🚎 How to safely ride a bus in South America
Plus: Planes for dogs, breakdancing, and the Philippines
Here friends, thanks for being here. I’m sorry for the delay. Last week I was hosting my friends David and Maria plus had a bunch of personal things to take care of.
I’m back on track this week. Thanks for your support!
If you missed it, my last post talked about the hidden costs of travel and ways to save money. You can read it here.
Let’s talk about something just as important:
How to safely ride a bus in South America:
One of the most memorable experiences abroad costs very little money.
It’s not buying a drink at a bar or renting a kayak.
Instead, it’s figuring out how to go from point A to point B using public transit.
In South America, this experience is even more interesting.
The first time I tried public transit was in Bogotá, Colombia in 2012.
I had no idea what I was doing. To this day, I still don’t know if I gave the driver too many pesos. At least the ride was memorable – a random guy stood up and began serenading the other passengers with his guitar and singing songs I didn’t understand.
Since then, I’ve become (slightly) more savvy when it comes to taking the bus in South America.
Many bus rides in Peru, Ecuador, and Chile gave me more confidence.
More recently, multiple trips to see my girlfriend in Neiva, Colombia taught me how to properly hail a city bus.
Below are the best steps to follow to ride a bus in South America:
Know the bus route beforehand.
Have the exact change you need to ride in your hand or pocket. This avoids opening your wallet or purse on the street.
Walk to a visible street corner along the bus route. In Neiva, there aren’t any official bus stops.
Ignore all other taxis and other buses. Some may slow down to try and pick you up. Don’t lift your hand because this can inadvertently signal the wrong bus.
When you see your bus, please wait until it’s close enough and strongly raise your hand. Make eye contact with the driver if possible.
Quickly get on and find something to hold. Drivers usually keep going and are moving when you pay.
Say “good day” to everyone. In Colombia and Ecuador I noticed people are often polite.
Hold on, pay, and find a seat.
Scan the bus for any suspicious people.
Avoid taking out your phone unless it’s necessary.
When it’s time to get off, wait until your exact stop and quickly press the “stop” button or pull the “stop” lever.
Say “thanks” and quickly get off the bus.
Taking the bus may sound boring to some folks, but it’s actually a big thrill in South America. Please note that each city and country will have its own nuances.
Let me know if you have other ways to hail a bus in South America!
🚀 Travel Quote of the Week
"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes."
- Marcel Proust
🤲 Did You Know?
I recently learned there’s an airline exclusively for dogs. Bark Air is the most dog-friendly airline around.
It’s a new service with routes between Los Angeles, New York, London, and Paris. More destinations are expected soon.
You get to sit with your dog and they get a calming pad, snack, and calming music to ensure the best pup-friendly experience.
This is the ultimate dog travel experience if you don’t mind spending the extra money.
🎏 Culture Corner
Breakdancing, or breaking, is one of the newest competitions in this year’s Olympic Games in Paris. This form of dance has its roots in the Bronx, New York.
It started at parties in the borough's working-class and lower-income neighborhoods in the 1970s. DJ Kool Here hosted lots of parties.
He noticed how young African Americans and Latinos would dance with more energy during the instrumentals of songs when the vocals would drop out. Using turntables, he lengthened the “break” between vocals so dancers could enjoy the instrumentals longer.
Soon these dancers would be called “breakers” and a new dance style was born. Another term for breaker is “b-boy” or “b-girl.”
Breakdance moves often look like a martial arts battle. This is because it’s influenced by Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial arts using dance and acrobatics.
The Charleston, double-dutch, and jitterbug also influence breaking. Also, music icons James Brown and Michael Jackson were known to use breaking elements in their performances.
Although it started in NY, breaking is now all over the world. It’s a non-violent form of self-expression and blends acrobatics and hip-hop music.
🌆 Fun Things to Do in Zamboanga City, Philippines
Rome2Rio says Zamboanga is a 1.4-hour flight from Manila, the capital. It’s the Philippines’ fifth most populous city and most prominent in the Zamboanga Peninsula.
The city’s name is derived from a Malay word called “jambangan” which means “City of Flowers.”
I haven’t been to Zamboanga City, but my friends TripAdvisor and Google sure have.
If you’re planning a trip, Here are some fun ideas.
Wander the city center: You can easily explore the Spanish-influenced city center on foot. Top sites include City Hall, the Fort Pilar Shrine, and El Paseo del Mar where you can find some tasty local eats.
Visit Santa Cruz Island: Located about 2.5 miles by ferry south of the city center, Santa Cruz Island is popular for having the only pink sand beaches in Asia. Its color comes from eroded red organ pipe coral.
Merloquet Falls: This stunning two-step waterfall is a short day trip from Zamboanga City. It takes a beginner-friendly 30-minute trek to reach the falls. Visitors are greeted by vibrant fauna, pure tranquility, and a place to swim. Inspiration came from Travloka.
Visit the Yakan Village: The Yakan people are among the best weavers in the Philippines. Yakan textiles can be found all over Asia. The Yakan Village is where you can learn its history and experience this beautiful tradition firsthand. Visitors can buy uniquely crafted products like shirts, bags, and fabrics.
That’s all for this edition folks! I have an exclusive interview coming next week so stay tuned.
Thanks again for reading and your support.
Until next time,
-Daniel
Instagram / X / YouTube / Travel Planning
P.S. Traveling is fun. Knowing where to go can be even better.
Even though it’s exciting not to have a plan, sometimes it’s worth it.
If you have a trip coming up and feel stumped about what to see or do, drop me a message and we can talk.
P.S.S. Refer Itchy Feet to your friends and get cool stuff!
Refer one friend: Get a Free Solo Travel Check-list PDF
Refer three friends: The PDF, plus a Mini City Guide (Any city you choose)
Refer six friends: both of these, plus a free 30-minute travel planning call with me
Not too shabby, right?
Use this link to begin referring folks to Itchy Feet. Thanks for helping this publication grow!
I am using mainly collectivos in Peru, I think they are more practical than busses, but also it depends where you have to go.
Boring!? Taking a bus in a South American country is anything but boring! And Daniel, a very helpful post for people—down to the nitty gritty. You’ve probably saved people not only peace of mind, but $.