The Backpacking Route of all Backpacking Routes
The Gringo Trail is the holy grail of backpacking through Central and South America. A route that can be done as a whole or in parts depending on the time you have available. This route will ensure you hit all the best spots with ancient history, incredible hikes, delicious food, stunning beaches and out of this world nature!
I personally spent almost a year travelling along the Gringo Trail on one of my most epic adventures. I found a lot of people asking me what is the Gringo Trail, and for that reason let’s explore it together!
What is it?
The Gringo Trail is a popular way of describing the route that “all” backpackers follow in Latin America. It covers about 15 countries depending on who you ask. It’s an ultimate classic for backpackers with budget friendly countries full of bucket list items!
From Machu Picchu in Peru, jungle exploration in the Amazon, to exploring out of this world landscapes in Bolivia’s salt flats, this route is one of a kind!
In its entirety it covers Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama in Central America. Then it picks up in South America with Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and Brazil. Because of its proximity, some even include Uruguay and Paraguay, but they’re not traditionally part of the Gringo Trail.
Starting point
Many people decide to start from Mexico and heading down throughout Central America. Other people start out in Brazil and go upwards. Other options include only doing the South American Gringo Trail from Colombia, or just the Central American part from Panama and up.
It will all depend on you and how much time you have. Travelling the whole Gringo Trail is quite the luxury in terms of both money and time. Central America, because of its smaller size, will give you the opportunity to do more in less time. Smaller combinations are also possible on the whole trail.
This is one of the advantages being able to adjust it to your needs. Combining Peru with Bolivia, Chile with Argentina, or Mexico with Guatemala, you can create smaller trips along the Gringo Trail tailor made for your budget and time!
Time needed
Splitting the Gringo Trail up into smaller pieces is probably going to be the most logical thing for most people. However, if you want to do the whole shebang I would recommend at least six months. This is definitely doable from top to bottom but will take its toll on you after a couple of months. The closer you can get to drag it out to one year will give you the best result, and an adventure you will never forget!
If you find yourself on the Gringo Trail you’ll meet plenty of nomads and long term backpackers doing this. Fairly common for all of them is travelling slow to avoid burnout. By travelling too fast you can end up tired and without enjoying the unique and amazing places you see along the way.
Must stops on the Gringo Trail
Here are some of the things on the Gringo Trail you don’t want to miss!
Central America
- Oaxaca, Mexico
- Caye Caulker, Belize
- Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
- Tikal, Guatemala
- Utila, Honduras
- Ometepe Island, Nicaragua
- Monteverde, Costa Rica
- Bocas del Toro, Panama
- San Blas Islands, Panama
South America
- Tayrona Park, Colombia
- Medellín, Colombia
- Galapagos, Ecuador
- Machu Picchu, Peru
- Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia
- Amazon Rainforest, Colombia/Ecuador/Peru/Bolivia/Brazil
- San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
- Easter Island, Chile
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Patagonia, Argentina/Chile
- Iguazu Falls, Argentina/Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Budget
Overall budget for a trip along the Gringo Trail will be around $50 dollars a day. This is the average of all the countries included and means staying in hostels, eating local food and using local transportation. If you do smaller parts of it, it may differ. For example Bolivia and Nicaragua are a lot cheaper than Chile and Peru.
Keep in mind when budgeting for Central America, and especially South America, that there are so many amazing things to see and do. This will have a big impact on your budget. For example if you want to do the Inca Trail, visit Galapagos, do various hikes and explore the Amazon, your budget needs to be bigger by quite a bit. I recommend researching prices online before starting your trip, and then book everything locally for a nice discount! That way you make sure you have more than enough.
Transportation
Transportation along the Gringo Trail is fairly decent. The name comes from all the tourists following it and therefore the infrastructure has developed a lot as a result. Most backpackers will save money by using local buses as much as possible. This is cheap and mostly very comfortable.
There are also a lot of shuttle services, especially in Central America, that will cost you a bit more than local buses but an extremely comfortable option!
In South America the distances increases a lot and you might end up flying in some cases. Use Skyscanner and low-cost airlines to save money. Pack light to avoid paying for checked luggage. Again, if you plan on going to the Galapagos for example, flying there and back takes up a lot of the budget, so try booking as early as possible.
Also, if you’re doing the whole Gringo Trail be aware that there is no connected road between Panama and Colombia. You need to fly or you can go on an adventure by sailing between the two! This was one of the highlights of my trip and I cannot recommend it enough!
Accommodation
Hostels along the Gringo Trail are in my opinion super nice and social places to meet fellow travellers. They usually cost you between $10-15 per night, going as low as $6-8 in some places, and as high as $25 for a bed in a dorm.
Because of the popularity of the places along the Gringo Trail there are plenty of options for you to choose from. Very rarely do you need to book more than a day in advance. In some instances there are some super popular party hostels that sell out quickly, so keep that in mind if that’s what you’re into.
Safety
Because of its popularity backpacking the Gringo Trail is seen as safe. It’s a route that sees a lot of travellers each year and this increases the safety. Nonetheless the trail goes through countries that have a history of violence and crime. To avoid any unnecessary risk, here are some general safety tips to always keep in mind no matter where you travel. And don’t forget to always have travel insurance!
Safety Tips:
- Always have some cash at hand in case someone wants to rob you. Better to hand over a few notes than to be caught with nothing or lose your credit card.
- Always keep your valuables safely on you on night buses and never put your backpack in the overhead compartment.
- In large crowds be careful with your belongings. Things in your pocket can easily be taken, but also smaller backpacks, bum bags etc. Make sure you secure them to avoid pickpockets in these situations.
- Do not wander around alone at night in places you are not familiar with. If you have to, stick to well lit streets as much as possible. Preferable where there are more people. If you need to use your phone for maps, do it discreetly and never wave your phone or wealth around.
- Don’t wear flashy things and leave your expensive jewellery at home.
- Bring a padlock and use the lockers in hostels for all your valuables.
- Be careful with how much you drink, accepting drinks from others or the use of drugs. There are many stories out there, so try not to overdo anything unless you have people with you to take care of you.
By taking some precautions you will be fine along the Gringo Trail, and come back with wonderful memories of this beautiful little paradise.
Resources
So, are you ready for an adventure following the Gringo Trail? Here are some of the resources I personally use when I travel. Great value and support, in addition to the best deals out there!
BOOKING – The best place to book accommodation. In my experience the site with the best prices, deals and selection. Perfect for a budget traveller.
HOSTELWORLD – The best place to find hostels, and also has group chats for all your bookings and places you’re going to make it easier to meet people. Perfect for solo travellers!
SKYSCANNER – When I need to find the cheapest days and ways to fly somewhere, Skyscanner is always the first place I go.
GET YOUR GUIDE – A massive marketplace for inspiration and booking of tours and activities for each place you visit.
AIRALO – What I use to stay connected on the road. A slightly more expensive option than buying local sim cards, but nothing beats having e-sim installed and ready to go as soon as you cross the border.
Some links may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn commission from products or services I recommend. For more, see disclosure.
