{"id":613,"date":"2019-06-20T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-06-20T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/?p=613"},"modified":"2026-04-02T11:40:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T11:40:47","slug":"suedamerika-backpacking-kolumbien-ecuador-peru","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/south-america-backpacking-colombia-ecuador-peru\/","title":{"rendered":"South America Backpacking \u2013 Adventures through Colombia, Ecuador & Peru"},"content":{"rendered":"

South America Backpacking<\/strong> \u2013 the trip that changed everything. In 2019, I spent several months traveling through Colombia, Ecuador and Peru<\/strong> I traveled and discovered a continent so diverse and breathtaking that every European destination seems almost boring by comparison. Volcanoes, jungles, Andean deserts, Inca ruins, Caribbean beaches \u2013 South America has it all, and at prices that make European budgets feel like luxury budgets.<\/p>\n

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Colombia \u2013 The most underrated country in South America<\/h2>\n

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Colombia<\/strong> That was the biggest surprise of the trip. The country has long since shed its bad reputation and is now one of the most exciting backpacker destinations in the world. Medell\u00edn<\/strong> (once the \u201emost dangerous city in the world\u201c) is today an innovative, green metropolis with a perfect climate (eternal spring at 1,500m). Cartagena<\/strong> The Caribbean coast enchants visitors with its colonial old town and warm sea. Cocora Valley<\/strong> With its 60m high wax palms, it looks like something out of a fantasy novel.<\/p>\n

Cost:<\/strong> Colombia is incredibly cheap. Hostel: \u20ac5-10, set menu: \u20ac2-3, domestic flight: \u20ac30-60. You can travel comfortably here for \u20ac25-35 per day.<\/p>\n

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Ecuador \u2013 Volcanoes, Galapagos Feeling & the Center of the World<\/h2>\n

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Ecuador<\/strong> It is the most compact country in South America \u2013 about the size of Italy, it combines the Amazon rainforest, Andean peaks, Pacific coast and the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands. Quito<\/strong> (UNESCO Old Town at 2,800m) and the nearby Cotopaxi volcano<\/strong> (5,897m) are impressive. Laguna Quilotoa<\/strong> \u2013 an emerald green crater lake at 3,900m \u2013 is one of the most impressive natural wonders of South America.<\/p>\n

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Peru \u2013 Machu Picchu, Cusco & the Andes<\/h2>\n

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Peru is the highlight of any South American trip. Cusco<\/strong>, the former Inca capital, and of course Machu Picchu<\/strong> These are absolute must-sees. My tip: Don't take the regular tourist train, but the... Salkantay Trek<\/a> \u2013 5 days hiking through the Andes, with Machu Picchu as the grand finale. More about this in my Peru Travelogue<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Backpacking Costs & Tips for South America<\/h2>\n

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Daily budget:<\/strong> Colombia \u20ac25-35, Ecuador \u20ac30-40, Peru \u20ac25-40. Domestic flights and tours (Machu Picchu, Gal\u00e1pagos) significantly increase the budget.<\/p>\n

Security:<\/strong> Much better than its reputation suggests. Follow basic rules: Don't go out alone at night in unfamiliar areas, keep valuables in the hostel safe, and don't wear jewelry. The security situation is good in tourist areas.<\/p>\n

Best time to travel:<\/strong> May to September (dry season in the Andes). For the Caribbean coast of Colombia: December to April.<\/p>\n

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FAQ \u2013 South America Backpacking<\/h2>\n

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How long should one plan for a trip to South America?<\/strong>
\nA minimum of 4 weeks per country, 2-3 months for Colombia + Ecuador + Peru. Less than 4 weeks feels rushed.<\/p>\n

Do you need Spanish?<\/strong>
\nHelpful, but not essential. You can get by with English in tourist areas. However, basic knowledge (numbers, ordering food, asking for directions) makes the trip significantly more pleasant.<\/p>\n

Is South America dangerous?<\/strong>
\nNot a blanket statement. Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador are safe in tourist areas. Follow basic rules. Venezuela and parts of Brazil are currently more difficult to navigate.<\/p>\n

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My South America series: Peru<\/a> | Salkantay Trek<\/a> | Chile & Patagonia<\/a> | Brazil<\/a> | Request Collaboration<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n

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Since we snagged a super flight deal to Brazil, our next adventure starts in South America - I visit here regularly, but there's still so much to see! First up is S\u00e3o Paulo, where I got a shock right away. \ud83d\ude02<\/p>\n

I have never seen so many homeless people in one place before, despite having been to many international cities, including poorer areas. S\u00e3o Paulo took it to another level because you can find people in tents, under tarps, and even without any form of shelter over their heads in every single street! In front of the cathedral, we saw the extent of the problem because instead of tourists, there were only hundreds of homeless people and many police officers trying to keep everything under control. According to a local, the situation has worsened significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and more and more people are ending up on the streets. \ud83d\ude33 During our five days in Rio, we were approached countless times by locals (sometimes in the middle of the street) to watch our belongings, phones, etc. - I've never experienced this before, and it was a strange feeling! \ud83e\udd28<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, we still explored the city and did some activities. We were particularly impressed by the food in Brazil - in local restaurants, you usually pay per 100g, so you can get a plate of fresh ingredients and lots of vegetables for less than \u20ac3, and sometimes there are even all-you-can-eat buffets for less than \u20ac5 per person. \ud83d\ude0d\ud83d\udd25<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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From S\u00e3o Paulo, we took a flight to Foz do Igua\u00e7u - the border town with Paraguay. Besides an incredible number of restaurants and bars, the main tourist attraction here is the Iguazu Falls - the largest waterfalls in the world. I've been here twice before, but it's always fascinating, and it should definitely be on everyone's bucket list! There are 275 individual waterfalls spread over a huge area, no matter where you look! \ud83d\ude31 Additionally, with a bit of luck, you can see the small coatis searching for unsuspecting tourists to snatch their food. \ud83d\ude02<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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However, we didn't stay in Foz do Igua\u00e7u for long because we went directly across the Friendship Bridge to Paraguay. Since there isn't much to do in Paraguay, we took a bus directly to Asunci\u00f3n, the social and economic center of Paraguay. We worked a lot here and did a few smaller activities. Additionally, we experienced Christmas vibes for the first time here, as everything was beautifully decorated - in 30-degree heat. \ud83d\ude02<\/p>\n

Initially, we planned to take a bus from Paraguay to Argentina, but we found that many of the country borders in South America were closed due to COVID-19, and entry is usually only possible by airplane. So we changed our plans and booked a flight to Chile with plenty of time in between. However, due to COVID regulations, there are countless requirements for entry into Chile, including having to verify vaccinations with the Chilean health authority. When we arrived at the airport after more than a week, we were sent back home because this verification process can take up to 40 days! Spontaneous travel is no longer possible... \ud83e\udd7a<\/p>\n

So we had to change our plans again and decided to take flights to Peru since we only need a negative PCR test result here... Let's see if it works this time! \ud83d\ude01\ud83d\udc4d <\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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South America Backpacking Route: Colombia, Ecuador and Peru in one trip. The best highlights, budget tips and experiences.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3426,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_analytify_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[29,31,7],"tags":[22,23,10],"class_list":["post-613","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-backpacking","category-suedamerika","category-travel","tag-brazil","tag-south-america","tag-travel","has-post-title","has-post-date","has-post-category","has-post-tag","has-post-comment","has-post-author",""],"builder_content":"

Da wir ein super Flugschn\u00e4ppchen nach Brasilien ergattert hatten, startet unser n\u00e4chstes Abenteuer nun also in S\u00fcdamerika - ich bin regelm\u00e4\u00dfig hier, jedoch gibt es immer noch so wahnsinnig viel zu sehen! Und zwar zuerst S\u00e3o Paulo, wo ich direkt erstmal einen Schock bekam. \ud83d\ude02<\/p>

Nirgends habe ich bisher so viele obdachlose Menschen gesehen wie in S\u00e3o Paulo - und das, obwohl ich schon in vielen internationalen Gro\u00dfst\u00e4dten war, auch in \u00e4rmeren Regionen. S\u00e3o Paulo legte jedoch noch mal eine ordentliche Schippe obendrauf, denn hier findet man Menschen in Zelten, unter Planen und teilweise sogar ohne jegliche Form eines Daches \u00fcber dem Kopf in jeder einzelnen Stra\u00dfe! Vor der Kathedrale zeigte sich dann das ganze Elend, denn anstatt Touristen fanden sich auch hier nur hunderte Obdachlose und viele Polizisten, die das ganze einigerma\u00dfen im Blick behielten. Laut Aussage eines Einheimischen habe sich die Situation gerade jetzt in der Coronapandemie noch einmal erheblich verschlimmert und immer mehr Menschen enden auf der Stra\u00dfe. \ud83d\ude33 Au\u00dferdem wurden wir im Laufe unserer 5 Tage in Rio unz\u00e4hlige Male von Einheimischen (mitunter mitten auf der Stra\u00dfe) angesprochen, dass wir auf unsere Sachen, Handy usw. aufpassen sollen - auch dies habe ich vorher so noch nie erlebt - ein komisches Gef\u00fchl! \ud83e\udd28<\/p>

Nichtsdestotrotz haben wir uns nat\u00fcrlich auch die Stadt angeschaut und einige Dinge unternommen. Besonders begeistert hat uns das Essen in Brasilien - man bezahlt in den einheimischen Restaurants meist pro 100g - so bekommt man einen Teller mit frischen Zutaten und viel Gem\u00fcse meist schon f\u00fcr unter 3 \u20ac und manchmal gibt es sogar All-you-can-Eat Buffets f\u00fcr unter 5 \u20ac pro Person. \ud83d\ude0d\ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n[gallery ids=\"491,490,493,504,505,507,522,525,492\"]\n

Von S\u00e3o Paulo nahmen wir dann einen Flug nach Foz do Igua\u00e7u - die Grenzstadt nach Paraguay. Hier gibt es neben unfassbar vielen Restaurants und Bars vor allem ein touristisches Highlight: die Iguazu Wasserf\u00e4lle - die gr\u00f6\u00dften Wasserf\u00e4lle der Welt. Ich war zwar schon zwei Mal hier, jedoch ist es f\u00fcr mich immer wieder faszinierend und es sollte definitiv auf keiner Bucket List fehlen! Auf einem riesigen Areal erstrecken sich hier insgesamt 275 einzelne Wasserf\u00e4lle, egal wohin man auch schaut! \ud83d\ude31 Au\u00dferdem kann man mit etwas Gl\u00fcck die kleinen Nasenb\u00e4ren sehen, die \u00fcberall auf dem Gel\u00e4nde nach unachtsamen Touristen suchen, um ihnen das Essen wegzuschnappen. \ud83d\ude02<\/p>\n[gallery ids=\"494,495,512\"]\n

Lange blieben wir in Foz do Igua\u00e7u jedoch nicht, da es direkt weiter ging \u00fcber die Br\u00fccke der Freundschaft nach Paraguay. Da es in Paraguay jedoch nicht wirklich viel zu unternehmen gibt, haben wir direkt einen Bus nach Asunci\u00f3n genommen, das soziale und wirtschaftliche Zentrum Paraguays. Hier haben wir viel gearbeitet und ein paar kleinere Unternehmungen gemacht. Au\u00dferdem kam hier zum ersten Mal so richtig Weihnachtsstimmung auf, da alles wundersch\u00f6n dekoriert war - bei 30 Grad im Schatten. \ud83d\ude02<\/p>

Eigentlich planten wir von Paraguay mit dem Bus weiter nach Argentinien zu fahren, jedoch mussten wir feststellen, dass hier in S\u00fcdamerika ein Gro\u00dfteil der Landesgrenzen wegen Corona geschlossen ist und die Einreise meist blo\u00df per Flugzeug m\u00f6glich ist... wir planten also um und buchten mit ausreichend Abstand einen Flug nach Chile. Zur Einreise nach Chile sind aufgrund der Coronabestimmungen jedoch unz\u00e4hlige Dinge zu erf\u00fcllen, unter anderem muss man seine Impfungen vom Chilenischen Gesundheitsamt verifizieren lassen. Als wir nach \u00fcber einer Woche dann am Flughafen standen wurden wir wieder nach Hause geschickt, da diese Verifizierung bis zu 40 Tage in Anspruch nehmen kann! Spontanes Reisen ist so nicht mehr m\u00f6glich... \ud83e\udd7a<\/p>

Wir mussten also erneut umplanen und haben uns dann f\u00fcr Fl\u00fcge nach Peru entschieden, da wir hier nur ein negatives PCR Ergebnis brauchen... mal schauen, ob es dieses Mal klappt! \ud83d\ude01\ud83d\udc4d <\/p>\n[gallery ids=\"513,514,496,497,516,498\"]","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/613","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=613"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/613\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2544,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/613\/revisions\/2544"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3426"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=613"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=613"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=613"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}