Green Toad Bus

So you have decided to finally backpack South America! Some travellers come for the beauty of the varied nature, others venture here to experience new cultures, while many come to see the famous landmarks that pop into mind at the mention of the words 'South America'; such as the Christ Redeemer and Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Iguacu Falls on the border of Brazil and Argentina; and let's not forget Peru's majestic Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail which leads to it. For most backpackers, it is the combination of all the above which draws them to this land, and when they get here they discover their preconceptions of the continent were only a fraction of the experiences on offer in South America.

Another reason to backpack in South America is it is relatively a lot cheaper than Australia, Europe or North America. Your dollar, pound or euro will help you stay away from home and more importantly 'work' for longer in South America, but  be careful, many see the prices here as an excuse just to buy more. Backpackers save by staying in hostels, preparing their own food and by taking local transport around the continent. Hostels in South America are also the meeting ground for a world of other travellers who all seek to squeeze a lifetime of experiences into their time away from their normal life.

These experiences breed in witnessing cultures who borrow from both the past and the present to make sense of their own identity; with embrassing encounters in another language foreign from your own and overcoming the barriers of communication while you travel; with witnessing happiness within poor areas that sometimes can't be reproduced in richer ones; with pausing for a moment while exploring a new city or small town and just realizing where you are. You are backpacking South America, a diverse, interesting and happy place where the unexpected pays daily visits and where life back home can just wait for now!