South America backpacking DD

[MotherofAdults]

Not quite sure where to post this, but DD22 is planning a trip in January (yes I guess it's a sort of Gap yaar/extended holiday) to South America. I am quite anxious about this as she is starting with Columbia and then travelling round to Peru, Argentina and Brazil apparently. The plan is to do this for four months with her boyfriend. She is working to save around 5k to do this trip.

I am not very well travelled or informed though my DH is and he is much more relaxed (it is the absolute oppostite of what I would chose to do, but I am 52 and tired!) and it's causing me some anxiety. I am not sure about her level of planning, but there is only so much we can do to intervene/advise. I am pretty sure 4 months will be too long for backpacking. We have advised decent insurance and budget. She is sorting vaccinations.

I would really appreciate responses from people whose kids have (or they themselves) have done this recently. I guess my questions are what should she be thinking about/planning for? What should she avoid/look out for?

She is an adult I know, but I would like to understand it better, feel reassured.

I only had 4 weeks so I sampled Argentina, Ecuador, Uruguay. I'm disabled and in my 40s when I went.

I would check any government advice.
Check local laws, do you have to carry ID at all times?
Be aware that reproductive rights are variable by country. Obviously she is not planning to get pregnant and have an abortion but it might be worth packing a morning after pill.

Watch the journey round the world bbc series where they did South America, brilliant bus systems and great food. I travelled for 3 weeks around Peru with a friend 20 years ago now and the only place we felt uneasy was Lima central bus station….more because our bus left stupidly late than anything else.so we got a cab to a nice restaurant rather than hanging around the bus station.

they will meet people doing the same thing and have a blast. I went round the world when I was 18, before the internet, when you had to book an international phone call and still had paper plane tickets….

Read the FCO advice for these countries.
Are they up to date with vaccinations?
Do they have good travel insurance?

Avoid all local government protests and demos.

Do not visit favelas in Brazil nor go on any tours advertising restaurants or bars in those areas. The security situation in such places is precarious even at the best of times.

@AttilaTheMeerkat Although we stayed in a hotel in Rio, staff there were very clear on where not to go, especially at night! I’m sure hostels have similar advice. Listen to locals. They know the dodgy areas!

Definitely stay away from protests and unrest. We’ve seen extensive demos in Santiago for example. Ecuador has had its moments too.

Our daughter and partner are currently backpacking around South America for 6 months . So far have been to Colombia , Equator and Peru. They have visited the Galapagos Islands, stayed in a tent in the Andes , treked to the bottom and back of the Calca canyon and spent 5 days in the Amazon . Their currently going a 5 day hike to of Machu Picchu and they still have another 3 months to go. Having an amazing time but have changed their plans a couple of times . The Amazon and current trek have all been booked through companies with equipment and a guide etc .They have found other people on the hostels have given them recommendations where to go and what companies etc are good to use .