Location Transport

Is it a good idea to backpack from Canada to Argentina?

When i was 18 i got bored of my life in England and decided to up and leave to Australia for a year and do some work, while i was there, i got the bug for new places and new experiences and fell in love with traveling, i covered every city and worked 9 different jobs, i then used my return ticket to go to India for 2 months then south east Asia for a further month. I'm now back in England working a 9-5 job and as you can imagine, depressed about it. So i need a new plan, here is my idea, i hope you guys can let me know from your experience/knowledge whether or not it is a good idea and give me some tips or info on the places i want to go. So i want to start in Canada with a working holiday visa and save some cash, for maybe 6 months. I then plan to make my way down using public transport, lifts etc. down to Argentina. I'd like to do the whole thing without flying if possible and want the journey to last a long time. South east asia was cheap, India was really cheap - how do these areas compare? I'd appreciate it so much if i could your answers, Thanks P.s. i know Mexico is a no go right now, but i plan to leave in more than 4 months.

Public Comments

1. wow, that sounds amazing. But Canada to Argentina? Thats A LONG way. Are taking a boat anytime? If not you'll have to pass through all of central America, and if you have no knowledge of the countries you could find yourself somewhere you shouldn't be and in some trouble. My uncle was driving though Guatemala and got his whole car and everything he had stolen.
2. Edit - my answer doesn't make as much sense now because it was sort of a response to another answer which was removed. -----. I've traveled through all of Central America, Colombia, and beyond. It is not as dangerous as the US media would have you to believe. I say go for it. I would probably skip Canada and the US though - too expensive and boring. Not sure why you think Mexico is a no go right now. Swine flu? Over with. Drug cartels? Don't really affect tourists. Mexico is an amazing country. My other favorites on this route are Guatemala, Nicaragua, and the Amazon (Colombia/Peru/Bolivia). Have fun!
3. If you have the time and the inclination, go for it. Don't worry much about the would be travelers with their dire forecasts of all the dangers involved. Your experience in India and Asia certainly qualify you for a backpack through Mexico, Central and South America. People backpack and hitch all the time. Buses, that you can take most of the way are certainly cheap. You will have to fly or catch a ride on a ship to get around the Darian Gap, however. It is a fifty some mile stretch of jungle and swamp between Panama and Columbia that is road less and very primitive. Make sure your passport is current and check to see if there are any countries that require a prior visa application, which I doubt, and have a fun trip.
4. thats is a really long trip! we are talking more than 10,000 kilometers! but it would be a great trip if you have the time and money (but no it isnt sooooo much). Places you have to got through, like nicaragua, honduras and costa rica, are not that expencieve (depending on where you go through).