Travelling around South and Central America in the Summer?

I'm trying to plan a trip to either South or Central America this summer with a couple of friends. I was thinking of maybe starting in Mexico and working my way down. We probably want to spend around a month travelling and we have a low budget. So, where are the best places to go? Are Argentina and Brazil too cold in July and August? Which countries are cheap and safe?

And also, we're in London so we need to find flights but so far, all the flights direct to South America look v. expensive so would it be cheaper to transfer in Miami?

Thanks guys

Yes it will be cheaper if you transfer in Miami.
It depends on what kind of tourism you want to do.
Peru is a good option, you can go to macchu picchu and is very cheap. Good if you are traveling as backpacker,
Argentina is cold in July and august, southern Brazil is cold too.
Probably you wanna concentrate in either central or south america otherwise you will be spending a lot of money on air fares.
brasil, peru, (maybe bolivia) ecuador and colombia, could be a good option, you will get to see the incas culture.
Panama is a very nice spot n central america, besides mexico and costa rica, beaches all over, basically that.

good luck

Wow it is not often Londoners come to this side of the world, although I was born in London, but I now live in Colombia with my family.

Ok first thing you need to know as long as you are in a group and you stay in the big cities, you will be safe. The whole of South America is safe if you are! If you go to the dodgy bits do not be surprised if bad things happen. It is like the equivalent of you going to peckham wearing gold jewelery and loads of designer clothing, you just do not do it.

It is cheaper to fly through the states bu it depends on who you fly with and exactly where you are going. I think mexico is a cool place to start, I have never been but I really want to go. Personally I would do mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Chile/Argentina. I do not know which to pick for the last place both are really nice, and both have good connections flight wise in order for you to get back home comfortably.

I really recommend you learn the language a little bit before coming. Although there is a lot of English speakers there are far more non english speakers. So it will help you a lot to at least learn the basics before you come.

I think Colombia is probably the cheapest, although the financial climate has effected the exchange rate a lot recently. Right now you get about 3300 pesos for every 1gbp. To put that in perspective. Our typical bottle of beer called "Pilsen" is 1200 pesos, now that is not to bad.

You can eat out every night for under 10 gbp per person in most restaurants and some time even less than 5 gbp per person.

With South America in terms of experience wherever you go you will have a nice time so I would not worry to much. But I hope the advice I have given helps.

Cheap is not alway safe in this part of the world but it is very beautful in some areas.Some central american countries have cheap flights but you have to get an other flight in either toronto, new york, miami, atlanta, houston, or los angeles. it is okay weather in south america during july and august.

yea .. transfer to MIAMI....


but yeaa go to the caribbean countries(cuba, Dominican Republic & Puerto Rico). its gonna be fun + people are mad nice & friendly there.