Hey all!
This is my first post here!
Soon- as soon as mid Oct and as late as Nov 1st I am headed to Argentine Patagonia. I have my plans to live and work for as long as possible down there- I am set up already with point B in Southern/Central Argentina. My Point A is the mountains of North Carolina, USA. I am fully commited to this trip now, I just want to find an adventurous way down there- my intention is to spend the least money I can with the most expirience without nessessarily going completey hitch-hike style (though that will be an integral part of the expirience). I have no expirience what-so-ever with this kind of freedom- so I need help, not only with ideas but with feasability of the ideas running through my head. Let me give you an idea...

The most seemingly feasible option would involve a mix of hitch, hick and bus/train. On such a road which areas would be best suited for each?? What kind of time frame would I be looking at?
another seemingly good idea would be to find a used mo-ped or small motorcycle for 300 or less and ride the distance- anyone have any idea what that would end up costing in fuel?? I have little knowledge of this aside from the romantic notion of it. Tell me what you think.


My safe bets would be to hitchhike to Miami and fly to either Buenos Aires or Sao Paulo. The ne way ticket price is about 150 cheaper to Sao Paulo- this idea stems from a desire tro spend a bit of time in the Amazon. With nessessary shots and my time frame to get to Patagonia by mid November makes this a bit more difficult. Unless any of you have any good ideas about makeing that trip- I'd be forced to opt for Buenos Aires- which isn't a bad option. If I can avoid flying, I'd rather do so though!!

Please let me know what you think I'm anxious to get my plans.. uh.. planned!

Thanks

Rk

Wow, that is quite the potential adventure. I definitely flew to BA, then flew to Patagonia so I'm not sure I have any suggestions except a bus from BA to Patagonia; they're not that expensive! :)

Welcome to the forum :cheers:

Get on the websites of the airlines that fly there...Continental, American, Lan, Aerolineas Argentina, etc. Sign up for their e-mail saver and look for the best deal over the course of a month or so...then buy.

Buses are dirt cheap in Central America, but I can't speak for S.A. Check with florencia, she can probably give you price examples. Pick up a good budget traveler's guidebook, aka, Lonely Planet, Lets Go, Rough Guide, and read through it closely. You'll likely pick up ideas there, as well as get an idea on prices. Surf the web for travelogues from backpackers who have been there before you -- most guidebooks won't say stuff about hitching, as they're afraid of lawsuits if something bad where to happen.

Good luck, and use this forum to bounce ideas off of our heads, as well as keeping us posted!

worldwidemike

Hey! I'm totally beat right now... but tomorrow when I'm at the office I promise to share all the info I've got!!

Until then!

What's your Spanish like?? Because in Central and South America there's not that many people that speak English, there's quite a few that do in BA, but outside the city you wont come across to many people that do. This fact may be something to consider for your hitch hiking plans. The local buses (chicken buses) in Mexico and Central America a dirt cheap, like $10 - $20 to get anywhere. They don't have chicken buses so much in South America, but the tourist buses aren't very expensive at all, can't remember exactly how much they were, but they are cheap.

truthfuly mi espsanol is.. how should I put it? Mediocre at best. Probably not good enough right now to communicate properly- though I have a knack for communicating what I want to most people regardless of the language barrier- though this is probably not the best avenue for testing this out. I have a month and a half or so to learn key phrases though. Also, if I could find someone who is trying to hitch down there I'd do it in a heartbeat. The difference of having someone with me would be enough to push me in that direction. Otherwise I'm still trying to figure out what travel method would be best.

My eventual goal is a Permaculture ranch in Southern Argentina where I have accomedations and such already secured. I just need to find the best way down. I want to avoid the less adventurous cop out of flight as much as possible, but, like I said, if there is no reasonable alternative (as I have no expirience hitching long distance what-so-ever) I will resort to it in the end.

Any adventurous types out there looking to wander south?

You can hitch hike in Southamerica, specially in Chile and Brazil, but Ive heard Argentina is one of the toughest countries to get a ride. Quite a few locals do it as well so its actually possible, and I met a couple of spanish girls that hitch-hiked all Argentina with no trouble.

Try www.autostopargentina.com.ar There are a few advices there that could be useful. My advice: if hitchhiking from Buenos Aires its way easier to try it a little apart from the city like in the peajes or service stations.

Have fun and let us know how it goes!

That sounds fantastic. I just read a magazine article written by a guy who did a pack-horse trip through some backcountry sections of Patagonia and the pictures were breathtaking!! Good luck! :cheers:

So I decided to flydown to BA. I'll be there on Nov. 4th. I need to get to Zapala from there in order to get to the ranch, but am having trouble getting anything secured- I was thinking about just waiting until I get there. Now my main plan, which I am trying to keep as much as possible, is to travel idnependantly as much as I can once I leave the ranch. I want to go to terra del fuego since I'll already be that far south, but my main goal is to get to the rainforest. Any travel tips? What kind of safety precautions can I and should I take? I've never done anything like it before but I am determined and WILL do it. I just need to figure out how. Please let me know! If there is anyone in BA who I could get in touch with that'd be nice too!!!

Rob lenfestey


PS check out my music!
www.myspace.com/roblenfesteyprojects

Hey Rob!! how's the planning going? How come you're going to Zapala? If yuou wanna go mountain hicking and stuff I would recommend going to Bariloche instead, it's far more popular and has amazing views. Personally I think San Martín de los Andes or Villa La Angostura are gorgeous(though might be a bit more pricy).

It'd be really cool to make the trip of the Siete Lagos (7 Lakes) with a motrcycle, though I did it b car.

I don't know how much it would ost to do thsi trip by motorcycle, but by bus:
on the Chevallier Bus it will cost from Buenos Aires to Zapala: 95 pesos.
From Buenos Aires to Bariloche: 85-115 pesos.

It depends on the kind of seat you choose, for such long distances it's deffinitely worth it spendig a bit more on buses "Ejecutivo" is like Fisrt Class, "Semi Cama" means it reclines, but not totally like a bed.

The bus's site is: http://www.nuevachevallier.com/
Click in "Planificá tu viaje", when you choose the city of Departure (Origen) and type "Buenos Aires" it'll display a list, you have to choose Retiro - Buenos Aires, cause that's the name of the Central Station, and where you'll be buying your tickets.


Hope this helps a bit in your planning, any doubts r questins just fire away... and i'll try to see if i can help.

Besos!