Hi all!
The departure date for my South America trip is aproaching fast, only 5 more weeks to finish planning. I bought a KLR 650 from a guy on this forum. It's currently stationed at Foz de Iguaçu in the south of Brazil, I'm flying to Sao Paulo so I just have to take a bus there and the adventure begins

It's the first time I'll travel on a motorcycle on my own, not counting France, which was obviously not very challenging, but still great fun. I especially loved the wild camping, of which I hope I'll be able to do a lot in South America. I'm still wondering if I'll bring a stove and cooking pots with me or try to find it there. I'm thinking if I alternate between camping and hostels it doesn't matter if I eat cold food for a day. Although cooking your own meal is a fantastic part of camping. I was thinking about buying a petrol stove but it's a bit above my budget for the moment.

I'm also really looking forward to driving in the Andes. I've got hot weather clothing as standard attire with a lot of thermal clothing layers, thicker gloves and water- and windproof overpants as an addon when temperatures plummet. Hopefully this will be enough. I hope it gets really cold in Belgium just before I leave so I can do a proper cold stresstest.

I bought a one way ticket and I have about 4500 euro to spend. I want to stretch it as long as possible by couchsurfing, working for room and board, and camping of course. Paraguay, Bolivia and Peru are definitely on my list, I hope my money lasts long enough. No sense in racing through the countries, I want to take my time. I'm estimating a budget of a 1000 $ a month if I'm frugal, so this should give me some time to explore in each country.

Apart from neccesary stuff like vaccins, malaria precautions and things like that I'm not planning too much yet. The idea is that I'll see what to do when I get there. Not overplanning is one thing, but I don't want to forget something important either, so if any of you can come up with something I have overlooked, please don't hesitate to remind me

Emiel

I was thinking of buying this, together with my Garmin Gps I should be allright I guess. Although the scale is a bit small.

Buy a Reisse map for each country you intend to visit and one for ones you might. You will not find good maps out here. Good maps that will not disintegrate after getting wet or worn out by vibrations are essential.

Santiago has just about everything you could need outdoors but shops are spread out over the city though prices are slightly cheaper than Europe. Santiago will be your only bet really. Finding half-decent camping stuff won't be easy elsewhere. Take advantage of Europes massive second hand market - it doesn't exist out here!

If you want to camp I would really not be without a stove myself! A mug of sugary tea and a pot of noodles and tuna while watching electrical storms light up the night sky over the Salar of Uyuni from our camp on isla pescador was priceless.

One of my most used and most cherished items has been my MSR water filter and 4lt Drom bag. I never worry for water, no matter if in hostel, gas station toilet or muddy river, I always have a reliable source of drinking water.

Here is a list of stuff if buy if I went back to Europe;

* buzzeti tire spoons
* 24mm wrench/spoon combination
* mount for my gps!
* better (second hand) riding jacket + pants
* decent gortex riding gloves

Everything else has been great but asyoucan see I really think the best riding gear you can afford is essential as somedays you could be spending 10 plus hours a day in it. It's really important to get gear that fits well, will keep you warm in the cold and cool in the heat, but safe too when you go for a slide!

I'm currently in Bolivia - favorite county so far, great people, incredible scenery and some great adventure biking to be had out here. Let me know if you pass by ill be here a while i think!!!

Ride safe,
RTW

That may mean you don't even leave Europe if your chosen airline sticks to the rules.

Since you have a Garmin, download Open Street Maps for the countries you will visit. So far for Bolivia and Peru, there are very few tracks that aren't included.

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Tony
Click here for Travel Photos & Travel Map

Could you be more specific? This the first I hear about this. Do you mean the country I'm flying to wont let me entrr if I can't prove I have a return flight?

I got into BA with a one way ticket no problem.

So worst case scenario I get denied boarding in Brussels. If I arrive early I still have time to buy a short flight out of brasil online and still be allowed to board, correct?

Yes call airline and see what they say just to avoid any disasters later on. Like said, doubt you'll have any issues but best to be sure.

It looks like I'll have to be on the safe side and fix some kind of proof. A bus ticket out of the country shouldn't cost too much and is solid proof of me leaving the country I guess.

Sent a mail to the Brazilian Embassy in Brussels but it will probably be the same answer.

You convinced me about the stove, camping is not complete without preparing your own meals. Also I love to cook, so I had to have it. Just bought the MSR Whisperlite. I read mixed reviews about it, but some people really love it so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. It just seems logical to cook on petrol when you carry it with you all the time. Now I just need to find a good cooking pot set.

I was thinking of buying the Steripen. The ultra is rechargeable via usb or 12volt and costs about 80 euro's. Bottled water isn't very cheap in SA so it pays itself back after just a few months.

Expenses stack up quickly this way, but I'm just a sucker for the gadgets..

True so easy to overpack! Especially when doing the camping stuff. So far it's not too heavy yet. But I don't do the camping to be able to avoid eating local food. In four months I'll enjoy a bit of both.

Hello Odiel , first of all congrats for getting this opportunity to visit South America...enjoy it...Take care about yourself..
Try local food,visit famous places...

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holiday goa

Dont think because I want to bring a stove that I'm afraid of the local food. Eating is one of the highlights of my trip. Indian street food vendors loved me
it's just good to have a bit of both. Some quiet camping and some social city life.

Whisperlight - is that actually true to its name and quiet then? My Omnifuel is Excellent but sounds like a fighter jet taking off - not exactly ideal for stealth camping though it ticks every other box. Actually I just use camping gaz as I much prefer it over fuel. Downside is low availability outside of Chile/arg so it's good to have both options.

Steripens are good but being electronic not sure about their reliability. My friend's one broke leaving him without filtration. My carbon filter does 2k litres and also filters gasoline, ursine, washing powder, odours etc, but not viruses. My MSR filter is bulky but as said wouldn't be without it. Even here in Bolivia 2lt If water is about two USD so my filter paid for itself. If camping below zero it goes in my sleeping bag otherwise it cracks!

I love gadgets too and on the road you quickly find out what is essential and what is just for fun. A solid, freestanding tent and warm sleeping bag are, for example, very useful if you camp a lot.

As been said before, I love wild camping and being outdoors, sure sometimes it's good to do the hostel thing as well, but my best and most intense memories will be from the places I camped.

Folk complain about Whisperlite noise but I never found it that bad. Look for a Simmerlite. They don't make 'em any more but they are lighter and more compact plus the will simmer with a little fiddling.