By Catalina Niego (September 2025)
things to note
TIME OF YEAR
I strategically went during shoulder season; I landed in Buenos Aires September 10th.
What does this mean: Buenos Aires weather was very pleasant, almost springtime but not quite. In Buenos Aires the weather was warm; most of the time I wore jeans/pants and a t-shirt, a hoodie in the shade or at night. The north of the country was very warm; in Salta it was UV 10 and anywhere between 70 and 90°F. When I got to Mendoza the temperature was slightly cooler but you could get away with wearing light pants and a t-shirt or shorts. The south of the country is still very cold though that means I was able to catch the last week of skiing in Ushuaia. It still snowed while I was skiing and that was the beginning of October.
CASH
The peso rate is constantly changing. Currently:
1 USD = 1,400 pesos
1 EURO = 1,700 pesos
1 Pound = 1,900 pesos
(Check about blue market rate but atm they are the same rate.)
WESTERN UNION – the best way to pull out money. The first time you pull out money it is free, so pull out as much money as possible.
GETTING AROUND THE COUNTRY
Flights are relatively cheap within the country if you book in advance — mostly like $20–$30 USD for flights + bag about $15.
Fly with Aerolíneas Argentinas or JetSmart. Avoid Flybondi.
Buses: good option but are LONG and sometimes flights are the same price. (Time = money imo.) Go to bus stations to get the best price for tickets.
Note: imo Buenos Aires and other cities don’t really wake up until 11–12, so don’t feel guilty about sleeping in. Also, it is very common for shops to have a siesta and close down for a few hours in the afternoon.
BUENOS AIRES (1 week)
Airport
EZE – about 30 min–1 hr away from the center of Buenos Aires. I paid $15 from center to airport but it can sometimes be $40.
Jorge Newbery – very close to the center of Buenos Aires, about 15 min. My Uber was $8.
WHERE TO STAY
Milhouse Avenue Hostel – I stayed here for one week. About $9 a night. Easy to meet people, nice common area, and clean rooms. They have events every night and day to help meet people. La Bomba de Tiempo is a good pre-night-out kinda thing.
The hostel is in a good location imo it’s in the middle so it’s easy to get to both sides of the city.
HOW TO GET AROUND BUENOS AIRES
BUS – cheap but takes ages; you can tap your contactless card for payment. Tell the bus driver what stop you are getting off at so he can program it.
METRO – also good and cheap, very straightforward, and you can tap your card as well.
TRAIN – need to buy a SUBE card to use the train. I only used this card when I went to Tigre.
UBER – the bikes and cars in Buenos Aires are relatively cheap and affordable.
WHAT TO DO
PALERMO – it is the wealthy part of Buenos Aires. There are some really nice parks to sit and enjoy some maté.
- Japanese Gardens
- Mayor Seeber Square
- Poetas Garden
- Tres de Febrero Park
PALERMO SOHO – known for its street art, coffee shops, and Don Julio (famous steak restaurant).
RECOLETA – known for its art and history.
- Feria de Recoleta
- Floralis Genérica
- El Ateneo Grand Splendid
CULTURAL CENTER – center of the city, visit all the monuments:
- Obelisco
- Plaza de Mayo
- Casa Rosada
- Sabores Express (really good empanadas and cheap)
SAN TELMO / MONSERRAT – my favorite area in all of Buenos Aires. San Telmo market is on Sunday; it’s MILES long. I would recommend going another day during the week besides Sunday to enjoy the neighborhood more.
Fun fact: San Telmo has so many antique stores because a while back it was considered to be the wealthy up-and-coming neighborhood, but then yellow fever came and people abandoned their homes, leaving everything behind. People who stayed broke into houses and took furniture, cups, art, etc. Which is why you see so many antique shops in this area.
At the market there will be miles of art/jewelry/clothes stalls, people tango dancing in the streets, and playing music.
La Choripanería (restaurant) — REALLY good choripán and not too expensive.
Most people in the market accept card payments; sometimes there’s 10% discount for cash.
Plaza Dorrego.
You can buy almost anything at the market but it is most well-known for its antique jewelry and other antique items. A lot of leather shops, bags, wallets, belts, etc. Loads of cool handmade maté cups and other artwork.
LA BOCA – the more touristy part of Buenos Aires, also the oldest part of the city.
You can walk the colorful streets after the San Telmo market.
The Boca Juniors stadium.
DON’T GO ACROSS THE TRAIN TRACKS, it’s unsafe, not a great area.
No need to be in La Boca after 5 pm.
How to make the most of a Sunday:
Start in the center, visit Casa Rosada and other monuments. Walk along Defensa Street (where all the stands will be). Eventually you’ll reach Plaza Dorrego, the heart of the market. Go to San Telmo food market for lunch. Continue on Defensa all the way to La Boca — you’ll start seeing colorful buildings. After exploring, Uber or bus back to the center.
DAY TRIP TO TIGRE – if you have extra time it’s a good day trip, only about an hour from Buenos Aires. Need a SUBE card to use the train.
PUERTO MADERO – nice place to walk, wealthy area, nice along the river. People talked about Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur – Acceso Brasil but I never went.
BUENOS AIRES → SALTA (1 week)
Getting to Salta
I took a two-hour flight from Buenos Aires to Salta. The flight cost $35 + baggage fee.
WHAT TO DO / WHERE TO STAY
Hostel Trotamundos Salta – good hostel, small and easy to meet people. They put on some kind of dinner every night.
(La Casa de las Empanadas — good place to eat right around the corner.)
Basílica Menor y Convento de San Francisco en Salta
San Bernardo Hill (lowkey a hike, but it’s a good view. Don’t go midday like I did — go for sunset.)
RENT A CAR (4–5 days)
Getting a car – went to Hertz but they were out of cars so got recommended Suri Car Rentals. We paid 445,000 for 5 days with top insurance.
I recommend getting the highest insurance coverage; it is common to pop a tire or have a rock crack the windshield.
The price difference between manual and automatic is tempting but I’m so glad we went with automatic — the roads are hilly and you are constantly passing people.
DAY 1 — SALTA → CAFAYATE (1 night)
Take Route 68, about a 3 hr 30 min drive. The drive gets the prettiest when you are about an hour out from Cafayate. There are a lot of viewpoints.
Huaka Hostel Cafayate — where I stayed, $6 a night. We just showed up and the guy had room. He had a lot of recommendations.
Next morning: Rio Colorado Waterfalls — we did the 3-waterfall tour, 12,000 pesos per person.
After, we headed back to Salta for the spring party, but some people go to Cachi. I’ve heard the road is rough and accommodation and food are expensive, so I skipped.
CAFAYATE → JUJUY
I broke up the north into three different days.
DAY 2
Drove from Salta to Purmamarca (2 hr 30 min).
This is where the 7-Color Mountain is and also where you go to the Argentina salt flats.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH CASH — most restaurants and hostels take only cash or a 15% fee for card.
Temperature drops a lot at night — bring layers.
Hostel Giramundo — where I stayed. Not my favorite but fine for one night.
DAY 3
Drive from Purmamarca to the salt flats.
Maps say 1 hr 10 min but it can take up to 2 hours depending on traffic. (Watch out for the altitude — it’s sneaky; I definitely felt sick.)
Salt flats are best midday and when not cloudy.
4,000 pesos per person to walk onto salt flats; 12,000 per person to drive a car. (We just walked because we were going to Bolivia salt flats next month.)
After the salt flats, drive to Tilcara (1 hr 10 min to main road, then 45 min to Tilcara).
La Albahaca Hospedaje — nice place.
Tilcara is the biggest town in the north so you can pull money out at Western Union if needed.
Food and restaurants are cheap and good.
DAY 4
TILCARA → 14-COLORED MOUNTAIN
About a 2-hour drive (last hour is gravel road; doable in a small car).
SO PRETTY — colors are best in the afternoon.
You can spend the night in town but we drove back to Salta a night early (4 hrs from Humahuaca to Salta).
SALTA → MENDOZA
I chose to fly. I think it was around $45 with a bag. Direct flight, 1.5 hrs.
About a 20 min drive from the airport to the center of Mendoza.
WHERE TO STAY
I stayed a whole week at Gorilla Hostel. Rooms were clean, showers were nice, common areas good. They have a pool but it’s freezing. Free breakfast.
People said Dale Hostel is also really good and cheaper by $2, but a bit further from everything.
WHAT TO DO IN MENDOZA
HORSEBACK RIDING
Booked through the hostel. 100,000 pesos = $76.
Picked up around 3 pm, 1 hr drive to ranch.
Ride horses 3+ hours through the mountains (BRING warm clothes and pants — freezing after sunset).
After riding, you go to their house and they make you an asado with potatoes and wine. One of the funniest dinners I’ve ever had.
VISIT THE LAKE
Take bus to Potrerillos. About 1 hr. One-way ticket 4,500 pesos.
Ate at Los González — street stand but so good. Promotion 25,000 for whole chicken + fries, split between 2 people easily.
Bring cash or it’s a 20% card fee.
Cheap wine at the lake.
You can rent paddle boards/kayaks but we didn’t.
Views are unreal.
BIKE WINERY TOUR
Rent a bike and visit 2–5 wineries.
Uber to bike shop (20 min). Return bikes before 6 pm.
I got 3 tastings — cool to try different wines.
Maipú Winery was my favorite, super pretty, you can walk the vineyard.
MENDOZA → USHUAIA
You have to fly. From Argentina it’s significantly cheaper than flying into El Chaltén. Ushuaia is “the end of the world” — where Antarctica cruises depart. Last-minute cruises are cheaper but still ~$5,000.
Layover in Buenos Aires most of the time.
Mendoza → 1 hr 40 min → Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires → 3 hr 40 min → Ushuaia
WHERE TO STAY
Hostel Cruz del Sur — really good option, good price, decent free breakfast. Only con: no outlets in the room.
WHAT TO DO
GO SKIING
I caught the last week of the season — unreal mountains.
Rented gear from Cumbre Ski — $32 for full gear (skis, boots, poles, helmet, goggles, pants).
From town: 30 min drive to ski resort, 25,000 pesos each way via Uber.
Mountain open 10 am–5 pm. Day pass ~$60. Worth it imo.
Tip: Bring maté to drink at the top — views are insane.
There is another peak you can walk to with skis off.
VISIT THE PARKS
Lots of hikes. I skipped because I would be hiking a ton in the next days.
SEE THE PENGUINS
Expensive depending on tour.
Some tours 40€, take you to lighthouse, walruses (I think), penguins — but some don’t let you off the boat.
GO TO ANTARCTICA
If in your budget. Cheapest ~$5,000 USD.
PADDLE
Lots of paddle clubs if you’re staying long-term.
USHUAIA → PUNTA ARENAS
Booked 8 am bus through Bus Sur. 10 hr ride, ~$76.
Cheaper 3 am bus exists every other day, but I needed this day.
PUNTA ARENAS → PUERTO NATALES
Nothing to do in Punta Arenas, so I spent the night and then took a 3 hr 45 min bus to Puerto Natales. Cost $8 (Bus Sur).
WHAT TO DO
From Puerto Natales, many people start the W or O trek. I did day treks.
Park pass ~$35, valid for 3 days.
Earliest bus 7 am, 15,000 Chilean pesos one way.
HIKES
Base Torres del Paine
22 km round-trip. 3–4 hrs up, 2–3 hrs down.
Check weather — it snowed before we went, so crampons + guide required.
Last-minute on GetYourGuide: $94 for guide.
Some went without guide but got stopped.
Summer = no guide needed.
Bring cash for shuttle inside park.
Pudeto
Shorter hike — 1 hr out, 1 hr back.
One more hike exists but I don’t remember name.
We only hiked one day because weather was bad.
WHERE TO STAY
Hostel Last Hope — loved this hostel. Very homey. Diego who runs it is great. Free breakfast. Good showers, rooms, common areas.
HITCHHIKING
One day I hitchhiked with another girl to the National Park and back — easy, got picked up quickly.
BUT hitchhiking from Puerto Natales to Calafate: no luck after hours of trying. Shoulder season = fewer cars.
Ended up taking 3:30 bus — $30 — and we were the ONLY passengers.
CALAFATE
Main thing to do: Perito Moreno Glacier.
Entrance: student 7,000 pesos; non-student 45,000 pesos.
HOW TO GET THERE
Tour bus – easiest. Buses leave 8–9:30, return around 5 pm.
Folk Hostel offered 50,000 but we found 40,000 at bus terminal.
Rent a car – cheaper with 4–5 people.
Hitchhike – possible but risky if you only have one day.
Told 70% chance during shoulder season.
ACTIVITIES
Boat tour — 60,000 pesos ($43 USD), 1 hr.
Kayak / glacier hike — $300+.
CALAFATE → EL CHALTÉN
I hitchhiked from Calafate to El Chaltén.
Not much to do besides Fitz Roy hike + other hikes.
Weather is everything — I went mid-October and it was snowing, whole top covered, no views.
Sunrise is best — and avoids park entrance fee (no attendant until 8 am).
Left hostel 2:15 am, made it in 4 hrs.
Total hike 7 hr 30 min. Got a bit lost hiking at night.
Town is expensive — bring food from Calafate.
Restaurants have amazing steaks though.
LEAVING PATAGONIA + NEXT COUNTRY
To leave Patagonia you can:
- Continue north by car to Bariloche
- Go back to Calafate to fly
- Or go to Puerto Natales / Punta Arenas for cheaper flights
What I did:
Flew from El Calafate to Salta, spent the night, then next day took $50 bus to San Pedro de Atacama.
NEXT COUNTRY PREVIEW
Salta → San Pedro de Atacama → Bolivia
WHAT I WOULD ADD TO MY ITINERARY
Córdoba
Bariloche
Puerto Madryn
Iberá Wetlands
Preface: Chile was not a main focus on my itinerary. I went into Chile in Patagonia for Torres del Paine National Park and then to the north to see the Atacama Desert.
SALTA, Argentina → San Pedro de Atacama
I came from the north of Argentina to Chile. Andesmar is the name of the bus company that runs this route. The bus goes every day at 1 a.m. and gets into San Pedro around 11:30. The bus is $50. BOOK THE BUS AT THE STATION, not online. You will have to pay in cash, but it saved so much money doing it in person.
WHAT TO DO
San Pedro was actually not on my radar at all before this trip, but I reckon it has been one of my favorite stops so far.
RENT A CAR
This is 100% the best way to see everything.
Rented a red Ford truck for 250,000 for three days and split the cost between five people.
DAY 1–3 WITH THE CAR
Laguna
- Lagunas Escondidas de Baltinache
It’s 10,000 entry. The salt pools are very pretty. You can swim in the water for 30 min because of how salty the water is. Anything longer and it’s bad for your skin. Go in the morning—after a certain time it becomes crowded with tour companies.
Sandboarding
It typically costs anywhere from 5,000–8,000 for a sandboard for 6 hours. Make sure you get a good board that is not wood and has bindings; otherwise it won’t slide in the sand.
Sunset
Mirador Likan-Antay — most people go here for sunset.
Stars
You should ask around to see where the tours take you. We watched stars at Valle de la Luna and around Mirador Puerta del Sol on the lower dirt pathway.
You want to make sure the moonlight is a low % so you can see the stars the best.
You can take a tour to see the stars for 20,000–25,000. I was happy with just seeing them from the car, but on a tour you get a telescope.
We saw a lot of shooting stars — so cool.
DAY 2
Geysers
Did the geysers for sunrise. It was cool, but honestly not sure if it was worth the 3 a.m. wake-up call.
Flamingo Pond
On the drive back from the geysers, you will see a pond full of flamingos. It’s worth a stop and some pictures.
Thermal Pools
Same road back from the geysers. Puri Libre is the springs we went to. It’s not as hot as Reserva de Conservación Puritama, but it is free. You park on the side of the road and then walk down the rocks and walk up the valley until you choose which pool you want.
Cactus Valley + River Waterfalls
Last stop of the day was Cactus Valley. You have to walk up the river to see more of the cactus. If you keep walking about 15 min or so, you’ll come to a waterfall-looking thing, and then the ground will flatten out and there is a good pool to swim in with fresh water.
DAY 3
Laguna
Last day we tried to go to Laguna Cejar, but you need tickets in advance and have to go before 12. All the afternoon spots are taken up by tour companies.
Waterfall
Cascada Oculta — it was really nice to chill here. There are potentially waterfalls both left and right walking on the path. We went left. Look at the Google reviews; they help with getting there.
THINGS TO NOTE
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS (U.S. Citizens)
You need a visa to enter Bolivia. Everything must be printed:
- Bank statements
- Proof of exit
- Yellow fever vaccine (printed copy required)
- Copy of passport
- Accommodation details
- Invitation letter (your tour company will provide this)
- Itinerary of your time in Bolivia
Visa fee: $160 USD — the bills must be perfect. No rips, marks, or folds.
Some crossings accept card, but I had to pay cash.
The process was straightforward: they checked my documents, placed a 10-year visa sticker in my passport, and stamped me in.
Your first entry is valid for 30 days, extendable up to 90 days at a visa office (I was told it’s free).
BOOKING BUSES
Always book buses directly at the bus station — you save a lot of money.
MONEY & EXCHANGE (BLUE DOLLAR RATE)
Bring USD or Euros, and bring big bills. You get a better rate.
Current rates (approximate):
- Official: 1 USD = 6.50 BOB
- Blue dollar rate: 1 USD = 11.80 BOB
No Cash? Use Remitly
Remitly works like Western Union and gives a rate close to the blue dollar.
- Make an account
- Send money to yourself
- Pick it up at the National Bank
Sometimes they’re picky about the address and may make you retry the transaction.
🧭 ITINERARY
UYUNI — SALT FLAT TOUR (3D/2N)
I did the tour starting in San Pedro de Atacama and ending in Uyuni with Sol Andino.
Cost: 180,000 CLP (~$190 USD) — cash only.
Day 1
Colored lagoons, flamingos, llamas, hot springs.
Day 2
Slower day — rock formations, geysers (not super impressive), lots of driving. Stayed in a very cool salt hotel.
Day 3
Sunrise at Cactus Valley, classic salt flat photos, the flags, and the old train cemetery.
Recommendation
Tours booked in Uyuni are much cheaper (~$100 USD for 3 days).
If you’re not going to Chile, you can also do a one-day tour from Uyuni.
UYUNI
There isn’t much to do besides the tour.
Stayed at Piedra Blanca Backpackers — simple and good.
UYUNI → POTOSÍ
Bus: 40 BOB (~$3.38) vs. $9 online.
Duration: 4–5 hours.
Accommodation
Koala Den Hostal
- Book through WhatsApp for cheaper rates
- Great breakfast: pancakes, coffee, eggs
What to Do
Mining Tour — 160 BOB
Book through the hostel (departures at 8:45 or 1:30).
Bring gifts for miners:
- Water
- 40% alcohol bottles
- Coca leaves
It’s a unique and eye-opening tour about their daily lives.
You’ll have the option to go 60 meters down a narrow hole — do it. Scary but worth it.
POTOSÍ → SUCRE
Bus: 40 BOB, ~4 hours.
I booked 40 minutes before departure.
Accommodation
Villa Oropeza Hostel
- Paid $26 USD for 3 nights
- If prices are higher, message them on WhatsApp
What to Do
Sucre is a great place to slow down for a few days.
Spanish School
One of the cheapest places in South America to take classes.
Many travelers stay 1–2 weeks.
Food Recommendations
- Typica Café Sucre — food is okay, but the garden vibe is amazing.
- BURGERHEIM — great smash burgers and fries, super friendly owner.
- Don Antonio Cocina Mexicana — great al pastor tacos and burritos.
- El Solar — 8-course tasting menu (~15 euros). Didn’t go but it’s popular.
SUCRE → LA PAZ
Skipped Cochabamba and Santa Cruz based on other travelers’ advice.
Getting There
Took a bus — Bolivia often has gas shortages, so not all buses operate every day.
Paid 180 BOB for a lie-flat cama with 6 de Octubre. Higher than normal due to fuel issues.
Long and bumpy ride.
Where to Stay
Wild Rover Hostel
Chain hostel but surprisingly good.
Stay in the 12-bed dorm — curtains + spacious.
What to Do
Cable Cars 🚠
The entire city connects through a huge cable car system.
Cost: 3 BOB to go up.
Great viewpoints near 16 de Julio — just be mindful of the neighborhoods.
Cholitas Wrestling
Traditional Bolivian show — entertaining and staged.
Booked through the hostel for ~100 BOB.
HUAYNA POTOSÍ (Climb)
Highly recommend.
Went with Jiwaki — one guide per two people, high success rate.
- Choose 3 days (more glacier training + altitude adjustment).
- Cost is around 1,000 BOB (with gear), but prices vary. I paid 1,100 BOB.
DEATH ROAD (Mountain Biking)
So fun — my first time mountain biking.
Booked with Jiwaki for a discount.
- 360 BOB = single suspension
- 470 BOB = double suspension (most people choose this)
- They provide outfits to wear
- Tour: 8 a.m. → 7–8 p.m.
- Stop at a pool for lunch and swimming
They don’t provide breakfast — bring snacks.
THE AMAZON (Rurrenabaque)
Bus: 90 BOB, 14 hours overnight
Flight: ~$50 USD, 40 minutes
Tour Company
Went with JAJA Tours.
Lots of French groups, but still a great experience.
5-Day Tour: 3 Days Pampas + 2 Days Jungle
Pampas (3 days)
- River boat
- Alligators, pink dolphins, jaguars
- Piranha fishing
- Swimming with pink dolphins
- Snake walk (we didn’t see any)
More touristy but very comfortable.
Jungle (2 days)
Much more raw and authentic.
- Meet local families
- Make chocolate + sugar cane juice
- 3-hour hike into the jungle
- Camp under tarps
- River “shower”
- Fish for dinner
Return the next day, visit a canyon, then back to town.
Cost: 1,800 BOB for 5 days (includes everything except snacks).
AFTER LA PAZ
Normally people visit Copacabana or Isla del Sol, but they’re a bit pricey and I was short on time.
Instead, I went straight to Cusco, Peru.
NEXT ROUTE
La Paz → Cusco → Arequipa → Huacachina → Paracas → Lima
Currency
Cost ¥1,000 YEN = $6.82 USD = €5.80 EUR = £5.04 GBP = $10.41 AUD
Average accommodation cost for budget travelers: $20–$30 USD depending on hostel or splitting a private room.
THINGS TO NOTE
Public Transportation
OPTION 1: Suica Card
Add it to your Apple Wallet and load money from your card. You can choose the exact amount.
OPTION 2: Physical Subway Card
Buy it at the station. It’s a cool souvenir, but you always need cash and a machine to reload it — can be annoying if you’re in a rush.
Getting From City to City
Coach Buses
Much cheaper than the JR Line/Bullet Train.
Clean, reliable, and run on a strict schedule.
Overnight options connect Tokyo → Hiroshima → Osaka and more.
I booked all my buses through Willer.
Arrive 10–15 minutes early — they will not wait.
Book a few days in advance; buses often sell out depending on season.
JR / Bullet Train
Faster than buses but double or triple the price.
You need to buy a fare and sometimes reserve a seat.
The JR Unlimited Pass is very expensive and not worth it IMO unless you’re in Japan for only about a week.
Cash
You don’t need a ton of cash.
Most ramen shops, souvenir stalls, shrines, street markets, and thrift stores take cash only.
Most restaurants take card.
Flying In – Airports
Most people fly into Tokyo (usually the cheapest).
Recommend flying into Tokyo and out of another city like Osaka so you don’t have to backtrack.
Haneda Airport vs Narita Airport
Haneda:
- Much closer to central Tokyo
- ~35 min train ride
- ~¥500
Narita:
- 1–1.5 hours from Tokyo center
- ¥1,500–¥3,000
- Take the Skyliner (special ticket purchased at the desk, cash only)
TOKYO (5+ Days)
Accommodation: Stay in two different parts of the city and within walking distance of a station line.
Main Areas in Tokyo
Yoyogi | Shinjuku | Shibuya | Tokyo | Asakusa | Ginza | Shimbashi
(Walk as much as possible — Tokyo’s backstreets and alleys are magical.)
Shinjuku and Shibuya are the busiest and best for shopping.
Shrines / Parks / Temples
(There are countless, but here are the main ones.)
- Yoyogi Park & Meiji Jingu
- Imperial Palace
- Hamarikyu Gardens (waterfront)
- Sensō-ji (my favorite — walk by the river after)
- Ueno Park
- Tokyo Tower
Activities
- TeamLabs Borderless vs Planets
(I only did Borderless — very cool. Book in advance.) - Shopping / Thrifting
- Tokyo Metropolitan Building — similar view to Shibuya Sky but free and doesn’t require reservations
NAGANO / HAKUBA
Took a bus from Tokyo to Hakuba for skiing.
Ski
- Lion Adventure Ski Rental — ~$130 for three days of full gear
- Ski passes: $24–$30 depending on the mountain (full day)
Accommodation
Stay on the main road.
I wish we stayed inside one of the resorts — more walking options for restaurants.
Transport
Shuttles and buses exist, but the schedule is limited.
Nagano
Easy day trip from Tokyo.
- Snow monkeys
- Otherwise, just a big city — not much else
FUJI (2–3 Nights)
Can be a day trip if you’re short on time.
Wake up early to beat the crowds.
Accommodation
Stayed in Fujiyoshida, the town with all the famous Fuji viewpoints.
Onsen
Fuji Yurari Hot Spring — very popular.
Great after long walking days.
Private onsen recommended if you’re not comfortable with public ones.
You can call ahead for a free shuttle.
Best Spots to View Fuji
- Lawson Kawaguchiko Station
- Chureito Pagoda
- Arakurayama Sengen Park
- Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine
- Lake Kawaguchi
- Honcho Street (iconic Fuji view)
Food
You must get Indian food here.
Ganjisugawa Asia Fujimidai — amazing food, super cheap.
Cash only; nearest ATM is at 7/11.
HIROSHIMA (2–3 Days)
Accommodation: Stay toward the center — Hiroshima is small and very walkable.
What to See / Do
- War museums
- Atomic Bomb Dome
- Shukkeien Garden
Must-Do: Itsukushima Island (Full Day)
About 45 min–1 hour from Hiroshima.
Train → 10 min ferry.
The shrine in the water is stunning and the island has friendly deer.
Cable car to the top → walk down.
Great food, especially clams and local street food.
Many shrines.
OSAKA (2–3 Days)
Known for its street food.
Where to Go
- Dotonbori — huge food and shopping strip
(try takoyaki and okonomiyaki) - Shinsekai
Activities
- Sumo wrestling (official tournament if possible, or local shows)
- Round 1 — 13 floors of games and activities
- Osaka Castle (beautiful grounds)
- Umeda Sky Building (city views)
- Minoh Falls & Katsuoji (farther out, very cool if you’re not “shrined out”)
- TeamLabs outside art (just okay)
KYOTO (2 Days)
Known for traditional streets and matcha.
Where to Go / What to See
- Hōkan-ji Temple (Yasaka Pagoda)
- Kiyomizu-dera
- Mount Inari (the orange torii gates — go early, walk higher for fewer crowds)
- Rokuon-ji Kinkaku (Golden Pavilion)
- Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple / Bamboo Forest
- Deer Park
(The deer can be aggressive — be aware.)
Honorable Mentions
- Convenience stores
- 7/11 — best cookies, desserts, smoothies
- Lawson — best ice cream
- FamilyMart — best iced latte & amazing fried chicken
- Anything you want to do will likely book up — make reservations in advance.
FLY INTO SURABAYA OR YOGYAKARTA
Surabaya → Malang
Spend one night in Surabaya, then take a bus to Malang.
MALANG — 2 NIGHTS
What to Do
- Visit the Colorful Village
- Book a Bromo & Ijen tour
(You can DIY, but the tour is super convenient.)
Recommendation:
Book through MADOR HOSTEL — 3 days, 2 nights, and they’ll drop you off in Bali afterward.
(You can start in Ubud or elsewhere in Bali.)
If you don’t do East Java at the beginning, save it for the end.
BALI
Fly into Denpasar → Uluwatu
Take a Grab or Gojek from the airport.
ULUWATU — 3 NIGHTS
(I stayed at Surfers Green Bowl — far from town without a scooter, but very social + free family dinners.)
Beaches
- Uluwatu Cliff House
- Uluwatu Beach
- Bingin Beach
- Dreamland Beach
(My favorite — great for sunset, tide changes the beach.)
Nightlife
- Hatch
- Savaya (free entry before certain times)
ULUWATU → UBUD — 3 NIGHTS
(Stayed at Puji Hostel — it was okay.)
What to Do
- Monkey Forest (heard it’s overrated)
- Mount Batur sunrise hike
- Rice Terrace Pools (very Instagrammy)
- Nungnung Waterfall — SO worth it
Rent a scooter and explore.
UBUD → NUSA PENIDA — 3 DAYS
Book a bus + ferry through 12Go Asia or via your hostel.
Hostels:
- Lushy Hostel (clean)
- The Penida Project (highly recommended)
What to Do (scooter needed)
- Kelingking Beach
- Diamond Beach
- Tembeling Beach & Forest (natural pools)
- Snorkel or dive with manta rays
NUSA PENIDA → GILI ISLANDS — 3 NIGHTS
Where to Stay:
- Tipsea Turtle (super social, free breakfast + coffee)
- Gili Mansion (also good)
Gili Meno + Gili Air are chill alternatives.
What to Do
- Snorkeling tours
- Scuba diving
- Relax and beach-hop
GILI → KUTA LOMBOK
Hostels:
- Indonesia Backpacker (not very clean, not social)
- Kaniu (very clean, nice pool)
- Pipes (very social, sells out fast)
What to Do
- Tanjung Aan Beach (surf)
- Gerupuk Beach (beginner surf)
- Tanjung Aan Viewpoint (sunset)
- 2-day road trip to Tetebatu — waterfalls + rice fields
- Mount Rinjani — 2-day hike
Food Spots
- Munchies Cafe
- KRNK Bar & Restaurant (burgers)
- Cantina Mexicana (Mexican)
- Surabaya Surf (near Lombok)
LOMBOK → KOMODO TOUR
4-Day Boat Tour — MUST DO
I went with Golden Island Cruises, but there are lots of options.
FLORES — 2 NIGHTS
Komodo boat tour drops you here.
What to Do
- Explore local waterfalls
- Join a village tour (popular option)
Then:
Flores → Fly back to Bali
Stay in Canggu (2 nights) →
Do the Bromo + Ijen tour (3 days) which drops you back in Bali →
Fly out.
Don’t see the itinerary you were looking for?
Chances are I’m still working on writing it! Below is a list of all the countries I’ve been to and am currently putting together recommendations for.
If you’re in need of a specific country’s itinerary, send me an email at catniego@outlook.com, and I’ll do my best to get it finished as soon as possible.
- England
- Portugal
- Spain
- Italy
- Vatican
- Vietnam
- Thailand
- Philippines
- Indonesia
- Australia
- Japan
- South Korea
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- Sri Lanka
- Turkey
- Argentina
- United States of AMERICA
- Chile
- Bolivia
- Peru
CATS ADVENTURES 