Week of hiking - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

futboller · 03-21-2006, 10:11 PM

So all of a sudden I'm thinking of going to SA (Thanks U2Fan!) and since I really couldn't get more than a week away for a year or two, I was thinking of hiking for a few days. So I've got some questions...

If you were to go to SA to hike for maybe 5, 6 days, where would you go? Peruvian Andes, Brazilian rainforests, other... places (my SA geography is rusty)?

Excluding airfare, how much do you think 5 to 6 days worth of food and lodging would run?

Speaking of lodging, in March in SA, is sleeping in a tent viable? (if I'm hiking through the Andes anyway)

**U2fan** · 03-21-2006, 10:15 PM

Very cool! Glad I could influence.

When are you going? Immediately? Like jumping on a plane and going? You mention March but it's 22 March today...

It's really seasonal obviously though I guess you are used to the cold if you're in Michigan so you could handle cold weather in Patagonia...hmm

**omisan** · 03-22-2006, 12:02 AM

Inca Trail... that's gotta be the mother of all trails in SA, no?

futboller · 03-22-2006, 06:36 AM

If only I had the money to just hop on a plane. I was thinking of next March, which gives me plenty of time to figure out where to go.

Sadly, with all the new regulations, the Inca Trail may be out of my price range for now. ($300-$400/person in fees and "services"?) It seems like it's geared towards tour groups and not the lone packer carrying their own pack.

**U2fan** · 03-22-2006, 02:58 PM

Well, I cannot speak from experience, but I definitely met people who had done it on their own....they didn`t mention anything about fees/services/tour groups....

futboller · 03-22-2006, 07:04 PM

I looked it up here and it says that just a few years ago they started requiring travelers to have a tour guide. If anyone's heard otherwise more recently then let me know. Peru still sounds pretty cool. More opportunity to see a different culture and a little less touristy.

Anyone been to Peru?

**U2fan** · 03-22-2006, 09:42 PM

A little less touristy....I would say no. Compared to say Western Europe, I guess yes, but Peru is one of the most touristy places in all of South America.

futboller · 03-22-2006, 10:25 PM

Good to know!

What's the weather like in Argentina in March?

**U2fan** · 03-23-2006, 12:48 AM

Well I haven't been there in March but figure it's like September in the northern hemisphere. It does get very humid there but it won't be full on summer.

You might want to check out this website; I love it.
http://www.weatherbase.com/

**kingcrazylegs** · 03-23-2006, 06:50 AM

That really sounds awesome - I am sure it would be an Awesome experience....totally go for it!

chasing a dream · 03-23-2006, 07:23 AM

I say, go to the rain forest

. That's someplace I've alwase wanted to go, for sure. I have no idea if it is a requirement to have a tour guide, but it would deff. be a good idea. If you go on your own, take a GPS unit with you. The rain forest would not be a good place to get lost. If you're doing this for the nature end of it, the rain forest would be a must do.