South America
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South America Backpacking Route
Backpacking South America is one epic adventure and this route is the longest of all our travel itineraries. It includes Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. It may easily take up to half a year to complete and that would still be missing out large chunks of the continent! Read on and start planning what could be the trip of a lifetime with our suggested South America backpacking route. All our South America Backpacking Routes As well as our main South America travel route (outlined on this page below), we also have smaller, separate routes for a couple of other parts of the continent: Brazil | Patagonia…
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Patagonia Backpacking Route (Argentina & Chile)
Travelling through Patagonia is quite simply a nature lover’s dream. This Patagonia backpacking route, covering the best of Southern Argentina and Chile starts in Santiago and ends in Ushuaia, the southern tip of the South American continent. In other words, you will be as close to Antarctica as it is possible to get without actually going there yourself (which is an option from Ushuaia!). Backpacking Patagonia – Route Info TIME NEEDED – 5 to 6 WEEKS 5 weeks is probably sufficient but if you have the time and funds, you can take it slower. There are some pretty big distances to cover and you could do it in less by…
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The Cheapest & Best Cities to Live in Colombia
As the years go by, Colombia is increasingly becoming a safer and more attractive option for people looking to move abroad. It remains a cheap place to live by most standards, with living costs considerably less than in the United States or Canada and it even compares favourably to the most expensive South American nations such as Brazil and Chile. In this post, we’re going to look at some of the best and cheapest cities to live in Colombia. 5 of the Best Cities to Live in Colombia Medellin Colombia has changed a lot in recent years and the days when drug cartels and guerilla groups made it a violent…
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São Paulo is a monster, but you might like it!
On the bus ride in from Guaralhos International, the busiest airport in South America, towards the centre of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest metropolis, it is only natural to arrive at a far from favourable first impression of São Paulo. The buildings are mostly bland and grey giving an almost depressing feel to the heartbeat of one of the world’s most colourful countries. While the feeling that this is Rio de Janeiro’s ugly big bully of a brother never quite goes away, the more time you spend in the city and the more little gems you discover, you may well be won over as there are so many things to do…
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The Busiest Airports in South America
In this post, we’re going to look at the busiest airports in South America. From São Paulo to Santiago and Lima to Bogota, the continent has some gigantic cities with large airports, although South America’s skies aren’t as busy as those in some other regions of the world where air travel is a more affordable and more popular way to get around. For this article, we have used data from 2019 and 2020. Figures are rounded up or down to the nearest 100,000 in all circumstances. Passenger numbers relate to total figures including both domestic and international travel. The Busiest Airports in South America by Passenger Numbers São Paulo–Guarulhos International…
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Brazilian Cities that are cheap to live in & offer a high Quality of Life
Despite many ongoing issues affecting daily life there, Brazil has emerged as the wealthiest nation in South America and it’s among the most popular with anyone looking to experience life on the continent for a longer period of time. In this post we’re going to look at some of the best and cheapest cities to live in Brazil. We’ve five of the best options for anyone looking to find a relatively high standard of living in the country and a living cost comparison of twelve major Brazilian cities. 5 of the Best Cities to Live in Brazil Fortaleza In the 21st Century, Fortaleza has emerged as a frontrunner when it…
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Crossing the dangerous Darién Gap between Colombia and Panama
Travellers looking to get between South America and Central America have long faced a difficult dilemma. While the continents are connected by land, a tiny region called the Darién Gap linking Colombia and Panama makes the task of getting between two bordering continents surprisingly challenging. In this post, we’ll look at what the Darién Gap is, why it is considered so dangerous and ways to cross or avoid it. Crossing the Darién Gap between South & Central America What is the Darién Gap? The Darién gap is an 80 km stretch of jungle between Panama and Colombia. Locals mostly know better than to try and cross it, but for anyone…
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10 Unique Work Exchange Opportunities
Summer 2021 is upon us. While travelling continues to be challenging in many parts of the world due to the pandemic, there are still many opportunities for work exchange programs and volunteering abroad. In this post, we’re going to look at some of the most interesting opportunities currently available on Worldpackers which is one of the best travel websites for backpackers. While anyone can view the opportunities, you need to register with them to apply for positions. You can use our Worldpackers discount code “MYFUNKYTRAVELWP” to get $10 off the registration fee. In most cases, you will receive free accommodation in exchange for work, and in some cases meals and…
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5 of the best South American Cities to live in & Cost of Living Guide
In this post we’ll look at some of the cheapest and best cities to live in South America. We’ve got five suggestions that might suit digital nomads or remote workers looking for a new base in South America. They offer both affordability in global terms and a higher quality of life than you might find in some of the continent’s other major cities. We also have a cost of living table featuring 20 large cities from across South America which should allow you to get an idea of how living costs compare from country to country. 5 of the Best Cities to Live in South America Buenos Aires, Argentina The…
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The World’s Weirdest Tourist Attraction: San Pedro Prison, La Paz
San Pedro Prison is one of the biggest in Bolivia and the common destination for people convicted of breaking the country’s laws. However this is no ordinary prison. San Pedro has gained an infamous reputation with all the bizarre stories that have come out of it through the years. This includes everything from tales of cocaine labs, wild parties and wealthier inmates renting fancy cells equipped with hot tubs and king-size beds. There was even a period when backpackers in La Paz would take tours of the prison and sometimes end up, quite voluntarily, staying for days or weeks in their crazy new surroundings. Dark Tourism: Bolivia’s infamous San Pedro…
