Camping in Central and South America
 

We're leaving on a 3-month KLR trip to Central and South America from the US in a week. We are now trying to decide whether to take the tent, the sleeping bags, and the sleeping pads. Any thoughts from those who have experience? How much money will it save if we were planning on staying in the cheapest hotels anyway? How available are the camping areas? Thanks!

Nate

Not much camping in Ecuador, Boliva or Peru (apart from out of the way places of course), but a cheap hotel is *really* cheap so not much point.

Lots of camping in Argentina & Chile, which is good 'cos I like my tent..ask for directions to 'Camping Municipal' as just about every town has somewhere. Brasil has the 'Camping Club Do Brasil', find one and you can get a brochure with the addresses of all the rest.

Didnt find a single campsite in French Guiana, Suriname or Guyana but it was so stinking hot I got additcted to air-conditioning...(and I call myself a traveller, pfffft).

Camping is about half to one-third the price of a cheap hotel so its a saving. I like to have camping gear when travelling through remote places in case I get stuck there and like camping in the middle of nowhere surrounded by great scenery.

camping in CA and SA
 

Yes do take a light sleepling bag ,pad and small tent along as backup for the rare occasion you do find a nice campground or are absolutely unable to find any hotel. From experience , camping in Central America is scarce and usually in the really tourist oriented places , or it will be someplace where local youth hang out with their multi megawatt ghettoblasters blaring deep into the night.
If you stay in the cheapest hotels or casas de huespedes figure on paying 5 to 20 US dollar equivalent. If you are totally out of luck , all rooms full then even the cheap hotel may be able to help you if you offer to camp in your tent on their courtyard. In the small out of the way places they can be very helpful. You can then use the shared sanitary facilities that serve the cheapest rooms and you will be off the street.

I hauled camping gear all over central and south america and only used it only one time outside of Chile and Argentina. In Chile and Argentina I used it all the time, but unless I was going that far south again I personally would opt to travel light and leave the gear behind because you'll probably never use it and it's just more annoying bulk to strap onto your bike. Outside of Chile and Argentina, it seems that wherever there are roads there are people, so finding nice private campsites is tough. Another problem is that once you make camp you cannot leave it, for example to go into town or go on a sightseeing ride.

Hi Mate
I have spent most of the last 2 years camping in South America, very rarely getting a hotel or hostel, its a great way to save money. You don`t always need a campsite, as long as you have a bit of grub and water with you, you can camp anywere. enjoy it Skip

coastal Brazil, Uruguay,Argentina and Chile heaps of campsites and easy bushcamping almost everywhere. Except bushcamping in brazil than, depending on the region.But in Brazil, if just for the night you can always pitch a tent at the gasstations though. Take earplugs.... They are safe places , as there is security for the overnight trucks. Plus they have free (warm) showers and free cold drinking water too.
In Bolivia and Peru, where all in all I have spend some years, I never had problems bushcamping. Not in bigger towns ofcourse but the smaller villages are no problem and also on the (desolated)beaches or in the mountains it is excellent.. In jungle areas there is not much open space for pitching a tent but in the villages there is always a soccerfield. Out of respect ask permission to the local chief(jefe or alcalde). Before you know you might have to play a game with the local youth though...

Drivin From California To Argentina In A Bmw650
 

HI,I AM FROM ARGENTINA
I WOULD LIKE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH PEPLE DOING THIS TRIP.
I AM LEAVING IN NOVEMBER.
MAYBE WE CAN SHARE E MAIL ADRESS AND WE CAN SEE US ON THE ROAD.SOMETIME ...SOMEWERE.
GOOD LUCK...........:scooter:

Hi Alejandro

I am flying into LA on the 26th Sept and buying a bike there. I should be leaving early Oct. Then I am heading south hopefully making the meeting in Creel then through central and South America.

I am coming from Australia which is where I live but I was born in Uruguay. May see you in Mexico or Central America.

Cheers
Maurice

Hola free spirit
 

Hola.
Creo estar entrando en mexico...por ahi en noviembre.
Despues el tiempo dira.
Te dejo mi mail y nos mantenemos al tanto mientras vamos viajando.
alelongobardi@aol.com
Pienzo bajar por el pacifico........buenos aires.......y luego subir hasta usa por el atlantico/caribe !!!.......
mucha suerte....te veo en la ruta !!!!!
.................................................. .............alejandro:scooter: