Basics - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 27

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Trailfinders UK T 020 7368 1200, W trailfinders.com. One of the
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Travel Cuts Canada T 1 800 667 2887, W travelcuts.com.
Canadian student-travel organization.
Tucan Travel Australia T 2 9326 6633, W tucantravel.com.
Specializing in adventure and backpacker holidays - and also has
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Wilderness Travel US T 1 800 368 2794, W wildernesstravel.com.
Adventure travel and wildlife tours throughout South America.

in capital cities or major hubs near borders; in places
with limited transport you may just have to buckle
down and take what's on offer.
Terminals are often situated on the outskirts of
towns - follow the signs to the terminal (in Spanish-
speaking countries) or the rodoviária (in Brazil).
Levels of comfort vary, so a quick visual check in the
terminal will give you an idea of which company to
go for. With better bus companies on long-distance
routes, the seating options usually include normal
seats, seats that partly recline ( semi-cama ) and seats
that recline fully ( cama ) to become beds. They are
priced according to the level of comfort, with the
most expensive options including on-board meals
and drinks. Some of the cheapest companies only
have one level of comfort and that can mean
anything from wooden seats to standing in an aisle.

Getting around
Most South Americans travel by bus, and
there is almost nowhere that you can't
reach in this way. The major routes are
comfortable and reliable and always cost-
effective. Moreover, you will see more,
and meet more people, if you travel by
bus. Remember, though, that distances
between towns can be huge, and that in
more remote areas such as Patagonia there
are few bus and no train services. If you
have a little spare cash and limited time,
you may want to fly occasionally, or rent a
car to explore at leisure. There are frequent
flights within and between South American
countries; the former are generally much
cheaper (but budget options are few and
far between). Public transport options vary
within each country. Most places will have
collectivos (which are minibuses that
depart when full and take set routes; not
to be confused with colectivos, a name for
city buses in the south), as well as rickety
local buses. There are also mototaxis in
some place (similar to those in Thailand
and India), which are good for covering
short distances within towns.

By car

South American roads , especially outside the major
cities, are notorious for their bumpy, potholed and
generally poor conditions. Most car rental companies
in South America do not allow their vehicles to be
driven across borders, making independent explora-
tion of the continent by car di cult.
If you are determined to go it alone and drive
around South America, you will find car rental
companies at all airports and in most major cities.
Hotels can advise you of better-value local places, but
often it's better to book in advance online. Costs are
high due to skyrocketing insurance rates, but the
independence of a car may be worth it. An inter-
national driving licence is recommended although
most of the time you will probably be able to use the
one issued by your country of residence (and may
not even be asked for the international one). It's more
a question of having it “just in case”. Check your
insurance carefully for exclusions, as car theft, vanda-
lism and general security are renowned problems
in many parts of South America, especially Argentina
and Brazil, and you may not be covered for these.
Damage to tyres or the underside of the car may also
be excluded. Consider the state of the roads you'll
drive on before choosing your vehicle type.
Rental charges vary from country to country and
depend on the model of car. You will be required
to present a credit card and valid driving licence.
It is worth noting that most international rental
companies won't allow you to cross a border with
a rental car. Buying can be an option, and with
the industry booming in South America - and more
cars on the road every day - most countries have
competitive secondhand markets. If you want to buy

By bus

This is by far the cheapest way to see the continent.
While you can, technically, travel all the way from
the tropical north to Tierra del Fuego by bus, there
are few direct international services and you usually
have to disembark at the border, cross it, then
sometimes get on another bus to a large city in the
new country. The process is repeated at most border
crossings. The best bet for an international service is