South America trip

[M@T.R]

As I finish my pointless degree in a few weeks time and haven't had a proper holiday since I was about 12, I think I deserve a treat.

South America has always appealed to me with things like the Amazon, Andes and Inca Trail. I've seen this trip on a website http://www.gapadventures.com/tour/PXML&itinTyp... it seems to encapsulate most of the things I want from the trip, and my plan would be to go for a week or so before and stay for 3 or 4 weeks after.

My plan is to get any old job for the next 9 months or so to try and save up enough to do it (£5000?), and then when I come back look at sorting out a proper career for myself.

Just looking for any advice really from anyone that has done something like it, ideas of cost, what to expect and if it was worth it.

Mat.

[mechsympathy]

That seems bloody expensive. It's certainly a good trip but 1200 quid for 3 weeks in Peru doesn't look like good value. All the places they visit are on the Gringo trail so you'll meet plenty of people and it's easy to get about.

If you do do it then the Salar de Uyuni from Bolivia into Chile is one of the best trips I've done anywhere.

[VxDuncan]

mechsympathy said:

That seems bloody expensive. It's certainly a good trip but 1200 quid for 3 weeks in Peru doesn't look like good value. All the places they visit are on the Gringo trail so you'll meet plenty of people and it's easy to get about.

If you do do it then the Salar de Uyuni from Bolivia into Chile is one of the best trips I've done anywhere.

I'd go against that and say that's pretty cheap as these things go... Don't forget these things are usually paid on the ground by the operators in dollars, and the exchange rate is poo at the moment. Usually a 3wk trip I work on £1k+ not inc flights or local payment. Check it includes all the costs for the inca trail though, and make sure you leave enough time as the trail gets booked up early.

I don't have an issue with the £300/wk a small group tour usually costs, yes you could do it on your own, but the hastle of having to get up everyday, plan where you are going, find transport, maybe get a guide, get ripped off, then have to find an okay hotel again and again everynight isn't much of a holiday too me. I just found it too hard work and prefer the small group tours. Yes you are paying for the fancy brochures and websites, but this is cancelled somewhat by sharing transport, guides and excursions with 10 other people, and a bulk discount on hotel rooms. Okay, maybe I'm just lazy!

I always say this, but the key thing on a tour like this is the choice of tour company - as that dicates your fellow travellers (who you will be with 24/7 for three weeks!). The different companies tend to target markets, some the GAP your beer-bus hippes, some the late twenties single graduates, some the 30's professionals etc. etc. For what it's worth I understand GAP are fairly typical of the breed, and the typical traveller is the 29yr female aussie travelling on their own. They seem the most common. Always worth asking a company how they would describe their typical traveller.

The choice of company (and trip style) will also dictate what you get for your money, sounds obvious but I didn't realise that the difference between one companies "adventurer" and "explorer" tours was the difference between aircon rooms/transport on not. A big issue in India! This extends to the hotels, big and fancy or nasty flea-ridden pit and shared room. Typically on a small group tour around that price you'll be sharing a room in a fairly basic hotel, might have aircon, simple breakfast, clean but nothing fancy.

Do it!

Edited by VxDuncan on Tuesday 21st April 23:01

[mechsympathy]

VxDuncan said:

Stuff

Valid points. Personally I couldn't think of anything worse. If you want company and sharing costs etc you'll find plenty of people travelling on your own without being tied to a large group and associated politics and schedule. You also meet far more locals.

IMO the benefits of individual travel outweigh the hassle.

[M@T.R]

Thanks for the input so far people, some interesting points raised. Having everything arranged for me initially appeals to me as this will be the first time I have done anything like this. I would intend to stay for a few weeks after doing my own thing so being with a group of people I don't get on with wont bother me too much in the short term. Another question is has anyone taken their gf/ partner on a trip like this? I was planning on going alone, but my gf has decided she would like to come with me and in someway it would be nice to have someone to share the experience with/ bail me out when I run out of money.

[dreamer75]

Depends what you're into - I spent a couple of months in Chile - flew into Santiago from the UK and took a bus trip up to the Peru border, then worked my way South down to Patagonia (trek around Torres del Paigne which is one of the most amazing places I've ever been), across to Argentina to see the Moreno Glacier, trek around the Fizroy national park, then back across to Chile and up to Santiago to fly out.

This was back in '99 so I'm sure things have changed, but it was incredible, and away from the usual tourist track.

Live volcano's, glacial lakes, icebergs, the driest desert in the world, beaches, mountains, brilliant people... what more could you ask for.

The only place we booked in advance was the hotel in Santiago when we arrived - the rest we made up as we went along.

I'm sure costs have changed significantly since then, but your budget was a lot more than 2 of us had for 6 weeks or so, and we didn't slum it

[v15ben]

We book plenty of GAP trips in South America. There average traveller according to the UK Sales Manager is a 26 year old travelling alone or with a friend/partner. The trips themselves are very good and do include Inca Trail permits. It isn't cheap to do the trail unfortunately. Worth doing plenty of research if you really want to do Peru with GAP as they have a mind boggling number of options. Any Qs or to get a better idea on prices just drop me an email

[v15ben]

Also Google 'Lares Trek' as an alternative to the Inca Trail if you want something a bit different should you go for something more independent, but still see Macchu Pichu

[AJS-]

Depends what you want out of it. For me, walking in crocodile with a load of other backpackers is not my idea of a good time, and I should think you could do the same cheaper under your own steam. I know many people enjoy this for the social aspect though, and it might be a good way to ensure you have a knowledgeable guide for these sites, and that you don't get fleeced too much if you're not confident about haggling in Spanish/Quencha.

Looks like a good itinary though.