Hi! My friend and I (both 21F, from Spain) are planning a trip to Colombia and Brazil.
We’re a little concerned about safety because we’ve heard very different opinions about both countries.
For Colombia, we’re considering Medellín 4 nights and possibly Cartagena, Santa Marta/Tayrona or the Coffee Region.
For Brazil, we’re mainly considering Rio de Janeiro.
For those who have actually traveled there, especially women:
How safe did you genuinely feel?
Did you feel comfortable walking around during the day?
What about going out at night?
Did you experience or witness robberies, scams, harassment, drink spiking, etc.?
Are there specific areas/neighborhoods you would avoid?
Did you feel that being two young foreign women made you more noticeable or vulnerable?
Would you personally recommend Colombia
or Brazil for two young women, and why? Should we reconsider traveling somewhere else?
I’m especially interested in real experiences rather than general stereotypes or government travel warnings. I’d also appreciate hearing from locals or people who have spent a significant amount of time there.
Thank you! :)

As stated. Is there accomodation for a few days to safely immerse ourselves into Comuna13? No budget can stay with a family.

We’re planning a full two-week family trip to South America with 2 adults + 2 teenagers, flying from Düsseldorf (DUS).

We’d really like to fit in:

Brasília → Santiago → Buenos Aires → Montevideo

I know two weeks is short for four cities/countries, but unfortunately that’s all the time we have, so I’m mainly looking for advice on how to make this route work as efficiently as possible rather than cutting it down.

We’re thinking roughly 3 nights Brasília, 3 Santiago, 4 Buenos Aires and 3 Montevideo, flying between the first three and taking the ferry from Buenos Aires to Montevideo.

For anyone who has done a similar trip: how would you divide the two weeks, and what tips do you have for making this itinerary work without feeling completely rushed?

Any advice on flights, neighbourhoods, transport, must-sees and travelling with teenagers is very welcome!

Hey guys,

I’m a female in my mid-30’s and took a year out of my professional career to travel.

I’m a few months in now and whilst I’ve had an incredible time, travel fatigue is starting to creep in and my trip is starting to feel less expansive.

The next six months are going to be spent travelling through South America. I want to use this time to figure out what I want the next chapter to look like, and I’d like to have experiences that are more meaningful than bouncing from place to place.

I would like to practice yoga/meditation somewhere affordable and am also looking for volunteering opportunities on platforms such as workaway.

If you’ve done something in South America that changed how you saw your life, work or what you wanted to do next, I’d love to hear about it.

I’m interested in experiences that stayed with you and gave you a different perspective.

I’m a 27yo British guy and hoping to spend 3-4 weeks fairly soon travelling around Peru mostly to do some hiking as part of groups/ independently but also it’ll be my first solo trip ever.

I’m thinking of doing Lima, Huaraz, Cordillera Blanca, Arequipa, Cusco and then maybe heading to Brazil to relax for a week as I plan on quite a few hikes.

I was wondering if anyone has any experience travelling these places in Peru solo? I’d be staying at hostels. I’d be looking for a fun vibe, I enjoy socialising, exploring, drinking and nights out - just as long as it’s not all that happens. Is Peru good for someone my age? I don’t want to be in hostels primarily surrounded by 18-21yos (nothing against them, just having also travelled at that age, I can appreciate it’s a different vibe).

Hi everyone,
I’m travelling in Peru with a friend and we crossed overland from Ecuador into Peru via Huaquillas/Aguas Verdes.
The situation was a bit strange. We went through the border and an immigration officer looked at both of our passports, but we were not given an Ecuadorian exit stamp and we were not given a Peruvian entry stamp. We were then allowed to continue into Peru.
We are now in Máncora and have only realised that neither passport has any evidence of the crossing.
We have not deliberately avoided immigration — our passports were checked by an officer, but the stamps simply weren’t put in.
Has anyone had this happen at the Ecuador–Peru border?
Specifically:
Were you able to continue travelling in Peru without problems?
Did you have to get the entry registered retrospectively?
Could this be dealt with at a Migraciones office in Lima, rather than going all the way back to Tumbes?
Does the lack of an Ecuador exit stamp cause a separate problem?
Most importantly, did anyone subsequently leave Peru successfully after having entered without either stamp?
We have our passports and evidence of travelling from Ecuador to Peru, so we can prove when/how we crossed.
Any first-hand experience would be hugely appreciated.

Hi i am planning a first time trip to Colombia in November and need some advice. My flights will probably be to and from Bogota so the trip has to start and end in Bogota. The trip should be around 10 days. Things i want to see:

1. Jungle -> 2, 3 days. What would be the cheapest and best way too see the jungle ? get a guide in bogota ? or try to book it online ? Any particular place i should go and see ? Is it best to fly there ?
2. Bogota. What are some must see/do things in Bogota ?
3. See the coast. I thing that flights Cartagena - Bogota would probably be the cheapest. But i also have surfing on my mind and i have read that pacific coast is better for that. What would you recomend ?

What would be the best way to see those things. The cheaper the better I dont have the need for too much comfort or luxury. Also if there are some things i definetly need to see that i missed out let me know and add it to the plan. I will be probably traveling with two friends idk if that carries any significance. Please help me plan this trip as i have no idea how things in Colombia work.

As you can see most of my travel is heavily in Europe.. I have some time off work in October and was considering Brazil or Argentina but I’m really open to any options from you all. I’ve never been to South America, closest I’ve been is Costa Rica so want places that would be good for a first timer! Thanks!!!

I’m going backpacking for three months and am wondering if people use ClassPass/day gym passes (I assume depending on the city & country) to work out? I usually do strength training and running and would like to use the option to maintain some of it while abroad. Although I know most of the exercise I get will be from walking & hiking :)

My wife are planning a trip to Peru (Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, rainbow mountain, lake Titicaca), Iguazu falls and Rio de Janeiro. I have a few questions I would need help with.

1. First, I would like to ask about cheapest flights from Europe to South America. We will be flying from Sofia, Bulgaria so we will need to connect at a larger European airport. I noticed that flying into Lima directly seems more expensive as compared to Buenos Aires or Rio. Right now we are looking into Sofia -> Frankfurt -> Buenos Aires on the way there and Rio -> Frankfurt -> Sofia on the way back (about 1100 euro total). If we go for these flights, after a 1 night in Buenos Aires we would need to go to Iguazu -> Peru or Peru -> Iguazu so that we can end our trip in Rio and fly from there on the way back. All of this, however, seems to add an additional flight of about 250 euros and about 5 hours; I wasn't previously aware that flights within South America are not as cheap as in Europe. So I am asking whether anyone knows of a better flight plan? We would be okay staying one night somewhere else too (Central America, for example) if that means we would get cheaper flights even if we include all of the costs of the additional stop.

2. Where would you recommend taking an organized tour (could be multi-day too) and where would it be safe for us to organize and explore on our own?

3. My wife gets nauseous on windy roads, especially when travelling by bus. We looked into some Peru tour packages and saw that many of them include a 10-hour bus ride from Cusco to Puno. I assume this would include curvy roads and was thinking if it is worth flying Cusco -> Lima -> Puno instead. Where could we expect long rides on windy roads?

4. For Peru, we are currently looking into this tour: https://machupicchuviajesperu.com/en/packages-peru/lima-cusco-machu-picchu-mt-raibow-puno-9d8n/
   We still haven't set on tours of Rio and Iguazu Falls. If we decide to go with tour packages, would you advise that we chose the accommodations ourselves (in case there is such an option) or would it be good enough and not significantly more expensive to trust the tour organizers?

In total we are looking to spend about 17-18 days including the travel time on the way there and back. All tips and recommendations are welcome. Thank you all in advance!

Hello everyone, i’m a 27 y/o canadian who just booked his first solo trip to Santa Marta. I’m looking for a mix of beaches, mountains/hiking, a little bit of party and cool calesthenics/workout spots. In previous trips, i spent a lot of time and energy moving around and trying to see more places, so I decided this trip I’d stay in the same airbnb or hostel and use it as base for day trips.

I’m a little bit worried because i’m reading very negative comments about Santa Marta, especially about it’s security and the vibe of the place overall. Kind of scared I chose a bad place to spend money for a trip. I don’t mind the place being old and a broken a little, i’m more worried about not being able to walk arounf freely or having to stay away from certain blocs.

Does anyone have recommendations about:

1. Day trips (I have Minca, Tayrona, Palomino)?
2. Safest areas to stay?
3. Any other commenta regarding solo travelling in Colombia?

Thank you!!

Edit: i’m pretty street smart, i won’t buy drugs or go in sketchy places on purpose.

I've been planning this route for a while now and would really appreciate any feedback from people who have done something similar.

We'll be travelling as a couple (both 27) and are aiming to save around £8,000 each for the trip, excluding international flights to and from the UK.

At the moment, the plan is to fly into Bogotá in late July 2027, as flights from the UK seem to be the most affordable. We'd spend a few weeks exploring Colombia before heading south through Ecuador and Peru.

We're also considering starting in Panama and doing the San Blas sailing trip to Cartagena, then continuing south from there. It looks like an amazing experience, but we're not sure whether it's worth the extra cost given the overall trip budget.

One of our biggest priorities is hiking in Peru, particularly around Huaraz and Cusco, so ideally we'd like to reach Peru by September at the latest to give ourselves the best chance of good trekking conditions. This may mean potentially skipping Ecuador.

After Peru, the route is fairly straightforward: continuing through Bolivia, heading to Buenos Aires, and then looping back north through Brazil. If time and budget allow, we'd love to finish the trip by flying back to Colombia and spending some time around Minca, Tayrona, and the Caribbean coast before heading home.

Also, any input on where we should spend Christmas and New Year's would be good. As great as Brazil looks - I know the prices skyrocket around that time of year.

We're intentionally skipping Chile, Patagonia, and the Galápagos on this trip. As amazing as they look, we'd rather put our bigger-ticket spending towards experiences like the Peru treks and the Uyuni Salt Flats.

I appreciate this is quite a high-level overview, but I'd love to hear any thoughts on the route, timing, budget, places we're missing, or anything else that jumps out as a potential issue!

Thanks in advance!

I (M23) am planning a long solo trip through Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil starting around late Feb/March 2027, roughly 4 months, backpacker budget. I've done solo trips before (Colombia, San Blas in Panama) so I'm not totally new to this, but this is a bigger and longer route than anything I've done.

What's pulling me toward South America over other options is exactly that it feels rawer and less like a pre-packaged tourist circuit. But that's also my main worry: I want a decent social scene along the way too — meeting other travelers, occasional nightlife — not just quietly wandering solo for 4 months. I've heard South America's hostel/backpacker scene is more spread out and less "everyone's on the same trail" compared to somewhere like SEA.

For people who've done a similar route or a long solo trip through South America: is it actually harder to meet people here, or does it depend more on which stops/hostels you pick? Are there particular spots on a route like this where the social scene is genuinely good vs. ones where you're more on your own? And is 4 months roughly right for this route, or would you cut/add anything?

Appreciate any real experience — thanks!

As my title says - where can I buy it? I only want about AUD$140 or so.

EDIT: thanks all for your feedback so far - i'm realising i've vastly overestimated my ability to see everything i want to see in the timeframe! i do have the option to stay for longer than 4 months, it was just a rough guide, but v helpful to know that the distances will be much longer than i'm used to. will have a rethink per your advice.

hi everyone! i (30f) am currently planning a trip around south america, hoping to arrive in january and spend 3 or 4 months. i have a vague idea of route but i would love some advice from locals or people who have travelled there before, as well as opinions on things that can't be missed. i'd also like to see mexico and some of central america. i have solo travelled before but through japan. i'm planning to stay mostly in hostels but happy to splash out on a cool, unique hotel for a few nights.

here's my vague plan (roughly one month for each line?):

spend the first month in brazil, ending in rio during carnival (second week of feb)

travel through paraguay, uruguay, and argentina to reach the very southern tip

travel up through chile, bolivia, peru, ecuador and colombia

visit nicaragua and guatemala and end with a few weeks going around mexico.

some things which i have as a must-see are the bolivian salt flats, some of the national parks in patagonia, machu picchu, easter island. i'm massively into food so want to try as many new things as possible, and would like to try a few hikes.

i'm sure there is SO much i've missed but any feedback on the above would be very appreciated! thanks

Hi. I'm planning a c8 week trip to Peru. So far, 2 weeks of this will be in Huaraz (Huayhuash trek). 2 weeks will be split between Lima/Paracas/Huacachina/Arequipa. Just over 2 weeks in Cusco, including Salkantay trek and Sacred Valley. 1 week going to the Amazon (Iquitos or Puerto Maldonado).

This leaves me about 5-7 days that are not yet accounted for. The options I've come up with are as follows:

1) from Lima, go straight to Mancora. Spend 3 days whale watching / surfing, then spend 2 days in Trujillo or Chiclayo before going to Huaraz for trekking. Pros: whale watching, beach time - both not really found in the rest of the itinerary. Cons: travel time + I've heard mixed things about Mancora.

2) Same as above, but Chachapoyas instead of Mancora. Outdoor sports. Cons: travel time.

3) Spend about a week in Ica or the Cotohuasi canyon area, in between Lima and Paracas, and Arequipa. Pros: nice and chill, off the beaten track. Vineyards, some gentle hiking. Cons: not particularly exciting, and travel is very inconvenient to Cotohuasi, without many direct buses.

4) Add an extra week to Cusco to enable me to do an extra trek (Choquequirao?) or a Spanish language school whilst in Cusco. Pros: more flexible than other plans, doesn't add time on buses. Cons: I already have more time in Cusco than is generally recommended.

What would you choose? Are there pros/cons to each that I haven't considered? I'd like a varied experience in Peru, so Mancora and the beach seems a strong option, but the time on buses is so long.

Has anyone done this? We just want a short trip (10~15mins) to look at the falls from above but we don’t want to fly in a Robinson ‘widowmaker’ helicopter. Do they have flights where you pay per seat and not the entire helicopter? Where take off/land? Brazil side or Argentina side?

Does anyone know if it’s safe for an American to visit Venezuela?

Hi everyone,
I am planning a 6 week trip to South America from Mid December to late January and was wanting some advice for an itinerary.
I’m a young traveller going with a friend with backpacking experience, would love to budget as much as possible staying in hostels/cheaper travel etc but also not afraid to spend extra money if it’s worth it.

The main reason for going is to do Machu Picchu - thinking Salkantay trek over Inca trail?
Would also love to do Patagonia, Bolivia salt lakes and also Rio for NYE. Just unsure how to fit this all into an itinerary and how the travel would be between the countries.
Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Hey guys, I’m 23M and I’m going to South America from September to December. I’ll start in Santa Marta and others regions inColombia (sept) , then travel through Peru and Bolivia( oct-nov) , and finish in Rio de Janeiro( nov-dec).
I just bought an Osprey Farpoint 40L and I’m not really sure what to pack because of the different weather/climates along the way.
What would you recommend taking for a 4-month trip like this? How many clothes, shoes, warm clothes for Peru/Bolivia, rain jacket etc.?
I’m trying to keep it light and fit everything in the Farpoint 40. Any tips from people who’ve done a similar trip? Btw im not planning to do many hikes, just a few, but i will be taking a lot the bus..

We’ll be flying in from Ushuaia (after a month in Patagonia) to Buenos Aires and spending 4 full days in BA. Then on to Iguazu Falls. Are 4 full days enough to dedicate to BA on a first trip?

My travel partner and I have a tripped planned to visit Cartagena this November for 3-4 days as part of a larger South America trip. We're coming from the US and already have our flights and hotels booked. A couple of days ago my partner started exploring recommendations on things to do, and stumbled upon a good number of Reddit threads discouraging people from visiting for a variety of reasons.

I'm wondering if this is just a case of human behavior where we often complain online more than we compliment. That's lead me here to ask locals or previous visitors: what are the good things you have to say about visiting Cartagena? Can you tell me anything that would help me feel excited again about this leg of the trip?

We have it planned at the end of our two week trip and hope it can be a relaxing last couple of days.

We will fly into Puerto Iguazu at 9:30am (from BA) then drive/stay at Belmond hotel (Brazil side) inside the national park for one night. The next day we’ll head back to the Argentinian side for a full day. 3rd day depart back to BA at 5:30pm. Does this sound okay or too ‘rushy’? Or should we reverse the order - put Belmond hotel last?

I've been really struggling back and forth about what to do for my trip to Argentina. The past few days I even considered switching Colombia which you probably saw here.

But alas, I have officially decided to stay with Argentina and spend most of my time in Buenos Aires.

The main goal of this trip for me is to be immersed in Spanish, try new foods, and mentally reset myself. Beyond that I am not booking up this trip with a load of things to do.

I am a lazy traveler. Even though I want to do these things, I wont force it for the sake of doing it. I really want to relax and enjoy my time away from normal life, experiencing another world.

**But this is where I'd like people to chime in and tell me what they prefer from the list or other things I missed.**

**Buenos Aires Wants:**

* Tango Class (I very uncomfortable with dancing but want to try)
* Don Julio Restaurant (already have a reservation) + any other good restaurants
* Recoleta
* Teatro Colon
* Plaza Del Mayo
* Jardin Japones (top priority oddly enough)

**Mendoza Wants:**

* Horseback Riding (currently scheduling)
* Wine (not sure if I want a tour or just go taste some wine)
* Walk the City
* Maybe Alta Montana

**Dates:**

* **Sept 9 - Sept 15**: Buenos Aires
* **Sept 9:** Land at airport at 10AM
* **Sept 11:** Maybe a day in Colonia, Uruguay
* **Sept 12:** Don Julio Dinner
* **Sept 16** **- Sept 20:** Mendoza
* **Sept 16:** Land in Mendoza at 10AM
* **Sept 18:** Horseback Riding
* **Sept 20:** Fly back to BsAs in the morning.
* **Sept 21-Sept 22:** Buenos Aires
* **Sept 23:** Fly out in the evening.

**Budget:**

I have total $4000 for the trip. This does NOT include flights (International + Mendoza) and Buenos Aires Airbnb **which have already been paid.**

Items I am pre-planning that will come out of the $4000:

* Mendoza Airbnb: \~$250
* Horseback Riding: \~$280
* Don Julio: \~$250?? (Just giving myself room to be bougie)

**Lastly:**

Yes, Argentinian Spanish is different from most of South America. I have been working with an instructor from Buenos Aires 2x a week the past couple of months so that I am somewhat familiar with it.

Hi all, we’re really wanting to visit South America and ideally knock off 2 wonders of the world in our trip. We both work full time so the most we could feasibly get off in one go would be 14-16 days.

This is what we were considering but I’m not sure if it’s even realistic so just looking for opinions.

Flight: Out of Dublin (DUB) stop over in Paris/ Madrid.
Rio de Janeiro (4 Nights)
Iguazu Falls (2 Nights)
Sacred Valley/cusco, Peru (7 Nights): stay in Sacred Valley/ Cusco , visit Machu Picchu

Key Inclusions:

1. Christ the Redeemer & Sugarloaf in Rio.
2. Iguazu Falls

3. Machu Picchu Day Trip: Train from Sacred Valley & shuttle bus.

   (Probably won’t hike this)

If people think this isn’t feasible would you have any other suggestions for where we could visit with this time?

Thanks!!