7 Reasons to Visit Maldives At Least Once In Your Life
South America on a Budget – 76 days, US$4.9k, 4 Countries (Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador) and tons of activities
Quite a few friends have been asking about the recent trip to South America, and how I can afford to travel for so long. I usually say that it’s mainly a lifestyle choice, like putting aside money every month for travel instead of buying a new pair of shoes. But it’s also about making the right decisions while planning and traveling. So I guess South America on a budget will be a great opportunity to explain how I usually travel cheaper.
To get things straight, traveling on a budget doesn’t mean sleeping on the streets or couchsurfing with strangers (couchsurf for the experience, not only to save money). It also certainly doesn’t entail eating crap food and bread all day. This post isn’t about how to use the least money possible to travel South America. It is about what you can do to travel smart and stretch your dollar, leaving more money for unique travel experiences.
For those who have followed my trip, you’ll know that I did quite a lot of stuff which weren’t exactly cheap. I’ve travelled to the surreal Salar de Uyuni salt flats, mind blowing Iguazu Falls, ancient Machu Picchu, and the expensive Galapagos Islands. I even watched a World Cup match! I mean just take a look at my South America in 3 minutes trip video below, how on earth can this be only US$4.9k?!?
So what did the trip look like and how did I spend my money?
(Rough itinerary and item by item breakdown can be found at the end of the post if you want to d/l it for your own reference)
Brief overview of my 76days in South America.
At the Iguazu Falls that borders both Brazil and Argentina. Never have I seen a waterfall this magnificent.
Piking at the salt flats of Salar de Uyuni!
Llama blood on my face after a sacrificial ritual outside the mines of Potosi in Bolivia.
Cycling on the world’s most dangerous road in La Paz.
Machu Picchu of course. Can’t possibly miss this.
Surfing lessons in Mancora, Peru.
Snorkelling with sea lions in the Galapagos.
Swing at the end of the World in Banos.
HDR shot as we cruised down a river in the Amazon Rainforest of Ecuador. More pictures on my Instagram and the rest of my blog! ;)
So here is the approximate budget by category. Not bad for 76days of traveling eh?
As you can see, the bulk was spent on activities and transport. There were plenty of overlaps though. For example my 4D3N Amazon Tour included accommodation and food, and my hostel in Machachi included all 3 meals plus afternoon tea. It doesn’t really affect much, but if you want a better idea, check out the detailed breakdown at the end of the post!
So how is this possible?!
I guess the easiest way to illustrate this is to run through the main categories, explaining what I did to keep costs low!
ACCOMMODATION
(1) Hotel vs Hostels
If you have a fixed budget, would you rather splash $80 a night on a hotel compared to a $20 hostel, or use the $120 you saved over two nights rappelling down a waterfall? I know I’d definitely choose the latter. Hostels aren’t as terrible as many people think too. I always pick the ones with better reviews when possible, so they are often affordable, safe, nice, and very clean as well. What I love most though, is that most hostels have common areas where you can meet new people. I’ve actually found quite a few traveling buddies this way! If you like your own space, just book a private room with en suite toilets. Check out some of my favourite hostels from the trip below. Not bad eh?
This is my all time favourite – Secret Garden Cotopaxi in Machachi, Ecuador. Lovely scenery, comfortable beds, jacuzzi, and great ambience! It’s US$40 (with tax), but includes all 3 meals plus afternoon tea.
Interior of Secret Garden Cotopaxi. Oh yes and they have 3 lovely dogs in the house, 3 llamas, a horse, and a cow outside. Picture credit: PositiveWorldTravel
Loki Hostel in Mancora, Peru. Dorm rooms from US$10.3. This was like living in a resort.
Papaya Hostel in Bonito, Brazil. Very friendly staff, nice clean rooms and very safe area. US$12 for dorms.
TRANSPORT
(2) Short Distance: Walk or take local transport
Unless I’m short on time or carrying lots of stuff, I always walk or take local public transport rather than taxis when moving within the town/city. I love walking and taking local buses/subways because you get to see so much more. Not only do you get to better understand how daily life is like for the locals, your chances of coming across something really interesting and non touristy is higher!
If language is a problem, just get some help from your hostel/hotel staff, learn a few useful phrases, and plan your route before heading out. I often team up with other travellers that know the language better than me as well. In certain places, you’ll have to be more aware of your valuables and keep them out of sight though. Just look purposeful, be alert, and it’ll be fine!
Pro-tip: I always use this offline map app called CityMaps2Go, which is available on both iTunes and Google Play Store. It uses your phone’s GPS and so you’ll always know where you are! It even has attractions info and all in the offline mode so no data charges.
(3) Long Distance: Buses vs Flights
When traveling longer distances between cities, it’s often a dilemma between taking long distance buses or flights. It’s mainly a cost vs time issue, and I usually pick whichever option is cheapest when I’m not short on time. The surprise here is that domestic flights can sometimes be cheaper so do check! Bus quality and safety also varies so do find out more. I remember taking the Cruz Del Sol bus in Peru which was very comfortable, included food, and even your own entertainment system with tons of movies! That said, long distance busses will usually be the cheaper option. Take the more comfortable overnight buses, so you can save on both accommodation and time since you’ll be sleeping.
Pro-tip: Earplugs and air pillows are a must for comfort! Many provide blankets, but it’s still good to have a warm jacket as as standby.
Useful Resources: Hostel staff, Rome to Rio, Skyscanner, Adioso
ACTIVITIES
(4) Research & Planning
Activities are one thing I never save on whenever traveling. After all, these are the main experiences that make the trip! The problem is that sometimes there are tons of local companies offering similar things. To prevent getting ripped off, always do some research before engaging any of them. Google, Tripadvisor, blogs, and guidebooks are great places to start, but my favourite is still to talk to travellers who have just came back from wherever you are going. These are often the most honest and up to date advice you can find.
Useful Resources: Tripadvisor, Hostel staff, Word of Mouth
(5) Bargain & Leverage
The art of bargaining is a very useful skill to pick up. From acting nonchalant to sweet talking, you can save on quite a few bucks to spend on other things with some effort. Understand that bigger numbers mean leverage, so always group up with other travellers when possible. It’s also usually more fun in a bigger group!
However, I’m not saying you should bargain for hours just to get that $5 discount though. At the end of the day though, the $5 is probably worth a lot more to the vendor than you.
FOOD
(6) Eat Local
They say that you never know a country until you have eaten local. Other than the really special restaurants, I try to walk a little further from the main streets, and dine at places where locals eat. These are usually cheaper and more authentic. Although I don’t understand what’s on the menu half the time, it’s super fun guessing and hoping that whatever you ordered tastes good! A typical day starts with hot local homely breakfast at the Mercado/market, Almuerzo/Lunch Set with soup and drink in-between sightseeing, and a better local/international meal for dinner. Some hostels even include a simple breakfast.
Street food along the streets of Uyuni. A small bowl of meat and rice cost like US$0.70.
The famous Corvina Don Jimmy fried fish in Quito’s central market. Fried fish, rice, potatoes and shrimp ceviche for US$4.5.
Random set lunch at Nazca in Peru for US$2. Rice, potatoes and chicken.
Fried trout at Copacabana for just US$3.5. Super worth it.
(7) Cook
I often carry a few pre-mixes from home on longer trips because I always miss Singapore food. It’s also cheaper and a great way to interact with other travellers in the hostels by sharing food. Whether it’s helping with food preparation or everyone cooking their own dish, it’s great fun using local ingredients to prepare what you usually use for cooking back home. Culture exchange through food!
(8) Save on drinks
Other than beer (social lubricant :P), I always avoid buying drinks while dining out. I even do this back home whenever possible because I feel that soft drinks are always overpriced. Water is better for you too.
Anyway, you can find the link to the full budget breakdown and itinerary here. I used the app Trail Wallet, which allowed me to export the .csv file. Added a few extra columns and renamed it a little for clarity. Date might be slightly off cause I only keyed in whenever I remembered, but it’s more or less accurate!
All these said, I do treat myself from time to time for a change from budget travel. At the end of the day, it’s about finding an optimal balance for yourself in order to stretch your budget and have a good time.
Hope you found this useful. Got any other tips to share? Drop a comment below!
If you like what you’re seeing, subscribe, like and follow my adventures on Facebook or Instagram! :)
Related posts
Hi,
You had a nice trip there. I just wonder, did you include the cost of return-flight from Singapore to Brazil?
Hey Francis. Nope it doesn’t. Just internal flights when I was there. But if you don’t take internal flights it will be about the same as your tickets. I got my flight from Singapore to Brazil sponsored so had no choice but to fly from Ecuador back to Brazil. :)
Hey the location of the Nazca Lines flight on your map is wrong.
Thanks for pointing it out! :)
Wow…just saw your blog featured on Asiaone…and the timing must be fate. Your route is almost exactly the same as the one I sketched out for our honeymoon next month! And i just sketched it out this morning! WHaaaaaa…this is most helpful!
Anyway love your blog and your tips…do you mind if we pick you brain a little prior to our trip?
Thanks!
KJ
Hey KJ,
Glad ya found it useful! Sure will be happy to help. Drop me a message on my fb page? It’ll be easier to chat there.
Congrats on your marriage btw. :)
hi hendric
tk u so much for sharing.this is the kind of trip I have been dreaming to do.at least now I have something to start with.
tks again.
julianna
hello
It’s a nice post.Thanks for sharing.
Hi Hendric, I discover your post after my trip back while, planning to write my own FB Travel Note. Arghgh … I should have read your blog earlier and bring the Spore flag. I had a friend going this last Qtr of 2015. I am gonna to ask him to so PIN IT there for all Singaporeans who have been there.
Hey Julia, Please do! That will be super awesome.
Great article and blog, I’m planning a 2 months trip in South America and you have some really valuable tips here, Thanks
Hi Hendric, aside from the sponsored flights, were there any other costs that might not have been factored in? My friends and I are thinking of heading to SA next year and we’re trying to determine how much we should save. Thanks muchos! (:
Nope! Only the sponsored flight to SA. Everything else is in. :)
Let me know how your adventure goes!
Will do! Have a feeling your blog’s gonna be my constant reference point in planning the trip! (:
am in central america now. heading to south america in a month. your article serves as a good reference, thanks! :)
Thanks Haan! Glad it’s of use. :)
Thanks for all the great tips and the really insightful post!
I for one am not sure how I can save to your extent. I’m going to Ecuador for 2+ weeks in April. Just booked the flight, which itself alone is over $3000. I can settle for a cheaper one but that either means numerous 2-hour transits or 60 hour traveling time.
My trip in Ecuador also includes Galapagos and Amazon. Even though I will be staying in hostels, I think the amount I will be paying is comparable to your 76 day tour, even though mine is only 20 days. Still, this is an interesting read!
Yeah thats the thing. The longer you travel, the cheaper it is because there is time to travel slower, break the costs of the flights up, and take long distance busses. And just flying to the Galapagos is expensive already! Not to mention the things you do there.
Do share your adventure with me when you are there. Missing the place so much :/
I sure will! Just settled accommodations (staying at Secret Garden Quito too). So psyched right now haha.
:)
Hey Hendric, thanks for sharing your itinerary with us.
I’m also from Singapore and I’m planning to head to South America for my grad trip. My budget is about SGD$3000 to $4000 excluding flight into and leaving South America. I’m looking to travel as many countries and get as much experience as possible for about a month, is the money that I set aside sufficient for this?
I understand that language could be a huge problem, when I was in Mexico, the people didn’t speak much English and it was a pain at times, is it the same in SA?
Hey Jay! I think 4k is definitely possible if you plan the route properly. As you can see from the cost excel sheet, the bulk of it went to transport and activities. Domestic flights are ok, but inter country flights even within South America will be a bomb. Also you’ll need to pick your activities. Galápagos Islands in Ecuador and Brazil is expensive.
I suggest picking a few highlight activities, find out their rough costs, then chart the transport route so you can plan your budget easier.
Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions. Keep in touch, tag me in your photos on Insta cause I’ll love to follow your journey too! I miss South America!!!
Thanks for the reply. Did you buy your flights within SA before you left or just went with the wind? Also, where did you find information regarding buses between states etc?
I bought them online when I was there. Busses I generally found out as I travelled, asking the hostel owners or going direct to the train station. You might be able to find some info online, but they may or may not be available. Guide books were also a good guide!
Hey Hendric, I’m currently planning my trip now. Looking at 6 weeks itinerary. Can you advise on the type of clothing to bring? The weather and the accessibility to cash? This will be a backpacking trip so I will go light with a single backpack and maybe a smaller slingbag, any tips to share?
Currently, I will leave around 28th April and return around 10th June next year. I intend to land in Rio, travel to Sao Paulo, Iguazu, if budget permits I might head down to Ushuaia if not then I would probably head up the same route that you’ve gone to and end off my trip in Cuba then Mexico.
Hey Jay,
Wha that’s a lot of ground to cover in 6weeks! Not sure if there is enough time even if you have very short stopovers cause of the sheer distance. I spent 11weeks and only covered 3/4 of that distance you are looking at.
Anyway I usually travel with a bigger backpack (for luggage), and a smaller backpack (day pack for day trips, short hikes etc.).
Generally everywhere is different, but you should not find problems drawing money in Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador. They are quite common in the tourist towns. HOWEVER, do check with the bank cause when I went, DBS blocked all withdrawals from Peru by default. Maybe it’s a blacklisted country I’m not sure. But if you plan to draw money, please take note.
The picture of “Interior of Secret Garden Cotopaxi” is insanely pretty!
Yes it really is! You should definitely stay there if you get a chance. Pricey for a hostel, but worth it!
Hi Hendric,
Is yellow fever and Typhoid injection mandatory before entering South Amercia?
Thanks!
It depends on which country you go. Only Ecuador from the list of places I went required yellow fever vaccination. However, they did not check when I was there. Better to be safe and just get it though!
Oic, thank you!
Apart from whether the South America countries require proof of vaccination at point of entry, you also need to check whether your own country of residence allows you to re-enter the country without proof of vaccination against yellow fever. Otherwise you face the risk of being quarantined upon return to your home country if you have visited certain areas (for example, the Amazon, the Pantanal, Iguazu falls etc ).
Thanks for sharing! What you said is very true.
Hi Hendric, thank you for sharing your itinerary! It is very helpful. May I ask which budget airlines did you use for internal flights within SA?
I am planning a one month trip in Feb spanning Brazil, Bolivia and Peru. We are landing in Rio and flying out from Lima. I know we won’t be able to see everything so what are the must visit sights that we must see? I am planning to spend time in Rio, Iguasu Falls, Uyuni salt lake, Lake Titicaca and Machu Picchu. Is there any route you would suggest? I need a cheap way to get from Iguasu Falls to Bolivia.
Thank you so much!
Hi Taleeey,
I took two flights:
1) Cuiaba (Brazil) to Santa Cruz (Bolivia) via Amaszonas
2) Quito (Ecuador) to Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
I think your current plan would probably take up all the time already! If you can, perhaps squeeze in dune buggy and sandboarding in Huacachina (Peru). If you see my video you’ll know how fun it is! haha.
There isn’t a lot of time for long bus journeys so flights might be the best for certain legs. The area you’re covering is pretty big actually!
Route wise prob Rio->Iguazu->Santa Cruz (by flight)->Uyuni->Lake Titicaca->Huacachina->Machu Picchu (cusco)->Lima
Hi Hendric,
Thank you so much for your quick reply!
Indeed sandboarding is so much fun! I have tried it once in New Zealand :D So am considering skipping Huacachina if there isn’t enough time.
Yea I am considering flying from Rio to Iguasu instead of taking the long bus. It seems to cost about the same.
Do you think I should try to squeeze in Potosi and Sucre on the route from Santa Cruz to Uyuni or would it be too much trouble moving around? I want to be able to enjoy each place.
That route sounds good, that will probably be the route I am taking. Thank you for your advice!
I took about 2 days in both Potosi and Sucre! Cause was only doing one thing each. See if it fits!
I see. Thank you so much for all your help! So excited to go there :D
Cheapest way from Iguasu though, is to take a bus to Campo Grande, then take another bus into Bolivia. Try to research on border control there, I heard its tricky! Like have to chop passport at Brazil side, cross the bridge yourself and take taxi to Bolivia side, then do immigration there or something. Bolivia you can get a visa on entry. I got mine at the airport in Bolivia so it was easier. Just research more if you are going by bus!
Okay thank you for the advice! I will do more research and compare the options! :) It does seem like a long route so maybe flight would be a better option.
Hi Hendric, there are many blogs out there on budget travel but found yours to be one of the more grounded and balanced ones. This is great info. Thanks for sharing!
I would be flying to Chile next week and spending 2 weeks there. Hoping very much to go see more of South America before coming back. While I have the luxury of time, safety and budget are my biggest concern, with only about S$4,000 left after the Chile leg. Hence, your overland route comes in really handy as an alternative to expensive flights.
If I may get some advice from you, I’m tentatively planning to go from Santiago – Argentina (Mendoza – Tucuman – Salta) – Bolivia (Tupiza – Potosi – Sucre – La Paz) – Peru (Cusco – MP – Lima). Is this feasible? Would really love to go to Ecuador and Galapagos, but think that might be overly ambitious. Very curious about your bus/overland experience too, esp on long distances or routes like Cusco – Lima, that I’ve heard are long and possibly mountainous. Would also like to get your advice on planning your bus routes, getting cheap tickets on safe buses, and things to watch out for, border control, etc. Thanks in advance!
Hi WL,
Thanks for your compliments! Anyway I’ll just comment on those places I’ve been k. The Bolivia and Peru leg is definitely ok and makes sense. I’ll just suggest you add in Uyuni in Bolivia. You have to go! http://pohtecktoes.com/salar-de-uyuni-worlds-largest-mirror/
Bus overland experiences are generally very good especially in Peru (the company cruz del sol is amazing). In Bolivia though, the roads are crazy cause the terrain is very challenging. You are also very high up so a little altitude sickness like headaches and nauseousness is common. The busses in Bolivia are also not as comfortable. Try not to take any longer journeys than what you have planned. Safety wise I usually keep my big backpack in the luggage compartment below (the bus drivers tag everything so usually no one will take your stuff), and hug my valuables in my small backpack to sleep.
Cheap tickets wise, just buy them from town to town. Ask at least 2 companies etc… I think you know the drill. Ask the hostel owners too, they will know the situation best on ground. Border control I know Bolivia-Peru is slow but ok. The bus basically stops you and you go get your chop. Not sure about the other spots though.
I think 4k is more than enough!
Thanks for the prompt reply, Hendric! Yes, how could I miss Uyuni… Just wondering how many days would you recommend for the Bolivia – Cusco stretch? Did you plan your accommodation on the go too?
It’s my first time planning such a trip and going solo too, so I’m getting some jitters from not really having everything planned and booked. Really appreciate the tips and reassurance.
Yup I planned on the go. Don’t worry you’ll be fine!
I spent 4 weeks for the Bolivia-Cusco leg. Was going a little slower. But I think you can do it in 2 weeks easily. For Uyuni maybe just do the 1day tour if you don’t have the time. The 1 day sunset tour is great for pictures. But the 3 day tour will be an experience.
I see. Thanks so much, Hendric! Have fun in India!
hey there… if there is one club you would recommend in Rio… which would it be?
Hello Mike,
Sorry but I can’t remember! I did just go along with the hostel people though. The better hostels have this arrangement with clubs almost every night so you can easily find info there.
Helpful info. Lucky me I found your site unintentionally, and I am stunned why this twist of fate did not happened
earlier! I bookmarked it.
Hi Hendric,
Thank you for sharing your experience. I’ve always wanted to go to SA and hope to use your blog as a reference, one day. I am curious about one thing though – do you get travel insurance for your trips?
YES PLEASE GET TRAVEL INSURANCE. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
Because I travel so often, I’m on an annual subscription with NTUC.
Hi Hendric,
Thank you for writing such an amazing post. It is so hard to find a good travel blog, especially one that is written by a Singaporean! :)
I will be going to South America this year for my grad trip, or rather closer to a gap year? I am a female traveller, going solo to South America (SA) from July 2017 to February 2018. My route will be mainly Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and possibly Uruguay. I like to seek your advice on a few issues.
1) Safety. How was the safety conditions like for the countries? Especially Ecuador and Bolivia. Did you face any dangerous situations? Will I be able to travel alone, or do I have to make sure that I’m with someone at all times? (eg friends from hostels..) I will be visiting the main attractions but also planning to do workaway so I will have to travel to the smaller towns… Lots of people told me SA is very dangerous, especially since I’m travelling alone but well YOLO. So I will appreciate any tips you have :)
2) Language. How proficient were you in Spanish when you visited SA? Is it easy to communicate with the locals if your Spanish is at a very beginner level? I’m thinking that I probably have to speak some Spanish when I book the local buses etc.
3) Transport. Sorry if this is a repeated question but how did you book your transports? Which sites do you use? I usually like to live day by day and do my planning very last minute haha. Which may be fine for Europe and Asia, but I guess it’s not recommended for SA?
4) Sentiments towards Asians. How was your travel experience like? Rather, I’m just looking for any tips you may have for a Singaporean visiting SA. Is there anything that I should take note of?
5) Visa. Well i just like to ask about Chile visa. I know that you didn’t visit Chile before but I’m hoping maybe you heard from friends before?? I saw from the website that Singaporean citizens can visit Chile on a tourist visa for less that 30 days. However, I’m planning to spend about 2 months in Chile but I couldn’t find a good resource online for tourist visa application. I saw the consulate of Chile website but it only had students visa and business visas on its website…
I understand that I wrote a lot and maybe it’s better to drop you an email or PM.. oh well, but at least others can benefit from my questions when they see this forum haha! Thanks :)
HI Ginny!
Sorry for the late reply. Overwhelmed with our other website https://thetravelintern.com. Have you seen it?
Anyway here’s a quick answer to your question. I hope they are still relevant because it has been 3 years since my trip there.
(1) I’ve been travelling alone before this and even before the trip I thought I might not come back alive because of all the articles friends and family sent me. What I discovered though is that they are overhyped. Ofc you can’t travel like how you could in Japan or Singapore, but no one is really looking out to harm you. There is petty crime, but if you follow the usual precautions of not walking alone at night, keeping valuables out of sight, splitting your cash, blah blah… it will be fine. Misfortunate might still strike, but it can happen to anyone. Do take note of some areas in Quito, Ecuador though. Check with your guesthouse where isn’t safe to go alone or at what times. I made lots of friends, travelled with many of them, but also went solo for some parts.
(2) I could say Thank you and Hello only. By the end of the trip I could tell what food was which, how to order, random words etc. Ofc it’s better if you can learn some Spanish! But i survived with random phrases from my lonely planet.
(3) Every country has their own system. But generally I booked through the hostels or tour agencies near the guesthouses. Back in those days, there wasn’t any centralised online booking system.
(4) Curious. Travel with pictures of Singapore. I had an album of our sights, food, and random things on my mobile. Many people don’t know much about us so it’s great to educate them! I still carry these pictures around on my phone. Haha
5) This one I’m really not sure. A trickI learnt from other backpackers is to just go in and out of the country for awhile to renew your tourist visa.
Btw would you like to write and share your experience with our community on https://thetravelintern.com (https://www.facebook.com/thetravelintern)? (could be a video) It sounds like a really epic trip and I think it would inspire more Singaporeans to go further and travel braver. One of our core values is to inspire others to travel better, smarter, and braver. Perhaps we could interview you after your trip.
Do drop us a note on FB or through the site? :)
Hi Ginny and Hendrick,
I’m currently into my 4th month in South America and I have been mainly in the south (argentina, chile, uruguay and brazil). I am working my ways up north. If I could chip in my thoughts:
1) For a better representation of safety in South America, join this facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BackpackingSouthAmerica/ The posts are all from backpackers so you’ll have a better idea. Robberies do happen. I was climbing the Corcovado mountain in Rio alone and I was fine, but 2 weeks later, there were numerous cases of armed robberies on that same hike. Just recently, a whole bus got robbed in Ecuador. Generally, I felt very safe in the south especially Chile and Argentina and Uruguay. I try to avoid going out at night and don’t get drunk. The funny thing is, it’s safer in small towns than large cities. I felt totally safe in the Southern towns and always use my phone on the streets, but in large cities I try not to.
2) Language: it’s definitely recommended to learn some Spanish before going. I learned 2 semesters in University and still have trouble understanding official instructions. I could get by with basic conversation. If you plan to visit non-touristy areas like the underdeveloped south of Chile (which I did), be prepared to go a few days without speaking English at all.
3) After taking over 40 buses, I only booked once online due to time constraints. Otherwise I always go to the bus station 1 or 2 days before, or even 10 min before the bus leaves (for frequent bus routes). Online booking can be more expensive because 3rd party companies draw a commission.
4) In the bigger cities, Asians are rather common. In the smaller towns, you get stares, but that’s all. The worst I get are some “chino” comments but I just laugh it off. I met other Asian girls who get hit on pretty often so take note of that
5) I have crossed the border between Chile and Argentina for 4 or 5 times and counting with no problems at all. You don’t need a visa. It’s a very common route to travel between Chile and Argentina (especially in Patagonia). Each time you cross border, your Visa resets. Buses leave almost everyday.
Hit me up at ter.owen@gmail.com if you wanna meet up. I might still be in SA for another few months!
Hendric, hope you can email her to let her know my thoughts. And hope this helps other people too!
We are a family of 5 traveling from NC (US) to Ecuador soon. Spent lots of time researching vaccination cost. LOTS of variability! Here’s what I just found for Hep A shots & Typhoid pills:
Concentra Travel Clinic: Hep A $98. Typhoid $83 PLUS $50 pp “consult fee” (Yellow fever $189)
CVS: Hep A $145 (adult); $118 (kids). Typhoid $142 NO consult fee
Walgreens: Hep A $114. Typhoid $88 NO consult fee.
Raleigh Public Health Dept: Hep A $95 Typhoid $95 PLUS $50 pp consult fee.
Durham Public Health Dept: Hep A $74 (Adults) & $33 (kids). Do not have Typhoid shot or pills
Walmart: Hep A $68 (14 y.o. & up; will not give to kids) Typhoid $95
Walmart WITH SINGLECARE.COM COUPON (anyone can download this from website): Hep A $61 Typhoid $60
Just thought someone else might benefit from all of our research this week!
Thanks for sharing!
Hi my friends and I are going on a South America trip very similar to yours. May I ask how did you manage your money overseas? Did you carry a bulk of cash (USD because it is widely recognised) with you or withdraw from the ATMs whenever you needed them?
Hello!
I did actually carry a wad of cash with me cause I’m a little old school. About 3k SGD worth? The rest I withdrew! But honestly when I was there, most people where just drawing from the ATM.
If you are using a Singapore Bank Debit Card, do call in to activate your card in certain blacklist countries like Peru. I had problems and had to call home to activate it.
Take note that withdrawing from ATMs in Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil incurs a hefty charge. It’s around $8-$13 each time you withdraw + $5 for my DBS bank fees. So always withdraw the maximum if possible. I can’t comment on Peru, Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador for now as I have not been there yet.
Good tips!
Hey hi there, my husband and I are planning to go to south america for the uyuni salt flats, amazon forest experience, perito glacier, machu pichu and iguazu falls. We would prefer a free and easy trip with no tours but we heard it can be pretty dangerous to get around there. What is your advice?
Hi Liyanah,
To be honest I thought it was dangerous too. But after coming back, it can’t be any less through. People are friendly and do look out for you. That said, like with any other part of the world, we just need to take the usual travel precautions like not flaunting your valuables and stuff.
Hi, I am planning to travel from Argentina to Bolivia for the salt plains. Confused with the information out there regarding Bolivian Visa for Singaporeans. Do we need one? Can it be gotten on arrival?
Yes we need one and we can get it on arrival! But do check your port of entry as it may be different. For example, I remember reading about a tricky land border crossing, whereas at the airport there was a convenient counter upon disembarking the plane. I took a flight!
Hi there!
Very interesting post! I might have missed out somewhere, but I wasn’t able to find any info on how to travel to South America from Singapore. Would you be able to share your route to South America? Thanks! :)
Hi Tim! I took a flight from Singapore to Sao Paolo!