Dude, yeah just go, you probably wanted to hear that, right? And
probably you will be fine having lived in Nicaragua. While you are
there roaming in S. America enjoy it and don't worry so much about
money. You can always rent an internet cabin for a coin, even in the
less developed villages if you need a reference to information. The
best places to stay in South America are free. I have done it
seasonally over the past five years; yeah, some times were rough, but I
learned so much. Sometimes I learned to hang out with exiled Brazilians
hiding in the jungle from military curfew and in exchange for playing
bongos with them at their campfire I stumbled upon after randomly
walking through the wilderness, I was safe to sleep for the night with
total strangers. I was more likely to be robbed at hostals where they
suspect you as a tourist with your backpack. Sometimes people borrowed
me their donkey to ease the heavy load and held a flashlight while I
sent up a tent. Then they gave me a bottle of moonshine (agua ardiente)
as a kind gesture; this drink was aweful, but kept me warm at night.
Butterflies became attracted to me; it was surreal. These have been the
greatest times of my entire life; a true priviledge to feel the
people's vibes.
Have no fear.
By the way, you will be living well on about $100 a month and even
enough left over just in case you have political or migratory problems
with city people and have to pay for a hostal or whatever.
I met a guy from Spain doing the same with a small packpack and he
always made friends on the interprovincial buses; after a month he
learned to jump waves at midnight under a full moon in Ecuador.
At one moment in my life I never had packpacked alone in S. America;
now I attest it can be done, humbly. You could become a warrior in the
native's eyes.
I agree a little bit of clothes and not much else!
Have a great time!
daniel.glazier@ wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have decided to backpack latin america alone for 8-12 months. I have
> lived in Nicaragua for 2 years and know the language, just want to
> shoot some ideas and get advice since I have never backpacked or
> travelled before. I don't plan on using any guidebooks, etc., and plan
> on using a regular sized normal backpack with clothes and not much
> else. I plan on going from Ecuador down through Chile and then coming
> up north through Argentina, Bolivia, etc., and either going through
> Colombia or going by boat from Venezuela to Panama and then continuing
> up to Mexico. Luckily I have the time and more or less money to do
> this, and speak well and am cheap so don't really fear robbery, but
> given that I will be going alone and have zero experience actually
> backpacking is why I want to ask advice.
>
> Anything at all. How do you get money when you are down there? etc.
> Any advice at all
> Thanks so much,
>
> Daniel.glazier@
>
> PS. I would ask more concrete questions but really due to ignorance I
> don't know what to ask specifically. 
Backpacking Latin America Alone 
