Bus Safety in South America - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

kiwimaddog · 01-17-2005, 05:44 PM

For my first major backpacking experience, I'll be going to Peru this summer to study spanish and volunteer. After this I'm hoping to travel around South America. I realize that taking buses is going to be the most practical way to go, but I am a little nervous about underdeveloped, narrow, switchback roads. Do I have reason to worry, or is it not that dangerous? Thanks!

**urOZm8** · 01-17-2005, 11:50 PM

Hey kiwim! I've been reading up on S America lately as it probably will be my next big trip.
From what I've read it seems bus travel is quite dodgy all round with bad overtaking and going fast into blind turns. Somewhere it said its best to sit on the roof for two reasons- firstly you can watch your stuff and secondly you can jump off the bus before it goes over the cliff! I hope to read some more promising things but its all that I can think of right now.

ev

**jabad17** · 01-18-2005, 02:12 AM

I'm not sure about S. America, but I traveled by bus quite a bit in Mexico and never had any problems. Some of the roads can be adventurous but between major cities they are ok.

**TheJake** · 01-18-2005, 01:43 PM

Dont believe any of it. I cant speak for peru but I can speak for Argentina, Uruguay, Brasil and Chile. The buses are uber-nice in comparison to Greyhound. Well not all of them but most of them are. The only un-comfortable bus I found was the one to Jericocoara but that was just because it was 2 hours over sand on wooden seats.

The busses are cool. The people are way cooler than any random person I have met in the US. So keeping in mind that I have only been to Central and South America I would say that if I had to choose where to live. It would definitly be south america.

Go with NO fear. Be ready for unexpected. Keep your eyes and heart open. Never stop loving life.

Basic beliefs of the peeps down there.

**butterj** · 01-19-2005, 03:24 PM

My mate was in mexico, they were told on one of the routes 1 out of 2 busses got held up at gun point. they straped there cash except for 100 to there dick, and didn't get stoped, so may just be scare story but hey, it pays to be carefull.