 South America
Travel South America on your gap year. Ideas for gap year travel to South America.
South America gap year - Click here to find out about gap year programmes in South America
South America or Latin America possesses unique communities, culture and landscape. It is a diverse region with so much to do and see.
Travel to South America (Latin America)
It is generally cheaper to fly to South America from London rather than from any other point in Europe. Fares to South America vary from airline to airline, destination to destination and according to the time of year you travel. If you're after a flexible, date-changeable ticket to South America you may have to pay a little more - but if there's any chance your plans in South America may alter then it will almost certainly be worth the extra money in the long run.
Social custom in South America (Latin America)
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Politeness in South America is, as with anywhere else in the world, greatly appreciated. Being polite in South America will get you much further and make your stay far easier. Men should always remove any headgear when entering offices and you should always be prepared to shake hands. Hand-shaking is far more common in South America than it is, say, in the UK or USA. In South America you should always use the greeting “Buenas dias” until midday and “Buenas tardes” in the afternoon or evening, (“Bom dia” and “Boa tarde” in Brazil). Politeness should also be extended to street traders in South America. Saying “No gracias/Nao obrigado” with a smile on your face will gain you a lot more respect than an arrogant dismissal. Similarly, it's considered extremely rude to take a photo of someone in South America without first asking for his or her permission.
As with most things, there are a few exceptions to these general politeness rules in South America. Most people in South America are disorderly queuers, (they simply don't have the queuing culture we have), and within reason you may need to give as good as you get in some situations! Also, in commercial transactions in South America you should accompany your politeness with a firmness and make sure you always check the price first.
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Money in South America (Latin America)
The three main ways of keeping in funds while travelling in South America are with US dollars cash, US dollar travellers' cheques and with credit cards. Sterling and other currencies are not recommended. The risk of loss is obviously greater with cash, but the benefit of having US dollars in South America is that they usually obtain better rates and lower commissions. If you're travelling in to the interior away from the big cities it's not always easy to change money in South America, so make sure you have plenty of local currency in small denominations before you set off.
Safety in South America (Latin America)
Generally speaking most places in South America are no more dangerous than any major city in Europe or North America. Most guidebooks for South America have good sections on keeping safe, and they're well worth reading if you want to pick up any more specific tips.
South America gap year - Click here to find out about gap year programmes in South America
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