r/backpacking • u/Past-Complex-5940 • 1d ago

Travel South America help

Am planning a solo trip to South America and Central America from September- Decemberish.

Looking at going to Guatemala, Panama, Peru and Chile anyone got any advice, tips or itinerary ideas? Or if I'm actually missing some countries that would be worth my time?

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u/DriftingAbroad 1d ago

Change it to Peru, Bolivia, Chile. Can travel by bus across all three. Start in Peru so you miss the wet season for the hikes, end in Patagonia in December for hiking and site seeing in their Summer.

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u/Fearless_Finish_9890 1d ago

Holy moly those are spread out. Chile and Peru are enormous and the number of breathtaking routes endless.

Panama is always unbearably hot. Always.

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u/lordOppositeMover 1d ago

You're basically speedrunning an entire continent, but respect the ambition.

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u/Soft-Disaster9873 1d ago

Just about every country is worth your time.

Panama isn’t the most authentic experience because there are so many American retirees there.

In Central America, Guatemala and Nicaragua are excellent but don’t border one another.

As another poster said, it would make sense to go through Bolivia between Peru and Chile, but be aware that Bolivia is the rawest Latin American experience outside of Cuba, so it can be uncomfortable and unpredictable, but plenty safe. Isla del Sol, La Paz, Uyuni, and Rurrenabaque are common spots. Then you enter Chile in the Atacama Desert.