| You set your mind and you're ready to travel to | | | | South America's nature is overwhelming. You'll walk |
| South America, a magical place of immense beauty | | | | for many hours day after day. It would be a shame |
| where myth and legend continue to walk hand in | | | | to walk in the footsteps of the Incas with blisters on |
| hand. I've traveled 18 months in South America and | | | | your feet. My biggest recommendation is to invest in |
| can give you some tips on how to prepare yourself | | | | high quality walking shoes with Gore-Tex. |
| for an unforgettable adventure. | | | | Health Vaccinations |
| Common Sense | | | | Yellow Fever (if you plan to go to the Amazon |
| We all hear the unpleasant stories and South America | | | | Basin), Typhoid (consists of two injections taken 4 |
| has a fame of being dangerous. I traveled thousands | | | | weeks apart), Diphtheria-Tetanus, Polio, Cholera (only |
| of miles traversing cities, jungles, islands and | | | | when necessary), Smallpox Medical Kit: |
| mountains. I survived 6 weeks in a street child care | | | | Depending on what you plan to do you can include |
| center in the favelas of Salvador da BahÃa | | | | the following: |
| (Brazil) and had the party of a lifetime during carnival. | | | | Antiseptic cream, aspirin, lomotil for diarrhea, |
| Nothing, I repeat, nothing happened. Use your | | | | antibiotics, throat lozenges, ear and eye drops, |
| common sense. Avoid badly lit streets at night and if | | | | antacid tablets, motion sickness medication, alcohol |
| your sixth sense is giving you the "something is | | | | swabs, water purifier, lip salve, foot and groin |
| wrong" sign then take a taxi to your destination. | | | | powder, thermometer (in a case), surgical tape, |
| Travel Guide Book | | | | assorted sticky plasters, gauze, bandages, butterfly |
| The first thing that you will need is a travel guide | | | | closures, scissors and last but not least, first-aid |
| book. It will be your best companion in your search | | | | booklet Note: malaria pills are required in the amazon |
| for adventure. I can highly recommend Lonely | | | | basin, please be aware that those pills are very |
| Planet´s South America on a Shoestring to get | | | | strong and you should check with your doctor before |
| you started. The book covers all you need to know | | | | departure |
| to get the most out of your trip and is ideal to plan | | | | Traveling Gear |
| your journey ahead. I've used the guide extensively | | | | Backpack: |
| during my 18 month adventure. They offer excellent | | | | Obviously a high quality backpack is a must. Choose |
| separate travel guides of all the countries (besides | | | | the type that has different compartments that can |
| using the Lonely Planet Shoestring I've used their | | | | be opened separately. Very handy if you need |
| separate travel guides of Peru and Brazil). Their | | | | something quickly. Travel as light as possible. A heavy |
| guides are the most popular among backpackers. | | | | backpack is destined to undermine your traveling |
| Other popular guides are The Rough Guide to South | | | | pleasure. |
| America and the South American Handbook. Ideal, | | | | Clothing: |
| but not practical because you want to travel light, | | | | Depends on where you go. If it's the mountains and |
| would be to enjoy the adventure with a Lonely | | | | the jungle, get some quality clothing from home. If |
| Planet and either the Rough Guide or the Handbook. | | | | it's the beach, buy your t-shirts there (cheap). |
| Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese | | | | Camping and Climbing Gear: |
| The most rewarding thing for me was the fact that | | | | You can rent camping and climbing material in South |
| you can travel in a huge continent like South America | | | | America but the quality may be questionable. Always |
| with only 2 languages. Spanish and Portuguese. If you | | | | check the material. Bring your own gear if possible. I |
| plan to travel just for a few weeks you can invest in | | | | traveled 18 months with my own tent and various |
| a Spanish and/or Brazilian Portuguese Phrase Book. | | | | camping utensils. |
| English is not widely spoken and even a basic | | | | Photography |
| knowledge of Spanish and/or Portuguese makes the | | | | Pictures are something personal. Some people just |
| trip so much more rewarding (they're extremely | | | | want some snap shots, others want to publish in the |
| willing to help you, so don't worry, be happy). | | | | National Geographic. All my pictures were taken with |
| If on the other hand you're planning to travel for a | | | | a cheap Nikon F50 camera. I had two zoom lenses, a |
| few months I can highly recommend taking a | | | | 35-80 mm. and a 70-210mm. I also dragged a tripod |
| language course. Ideal would be in a school in South | | | | and an excellent flash with me. I used FUJI slides (100 |
| America (I took lessons in Quito, Ecuador, and had a | | | | ASA) but you definitely need 200 to 400 ASA if you |
| private teacher for $2.50/h). | | | | plan to go to the jungle. A polarize filter enhances the |
| Walking Shoes | | | | colours tremendously on sunny days. |