Need Help Planning A Trip to South America

[Kenny536]

Mark - I would never purchase such souvenirs. I love animals!

Update on my trip:

I am leaving May 17th and arriving at Lima, Peru. I am leaving July 12th from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and coming home. The tickets were bought a month ago. I’m going to start packing soon. Please let me know if you think something is unnecessary, and more importantly, if I am omitting anything. Also please let me know if I’m not allowed to bring these things on the plane, cause I have no idea. Keep in mind I haven’t bought some of these things yet, although I must do that soon. Thanks!

In no particular order, here is what I have decided to pack so far:

• Mp3 player, charger, 2 sets of headphones
• Lots of 50+% DEET of insect repellant.
• Some sort of travelers backpack
• SD Card Reader + SD cards + 8 GB flash drive
• Camera/charger
• Electrolyte powder
• Mosquito Net
• A few sets of clothes (how many sets should I bring? Will I be cold?)
• Binoculars
• Spanish – English dictionary + Portuguese – English Dictionary
• Travel pouch, two wallets
• Padlock
• 2 pairs of shoes, one for dry land and one for water
• Hand sanitizer/wet wipes
• Alcohol rub, malarial medication, cipro, pepto-bismol, Imodium, Tylenol
• Travel pillow, towel, razor
• Flash light, batteries, adapters and converters for electronics
• Sun hat, sunscreen, umbrella

That’s all I can think of right now. Is all of this necessary? I don’t know how I would fit all this into one backpack. Should I have a second bag and just leave it at the hostel?

Here is my schedule for the actual trip:

May 17th – May 21st – Lima
May 22nd – June 7th – Cusco (Machu Picchu, Manu, Lake Titicaca, Paragliding)
June 8th – July 12th – Brazil (Pantanal in Campo Grande, Rio de Janeiro, and possibly Iguazu Falls)

Things I have done:

• Shots / malaria medication (doxycycline).
• ISIC card/travel insurance.
• Brazilian Visa
• Hostel reservations for the hostel in Lima.

Things I still have to do:

• Register with the embassies in both countries.
• Make copies of my passport.
• Carefully read the lonely planet guidebook.
• Finalize the date for the Pantanal.
• Figure out how to get from Peru to Brazil
• Learn more Spanish and Portuguese (haha I am so screwed)
• Buy foreign SIM card for phone (will do this in airport at Lima/Brazil)

I think the main thing I need help with right now is how to get from Peru to Campo Grande. I’m hearing that direct flights from Lima to Campo Grande can cost $1000. I do not want to pay that much. I’m hearing cheaper alternatives if I go through Bolivia (i.e. Cusco > Santa Cruz and then bus it to Campo Grande). Can anyone help me out with more information on this? Also, if I do this, will I have to obtain a Bolivian visa?

Thanks for the help everyone – this trip will be a memorable experience!