South America Roundup

For any friends and family that are interested in travelling to South America we included a list of the places we stayed and some of the costs of our trip.

For most of the trip we stayed at places that catered to budget travellers and took buses as much as possible. At times we had to sacrifice comfort but overall South America is quite affordable to travel in.

Per Person

Peru

Peru is one of the most affordable countries in South America. This is where we decided to do Spanish school (Fair Play is great) as well as our Machu Picchu Trek. A lot of companies in Cusco offer jungle treks which are close in price to just taking the train to Machu Picchu and spending the night. The 3 night Lorenzo Expeditions trek cost around $190 and is highly recommend. 

Lima: Open Guest House (Favourite Staff)
Cusco: Home stay
Ollantaytambo: Chaska Wasi (Lots of Cats)

Puno: Marlin's House (Good)

Bolivia

A four-course meal for around $2, need we say more! Bolivia is a fantastic deal and has a lot to offer. Our biggest cost was the 3 day Salt Flats tour with Brisa Tours (Cordillera and Red Planet Expeditions were also recommended) which cost around $130 including entrance fees.

Copacabana: Hostel Emperador (Ok)

La Paz : Sol Andino (Great)

Cochabamba: Residential Familiar Anexo (Highest Ceiling Award)

Sucre: La Dolce Vita (Great)/ Also stayed a night at Pacha Mama

Uyuni: Piedra Blanca (Good)

Potosi: Koala Backpackers (Good)

 Chile/Argentina/Brazil

Our costs went up a in the more developed countries (not to mention road standards and quality of buses) but overall it is reasonably affordable to travel here if you're not moving too fast. The best steak in your life will cost about $15 with a glass of wine. Based on previous guidebooks, prices in Argentina seem to jump dramatically every few years. 

Chile

San Pedro de Atacama: Juriques Hostal (Good)

La Serena: Hostel Jofre (Very, Very Clean)

Caldera: Hostel Ankona (Only Hostel in Town)

Valparaiso: Casa Verde Limon (Really good)

Santiago: Ventana Sur Hostel (Good)

Argentina

Mendoza: Empedrado Hostel (Really Good/Best Breakfast/Best Events)

Cordoba: Baluch Backpackers (Good)

Rosario: Che Pampa's (Good atmosphere)

Buenos Aires: Tango y Bandoneon (great B&B) & Kapake Hostel (in Palermo)  

Iguazu Falls: Marco Polo Inn (Alright)

Brazil

Foz do Iguacu: Pousada de Laura (most eccentric/awesome owner award)

Parati: Che Lagarto (Great)

Rio: The Wave Hostel Ipanema (somewhat dingy but great staff, next to 7 other hostels)

Colombia

Cartagena: El Viajero (Awesome)

Medellin: Wandering Paisa (Great)

Bogota: La Pinta (Good)

Guatemala

Guatemala City: Quetzalroo (best hostel in the city and best host)

Livingston: Casa de Iguana (party hostel)

Flores: Los Amigos (Great)

Semuc Champey/Lanquin: Zephyr Lodge (Best location/Don't Miss it)

San Pedro la Laguna: Casa Blanca (stunning views), Zoola is also good

Tips for Staying on Budget: 

* Always ask for a discount at guesthouses/hotels/hostels - (it works about half the time)

* Most restaurants have set meals at lunch time. The same meal for dinner may be double the price so it's a good idea to sample the nicer restaurants at lunch.

* Flying anywhere within South America is expensive. Buses are a better option if you have the time.

Our route. 28,000 km so far

Bonus! Our Sandboarding Video: