WTK: Any tuner backpackers?

[liquidmetal]

Anyone here were/are backpackers, travelling long term? I'm planning to begin my journey in about 2 years time. My goal from now til then is to launch my startup, downsize my life, payoff my loans etc I realise I know very few locally and I would like to know whether there's more.. would be great to share some of your best and worst experiences here..how you began (your process) and how it changed you (if it did) etc

[DFC]

Where you plan to go?

[liquidmetal]

everywhere actually seriously.

--but its going to start from South America (virtually all the countries). Leaving via Cedros to Tucupita, Venezuela and onwards from there.

[zoom rader]

Dude When I left uni way back when, I back packed Europe for 6 months with a group of uni grads. Best ever experience you could ever have, nothing beats that.
Would love to backpack India in the near future.

[zoom rader]

everywhere actually seriously.

--but its going to start from South America (virtually all the countries). Leaving via Cedros to Tucupita, Venezuela and onwards from there.

Get all you visas and shots before hand here.
Travel with a group if you can.
Internet banking all the way, limit cash use.
Learn some Spanish or have ppl that can speak the lingo.
Drink bottle water never local water, buy food from supermarkets if you are on a budget.
Net seach hostels or make friends fast.
Dont piss off locals or look down on them.
Try not to look like a tourist and dont bling south america can be rough .
Take photos of everything and update Tuner, a mistake I made of not taking photos.
Looks good on your CV/Resume as a learning experience

This just a few tips

[ruffneck_12]

learn hardcore survival techniques incase sheit go bad

[liquidmetal]

everywhere actually seriously.

--but its going to start from South America (virtually all the countries). Leaving via Cedros to Tucupita, Venezuela and onwards from there.

Get all you visas and shots before hand here.
Travel with a group if you can.
Internet banking all the way, limit cash use.
Learn some Spanish or have ppl that can speak the lingo.
Drink bottle water never local water, buy food from supermarkets if you are on a budget.
Net seach hostels or make friends fast.
Dont piss off locals or look down on them.
Try not to look like a tourist and dont bling south america can be rough .
Take photos of everything and update Tuner, a mistake I made of not taking photos.
Looks good on your CV/Resume as a learning experience

This just a few tips

Good stuff. Planning to it go solo. Sure to bounce up new ppl along the way..
Learning the lingo all now.
true that on limited cash-in-hand.
Its going to be a budget journey so yep..street food and supermarkets
I've had the opportunity to meet new friends that from come most of the countries in SA last year so I have ppl to visit/place to stay and also have the shortlist of hostels along the way and of course, couchsurfing.
Everyone is equal to me.
Hated the "bling" and "flam" so no worries there..my most expensive thing will be the camera..will keep that safe and protected.
photos yes..!
no care about CV content..don't plan to work for people anymore (building startup before I leave+working online+blogging etc..) but yes..it is a good point nonetheless should it ever come back to that point.

----

Definitely about that survival techniques tho!

[DFC]

Backpacking aint easy bruh, i've done it for some time.

Read alot of blogs online, and read lonely planet thorn tree forums.

Follow Nomadic Matt and do lots of research.

There is something called travel hacking, find out how it applies to you and how to make the best out of it.

To be a good backpacker, you need balls of steel, humility, and a very flexible personality. To travel successfully with someone, they must also have the same quality, otherwise it can be very frustrating.

Always walk with your lonely planet. This book is the greatest thing on earth is like your personal paper tour guide to your destination.

[liquidmetal]

Yea good points! Been following Matt and been chatting with wanderingearl, foxnomad, bemytravelmuse, couchsurfers and some other digital nomads.

Honestly haven't used lonely planet that much though..just for guides through the Amazon when going by boat..but I've found blogs with much better info in the end..

Although I haven't done long term travel before, I know thats its for me. Back in 2013, I had the chance to travel to over 5 countries and man I miss it. I'm back to my job and its like "what the hell am I doing here", watching vicariously through blogs, hearing about the awesome cultures out there etc -- just trying to be patient putting things in place.

I know its not for everyone, but when I tell ppl about it and their eyes glaze over or start to mention a set of worst case scenarios first or saying well is only "white ppl" doing them things..then eventually saying they wish they could do it, that its too expensive and what not (I'm telling them its not) ..in the end its really their own limits stopping themselves from trying imo..the mindset here just different yes..

Willing to share any cool experiences zoom raider?
Where have you been to DFC, what was it like there? what did you learn from it?

[RASC]

Sub. Thread for updates!
All the best on your journey. May you return a wiser and much more focused man.

[AllTrac]

interesting thread. Whats the approx cost you have put to this?

[liquidmetal]

for a year or 2 in SA alone..just to give a rough estimation in USD:

(not set in stone--the wind can change these route choices)
Boat: Cedros, Trinidad>Tucupita, Venezuela $197
Bus: Tucupita, Venezuela>Caracas, Venezuela $40
Bus: Caracas, Venezuela>Barranquilla, Colombia $279
Bus: Barranquilla, Colombia>Medellin, Colombia $50
Bus: Medellin, Colombia>Bogota, Colombia $31
Bus: Bogota, Colombia>Quito, Ecuador $180
Boat: Quito, Ecuador>Iquitos, Peru $121
Air: Iquitos, Peru>Lima, Peru $85
Bus: Lima, Peru>Cusco, Peru $65
Bus: Cusco, Peru>La Paz, Bolivia $40
Bus: La Paz, Bolivia>Santiago, Chile via Iquique $68
Bus: Santiago, Chile>Buenos Aires, Argentina $150
Bus: Buenos Aires, Argentina>Montevideo, Uruguay $50
Bus: Montevideo, Uruguay>Asuncion, Paraguay $143
Bus: Asuncion, Paraguay>Rio De Janeiro, Brazil $119
Air: Rio De Janeiro, Brazil>Belem, Brazil $100
Air: Belem, Brazil>Paramaribo, Suriname $215
Air: Paramaribo, Suriname>Piarco,Trinidad $189
= $2122

of course there may be some travelling to shorter destinations in between so
with couchsurfing, staying by new friends, budget hostels and maybe even via workaway stays(depends) or camping, living expenses could be $2500.. I can make it with less..

food/essentials $4000 +/-

If I decide to get travel insurance thats $1500

estimated total (with ins) around 10k + 5k emergency funds

theres a leaner option which involves more workaway stays, woofing etc ..the cost could come down to 5k + emergency funds

thats not counting preparation funds for backpack, some durable clothes, misc gear, gopro, light laptop with long batt life eg. mac air possibly etc everything will fit in a Pacsafe Venturesafe 45L

--not sure if I can build all that capital in 2 years time..but I gotta try. I can leave with $5k and work on my startup projects building residual income along the way etc

of course theres alot of variables in between that could raise costs or that could cause my personal deadline to starting the journey to speed up or extend to an extra year or 2..but it will happen eventually.

Even though I would like to hear of experiences from other tuners..I'm hoping that posting all this too as it may inspire others

[zoom rader]

The back packing I did in Europe was done with some cycling folks (4 of us), we rode Europe . We did not pay for any travelling, only from Dover to Calais port. Our journey started in France to Holland, Belgium , Germany then back into France, Italy and back to UK.
We rode for 3 to 5 hrs a day which would cover about 80 to 100 miles.
We spent most times at Hostels, camps and at some cycling buddies home which ever would take us in .
Our food bill was rich in Carbohydrates and meat as used about 4000 calories day riding . We lived on pizzas , spaghetti, and general high cab cycling food.
Other expenses was mostly laundry which was shared up and various Hostels, camps bills.
Some of the other guys rode cycling races to top on money on the way, but that was really small money and not worth it.
I probably spent about £1500 in all, which is dirt cheap.
Was thinking of doing a south American or India trip on a motorbike this time.

[zoom rader]

for a year or 2 in SA alone..just to give a rough estimation in USD:

(not set in stone--the wind can change these route choices)
Boat: Cedros, Trinidad>Tucupita, Venezuela $197
Bus: Tucupita, Venezuela>Caracas, Venezuela $40
Bus: Caracas, Venezuela>Barranquilla, Colombia $279
Bus: Barranquilla, Colombia>Medellin, Colombia $50
Bus: Medellin, Colombia>Bogota, Colombia $31
Bus: Bogota, Colombia>Quito, Ecuador $180
Boat: Quito, Ecuador>Iquitos, Peru $121
Air: Iquitos, Peru>Lima, Peru $85
Bus: Lima, Peru>Cusco, Peru $65
Bus: Cusco, Peru>La Paz, Bolivia $40
Bus: La Paz, Bolivia>Santiago, Chile via Iquique $68
Bus: Santiago, Chile>Buenos Aires, Argentina $150
Bus: Buenos Aires, Argentina>Montevideo, Uruguay $50
Bus: Montevideo, Uruguay>Asuncion, Paraguay $143
Bus: Asuncion, Paraguay>Rio De Janeiro, Brazil $119
Air: Rio De Janeiro, Brazil>Belem, Brazil $100
Air: Belem, Brazil>Paramaribo, Suriname $215
Air: Paramaribo, Suriname>Piarco,Trinidad $189
= $2122

of course there may be some travelling to shorter destinations in between so
with couchsurfing, staying by new friends, budget hostels and maybe even via workaway stays(depends) or camping, living expenses could be $2500.. I can make it with less..

food/essentials $4000 +/-

If I decide to get travel insurance thats $1500

estimated total (with ins) around 10k + 5k emergency funds

theres a leaner option which involves more workaway stays, woofing etc ..the cost could come down to 5k + emergency funds

thats not counting preparation funds for backpack, some durable clothes, misc gear, gopro, light laptop with long batt life eg. mac air possibly etc everything will fit in a Pacsafe Venturesafe 45L

--not sure if I can build all that capital in 2 years time..but I gotta try. I can leave with $5k and work on my startup projects building residual income along the way etc

of course theres alot of variables in between that could raise costs or that could cause my personal deadline to starting the journey to speed up or extend to an extra year or 2..but it will happen eventually.

Even though I would like to hear of experiences from other tuners..I'm hoping that posting all this too as it may inspire others

You should have included Guyana via the ferry from Suriname. East coast Guyana is a sight to see.

[JD......]

Ive covered 2/3 of SA, but not all in one go. What your planning to do is epic and will most probably only be the start.

i can confirm that air travel in brazil is not cheap, also hospitals down here are not fun so something as simple as cold and flu pills, vit C is gold esp when alone.

travel insurance, never used it. Health insurance, get this...

skimming your thread and from what ive done, i almost never use my laptop or tablet, instead use what hostels provide. think of it as one less thing to get stolen.

GoPro: Yes
Smart phone to pick up wifi: yes
Get the duolingo app and a small spanish and portuguese translation book

also, somthing as small as chocolates can get alot especially in isolated spots.


good luck

[liquidmetal]

zoom- may look at including guyana too

JD -
lol yup it is the start of something epic..after I'll see where the wind blows next..not setting anything fixed not even the outline above..but it will be all continents..

was really trying to not do the air in brazil..but getting little intel for alternatives hence the flight in that..things could change on the ground.. but yea..the brazil cost of living is a concern..

for me everything I do is online..so the need for my own laptop is critical ..even though its higher risk..the pacsafe backpack to at least lower the risk level even if its just by a small percentage..lol it can't protect me from gunpoint obviously etc

travel ins would cover health and a whole bunch of things.. dunno if I'll take it yet but if I do I'll get it from worldnomads.com -it will apply anywhere in the world except for your home country

hmm I'll walk with chocolates to sell to fund myself a room or somethin lol

[liquidmetal]

JD have you been to machu picchu peru or the death road bolivia or glaciers in patagonia? anywhere aweome/notable that others should visit

if so what was your route to get there, incl costs etc

[X_Factor]

just curious, how are you gonna get the funds as the trip progresses
cause i am sure you will not be walking with the 10kusd cash with you
one hold up and whats next?

[liquidmetal]

store it on a visa (VTM) or mastercard debit card thats connected to paypal as well..on the ground and in advance i can do some checking to see where supports atms and just "drip withdraw" along the way

[JD......]

one thing to note, the buses in south america are actually really good and on time...so even if you were not on a budget it still is a good option.

i work in brazil and roamed around the south a bit, will focus on the north next year. Besides Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais you want to be close to the coast.

Earlier this year i did Uruguay for 2 days (its legal) and Chile. So i arrived into Santiago rented an SUV and drove to San Pedro d Atacama and back. 4000km in 4 days on the pan american highway. i literally had exactly 7 days off so i made the most of it and wanted to drive so that i can have fun in the dunes...i will do it again for sure, minus the drive.

Patagonia is in the cards but as a 2 week trip, bolivia i want to pair up with ecudor when that time comes around.

Peru, i worked in the jungle for a bit but roamed Lima..the food was amazing.

Argentina a few days a BA no time to get away.

Venezuela, travel by day. USD is king, don't get caught with too much. blend in, so wear red

Guyana, bush

Paraguay, nothing special actually

The thing is you have to know what you want out of it, I do it for the scenery, food and the lime. i travel mostly alone as its all last minute and lack patients at times

I strongly suggest hostels, i only recently started using them and love them mainly for the lime and the people you meet also the help out out a lot

I could go on and on but in reality, the hardest part is being away from family and friends. In this day and age its really easy to knock about, if you were going to do the entire thing via hitch hike well thats another story.

[liquidmetal]

JD your info sounds really great!!

curious, what work did you do in the jungle in peru?
Did you see plenty of fruits and veges there? I don't eat meat/dairy hence the question
I'm especially looking foward to the boat ride through the amazon jungle from Equador to Peru..gonna be off the grid for that period..Also my plan when in jungle in iquitos is to do an ayahuasca ceremony

if you go Patagonia before I do share some pics!

You're right with the that hostel part..couchsurfing and other friends will also be options

I understand the part about the family and friends..

[fouljuice]

--but its going to start from South America.

this reminded me of