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Camping in Central and South America Camping in Central and South America
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  #1  
Old 19 Jan 2010
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Greenthumb,

If I were to do the trip again, I would leave the tent, just bring the sleeping bag, something light. The bag can protect you from at least the bugs. I didnt run into to much rain in Central America, but if I did I wouldn't have used my tent, just find a cheap hostel. Answer to your question, I would dump the gear, keep the bag. Also some hostels get cold, have the bag adds extra warmth.
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  #2  
Old 19 Jan 2010
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Great advice Cruthas. I found camping pretty tough in Cent. Am. People everywhere you go. You really have to get into the bush to lose them.
Quite a few travelers have been robbed on Mexican beaches (wild camping). Stick to pay camp grounds or just get a motel. Much safer. There are always exceptions of course ... use your best judgment.

The Mex. beaches seem like paradise, this could be an illusion.
Argentina and Chile both have good camping all over and quite safe outside cities. I bring a Bivi sack for emergencies. No tent, no sleeping bag.

With careful planning and realistic daily mileage goals, you can always make it to a town or village and find lodging. Remember, many folks will happily take you into their homes. I've done this many times. Gives you an opportunity to practice your Spanish and learn the culture. Staying in town means no cooking, so even less crap to pack up. You'll learn how to find cheap food in markets and how not to get deathly ill in a few months or so.

Safe riding!
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  #3  
Old 20 Jan 2010
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@MikeS

My camping equipment is pretty compact. I think I would rather have it just in case.

@greenthumb

I was thinking of maybe just getting a Henessy Hammock which will pack really light.

@cruthas

Hmm, maybe a combination of sleeping bag and hammock then?

@MickeyD

People everywhere eh? I usually like finding remote spots to camp, but security is a concern of course.


To All

Thanks for your feedback. I think I may reconsider bringing all the camping gear like I originally planned.
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  #4  
Old 20 Jan 2010
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Thanks for input!
I ended up ditching 27lbs! (not just camping stuff)
I do lots of camping at home, but Ive come to realize that realistically, on this trip, I likely wont use it.
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  #5  
Old 23 Jan 2010
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Just back from TDF - in BA.

We brought camping equipment and used it once in Central America as rooms were too cheap.

The one episode of camping however was well worth hauling the equipment. We ended on a beach near the Mexico-Guatamalan border and there were no hotels. We ate at an open air restaurant and they let us put up the tent in the restaurant for free.

There didn't seem to be many camp grounds until Chili- Argentina and them we used the tent alot.

Another helpful hint is that if you can't find a spot to lay your head - ask around. Somebody will rent you a room in their house usually dirt cheap.

Hostels/hotels do save the time of setting up and tearing down the tent.

It is increased weight and volume, but I'd still bring it along.

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  #6  
Old 25 Jan 2010
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El Salvador
If your riding through El Salvador I can help you offering you camping places
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  #7  
Old 29 Jan 2010
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Plenty of campsites in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. Bushcamping quite easy too.
Brazil less campsites, when so mainly along the coast. Bushcamping difficult. Possible at petrolstations (noisy...)
Very few campsites in Bolivia and even less in Peru but I always bushcamp in these countries and never had any problem finding a good place, except the peruvian coast is a bit more difficult.
Ecuador, Colombia,Venezuela and the Guayanas I find it a lot harder, mostly i just ask someone for permission to camp overnight (policestation, petrolstation, farm etc).
Central America was over 20 years ago the last time I travelled there, then bushcamping was never a problem but that will have changed for sure.
Having said that I want to add that this does not mean I advice you to put your tent anywhere. I can have been lucky.., or maybe because I have travelled so much the last 30 years that I have a developped a gut feeling where to stay and not to stay. Common sense can never be put aside ofcourse. I just want to say it ís possible ...
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  #8  
Old 24 Jul 2010
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I was thinking of maybe just getting a Henessy Hammock which will pack really light.

Atlasrider, just a few thoughts of mine on the Hennessey Hammock...
I traveled for a year in South America with one, and was at some times over-joyed with it, and other times slightly frustrated with it's shortcomings.

In South America, up the Andean countries, it gets very cold at night with the altitude. Tents re-circulate air, HH's do not keep the heat in as well. I was probably lucky I didn't get pneumonia to be honest.
You have the problem of less space, so you've got to make sure everything is secured to your bike well that you can't fit in the hammock with you, and that leads sometimes to nervous times when you hear a sound outside and you're wondering is someone trying to steal your shit. Also, I would not like to be in a hammock if someone came at me, lying prone in the air...shit!
And sometimes it's just hard to find trees......

Besides all that I did love my hammock, and you can't beat the size, but I changed it over for a good old fashioned tent for Central & North America and I'm quite happy I did.
Just my two cents, hope it helps somewhat!
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Old 25 Jul 2010
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I've experimented with the HH, and it's now in a box somewhere at my folks's place.

It's actually not lighter than some tents at all. Heaver than some. You still need a mat for cold temperatures because the sleeping bag won't insulate if it's compressed which it is when you lie on top of it. And the wind blowing underneath it really offsets the insulation of the top half of your body.

I also find it more fiddly, and less comfortable.
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  #10  
Old 27 Jul 2010
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I've decided to take my Henessey Hammock along with a Nemo Morpho 1P tent which both pack down really small and don't take up much space.
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  #11  
Old 4 Aug 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AtlasRider View Post
I've decided to take my Henessey Hammock along with a Nemo Morpho 1P tent which both pack down really small and don't take up much space.
I took a NEMO Morpho 1P tent on my NH to TDF journey last year. I camped a bit in Mexico and it worked out great. Happy trails!
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