Chile, Argentina, Brazil Travel Advice!

Hi all,

I'm going to be living in Valparaiso from August to the end of December. Although I'll be studying at a university, I'd like to travel as much as possible. As for Chile, I will spend time in Santiago but I am more interested in visiting Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and Patagonia if possible. As for Argentina, I'd like see Buenos Aires, Cordoba, and Mendoza if possible. I also have a friend who lives in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, so I am planning on staying there and visiting Rio as well. This all of course won't be one straight trip - Valpo will be my home base. I'm going to try to spread my traveling out within the 5 months of my stay.

Any suggestions for how to travel between all these cities, the best possible time to do so, what I should absolutely not miss and what I could do without? I figure because I have a couple of months I will be able to get it all in.

• • • I would love to visit Rapa Nui but am worried about intruding on local culture as a "tourist". Any advice on this from travelers who have been? Patagonia is also a must for me, but I'm not sure what time is best to visit or how to go about getting there. Are tours suggested?

PS... I'm a student! Think hostels, buses, camping, and lots of roughing it....

Thanks in advance!! :)