Latin America in a Camper Van - cs.org

Yesica and David giggle when the topic of conversation is the lifestyle they adopted just six months ago. After working hard all summer in touristy Mar Del Plata — a seaside beach resort in Argentina known for its fancy restaurants, hotels, and casinos — they're still in awe of their newfound freedom as they travel through Latin America in the combi, or VW van, they affectionately call Chida.

Chida, which is slang for "cool" in Mexico, is much more than their vehicle and mobile home. When asked if he dislikes anything about the trip so far, David replies that it's all the worrying that Chida puts him through. "I hate thinking about her breaking down somewhere." Not that there's anything wrong with his VW. In fact, David likes to brag about Chida's many qualities like any proud parent does: "Works per-fect-ly," he says with a big grin.

His affection is justified. Chida was long desired, planned, and awaited. Yesica and David had been talking about exploring other countries since they started dating two years ago. When they met a Canadian couple who was traveling from Canada to Panama and back in a van, it was as if an action plan for fulfilling their own travel dream had been put right in front of them.

Initially, it was a Westfalia model from the 90's they wanted to buy — the kind that comes out of the factory so complete you can immediately move in. But, with US$ 2,000, they had to settle for a regular VW year 1975, which they pimped up DIY-style. One of the first things Yesica, an industrial designer, did was to paint the colors of Argentina over the bright red.

Yesica prepares to paint over the red.

"We're still improving," she says, as David holds up the van's most recent upgrade: a mosquito net.

It's true that Yesica and David have to rely on the showers of camping sites and CouchSurfers' houses, but, on the upside, they say they eat better than they did at their old home. "Where we lived, everything had to be rushed. Here, we cook more elaborate meals. We have time, so we try new things."

The couple, who shared an apartment in Mar Del Plata, also thinks living together is more fun in a mobile home. "I wake up, look at the sky, work out what route we're going to make...it's so much more relaxed, like we're permanently on vacation," describes David.

So to speak. David and Yesica are always on the lookout for work that can help them pay for their fuel. David is hoping to get a job as a lifeguard as soon as they reach Costa Rica.

Apart from securing enough cash to reach their final destination, Ushuaia, and meeting up with CouchSurfers who can teach them new things (and perhaps let them park in their garages), they haven't much else to worry about.

Keep up with Yesica and David's aventures on their travel blog, Combi-Aventura .

Article from couchsurfing.org