The original post: /r/travel by /u/Mountain_Form581 on 2024-11-13 19:10:19.

Hi everyone! I’m (25, from the Netherlands) planning a backpacking trip through Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia from early January to late February. I’m arriving in Buenos Aires on January 2 and flying out on February 24 (again from BA), total 52 days to travel.

Route –>  I’m planning to focus on Northern Argentina, Northern Chile, and Bolivia. I’d like to skip Southern Patagonia but am considering a stop in Bariloche. I feel like Patagonia is an amazing experience but is just too expensive in the high season and too far away for such a short trip. Don’t mind an intense itinerary but prefer not to rush through everything.

Budget -->  backpacking, aiming for budget accommodations (dorms or double rooms in hostels). Open to night buses to save time, and a few short flights if necessary to cover more ground efficiently. Travelling with my girlfriend so I don’t want to stay in dorm rooms all the time.

I have the following destinations in mind for each country

Argentina: Buenos Aires - Bariloche - Mendoza - Salta - Jujuy - Cordoba(?)

Chile: Puerto Montt - Santiago (+ Valparaíso) - Valle de Elqui - San Pedro de Atacama - Iquique or Arica

Bolivia**:** La Paz - Copacabana (Isla del Sol/Titicaca Lake) - Santa Cruz - Sucre - Uyuni

If I’d manage all this, I have to make a circle to end up in Buenos Airos on February 24. Here’s the rough outline:

Buenos Aires - Bariloche - Puerto Montt - Santiago/Valparaiso - Valle de Elqui - San Pedro de Atacama - Iquique/Arica - Copacabana - La Paz - Santa Cruz (skip?) - Sucre - Uyuni - Jujuy - Salta - Mendoza - Buenos Aires

I could use some advice on this very rough version of my itinerary. Are there spots or hidden gems I should add? Are there places I should skip or spend a particular amount of time in? Is this a realistic itinerary, or will I never be able to see all these places? I’ve heard that Santa Cruz (Bolivia) might not be worth it, same goes for Córdoba (Argentina, which I didn’t include). Is it worth heading all the way down to Bariloche/Puerto Montt? I figured that going to the deep south for Patagonia is too time-intensive and expensive, but would this alternative “make up” for it? I also feel like there’s a lot of room in between destinations in Argentina. If people have good suggestions for in between stops to check out

Also would appreciate tips on traveling between these areas, including reliable night buses, affordable flights, crossing borders etc. Thanks so much in advance!