Hi guys,
im a 21 year single white female from aus and im planning on backpacking across central and south america in september, i may or may not have a travelling partner yet but im thinking about buying a car and travelling from country to country. has anyone else done this and if so, how, where when did you buy the car, and i need info on like rego and insurance, and how easy is it getting across borders in a car etc?? would this be a better idea then catching busses??
Any info would be greatly appreciated!
Take the buses,,, Central and South America are highly accessible by buses,,, and they're cheap as hell.
With all the money you save from not having to pay for the car, the insurance, the taxes at every border, you will be able to take more adventures that you wouldn't have afforded before.
Then there is worrying about your vehicle at all times.. There's the target you put on yourself by being a gringo with car.... Also note that roads in many areas are not what you may be used to. Your vehicle had better be reliable. There's the ever constant concern of breakdowns in places where a fix might takes weeks and you're over a barrel when it comes to costs. (We once spent three weeks waiting in the mountains of Bolivia during rainy season for a single car part - see last paragraph). Which brings me to another point... you'll be there during a portion of rainy season... roads can often be impassible by average vehicles in many places,, or just plain closed because of the mud.
Then there's the loss of freedom, when you want to take that boat instead, or plane hop to some islands, join a group you met and jump a train with them or whatever.....
I know this from experience,, my parents and I drove from U.S.A to Argentina... and while as a family it was indeed best to have the vehicle... the issues we dealt with because of it were many... As a single traveler (even with a partner) I wouldn't recommend it.
That's my two cents.
hey thanks your reply!! that info is soooo extremely useful!?? just another question, would it be safe for me just to go from country to country by myself, if im on busses and what not? and is it easy to find accomodation in most places? and if you have any tips of the places i should visit and what i should do down there hat would be awsum!!!
once again, thanks so much!!
I'd agree with Goldpan's two cents. I spent two years driving an illicit "taxi" in Venezuela. That was bad enough - military check-points every 200 kilometres, baksheesh payments at every stop (I was fined for speeding once when my jeep was stationary, and another time I was fined because my dog, an Andean Mucuchies, did not have a 'passport'), robbery (I was broken into and lost passport, car papers, dog papers, most of my clothes and all of my music and was able to obtain a replacement passport only by giving the Honorary British Consul in the Andes some LSD after dinner).
I came across an American couple en route to Brazil and they'd rented a car for 2 weeks and were outraged at being asked for a "tip" at the last National Guard highway post. I advised them to pay it - it was only about $US 5. But they were indignant and said "We don't do that where we come from". Knowing the Venezuelan Police, it's highly likely that they were searched for drugs - and that the Police removed the doors, the gearbox, the engine and everything else and then left the dissembled vehicle at the side of the road, declaring that nothing had been found and so they were now free to go.
Worse than that is when you start to cross borders - the paperwork and hassles are beyond imagination.
Yes, indeed - take a bus or walk.
Are you safe going from country to country? That's a loaded question. Depends who you are, how you act, where you're going and if God is bored. Being a betting man,, I'd say sure,, you're safe.. the percentages are way in your favor. But as any good gambler knows (and traveler), there is a lot you can do to improve your odds. One being, leave the car idea behind.
As far as places to visit, I have not been to South America since too long ago,, so my advice would be very outdated... but Central America,, I'm prone to Costa Rica (I know I know, everyone goes there, but it's still a great place)... I really dig Honduras,, it's still pretty much untainted (though the islands are saturated with scuba divers from all over the world,,, but the diving rules and is cheap)... I've got a couple overviews of Costa Rica (
http://www.travelwithgene.com/costa-rica/ ) and Honduras (
http://www.travelwithgene.com/honduras/ ) you can read. Just kinda my summaries of my favorite places I've visited in those countries. Some first hand information to get you started.
I haven't been there since I was like 12 but...., I've run into many people who have given big thumbs up to Nicaragua recently. Cheap and beautiful... and little in the way of tourist industry.
p.s. check out couchsurfing.com ... a great way to get good advice from people who live "there".. wherever "there" is. Even if you don't use their couches it's a great resource to pick the brains of locals who know the in's and out's of travel.
Central American cities are some of the dodgiest in the world so you'll want to try and avoid arriving late at night in places like Guatemala City or Tegucialpa (can't be bothered looking up the spelling) but otherwise you should be fine. Check out the road junky how not to get beaten up guide in the health section.
You'll be fine.
(02-18-2009 05:07 AM)Narendra Wrote: [ -> ]I advised them to pay it - it was only about $US 5. But they were indignant and said "We don't do that where we come from".
Oh jeez, some people are detached of how things are done in the rest of the world.
hi,
we drove from canada to costa rica and love it because of the freedom that it gives you. being able to stop anywhere anytime and you can make a quick 50km detour with out loosing a day by waiting for buses or colectivos... we we were hoping to get to chile but got a job in europe ... starting soon.
Our VW westfalia is now for sale in costa rica if you are interested we are asking $2000 USD...for other overland info and photos look at our webpage
http://www.vwworldtrip.co.cc
I hope I can buy a car someday.. But I am assuring to you that I can buy anything I want, including that car after ten years... I know that I ca do it! I will do everything just for my family and love one... "I CAN DO IT!"
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