I am traveling round south america with 2 friends starting at rio de
janeiro, going south to patagonia and then finishing in Lima in Peru
completing a sort of U shape journey.In the end we would have gone
through Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and then Peru. We were
planning to do what everyone else does and go by bus yet we feel that
we would not experience being separated from all the other tourists
and would not get to places we wanted. To get the feel of real South
America the first thing that comes to mind would be to hitch-hike yet
we would rather have a car or three small motorbikes. The basic
problem with having your own means of transport is the insurance,
boarders and all the other little obvious problems. We know there are
many other problems like safety on the road and nasty people at night,
but what we need to know is basically is it worth it first of all and
what we would have to do to make this possible. I am basicaly asking
someone who knows S.A quite well and may have done what we are hoping
to do.
Thanks For your time!

Hello rembland,

I live and work in Rio de Janeiro (but I am not Brazilian) and I can
say I would not recommend (at all!) travelling by motorbike or hitch
hiking.  Hitch hiking for obvious reasons, you never know who is going
to give you a lift, and besides which, nobody hitch hikes here, so you
would be VERY unlikely to get a lift anywhere.  Motorbike is
unadvisable because unless you know exactly where you are going you
could end up take a wrong turning and end up in a favela, which can be
dangerous and worrying.
Having said that, Rio is a great city! If you like the beach scene
there are plenty of beaches, either the popular ones, or the more
quiet ones (http://images.google.com/images?q=prainha%20rio&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&as_qdr=all&sa=N&tab=wi)
If you like tropical rain forest, it`s here (I live about about 20
feet from it! http://images.google.com/images?q=floresta%20da%20tijuca&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&as_qdr=all&sa=N&tab=wi
) If you like the city night club life, it`s here.  It`s all about
being street wise!
I know we have a researcher in Argentina and one in Chile and I would
suggest that you post different questions for each country, that way
you are more likely to get a better idea of the problems and benefits
of visiting each country.
(Of course it will depend on those researchers to choose whether or
not to answer your questions)

Very best regards 

THX1138

hi!!

I live in Buenos Aires, Argentina, born in Arica, Chile and my parents
are from Bolivia (Potosi and La Paz). I know this three countries well
and can give you some advices, for example the social and political
situation in Bolivia, specially in the Puna or Altiplano is very
explosive (also in Peru), so I suggest you to do not visit places
alone. See:
"Bolivian peasants turn to lynch law":
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1307818,00.html

"Cycle of instability in the Andes":
http://www.isn.ethz.ch/infoservice/secwatch/details.cfm?id=10694

You can visit the country, but I suggest you to do "normal" tourism,
not adventure tourism. In many places in the altiplano people do not
speak Spanish, only native languages like Aymara and Quichua, and you
will not find a way to understand and be understood.

The above problems are not present (or you will have very few chances
to find such problems) in Argentina and Chile.

PS: splitting the question is a good idea.

Good luck!!
livioflores-ga