Exchanging Dollars for Bolivares

Can someone please outline the options (and their risks) for exchanging foreign currency for bolivares in Venezuela? Our credit and debit cards are USA, but we will be arriving in Venezuela from Chile and had not planned on carrying any major amount of dollars with us as we moved about South America.
Thanks.

Backpacking lima-santiago

I everyone !

I'm planning to go backpacking from lima, peru to santiago, chile in a little more than a month in august this summer. I wanna have your advice on this, is this seems like a good plan or do you think going other itinnary in this region (west of south america) might be more interesting for the time i have to spend there. I'm open to any sugestions !

Thanks a lot for your help !

backpacking south america

Hi everyone,

My friend and I are planning on spending 40 days backpacking through Colombia, Equador, peru and Bolivia. We are gonna have a loose itinerary and mostly make it up as we go, with the exception of hiking the incan trail. I've never backpacked in another country before so I'd like some advice.

1. Route: What would be the ideal? we were thinking of landing in Cartagena, Colombia and working our way south to Bolivia and bussing back up around day 36 to catch our return flight home. Is this possible in 40 days?

2. Cost: How much do you think it would cost not including flight? We were hoping to keep it around $3000, including the $500 incan trail hike.

3.Accomodation: We will be travelling sept 18- oct 28. How hard is it to find a hostel to stay in the day you arrive in a new city? Should we always be calling in advance?

Any info you guys have i... more »

outdoor shop - second hand - Santiago? (I want to sell stuff)

Hi

I want to sell some of my gear before I head home>

1. Crampons
2. Down sleeping bag (Lyell winter bag)
3. A couple of bicycle panniers (Vaude)

Malaria & Yellow Fever Vaccine Advice

Hi all- I will be backpacking around Peru and Bolivia this summer (perhaps Columbia and Ecuador as well). I have done a bit of research about what vaccines I should get before leaving, and am unsure about yellow fever & malaria. I will be traveling in places that the CDC considers to be a "moderate" risk for these diseases (I will be all over both countries, not just sticking to the coast). My question is this- do I blow the $400 to get vaccinated for both, take preventative medication, or just stick to bug spray? Advice would be much, much appreciated! Thanks, Caroline

looking for trekking companion in Ecuadorean Central Highlands

I want to hike from Atillo to Achupallas and then connect that up with the Ecudorean Inca Trail. I'm OK with doing it alone (I'm not intending to go with a guide) but I would be happy to have company, too. If anyone is interested in doing this trek and is already in the area (because I want to start in the next few days) I would love to hear from you...

I have cooking gear but only a one person tent so you would need a tent and whatever else... Be aware that it's pretty wet at this time of year.

Post a message if you are interested and we can get in touch.

Caño Cristales - independently or tour?

Hi all,

I'm planning a trip to Caño Cristales next week and I'm trying to work out the comparative prices of going independently or with a tour, taking into account that I'm travelling alone. I'd rather go independently to have flexibility, but not if it ends up costing a lot more!

Having looked at some of the other threads on this site, it seems like it's fairly straightforward to find a guide, but it seems like might be expensive once you include transport around the park. Does anyone know how much it would cost? I've read elsewhere that another otion is it to tag onto another tour group, but considering I'll be going midweek and not in peak season, is this realistic?

The tour I have seen includes flights, hotel, transport, guides and food for 4 days for about 1,.240,000 pesos, which seems pretty reasonable considering the flights alone are 328,000 pesos.

Also, I know th... more »

The strikes - La Paz

Hi all

Currently in Salta, Argentina. After a frustrating time being completely stuck in Buenos Aires during the bus strikes earlier this month (yes I know there are worse places to be stuck!), I'm now monitoring the situation in other countries along our trip.

Bolivia is next. We are going to work our way towards La Paz shortly.

Conflicting news reports have used terms from "some big disruptions" to the city being "paralysed".

For anyone there (or who knows anyone there) - which is more accurate as to the current situation.

Is it impossible to get in and out at the moment? If so are many restaurants, shops and the like closed? Is if reasonable safe?

I'm monitoring the news daily, but anyone with direct experience and knowledge please let me know what it is actually like for a traveler on the ground there at the moment?

Also if it applies to anywhere else we are ... more »