I've never been to South America before, so I'm a complete newbie about where to go/how to get there/etc...
I'm going with a friend for a month in Argentina to do a Spanish and tango immersion program, and then we'll be traveling for 2 weeks after the program ends. Possible destination ideas so far are Peru, Chile, and Brazil. What is the best and cheapest way to get around? Does anyone have experience with buses? And which destinations would you choose?
I've only been to Argentina and Uruguay so far (considering Brazil -- see my other post in travel and tourism!), but I'd highly recommend Buenos Aires. It's a great time to go -- the dollar will go a long way. You're probably already planning on going there if you're doing a tango immersion program, I'd assume From BA, you can easily do a day trip by boat to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay. My friend and I also flew south from BA to Ushuia, Argentina, which claims to be the world's southernmost city. From there, we took a six-hour penguin/seal spotting boat ride -- really cool.
It all depends on your destinations, but I'd say flying is probably your best bet if you're country-hopping. I have zero experience with buses, though, so I can't really speak for the bus systems down there.
Let me know if you have any more questions about Argentina/Uruguay; I'm happy to help!
Lucky you! I loved Argentina and it's awesome that you'll get to be there for a whole month...
As far as destinations go, definitely travel around the Patagonia region of Argentina. The landscapes are so varied, you'll get to see everything from plains to gorgeous glaciers. I'd also recommend doing Chile since it's so close and you can get flights for pretty cheap. Santiago, IMO, isn't that great, but the coastal cities like Vina del Mar and Valparaiso are wonderful places with lots of character. Also, there are some cool places in the north of Chile that you could do on your way to Peru if you were definitely going to go there.
Buses, in my experience, are totally safe. I've travelled on them by myself in S. America and never felt unsafe or anything like that. So, especially if you're gonna be with a friend, you should be fine. Granted, they take a lot longer to get places than buying plane tickets, but you'll save a lot of money...