BootsnAll Travel Community

I'm planning on taking a one-two month backpacking trip after senior year (high school, not college). I'm fairly sure I can recruit some friends, but if not, I'll go it alone rather than pass it up.

Anyway, I've been wondering about a few different destinations. The two areas that really stick out to me are Ecuador/Peru and Senegal/Mali. I think I'd prefer to go Senegal/Mali, but I'm not sure if this is feasible as a seventeen-year old (my birthday is July 29, so I'll probably turn 18 on the road).

What are your thoughts? As I said, I plan to have some friends along, but I want to make sure to pick somewhere where I can still go alone if they bail out, rather than cancel the trip. Remember, I'll be a 17/18 year old girl.

My instinct is that I can handle it, but when I think of it in the larger picture (a young girl wandering around Africa/South America for two months, potentially alone!) it seems a little crazy. Of course, I've been traveling since before I can remember (with my family) and not just in first world countries (I've been to Thailand, Morocco, and India). My parents have tried to bring me up to be able to handle any "situations" that come up while traveling, and I think they've done a pretty good job of it.

What do you think? Can you picture me traveling around South America or western Africa? If not, is there somewhere you think I should go instead?

Thanks.

Be forewarned: border officials have deep-felt issues concerning minors traveling on their own.

Hej Sierra! I wandered around South America (Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile) for 2 months alone, and was just fine. While I'm a decade older than you, I do look like I can pass for a teenager.

I met the friendliest people in Ecuador. I felt that a lot of people, especially the taxi cab drivers, were extremely helpful and wanted to take care of me (make sure I was safe) as if I were family. I was amazed at how caring Ecuadorians are to strangers.

Peru was a bit of a different story. Still, a lot of friendly folks there. But Peru is more geared towards the tourist industry, for obvious reasons. I got ripped off by a few taxi drivers there. Got in an argument with one, out of frustration and after 2 days of being in transit.

You'll get hit on alot, "sss sss'ed" at, called gringa (if you are white). Just ignore it, walk on, and you'll be fine. Guys just love to flirt down there.

Ecuador and Peru are beautiful countries. I've never been to Senegal or Mali, so I can't say anything about them!

Hi friends, i am Omar i live in Lima PERU, your are WELCOME!!!! Perú is very beautifull, when you visit PERU??? look my web:

www.geocities.com/omaraguayovillegas/backpacking



mar.