Fairly cheap. Ecuador used to be extremely cheap, but maybe it has become more expensive. Colombia is nice, especially the Cartegena region near the sea. Peru...it depends, Cusco and Macchu Picchu can get spendy, but then again the areas are a ton of fun. You can go up to Iquitos in the North and rent a boat for a few days and travel into Brazil via the Amazon, fairly remote....definately will not see other tourists, nice journey ala Acopocolypse Now. Bolivia can be cheap as is Paraguay, both nice countries. Chile can get spendy in places, it is nice but can be a bit rainy and cold. Uruguay is a good place as well, not too touristy. If you make your way to Tierra del Fuego, you used to be able to hitch a ride on the Russian ice breaker vessels to Antarctica...which is cool because that can be an expensive excursion, but since the Russia-US relations went down the toilet during the Bush years...that service probably stopped. As you make your way back up to Argentina get ready for some awesome beauty. Stay clear of Sao Paulo (LA of S. America). Havent been to Surinam or Fr. Guinea but should be fine. Have fun...and try not to fly anywhere, it is much more personal if you take the time to travel from one place to the next. Cheers!
