Hi, I’m Lin Gongzi, and I’m on an incredible journey around the world. I’ve already conquered Antarctica, and my adventures continue!
✅ I’ve explored over 40 countries across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, and now, I’m making my way through South America.
Colombia marks the true beginning of my South American adventure:
This travel style is all about solo exploration, so I haven’t included flight costs, as they can vary greatly from person to person.
I also made a memorable trip to Antarctica, but the flight there is not part of the overall cost.
In Chile and Argentina, I mostly cooked my own meals, with occasional indulgences in local cuisine.
In other countries, I dined out more frequently.
Eat and drink to your heart’s content; just note that this itinerary doesn’t include Easter Island 🗿.
For accommodation, I stayed in hostels when traveling alone, and shared homestays are incredibly cost-effective when you’re with a group.
If you’re heading to national parks or similar attractions, it’s more economical and convenient to find others to share a car with.
Cost of living:
High: Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay
Medium: Peru
Low: Ecuador, Bolivia
📍Route planning: Colombia – Ecuador – Peru – Bolivia – Chile – Argentina – Uruguay – next up, continuing to Brazil 🇧🇷 – Suriname – Guyana
🚌Transportation:
I traveled mainly by bus between countries, with some low-cost airlines mixed in. Buses were my primary mode of transport, as luggage fees in South America can often exceed the cost of the airfare itself.
🛂South American visas:
– Colombia: US visa exemption
– Ecuador: Visa-free
– Peru: US visa exemption
– Bolivia: Pre-arranged, $30
– Chile: US visa exemption
– Argentina: Electronic visa
– Brazil: Visa, $115
– Venezuela: Visa, $50
– Uruguay: Visa-free
– Paraguay: Requires a visa
– Suriname: Visa on arrival, $33
– Guyana: Visa, $40
🏨Accommodation apps:
Booking, Airbnb, Agoda, Hostelworld, and Google
🎫Flights:
Qunar, Ctrip, Skyscanner, LATAM Airlines official website, Boliviana de Aviación official website, and Aerolíneas Argentinas official website
💳Payment methods:
Credit card payments, exchanging USD for local currency, and if all else fails, exchange at Chinese restaurants.
☎️SIM cards:
You can purchase SIM cards on Taobao for general use in South America, or use the Worry-Free Travel app to buy local SIM cards upon arrival.
📱Social media:
WhatsApp is a must-have for staying connected.
🚗Ride-hailing apps:
Uber, DiDi International, Google, and BlaBlaCar make getting around easy and convenient.
Stay tuned for detailed expense summaries and travel tips for each country!
