My girlfriend and I (UK) are planning our first trip to South America next year and would love some feedback on our route. We’ve got 6 months and plan to hit all the main sights: Machu Picchu/Inca Trail, Bolivia Salt Flats, Atacama Desert, etc. Unfortunately, we’re skipping Patagonia because of the weather. Does our route and the time we’ve allocated in each country look realistic? Anything you’d change, need to know, or any tips for first-timers? We've done SE Asia before and a lot of Europe. Really appreciate any advice! Colombia – 4 weeks (Feb 1st to Feb 28th) Ecuador – 3 weeks (1st March - 22nd March) Peru – 4 weeks (23rd March - 20th April) Bolivia – 3 weeks (21st April - 12th May) Chile – 2 weeks (12th May - 4th June) Argentina – 3 weeks (4th June - 25th June) Brazil – 4 weeks (26th June - 24th July)
This is a fantastic itinerary for a first trip to South America! It's ambitious, but with six months, it's definitely achievable and covers some of the continent's most incredible highlights. Your previous experience in Southeast Asia will be very useful, as you'll be familiar with long bus journeys and on-the-fly planning. Let's break down your questions. I'll start by creating a research plan to validate the route and timing, ensuring the advice I provide is accurate and helpful. Then, I'll address your specific questions about realism, potential changes, and tips for first-timers.
My girlfriend and I (UK) are planning our first trip to South America next year and would love some feedback on our route. We’ve got 6 months and plan to hit all the main sights: Machu Picchu/Inca Trail, Bolivia Salt Flats, Atacama Desert, etc. Unfortunately, we’re skipping Patagonia because of the weather. Does our route and the time we’ve allocated in each country look realistic? Anything you’d change, need to know, or any tips for first-timers? We've done SE Asia before and a lot of Europe. Really appreciate any advice! Colombia – 4 weeks (Feb 1st to Feb 28th) Ecuador – 3 weeks (1st March - 22nd March) Peru – 4 weeks (23rd March - 20th April) Bolivia – 3 weeks (21st April - 12th May) Chile – 2 weeks (12th May - 4th June) Argentina – 3 weeks (4th June - 25th June) Brazil – 4 weeks (26th June - 24th July)
Right, the user wants feedback on their itinerary. I've already set up a to-do list to analyze it. Time to get started. First up: weather and seasonality. I'll use `continue_next_task` to kick things off.
Excellent, the initial weather analysis is complete and has flagged some important considerations for your trip, particularly concerning the rainy season in the Andes and Amazon regions. Now, let's move on to the next crucial step: assessing the travel times and pacing of your itinerary. This will help us understand if the time you've allocated for each country is realistic, considering the often long and challenging travel days in South America.
The logistics research highlights some significant travel days, especially if you opt for buses. Taking these long journeys into account is key to a well-paced trip. Next, I'll move on to the equally important aspects of health, safety, and altitude, which are critical considerations for your route. I'll also look into visa requirements and booking lead times for major attractions.