There are things we all want to do once in life. Hitchhiking during my trip was definitely on my bucket list. When I left Europe, everyone advised NOT To hitchhike in Latina America because it could be very dangerous for a woman traveling solo…
It took me a while to put the idea in my mind. I was afraid as hell but the curiosity that characterizes me did not let the subject go. After a week of tours in Bolivia and Chile, I thought it was time. The month of January was hard physically and monetarily. The budget of the month was gone and I thought: “it is now!”
It was a mixture of fear with a lot of adrenaline and curiosity for the unknown: after all, being at the roadside with the 15kg backpack in the sun is hard and dangerous. Anyone can stop; Anyone can steal you; Anyone can do whatever you want.
I took all the precautions I could and around 2pm I hit the road. I spoke with a taxi driver who had taken me to the Great Salt Flats and told me more or less where I could get a ride easily to Jujuy (the nearest capital of Purmamarca, about 160km). The goal was to get to Mendoza.
You still told me that you could take me to the end of the day but I knew that it would be worse arriving late night in a capital.
I went by car, van, and truck… It was about 4:00 PM when a truck driver dropped me off in a petrol station as his work day ended there (he told me I could easily get a ride from there: AND he was right. After 2 minutes another truck stopped and that driver daddy took me to Tucuman. I have to admit I never waited very long to get a ride particularly on this day and after. I believe being a woman and by myself was easier to make cars stop but once again more dangerous.
When you told me Tucuman, I thought: NO!!! Tucuman is suppose to be a very dangerous city. With my heart in my hands I went up to the giant truck that was carrying pottery and in less than 10 minutes I was already laughing with the driver. Mr Horacio told me about his life, his family, his life and in less than 20 minutes he was calling his wife to inform her that he was going to come with a guest from Portugal. YES. Since we were going to arrive late in Tucuman, he said, “No. If you walk now to the bus station you will get naked in 2 minutes. People here steal everything, specially if you are a young lady who does not look from here. You eat at home, you sleep, and tomorrow you go to Mendoza” and so I did it.
Being hosted by an Argentinian family from the north was such a cultural and strong experience I will certain never forget. Once again, thank you family for taking care of me so well.
This is for sure a happy ending experience however, I still believe hitchhiking is a matter of luck but in general people have a good heart, specially truck drivers who just want to have company and talk for many hours.
Keep following and I will promise you many more adventures of my South America trip.
Beijinho,
Daniela