Any advice on travelling in South America?

I'm planning to spend my gap year in Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru and I was wondering if anyone had any advice about what to see, what to look out for, what to take etc. Thanks a lot for any help you can give!

Make sure you get all of the necessary shots and medication. Ask your doctor about all of the precautions you should take. It sounds like quite an adventure! Best of luck!!

I went to Ecuador about 2 years ago. As a word of advice, I would NOT carry a wallet with you. Instead, you should get a travel 'pouch'. Crime is pretty bad in certain areas (especially parts of Quito) and you could easily get pick pocketed. Also don't let your goods out of sight (even for a second). I had done lots of research before my trip, had read about the crime, and vowed not to be a victim. Lo and behold, me and my girlfriend both got our camera's stolen, out of a 3 star hotel in the middle of the day. I'm not trying to make you paranoid, just be smart. Good luck!

Afterthought:
Don't let the cab drivers rip you off.
Don't drink the tap water
In Ecuador, you should visit a city called Banos (incredible), and you also need to go to a lankmark called Mitad al Mundo (right outside Quito). Basically it's the equator.

In my opinion,one of the best places is Brazil. You MUST go. Beaches, people, weather, everything is beautiful there.
And Argentina has a lot of places you must visit: Cataratas del Iguazu (amazing!!!), Valle de la Luna (also amazing!!!), Mendoza (amazing too!!), Glaciar Perito Moreno (even more amazing!!!!)
And I could continue for years!....

There's some great advice here from lots of different writers and boggers on what to see/do in and around Ecuador: http://www.worldreviewer.com/search/?q=ecuador&search=Search

Bolivia hightlight - You definitely must go to Salar di Uyuni (salt flats). Take the 3 day jeep tour and you will see once in a lifetime scenery. Amazing!
Peru highlight - obviously inca trail and machu picchu.
Ecuador highlight - if you have the funds then the Galapagos islands. Otherwise then the Amazon jungle.

If you are there for a whole year and just seeing the 3 countries then it might a good idea to volunteer for a couple of months - its a really good way to get to know a community and see the proper cultrure and part of the country you probably wouldn't see as a backpacker.

Oh and I would also agree with the previous answer that you must watch your belongings at all times!

I work in www.ole.travel travel operator in San Francisco, please visit our website, We have several tours programmes:

http://www.ole.travel/countries.php?carpeta=peru
http://www.ole.travel/countries.php?carpeta=ecuador

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Marco Medina

Take it very slowly until you get used to the altitude. Do not drink the water or use it to clean your teeth and ask about the water used to make ice cubes. Eat a guinea pig (cuy). Learn some Spanish.

Visit this site for more information, http://www.saexplorers.org/club/home

Im an American expat currently working and living in Ecuador and I have found VIVA travel guides to be especially helpful when planning trips through Latin America. Here is their link: http://www.vivatravelguides.com/

sounds like fun!!!! i would definately spend a lot of time in bolivia, because it is definately underrated when traveling in south america.... definately the salar de uyuni... the biggest salt flats in teh world... or you can go to the yungas, which is the jungle area, and to get there you have to travel on the most dangerous road in the world.. (been on it... so scary but worth it!!) there are also tons of inca ruins and Copacabana, near la paz.. is definately worth visiting... peru, yeah definately macchu picchu... havent been been to ecuador but i know they have pretty awesome old churches and palaces... and i think there is a place where you can stand on the equator... hope you have fun... but i am biased towards bolivia :)