Tips for Independent Travelers
I have always been fascinated by the idea of crossing South America by road. Long before my first visit to this vast continent, I enjoyed following the Pan-American highway with my finger on the map, until I reached its end at the southern tip of Chile. I followed with equal interest the course of the Transamazonian highway, as it dissected the Brazilian Amazon from east to west. However, during my first yearlong stay in South America I discovered that road travel on this vast continent is not as easy as the maps suggest. This article is for those travelers in South America who plan to see the continent mainly by overland travel, and will build upon my own experiences to help you plan an enjoyable and safe trip. 
Enjoying the view from a double-decker bus in Argentina.
Road conditions vary drastically between countries and regions. In general, South America is dissected by a good system of highways, which, although often in bad repair, function as vital arteries for the transportation of goods and passengers. The locals are accustomed to the regional road conditions and regularly travel on roads that most travelers from North America and Europe would consider unsafe and dangerous. The more developed countries have a modern highway system that connects all major cities, but divided highways are rare, and most major highways are just paved two-lane roads.
Expect road conditions to deteriorate in remote areas and poor countries or regions, even though your map may indicate a major highway. If you plan on long-distance road travel, the geography of the region will tell you a lot about what road conditions to expect. The Andean mountains, the vast Amazon basin, and extensive flood pains in low-lying areas are formidable obstacles to road construction, and road travel remains a significant challenge in these parts of South America to this day. Roads are regularly destroyed by rock and landslides in the mountains, and in the low-lying areas, roads are washed out and become impassable during the rainy season.
South America by Bus
Bus travel is the most common form of public transportation in South America, both for short-distance and long-distance travel. Wherever there is a road, you can travel there by bus, shared minivan or truck. Be prepared however, as the quality of bus travel varies enormously depending on the route, the region, and the country in which you are traveling.
In the more developed countries of South America, such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay, bus travel can safely be called the best in all of the Americas. Air Travel is still expensive for most South Americans, and most travelers take the bus, often on long-distance and overnight routes. Since competition is fierce between bus companies, the level of comfort and service is an important factor to attract customers. On popular routes between major cities you often have the choice of several different travel categories, from conventional to luxury class, and you will be able to travel in comfortable and quiet double-decker buses, with reclining seats, clean bathrooms, meals, onboard movies, and direct service.
In remote areas, on the other hand, you might find yourself traveling on a dirt road in the back of a large pickup truck, sitting on a wooden bench crowded with local passengers and surrounded by barrels of smelly diesel fuel. The unpredictability of road travel in South America makes it both an adventure and a challenge. I remember some years back that I could not book a flight from the Bolivian Amazon to the capital La Paz. I went to the local bus company, and they showed me a nice photo album of brightly painted beautiful busses that would make the trip to La Paz, some 10,000 feet up the Andes, in about 48 hours. Pleased with the pictures of the new buses I was shown, my girlfriend and I bought the last two available seats. When we boarded the neatly painted bus however, we quickly realized that the interior did not reflect its external appearance. Windows were cracked or did not open; there was no air conditioning, and the seats were worn out with the backrests immovable or often entirely broken. However, we already had purchased the tickets, and after watching our backpacks being strapped onto the roof rack and covered with a large tarp, we embarked on our journey. And a journey it was, or rather more like an Odyssey. The bus experienced numerous breakdowns and delays, and the trip took four days instead of two. The road up the Andes to La Paz often narrowed to a one-lane dirt road, and the many hairpin turns made it impossible to spot oncoming traffic.
If you decide to travel by bus, I suggest bringing a good road map, so you can get an idea about where you are. Make your trip as comfortable as possible. Bring a small pillow or sweater to use as a pillow, and take along some snacks, reading materials, a music player and earplugs, if you are concerned about noise on an overnight bus ride. Get off the bus at every stop and stretch your legs. The confined seats often make long-distance travel very uncomfortable.
South America by Train
Railroads on this vast continent are mostly a relic of a past era of glory. Many of them were built in the late 19th century in order to demonstrate a country’s modernity and progress, but little remains of these railroads today. With the exception of commuter trains, few railroads in South America today are a vital part of public transportation. Train travel in South America is mostly limited to commuter trains in metropolitan areas. Overland routes are often outmoded and very slow, with an aging running stock of trains and badly maintained rails.
Paul Theroux’s memorable travel tale “The Old Patagonia Express,” which described traveling from Boston to the tip of South America by train, describes more hardship, unexpected adventures and delays than most travelers would care for. Still, there are some notable exceptions, and Peru, Chile and Argentina maintain several long-distance railways, some of which are very scenic. Among the most memorable train rides are the trip up the Andes from Lima to Cuzco and the journey from Cuzco to Machu Picchu. But for the most part, railroads in South America today are dedicated to transporting ore, timber and grain to the nearest port and do not offer passenger service. Railway travel in South America is therefore mostly for the weekend railroad aficionado. The few short historic routes in South America, are often operated by old steam engines.
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| Historic railway rides are popular weekend excursions all across South America. © Volker Poelzl. All Rights Reserved. |
Organized Bus Tours
Although I am strongly committed to independent travel, there are times when I have booked daytrips with travel agencies to see local attractions and visit places that would otherwise be inaccessible. Many attractions in South America are frequented by bus tours, which often visit several destinations in one day, which is often difficult by public transportation. Many tours and excursions are hawked on the streets of tourist destinations, and you should compare prices and itineraries before signing up for a tour.
South America by Rental Car
Road conditions are often unpredictable on long overland routes in much of South America, and urban traffic is so chaotic and congested that renting a car is not a safe and enjoyable means of getting around. Avoid driving at night under any circumstances, since you will not be able to detect dangers and obstacles as well as during the day. Some driving hazards are man-made. To slow down reckless drivers, many Brazilian towns have put up speed bumps on main roads, most of them unmarked and invisible at night. They cannot only destroy the suspension of your car, but can also cause serious accidents. On the other hand, regional car rental for a few days can be an enjoyable alternative to public transportation. You have much more flexibility, and since you will only be traveling short distances, you will not be entirely exhausted and worn out from the challenges of the road.
Hitchhiking in South America
I have hitchhiked in twenty countries worldwide, and with the exception of Europe, South America is the continent where I have traveled the most by thumbing rides. As a word of warning, hitchhiking can be dangerous no matter where you are, and I definitely do not recommend it as a main mode of travel. However, those travelers who already have experience with hitchhiking might like to learn a little bit about hitchhiking in South America.
First off, it is not worthwhile in South America to hitchhike long distances to save money. Bus travel is regular and cheap enough to get you where you need to go. But as a budget and independent traveler, I have found hitchhiking very useful for short routes which lack public transportation, and where the only other option would be a very expensive taxi ride. Keep in mind that most traffic, except trucks, is local, and you should be ready to travel in just about any vehicle that has four wheels with an engine. My first hitchhiking adventure in South America was a rather unglamorous ride. A friend of mine and I had decided to go hiking in Brazil’s Itatiaia National Park, located between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. But once we got to the nearest town, we discovered that there was no transportation to take us to the trailheads inside the park. Our only option was to hitchhike and that is how we took a six-mile ride in the back of a garbage truck. Since then I have hitched rides in the back of timber trucks, cattle trucks, pick-up trucks, and old sedans crowded with family members on a weekend excursion. Keep in mind that hitchhiking is much easier if you speak a few words of the local language. That way you avoid misunderstandings about your ride’s destination and you will be able to strike up a conversation with the driver.
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