South America is a big place with lots to see. Visitors to the continent could easily spend a month or two exploring one country, but if you want to see everything you can in that time, the best way to do so is by going on a tour. There’s a lot of benefits to doing a tour through South America:
1.) Safety
While there’s danger in every part of the world, foreigners tend to find themselves as a target in certain areas of South America. Some aspects of travelling through the continent can be dangerous; more so than other destinations. Going on a tour will keep you as safe as possible.
2.) Transportation
Transportation in South America isn’t always reliable. Roads are still being developed in many parts of the continent, and different ground levels can make getting from one place to another rather difficult. Going on a tour takes care of all the logistics for you, and takes away all the potential chances for car-sickness.
3.) Language Barriers
Don’t speak Spanish, Portuguese, or other languages spoken in the pockets of South America? No problem! Going on a tour will take care of all the communication, so you can sit back and relax, and maybe try to learn some by listening. Don’t let another language barrier get you lost or prevent you from a good bargain ever again!
4.) Sightseeing
Wherever you choose to go in South America, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia…and everything in between, there’s going to be a lot of sights worth visiting. Figuring out the best ones, how to get to them, and the best times to go, can really be stressful. However, going on a tour will take care of all those things, so you’re guaranteed that you’ll see it all without missing something important.
5.) Accommodations
Many backpackers through South America opt for hostels. Unfortunately, as cheap as they come, there could be problems you may not anticipate. Hostels could be booked up when you get to your next destination, places could have bed bugs, or they might just be hard to find. A tour will include your stays, so you already know where you’ll be resting your head before you even get on the plane.
6.) Group Fun
Going on a tour means you get to meet others. Making new friends is one of the best parts of travelling. If you’re all on the same trip, it’s likely your interests are very similar. Your trip will be unforgettable not just because of the places you see, but the people who are with you.
7.) Convenience
Planning a trip can be stressful. Booking a tour with a click of a button is not. All your passport documents, itineraries, transportation, accommodations, and sometimes even meals and tickets for events will be organized for you. Even a packing list is often recommended depending on the tour you go with, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting a single thing.
8.) It’s Not As Touristy As You Think
The travel industry these days is different than it was long ago. With so many tours to choose from as well as the option to customize tours yourself, you’ll experience the comfort of being on a group but with the spontaneity that comes with traveling alone. You can do as many things as you want with the tour and still have time to explore places entirely by yourself (or with your new friends!).
If you know you want to travel to South America but aren’t quite sure where to begin, then consider going on a tour.
Author’s Bio: Hana LaRock is originally from New York, though has called other places around the world her home for the last two years. She currently lives in South Korea as an English teacher and freelance travel writer. When she’s not working, she enjoys writing, reading, spending time with her dog, and of course, traveling. You can find her at www.hanalarockwriting.com.
