Chapter 4: 3 months in South America

So here is a very late summary of our time in South America!

Total days in South America: 103

Cheapest bed: R35 for a double room at Hostal 6 Augusto, Copacabana, Bolivia
Priciest bed: R542 for two dorm beds at Los Quernos camp, Patagonia - because they had no tents for us!
Cheapest meal:R7.80 each for a delicious 3 course 'cena' (dinner) in Cuzco, Peru
Priciest meal: R332 for us both for our splash out meal in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Highlights: Learning Spanish in Montanita in Ecuador, Inca Trail, Jungle and Orphanage volunteering in Peru, Hiking in Torres del Paine National Park and Skiing in Chile, 4 Day 4x4 Tour around the Bolivian Altiplano, Iguassu Falls and Paraty in Brazil.

And the winner is: 2 volunteering weeks in the Jungle, Tambopata National Park, Peru

Most useful items in our bags: Beanies and gloves, thermal underwear, mosquito repellant and coils, Shewee (ask me if you're brave enough and I'll explain), head lamp, ski jacket brought by Nats and Daryll

Least useful items in our bags: Summer gear lost at the bottoms of our bags since we left Lindy in the States, Poncho.

What we loved: We especially loved Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia for their 3rd world character, locals in colourful traditional dress, interesting local transport and goings-ons, fascinating food and way of life. We enjoyed Chile's slurred unintelligible Spanish, Andean mountains, Atacama desert and cacti, and Patagonian wilderness. Loved Argentina's Mate (grassy tea) in silver jug and straw that everyone sips all day on, tango, and colourful buildings. And Brazil's African/Caribbean feel and tropical rainforest mountainous scenery was wonderfully unexpected.

What we did not love: The overnight, very broken bus ride to Tupiza, Bolivia!