Im thinking of travelling around south america alone.?

Question

has anybody who's done this got any advise and did they enjoy the experience

Answer 1

Good luck.

Answer 2

I did it.  I landed in Guayaquil and took busses along the coast to Santiago. (ranging from "chicken busses" to first classbusses with seats that lay all the way back to beds).  From there crossed over through Argentina to Uruguay.  I then went back to Guayaquil on busses up through Argentina and Bolivia.  

I loved it and would do it again in a heart beat.  There are so very many places to visit and I would never have enough time to see them all.  Some highlights:  The Salt Flats of Uyuni in Bolivia.  Lake Titicaca.  Huacachina in Peru!!! Beautiful.  Misahualli in Ecuador.  Iquitos and jungle tour in Peru (I did 2 weeks in the jungle and wish I'd done more, got to see the source of the Amazon river and river dolphins!)  The Nazca Lines.  Valisas in Uruguay.  Buenos Aires and surrounding areas just in general.  Very neat places to see.  So many other places I could mention and go on forever.  I need to get back to finish up the trip to be honest.  I lost my wallet and everything on the way back in Bolivia so unfortunately I couldn't do some of the things I would have liked to. Macchu Picchu for example.  Any other questions feel free to contact me!  I'd love to reminisce.

Answer 3

i am doing this in July!  I am actually starting in mexico city though to meet up with a friend, we're flying to el savador and then driving down to panama.  there we planned to hop on a bus to peru, then a train, bus, train bus...you get the picture.  travel anywhere is safe as long as you are a smart tourist.  never part from your wallet. i always wear a belt that goes around the abs and tucks into the pants that holds my passport, cash, credit cards.  i also keep a copy of all of my documents in my bags incase they do end up getting lost. i ask a lot of questions from locals to help me suss out a new area, don't go wandering off at night alone and don't drink too much.  (that last bit is the tricky bit).  i'm excited about central/south america.  i've done europe, aus, new zealand, africa and now this.  you'll be fine.

Answer 4

I would love to - go for it!

Answer 5

You have a lot of good advise from experienced travellers abnove.

I would only add that anybody in a uniform, police, security or regular army is to be treated with RESPECT.

These guys are all armed and will not hesitate to get tough if they think you are being disrespectful. Smile a lot, use what language skills you have and don't lose your temper, no matter how provoked.

PS: Don't drink the water or sleep with the hookers (for the same medical reasons...)