Camping in Central and South America
 

Hi, I am planning a trip from Phoenix to TDF starting this summer. I like to camp, and here in the states I often just find a place off the beaten path and "stealth camp" so to speak.

Can I expect to do this in Central and South America without a problem? Or should I expect to find a designated campground, or hostel?

Thanks

Bill

Bill,

I did the same trip last year. I camped through the states and in Mexico without a problem. Once I crossed I always kept myself hidden very well, just in case anyone wanted to give me problems. I have heard of people getting messed with but as long as you pick your spots wisely you should be fine.

On the other hand I aslo realized once I started my trip, that hostels are dirt cheap, ranging from $2-$7 a night. Plus they are always good for meeting people and other bikers.

Good luck and let me know if you need anymore help.

Dave

One more thing, there are a lot of campgrounds in Mexico and they are very cheap as well, you can find books on where to find them, I have seen the books, just not sure where to find them (google?). I am not sure about the rest of Central America.

Thanks cruthas.

I will probably camp half and hostel the other half. I'll start googling around for those guides.

Thanks

Bill

I came north from TDF and camped a lot in Arg and Chile, but once in Bolivia, didn't start camping again till Costa Rica. It might be worth thinking about sending your camping equipment on to some place further south where you think you'll be camping again.

Im currently in mexico on the same trip, solo. I concluded the bike needs to go on a diet and shed some weight and am in a convenient place to do it.
Im planning on ditching the camping gear altogether. Other than saving a few bucks (not an issue) and in case of a remote break down, is there any reason I should keep it? I figure if i really get the urge to camp, I can pick up something resembling a tent (tarp and bug net) along the way. Input appreciated.

Greenthumb,

If I were to do the trip again, I would leave the tent, just bring the sleeping bag, something light. The bag can protect you from at least the bugs. I didnt run into to much rain in Central America, but if I did I wouldn't have used my tent, just find a cheap hostel. Answer to your question, I would dump the gear, keep the bag. Also some hostels get cold, have the bag adds extra warmth.

Great advice Cruthas. I found camping pretty tough in Cent. Am. People everywhere you go. You really have to get into the bush to lose them.
Quite a few travelers have been robbed on Mexican beaches (wild camping). Stick to pay camp grounds or just get a motel. Much safer. There are always exceptions of course ... use your best judgment.

The Mex. beaches seem like paradise, this could be an illusion.
Argentina and Chile both have good camping all over and quite safe outside cities. I bring a Bivi sack for emergencies. No tent, no sleeping bag.

With careful planning and realistic daily mileage goals, you can always make it to a town or village and find lodging. Remember, many folks will happily take you into their homes. I've done this many times. Gives you an opportunity to practice your Spanish and learn the culture. Staying in town means no cooking, so even less crap to pack up. You'll learn how to find cheap food in markets and how not to get deathly ill in a few months or so.

Safe riding!

@MikeS

My camping equipment is pretty compact. I think I would rather have it just in case.

@greenthumb

I was thinking of maybe just getting a Henessy Hammock which will pack really light.

@cruthas

Hmm, maybe a combination of sleeping bag and hammock then?

@MickeyD

People everywhere eh? I usually like finding remote spots to camp, but security is a concern of course.


To All

Thanks for your feedback. I think I may reconsider bringing all the camping gear like I originally planned.

Thanks for input!
I ended up ditching 27lbs! (not just camping stuff)
I do lots of camping at home, but Ive come to realize that realistically, on this trip, I likely wont use it.

Just back from TDF - in BA.

We brought camping equipment and used it once in Central America as rooms were too cheap.

The one episode of camping however was well worth hauling the equipment. We ended on a beach near the Mexico-Guatamalan border and there were no hotels. We ate at an open air restaurant and they let us put up the tent in the restaurant for free.

There didn't seem to be many camp grounds until Chili- Argentina and them we used the tent alot.

Another helpful hint is that if you can't find a spot to lay your head - ask around. Somebody will rent you a room in their house usually dirt cheap.

Hostels/hotels do save the time of setting up and tearing down the tent.

It is increased weight and volume, but I'd still bring it along.

LVR

El Salvador
 

If your riding through El Salvador I can help you offering you camping places

Plenty of campsites in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. Bushcamping quite easy too.
Brazil less campsites, when so mainly along the coast. Bushcamping difficult. Possible at petrolstations (noisy...)
Very few campsites in Bolivia and even less in Peru but I always bushcamp in these countries and never had any problem finding a good place, except the peruvian coast is a bit more difficult.
Ecuador, Colombia,Venezuela and the Guayanas I find it a lot harder, mostly i just ask someone for permission to camp overnight (policestation, petrolstation, farm etc).
Central America was over 20 years ago the last time I travelled there, then bushcamping was never a problem but that will have changed for sure.
Having said that I want to add that this does not mean I advice you to put your tent anywhere. I can have been lucky.., or maybe because I have travelled so much the last 30 years that I have a developped a gut feeling where to stay and not to stay. Common sense can never be put aside ofcourse. I just want to say it ís possible ...

The rule always applies pack less clothes and bring more money!!!

You say you are leaving this summer.Is that North American summer or South American summer?I plan to do the TDF starting November.
A friend of mine said it wasn't worth the added weight to camp.And he said CA was hard to find stealth camping.

I plan on starting around August, so the end of the North American summer.

Lots of camping in the far south, i.e. Chile and Argentina. If you enjoy camping, you'll want camping gear. Besides, even hostels are expensive in most of the south, and camping can save some serious cash (in case that's a concern). Plus, there are trekking opportunities--you can usually rent gear, but it's easier (and better quality) if you bring your own.

This aside, there've been times from Mexico all the way south when I've rolled into a full hostel but, with camping gear could just pitch a tent.

This doesn't mean you should or shouldn't bring tent, sleeping bag, pad and/or stove, but I think it's worth considering rather than just dismissing the whole idea because "it's not safe" or "there's no place to camp."

Hope that helps.

Mark

(northward bound in Argentina)

August means rainy season for much of Mexico and Cent. America. Have you ever seen tropical rain? :stormy:

marhharf's points are good. Sometimes hostels are full, too true. But if you've planned well, you'll arrive (somewhere) in DAYLIGHT, with enough time to sort out a place to stay. But of course sh@#t happens and we end up on the road in the dark, miles from our big town destination and end up in some whore house nightmare town. In this case camping may be preferable, so always keep an eye out and make note of possible spots before its dark.

Choices? Drive back out of town and find a suitable camping spot (if still daylight) Or wander aimlessly around town asking in unintelligible Spanish where another hotel/hostel, hospedaje', camping might be. :rolleyes2:

Or do what I like to do .... hire a Taxi driver to lead me to suitable lodging. Money well spent most times if you bargain well.
Picking random wild camping spots in the dark has its down sides. :oops2:

If you end up in a really small Aldea or village, ask around to see if someone takes in boarders. Many do. Ask the mayor or priest, they know everything about everyone in a small village or town. Kids will stare, same questions will be asked, but generally these folks will give you the clothes off their back .... and many times they will feed you as well. Don't over pay them, but do offer something. Other times there is simply NO FOOD in the village. NONE. Been there, done that.

But this is why the HUBB is so great. Ask riders here for alternate overnight spots along your route, get Hostel recommendations, places to eat or get food. And don't forget they DO have something called a Telephone down there .... and internet! Make a reservation ahead for your room! What a concept! Call em' up!

Remember, even in medium sized towns they may have a central market (or market day) of some kind. Most markets have restaurants, sometimes many, all grouped together, or around the market area.

So no need to do like the inexperienced do and buy another can of Sardines, Salmon, Spam, Soup or packaged meat or cheese. :nono:
(unless you're northern European and this, to you, is gourmet faire!)

Eat real food where the people eat. I am not a fan of cooking or camping or eating out of cans. I do bring my own Tea (while it lasts) and nearly any Cafe/restaurant you find, you can ask for "Agua herviendo" (boiling water) They get this! dice: agua herviendo para Te' por favor. (con azucar y leche, gracias)

Riding through the rainy season is fantastic, I've done it a couple times. All the best fruit will be ripe and plentiful, fewer tourists everywhere, cheaper rates (if you bargain). Mornings are often sunny and nice. Do your riding in Early AM. By noon things can begin to change and rain can come any time in the PM or night, but not always. If a real Tormento tropical comes through, hunker down for a few days to avoid being drowned, as this will blast day and night for a day or three. Go with the flow.

Use your best judgment about camping spots, as noted, sometimes you can save big money camping depending on situation.

I was thinking of maybe just getting a Henessy Hammock which will pack really light.

Atlasrider, just a few thoughts of mine on the Hennessey Hammock...
I traveled for a year in South America with one, and was at some times over-joyed with it, and other times slightly frustrated with it's shortcomings.

In South America, up the Andean countries, it gets very cold at night with the altitude. Tents re-circulate air, HH's do not keep the heat in as well. I was probably lucky I didn't get pneumonia to be honest.
You have the problem of less space, so you've got to make sure everything is secured to your bike well that you can't fit in the hammock with you, and that leads sometimes to nervous times when you hear a sound outside and you're wondering is someone trying to steal your shit. Also, I would not like to be in a hammock if someone came at me, lying prone in the air...shit!
And sometimes it's just hard to find trees......

Besides all that I did love my hammock, and you can't beat the size, but I changed it over for a good old fashioned tent for Central & North America and I'm quite happy I did.
Just my two cents, hope it helps somewhat!

I've experimented with the HH, and it's now in a box somewhere at my folks's place.

It's actually not lighter than some tents at all. Heaver than some. You still need a mat for cold temperatures because the sleeping bag won't insulate if it's compressed which it is when you lie on top of it. And the wind blowing underneath it really offsets the insulation of the top half of your body.

I also find it more fiddly, and less comfortable.

I've decided to take my Henessey Hammock along with a Nemo Morpho 1P tent which both pack down really small and don't take up much space.

I took a NEMO Morpho 1P tent on my NH to TDF journey last year. I camped a bit in Mexico and it worked out great. Happy trails!

I bought a Cotton Mexican "Matrimonial" hammock (Hamaca) in Oaxaxa, Mexico. I used it off and on for years. But mostly indoors or in Jalapas. I lived in this Hammock at my beach house in El Salvador for two months because the beds provided were so bad and Scorpions were rampant. Als used it at Tikal (jungle) to be elevated off the ground. In Tikal they had open Jalapas where a hammock could be strung up.

I actually could get a very good nights sleep in my hammock, but takes getting used to. Always lay diagonal or across, never in line with the Hammock securing ropes. Only buy a cotton hammock, not synthetic. Synthetic does not stretch, Cotton does: More comfortable and cheaper.
(Algodon vs. Nylon)

I did not bring it to S. America. Too cold in the high Andean regions.