Ten Easiest Method to Spend Little to See More of Latin America
It was a great pleasure wandering five months around Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, and Peru. Mountain climbing, visits to beautiful cities, and exposure to such one-of-a-kind terrains and societal settings enriched me. Here are my ten tips to make the most of your budget South America adventure on a shoestring.
Quick Overview
If planned and managed well while pursuing a cheap luxury, traveling around the South American subcontinent is equivalent to a dream come true. Here’s a summary of key insights:
Cheapest country: Peru
Most expensive region: Patagonia
Best for cross-country travel: Buses
Best for intra-country travel: Flights or buses
Cartagena, Cartagena Province, Bolivar, Colombia
1. Set a Budget and Stick to It
But when all costs seem low, it is easy to spend more than planned, and these few dollars are accumulated. It is advisable to have some sections of your plan costly while other cheaper regions depend on the general expense of the areas involved. Employ cheap destinations to establish the financial cushion needed for costly places like Patagonia.
Pro Tip: To help you better plan your budget, check out our detailed breakdown of expenses in The Cost of a 10-Day Trip in Colombia. This article will give you valuable insights into how to make the most of your budget while enjoying all that Colombia has to offer.
2. Opt for Buses
Instead of taking flights between several points, one can take way cheaper buses and enable one to have a glance at the country view. Go to the local bus station and pay less than buying the ticket in the hostel because they overcharge. I had some of the most remarkable views of mountain ranges, deserts, and, wonder of wonders, wild llamas while dozing in a sort of semi-reclining position on a bus.
If pre-booking is advantageous in helping users organize themselves better, tools such as the Busbud assist users with routes, time, and cost.
Machu Picchu Pueblo, Peru
3. Embrace Night Buses
South America is a large continent and long drives are possible, and often required. Night buses are the perfect alternative, and buses can be had for semi-cama or partially reclining seats, fully reclining cama seats, and suite seats for the posh. Quite some night buses also offer meals and drinks, as well as other forms of entertainment. Look at the costs – even though paying a little more for a cama seat could be a good idea if you want to have a good night’s sleep on your bus journey.
Pro Tip: Check out our detailed breakdown of the Cost of a 10-day Trip in Latin America to get an idea of what you can expect to spend and how to plan accordingly!
Rainbow Mountain
4. Stephan Shane: Fly Internally, Not Internationally
Though flying within South America costs a lot, the bus is somewhat cheaper when it comes to crossing borders. In the case of travel within the country, particularly large geographical regions such as Argentina, it is often far cheaper and even faster to take a domestic flight than to take a long-distance bus.
5. Compare Flight Options
Kiwi is useful for looking at routes but it’s better to go directly through airline websites for deals. Full-service airlines such as Sky, LAN, and Aerolíneas Argentinas will generally provide many more advantages at a much cheaper price.
Puente Piedra, Lima, Peru
6. Prioritize Safety
Unfortunately, most visitors to South America for instance have a story to tell about an incident of theft that is so discouraging and Adds to your Expenses. Every now and then you should be on the lookout for pickpockets, fake money tricks, and those who invade your personal space. On five months of travels, I didn’t misplace anything valuable—I once left a portable charger at a hostel I was staying at.
Salento, Colombia
7. Learn to Barter
Haggling is another art that is not a bad idea to learn when in the South American markets and especially when getting services. Just learning the basics of Spanish will go a very long way in helping you negotiate for a good rate. Try negotiating downward, from the amount that you originally asked for, to much lower.
8. Eat at Local Markets
The street markets, also known as “mercados,” are not only cheap to retail from but also a great way to get a feel of the local people. The food does cost relatively low, where you can still be fed by a three-course meal for just a couple of dollars. Don’t be surprised if vendors constantly compete for your time because this is what you will encounter.
9. Hitchhike in Certain Areas
Wayside begging or hitch-hiking is also customary in South America, especially in the expensive south end of the continent including Argentina. To be successful, you have to look at hitchhiking routes and the right time to take the stations. Ideally, you get more customers during peak tourist seasons but this means more competition on who gets to catch a ride.
10. Stay Flexible
Unfortunately, it is very rare for an organization’s schedule to meet its timeframe in South America due to constant delays. Take it easy, and be always ready to have fun, but without schedules and expectations to waste money on. Take the wave and travel the world being a part of fun surprises!
FAQs
Q: How can one move from one country to the other for the least cost possible?
Buses are cheaper when it comes to making long-distance travel in South America unlike when you take a flight.
Q: What countries should travelers visit in South America?
These include Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador each of which has its attractions.
Q: What is the cost of traveling to South America?
The low budget travelers should expect to spend around $50 per day while moderate travelers should spend around $100 per day.
Q: When should one go to South America for a holiday?
This is the best time to tour the continent as the temperature is good, and the trees are bear with the beautiful flower buds of spring in September, October and early November.
Using these suggestions, you can start a South American trip that will not only be cheap but also amazing!