Backpacking South America

This post has been updated as of January 2009

The New Year is a long way off, so a lot can and likely will change.  Our trip plan becomes a bit less defined at this point.  We hope that encounters with fellow travelers will help shape our exact itinerary, but we have a general plan of heading south along route 40, which lies in the shadows of the Andes.

Lakes District and Patagonia

We will be making frequent stops in mountain towns like Bariloche and El Bolson, the Welsh villages of Esquel and Trevelin, and a visit Parque Nacional Los Glaciares – home to the world’s third largest ice cap.  All this as we make our way to the southern most city in the world – Ushuaia.  We intend to take our time, enjoy the scenery, and likely fight the summer vacation crowds along the way.

Chile

Once we reach the bottom of the continent, it will be time to make our way back north.  At this point, our trip will decidely shift to a focus on Chile. Our first destination with be Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, where We’ll head out on a 5-7 day hike through the park.  After exhausting ourselves with the hike, we will take a few shorter hikes and hopefully spend a couple days kayaking in fjords of Chilean Patagonia.

Going north from Puerto Natales within chile is impossible by vehicle, so we will be left with the option of a 3 day ferry ride along the rugged coastline of Chile, or hopping back into Argentina, heading north and crossing back into Chile around Puerto Montt.

In third grade, I did a research report on Chile.  The key facts that are etched into my brain (whether correct or not I need to check) are that Chile is the longest country in the world, but is never wider that 150 miles.  So once on the road in Chile, it would seem that our general trajectorywill be due north as we’re hemmed in by the Andes and Pacific Ocean.  We will work our towards Santiago, visiting wineries and trying to get off the beaten path.

Chile to Bolivia

As you can tell, things are getting less defined as we go – that is until we reach northern Chile.  As I mention in another post, this is where we will get to experience to wonders of the world’s largest salt lake – Salar de Uyuni.  We join a group and make a 3-day trek across the great salt lake into Bolivia.  Due to the white ground and flat horizon, depth perception and even making out the horizon can become difficult.

Bolivia

From the great salt lake (not the one in Utah), we’ll spend some time in the high altitudes of the altiplano and visit the world’s highest capital, La Paz sits at nearly 12,000 feet above sea level.  We’ll have to move slow, but by now, we should hopefully have some experience and acclimation to the high altitudes.  We’ll make our way to Lake Titicaca, Isla del Sol and Copacabana for a little relaxation.

Peru

Peru has high expectations to live up to.  Macchu Picchu, Colca Canyon (twice as deep as the Grand Canyon), and Amazon river tours.

Ecuador

- coming soon -

Colombia

- coming soon -