Everything You Need to Know to Stay Safe Backpacking to South America

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If backpacking is your thing, South America is said to be one of the most amazing places you can travel to.

But before you head out on the trails, you need to plan and prepare so that you can pack accordingly and keep yourself safe along the journey.

When you travel to any type of foreign location, taking steps to protect yourself is vital.

It’s important to know how to keep yourself safe and the steps you should take to ensure you know the best chances of safety along the way.

Check out this guide to help you stay safe as you plan your backpacking trip to South America.

Financial Preparedness

No matter where you are traveling to, you need to be financially prepared for the journey.

When you are backpacking, your finances are particularly vulnerable.

There is a good chance you won’t have consistent access to the internet to be monitoring your bank account.

In addition, if one thing gets stolen, everything you have might end up missing.

You need to take steps to protect your valuable and important documents.

This includes everything from credit cards to cash to passports and everything in between.

It is best to keep these important things on your person at all times.

This way, if you get separated from your pack, you won’t lose your important things.

It may be a good idea to invest in identity theft protection as well.

You can use the best identity theft protection services to be prepared for whatever you may stumble across on your journey.

Set a Basic Plan

It can be hard to know exactly how quickly you will make progress when you are backpacking.

This makes planning a bit complicated.

That being said, you should still create a basic plan.

Plan what cities and locations you want to make it to and even a general idea of your route.

When you stop in a new city, book a room for a couple of nights so that you can explore the area.

This gives you a chance to rest, rejuvenate, explore, and then get back on the road.

You probably won’t be able to book these too far in advance since you won’t know your exact timeline.

However, we recommend prioritizing finding safe accommodations when you arrive at a city you plan to stop in.

Know your general plan and even have it documented.

If something changes, that is okay, but at least you have a general guideline to keep you on track.

Use Quality Gear

Backpacking to South America, or even through South America, can be a long journey.

If you are going to go for it, be sure to prepare with quality gear.

Everything from your backpack to your hiking boots needs to be good quality so that you will be protected as you travel.

You will spend a lot of time on foot, and you will sleep out in the wild as well.

You need food, hydration, shelter, first aid, warmth for nights, and comfortable clothing that will be durable.

If you buy brand-new hiking shoes, be sure to break them in a little bit before you go!

Food and Water Caution

While you will likely fill your pack with water and some dehydrated food for sustenance, you are also going to eat and drink along the way.

You’re in a foreign country, and your body likely is not accustomed to the food and drink here.

You need to proceed with caution.

Not all tap water is safe in South America, and your body may not be prepared for the difference.

A great way to prepare for this is to have a filtered water bottle that helps to filter impurities for you.

You also want to be cautious with food to avoid bowel issues.

Try to eat freshly prepared food or pre-packaged food to avoid exposing yourself to an upset tummy that is not going to be fun on the trails.

Use Discretion

It doesn’t matter where you came from; you are a foreigner.

You’ve entered a land where you don’t necessarily fit in.

In some cases, you may even obviously stand out.

The best thing you can do in this scenario is use discretion on being flashy.

Do what you can to blend in with the locals as much as possible.

It’s a good idea to dress down, keep your valuables put away, and don’t flash any type of wealth or brand-name gear to the world.

This could make you a target.

When you travel somewhere new, prepare yourself for the area and plan your journey as much as possible.

Staying safe on your backpacking trip to South America primarily depends on being prepared and learning how to blend in with the locals.