3 month trip through South America
 

Hello fellow travellers!

I’ve just posted the rough outline of the 10 week trip that my wife and I are planning through Southern and Eastern Africa on the sub-Saharan Africa section, and whilst I’m at it, I thought I might as well post the vague outline of our second planned trip through South America, which will be from January to April 2012. I thought I’d post the basic outline of them on the relevant sections of the HUBB, to discuss, deliberate and digress with other members. My wife and I are both 29, originally Dutch, but neither of us has lived in the Netherlands for any significant amount of time in the last two decades.


We’re still very much at the early stages of planning the South American itinerary, but so far it looks a little bit like this:

1. Start in Buenos Aires
2. Fly to Tierra del Fuego and spend a week hiking
3. Fly back to Buenos Aires and make our way to Uruguay
4. From Uruguay head up towards the Iguaçu falls
5. From there either go through or around Paraguay to Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni
6. Head towards Lake Titicaca and into Peru
7. Spend some time around Cusco, including Machu Picchu / Choquequirao
8. Head down into Chile past Santiago towards the Lake District
9. Cross over into Argentina and travel towards the coast (Puerto Madryn area)
10. and then up via the coast towards Buenos Aires.

The questions I have for forum members is as follows:

• Is this rough itinerary outline doable/enjoyable in 12 weeks?
• Are there any must-see/must-do recommendations?
• if anyone is planning a trip that vaguely coincides with the timing and route of the above, it would be great to meet up for a drink!

Specifically related to transport:

• I am considering buying a cheap Toyota Hilux Surf or Landcruiser in the UK, servicing and prepping it as cost-effectively as possible, and then shipping it to Buenos Aires to serve as our main form of transport for the trip. I’ve always preferred independent travelling and the flexibility that having your own vehicle offers, which is why I’m considering the option of shipping a vehicle.
• Based on other forum discussions, I understand that there can be quite a lot of hassle and cost involved in shipping and getting the vehicle cleared with customs, so I am not yet sure whether it would be worth it. Similarly, it seems quite difficult to buy a vehicle as a foreigner and be able to take it out of Argentina (have read xfiltrate’s and others discussions on this).
• Is this a good idea for a trip of only three months? Or should I try to combine air and bus travel with occasionally renting a vehicle locally? Any advice would be appreciated.
• Also, I understand that it is almost impossible to sell a foreign vehicle, especially RHD, in the region, apart from possibly in Paraguay. What have other foreign motorcyclists or car-owners done? Shipped the vehicle back?

Look forward to any thoughts, advice or input.



Cheers,
Joost