BootsnAll Travel Community

thanks for the input guys.
i will be taking my own skis.
i plan on using couchsurfers to leave my skis in BA now.

any suggestions on working my way north via bus from BA to Peru? How can I do this and hit iguazu falls and NE Argentina? Should I do that on the way back? Should i fly back to BA after Peru or take a bus back? what is great in Peru in June? i can not seem to find this.

i really am not looking for skiing suggestions, as I have that part figured out now (my second month). I guess I am looking more for first month (first week, even) info now (being travelling to peru). thank you!

quote:

Originally posted by djxtreme:
any suggestions on working my way north via bus from BA to Peru? How can I do this and hit iguazu falls and NE Argentina?

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BA - Iguazu - Ciudad del Este - Asuncion - Resistencia - Salta. That's the route I went a couple of years ago, all on busses.
From Salta you can cross the border to Chile or to Bolivia. I'd choose the latter. Coming from the south you can make your first stop in Tupiza and take Salar de Uyuni tour from there.
Places worth visiting in Bolivia are: Potosí, Sucre, Cochabamaba, La Paz, and E-N/E Bolivia (Jesuit missions circuit).
From Bolivia, around Titicaca lake to Puno and Cuzco (Machu Picchu). Depending on how far you want to go into Peru, you might finish there and return south via Arequipa and Tacna, crossing the border to Chile there and a long bus trip to Santiago (via Iquique). There is not much to see there until you reach Santiago and Valaraiso.
From Santiago a bus trip to Mendoza (stunning views crossing the Andes), and finally to BA.

thanks so much for that. the thing is, with my limited time, i am going to stick to peru and argentina only.
what about this:
BA-Iguazu and NE argentina, then from somewhere in that part of argentina straight to peru, and then when i'm done in peru down to NW argentina then to BA then to skiing...

Peru and Argentina don't share a border. You need to go via either Bolivia or Chile. Take a look at the map.
There are no flights either from northern Argentina to Peru.

it's going to be hard to resist going to bolivia or chile. i think i may just find a mode of transport from salta when i get there to Peru, since that looks like the most northern place in argentina i'd go. otherwise, I'll just find the fastest bus, which I'm not sure which country it will go through.

Hey I have a question for all you superstar travelers. I am a first time backpacker and I am planning a trip to SA for around 9 months. I am trying to decide on the best place to start (North in Columbia or South in Argentina) and do a loop around the entire continent, also do if I start in the south do I first head to Brazil or go North into Chile and Bolivia? What do you recommend as the best time to begin my journey? I am planning either for a June or January start. Please let me know. I spent the last few days reading through all your posts and scanning through few travel guides and I figure the guides are pointless I like real info from real travelers.

Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by Tomorrow Is Yesterday:
I am planning either for a June or January start.Thanks

Depending on what climate and temp you like. June is winter in Buenos Aires, January is summer.
Parts of South America (the Andes) are pretty cold on higher altitudes in winter (June-August).
Another aspect is the costs. Brazil and Chile are the most expensive countries, Bolivia is the cheapest one. Peru, Ecuador and Argentina are pretty cheap too. If you're travelling on budget, and for 9 months, it'd be advisable to spend more time in the cheaper countries.
The best mode of tranport are busses. Flight are too expensive. There are practically no trains, except a couple of lines in each countries (but no international).
Generally, South America is tourist friendly and easy to travel. One obstacle is the language, as English is rarely spoken, so you'd need to get some basics before you go.

Thanks for the quick reply. Language and $$ aren't really an obstacle. I have a pretty big backpack but don't want to pack too much, so I would rather avoid Argentina (Patagonia) in the winter.

My plans were to spend 3 months in Peru & Bolivia, 2 months in Brazil, 1 1/2 months in Argentina, one month in Columbia , and a few weeks each in Equador, Venezuela, Uruguay & Paraguay. I am not on a strict schedule but I want to form some sort of loose itinerary that will give me some direction. How do the time frames sound?

I am thinking more of logistics as to which direction to travel, assuming I begin in June in Columbia is better to head south into Equador and Peru or head east into Venezuela then to Brazil? How is traveling through the rainy season?