So you show up in a town and...

[AcrylicAce]

Hey everyone,
Was planning on going to South America awhile ago but some things got in the way and now finally I am actually going to do it (in april). I am pretty terrified to be honest as I have never done anything like this and I am most likely going alone (might have a travel partner for awhile but not 100% sure).

So, when you show up in a town... you just came off a bus or just setting foot off the plane... what is the first thing you do? Do you just aimlessly walk around for awhile and check out the town/city? Do you look for a map of the town and try and find a hostel right away? How do you find the hostel you are looking for... do you just ask around?

These might sound like silly questions but for someone that has never done anything like this it might ease some stress to have an idea of what I should be doing when i first start out.

[AcrylicAce]

Just to keep it all in one thread... I don't have a set amount of time (self employed and money saved up) but am wondering about how long this will take. I don't want to rush but I also don't need to stay in one spot for a really long time.

I am thinking of flying into Lima Peru and making my way over to iguazu falls through bolivia (skipping paraguay so i don't have to worry about a visa) then heading down to Buenos Aires, across to Santiago and then back up the cost to Lima.

I would like to make sure i don't miss Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, Parque Nacional Madidi, iguazu falls, buenos aires, santiago/valparaiso, and Iquique (anything else I should make sure I see in this area?)

Just wondering, about how long will take and are there any other cool things I should see that is in this general area?

Thanks a ton!!
AcrylicAce

[Mark]

Planning a trip is best done with one of the many travel guides available. I like the Lonely Planet guidebooks very much but others, such as The Rough Guide or the SouthAmerican Handbook are also excellent. The guidebook will be your best friend on the road, lots of useful information about travel (transport, accommodation, food, etc...) and practical issues.

It's not a bad idea to have a room reserved in a hostel before you arrive in Lima. This will save you the trouble of having to shop for one when you arrive (this can be quite hectic). Get local currency at the airport and take a taxi to your hostel, that's it. You can check out some hostels on the South America hotels section of our website.