanal Matogrossense > Rio de Janeiro.

You guys are saying that I will not be able to do this, and that I should focus on less things and just not rush it and enjoy my time there.

I don't know how to alter my trip if I am not going to have enough time. I definitely want to see the Amazon! My priorities are more over toward nature and wildlife than toward history and things like that - I only want to see Machu Picchu, I will pass on the Incan Trail, and the Nazca lines

I researched Puerto Moldanado and it seems like this is more and more of what I am looking for. Maybe this is a better idea. Instead of rushing to Brazil after Lake Titicaca, I can stay in Peru and see the the Amazon from Puerto Moldanado?

Or is it better to see it from Brazil?

Please see my modified trip below. Please let me know where you think Salar de Uyuni can fit in this trip, if it is possible

So here is what I am thinking now.

I start with Lake titicaca > Machu Picchu > Cusco > take a train or flight to Puerto Maldonado > take a boat to Tambopata-Candamo/Sandoval Lake/Collpa de Guacamayos (apparently boat is the only way to access this place, please tell me if you know otherwise) > go south to see Bahuaja-Sonene National Park > go west to see Manú National Park > Iguazu Falls???

Will this work?

Tambopata sounds very exciting, it is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. It is also home to Colpa de Guacamayos (the clay lick attracts thousands of macaws and parrots each day!).

I don't think I will have time to see Iquitos, right? since that is much further northwest than my current itinerary. Which would you recommend, Puerto Maldonado or Iquitos?

The downside to this is that I will not get to see the Pantanal, nor Iguazu Falls. Is there a way I can still do one of two of these things? If not both =[. Maybe take a flight from somewhere near Puerto Moldanado to the Iguazu Falls? And then either end my trip there, or go to the Rio if I have time.

Thanks for your help! Reply to this

Here is an update:

Ok, so at least I have something decided. This part of the trip is finalized.. for now.

Chicago > Lima > Cuzco (all flights)

From Cuzco, (after Machu Picchu) I will meet up with a travel agency to do one of their tours through Manu. The question I am trying to answer right now, is which agency?

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Here are my 5 options based on researching:

*1. http://manuperu.com/*

*Manu Nature Tours: Manu Cloud Forest Lodge & Manu Lodge (5, 6, 7, or 8 day options) - price not listed, emailed them asking for information on prices.*

This seems like a very good site and it seems like they know what they were doing, if price was not a consideration, this would definitely be my first or second choice.

*2 atalayaperu.com/peru-tours/02-rainforest.php*

*Atalaya Peru*

There are a couple of different options here:

Either the *"Manu Park" 8d/7n tour (PRICE $ 970.00 PER PERSON + s/ 150.00 Park Entrance)*

or the

*Manu & Tambopata National Park 11d/10n tour ( PRICE $1840.00 + S/150.00 ENTRADA PARQUE*)

This also seems like a great site and would be in my top 2 if money was not a factor.

This is where I need help, It seems like the latter is too expensive, is it worth it? I need help in comparing the two trips on this website, and also comparing the trips on this website to that of #1. Although it is difficult without knowing the pricing of #1, but any help is appreciated.

*3. Pantiacolla*

*Cloud Forest, Lake Salvador & Otorongo, Macaw Lick and Pantiacolla Mountains (9days) in and out by bus (emailed for price)*

www.pantiacolla.com/index.php…

This one seems a little longer than a few of the other ones, but that may very well be because bus transportation is used. This could also mean it is cheaper, which is good. Although I'm not very impressed with this website, I'm still unsure if it is really going to make a significant difference which tour agency I choose.

*4. Perutravels*

*perutravels.net/peru-travel-guide/tours-manu…*

*Manu Reserved Zone Tour (8d / 7n) (1000$*)

This site seems very cluttered, but it seems cheaper than the others, assuming the cost of a single person doesn't shoot the price up.


*5. SAS*
*http://www.sastravelperumanu.com/english/manu-price-information.html*

There are several different Manu trips, but I am not sure which one is the best deal.
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What do you guys think?

One concern with some of these tours is that the price is assumed based on two people traveling. I doubt that I will get a person to accompany me, so hopefully the prices don't shoot up too much. I will work on getting the pricing based on my situation, but what do you guys think about the tours in general? Which one would you guys recommend?

After Manu, I will be back in Cuzco, and I am still deciding on whether or not I will go to Lake Titicaca. I definitely wanted to do it at first, but after seeing some videos online, it seems like it's a great lake, and it's definitely going to be a great experience living with the natives.. but I don't know if it is for me. It's a good place to relax, but I don't really see anything besides the lake. Assuming I skip Lake Titicaca, I want to go to the Pantanal from Cusco, and then to Iguazu, and then end my trip in Rio. I will continue planning this, but I want to get the Peru part of my trip finalized first. You guys say that I don't need a guided tour for Machu Picchu, so there really isn't much planning to do there right? I just want to get the Manu trip finalized. Reply to this

isnt it reopening in April though? Reply to this

2 posts moved to this new topic: So my parents (especially my dad), does not really want me to go to South America. Reply to this

I just got back from an 8mnth tour (check out our blog... very similar places)... and I'd make more time for Iguazu- very touristy, but the waterfalls are just STUNNING. Lake Titicaca is beautiful too (we did an overnight, floating islands, 3 island tour)- be sure and negotiate your prices ALL THE TIME. 😉 Reply to this

Haha!! Kenny, in South America you only negotiate prices in person. ANY bit of Spanish you can pick up before you go- will take you a LONG way! You may end up paying WAY OVER price if you try and book everything in advance. AND if a bus is delayed or cancelled... it may continue to hurt your "reserved schedule" meaning you might have to skip places to get you back on schedule. Plus, once you get somewhere- you might want to stay an extra day or so.

The best advice I can give to you Kenny is to take one day at a time. Have a general/dedicated timeline and hot spots, but if you meet some awesome people and change your mind about specifics you've planned and paid for- you don't want to be tied down. Not sure how far you will get in a month (considering we planned on traveling South America for 3 months and ended up traveling it 6!!).

Another Awesome place is Peru is Huacachina, a real Oasis. Killer sand dunes where you dune buggy it (the drivers are a riot) and sand board. I didn't stand... I layed on my stomach and flew down the dunes. Do the afternoon tour- the sunset is mystical.

Rio is neat. Lots of partying- be very alert here. Lots of rif raff. Not a favorite city of mine, but Sugar Loaf was pretty damn cool and so were the favela tours. Cusco IS AWESOME for churches!! Def. do both churches in the square.

Alrighty- enough is enough! Good luck to you! It's going to be AWESOME!! Oh... and get up at 4:30am for Manchu Piccu and HIKE Wannapichu (they only allow 400 people a day on it)... so get there fast. It was surreal AND ancient. Reply to this