Transport & Accommodation In Central & South America
Getting around Central and South America is very doable for backpackers, but journeys are often longer, slower, and more adventurous than in Europe. Transport relies heavily on buses, shared vans, domestic flights, boats and walking. This section covers how to move efficiently between places — plus what to expect when choosing where to stay.
Transport
Moving Around Cities
Most cities and towns are easy to navigate using a mix of walking, local buses, taxis, and ride-hailing apps.
Public transport: Local buses and colectivos (shared minibuses) are cheap and widely used, though not always clearly signed for tourists.
Walking: Colonial towns and city centres are compact and best explored on foot.
Taxis & ride-hailing apps: Uber and local taxi apps are common in major cities and are usually very affordable.
Moto-taxis & tuk-tuks: Common in smaller towns and rural areas, especially in Central America and parts of Peru and Bolivia.
Travelling Between Countries
Cross-country travel is part of the backpacking experience here and often becomes a highlight of the trip.
Long-distance buses: The most popular and budget-friendly way to travel between cities and countries. Overnight buses are very common.
Shuttle vans: Tourist shuttle services are widely used in Central America for easier border crossings.
Domestic flights: Useful in large countries like Colombia, Peru, Chile, and Argentina where distances are huge.
Boats & ferries: Essential for routes in the Amazon, Lake regions, and coastal/island areas.
Border crossings: Usually straightforward but can take time — patience is part of the journey.
Click on the boxes bellow to find out more about different companies that help with transport between cities and countries across Central & South America
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Rome2Rio — The best tool for seeing all transport options between cities (bus, flight, boat, shuttle) and planning complex routes across countries.
Bookaway — Excellent for booking buses, shuttles, boats and transfers across Mexico, Central America and parts of South America with e-tickets.
12Go — Very useful for comparing buses, boats and transfers in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru and beyond.
Busbud — A reliable platform for searching and booking long-distance buses across Latin America.
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Viva Aerobus / Volaris — Ultra-cheap flights across Mexico and useful for covering long distances quickly.
Avianca — One of the best networks for flights across Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Central America.
LATAM — The largest airline in South America, ideal for long distances like Peru → Chile → Argentina.
Sky Airline / JetSmart — Budget airlines for Chile, Peru and Argentina with very low fares.
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Long-distance buses are the backbone of backpacking across Central and South America.
ADO (Mexico) — Comfortable, reliable buses covering most of Mexico including night routes.
Tica Bus — The main cross-border bus linking Mexico → Guatemala → El Salvador → Honduras → Nicaragua → Costa Rica → Panama.
Linea Dorada / ADN — Popular tourist shuttles between Guatemala’s main backpacker towns.
Cruz del Sur (Peru) — One of South America’s best bus companies for comfort and safety.
Andesmar / CATA (Argentina & Chile) — Reliable for crossing the Andes between Argentina and Chile.
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Boats and ferries are important in certain backpacker routes where roads don’t exist or are very slow.
Guatemala ↔ Belize / Rio Dulce boats — Common backpacker route through jungle rivers.
Lake Atitlán boats (Guatemala) — Main way to move between villages around the lake.
San Blas boats (Panama ↔ Colombia) — Famous multi-day boat trip between Central and South America.
Amazon slow boats (Peru / Colombia / Brazil) — Unique jungle transport experience between remote towns.
Train travel is rare in Latin America but exists in a few iconic places.
Peru Rail / Inca Rail — Trains to Machu Picchu from Cusco or Ollantaytambo.
Tren a las Nubes (Argentina) — Scenic high-altitude train in northern Argentina.
Chile regional trains — Limited routes but useful in central Chile.
Most overland travel is done by bus or flight, not train.
Accommodation
Accommodation in Southeast Asia ranges from social hostels to comfortable budget hotels, with options to suit every travel style and budget.
Bellow is curated selection of hostels in each country.
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Mexico City — Casa Pepe (Hostel) — €15–30 — Central, social, walking distance to Zócalo.
Oaxaca — Azul Cielo (Hostel) — €15–35 — Colourful, rooftop, great vibe.
Puerto Escondido — Selina (Hostel) — €20–40 — Beachfront, social, pool.
Tulum — Meteora Stay (Hostel) — €25–45 — Modern, jungle style, great for backpackers.
San Cristóbal — Puerta Vieja (Hostel) — €10–25 — Cosy, social, mountain views.
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La Fortuna — Arenal Backpackers (Hostel) — €15–30 — Volcano views, pool.
Monteverde — Selina (Hostel) — €20–35 — Cloud forest, modern, social.
Santa Teresa — Somos (Hostel) — €25–45 — Surf vibe, pool, stylish.
Puerto Viejo — Rocking J’s (Hostel) — €10–25 — Iconic backpacker spot, beachfront.
Manuel Antonio — Teva Jungle (Hostel) — €15–35 — Jungle setting, wildlife nearby.
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Cartagena — Media Luna (Hostel) — €15–30 — Party hostel, old town.
Medellín — Los Patios (Hostel) — €20–35 — Modern, rooftop, great location.
Guatapé — Lake View Hostel (Hostel) — €10–25 — Lakefront, relaxed.
Salento — Viajero (Hostel) — €15–30 — Coffee region, colourful, social.
Santa Marta — Dreamer Hostel (Hostel) — €15–30 — Pool, Tayrona base.
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La Paz — Wild Rover (Hostel) — €10–25 — Social, great views.
Uyuni — Piedra Blanca (Hotel) — €20–40 — Best base for salt flats.
Sucre — Kultur Berlin (Hostel) — €10–20 — Relaxed, great reviews.
Copacabana — Hostal Las Olas (Hotel) — €25–45 — Unique rooms, lake views.
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Antigua — Tropicana (Hostel) — €15–30 — Pool, volcano hikes, social.
Lake Atitlán — Free Cerveza (Hostel) — €20–35 — Lakefront, famous for backpackers.
Flores — Los Amigos (Hostel) — €10–25 — Best base for Tikal, lively bar.
El Paredón — Driftwood Surfer (Hostel) — €15–30 — Surf hostel, beachfront.
Semuc Champey — Utopia (Hostel) — €10–20 — Jungle stay, social atmosphere.
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Panama City — Magnolia Inn (Hostel) — €15–30 — Old town, stylish, quiet.
San Blas Islands — Sailing Boat Stay — €90–120 — Unique island experience.
Bocas del Toro — Selina (Hostel) — €20–40 — Waterfront, social, party vibe.
Boquete — Bambuda Castle (Hostel) — €15–30 — Mountain views, castle stay.
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Lima — Pariwana (Hostel) — €15–30 — Great location, social.
Cusco — Kokopelli (Hostel) — €15–35 — Rooftop bar, backpacker favourite.
Arequipa — Flying Dog (Hostel) — €10–25 — Central, relaxed.
Huacachina — Wild Rover (Hostel) — €15–30 — Party hostel, desert oasis.
Mancora — Loki del Mar (Hostel) — €20–35 — Beachfront, pool, social.
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Rio de Janeiro — Selina Lapa (Hostel) — €20–40 — Party area, central.
Ilha Grande — Biergarten (Hostel) — €15–30 — Best location on island.
Paraty — Vibe Hostel (Hostel) — €15–30 — Colonial town, social.
Florianópolis — Search House (Hostel) — €20–40 — Pool, backpacker favourite.
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Santiago — Rado Boutique (Hostel) — €20–35 — Central, modern.
San Pedro de Atacama — Hostal Rural (Hostel) — €20–40 — Desert base, pool.
Valparaíso — Casa Volante (Hostel) — €15–30 — Colourful, social.
Puerto Natales — Puma House (Hostel) — €15–30 — Patagonia base, cosy.
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Buenos Aires — Milhouse Avenue (Hostel) — €15–30 — Famous backpacker hostel.
El Chaltén — Rancho Grande (Hostel) — €15–30 — Hiker base, great vibe.
Bariloche — Penthouse 1004 (Hostel) — €15–30 — Lake views, social.
Mendoza — Gorilla Hostel (Hostel) — €15–30 — Wine region, pool.