Je rentre du Venezuela et j'ai encore la tête dans les nuages je dois dire.
Nous avons passé des vacances de rêve avec notre fille de 5 ans et des amis et leurs 2 enfants.Nous sommes restés à Mochima chez des amis puis avons passés la dernière semaine à Los roques.
Arrivée à los roqu🙁es ( le 19 fevrier) je me suis rendue dans le Cybercafé ( enzosoft, leur e-mail enzosoft4@hotmail.com) pour graver mes photos. La premiére fois j'ai copié 300 photos depuis mon appareil (avec cable usb) sur un cd vierge avec l'assistant windows. Une fois le processus terminé j'ai vérifié et les photos que je venais de graver ( soit disant) y etaient et elles sont apparues.
Trois jours plus tard ( le 22 février), donc la seconde fois ( 600 photos encore) j'ai fait la même procédure et par acquis de conscience j'ai reintroduit le disque que j'avais gravé 3 jours auparavant pour verifier si les photos etaient bien là. Je suis allée dans le fichier MI PC puis CD lector et mes premiéres photos etaient là. Génial !
Seulement voila, je suis en France et il n'y a rien sur mes CD. Les CD sont vierges. J'hallucine complétement et je suis sous le choc !!
J'ai passé hier soir 1h30 sur messenger avec le cybercafé pour qu'ils regardent si mes photos n'étaient dans leur systéme mais en vain. Il me donnent des infos au compte goutte et finalement me disent qu'ils ont formatés les ordis ou qu'ils ont un fichier de photos mais qu'ils ne savent pas si ce sont les miennes!!! l'horreur
Pouvez-vous me donner un conseil une astuce pour essayer de les récuperer car je sais qu'à un moment données elles ont été dans leur systéme...mémé si l'assistant n'a pas marché elles ont été stockées dans leur ordi car je les ai vu 3 jours aprés !!!!
Voilà vraiment désolée pour les longues explications mais ces photos me tiennent vraiment à coeur car elles sont des souvenirs imperissables pour les enfants .
Merci pour vos solutions .........
Bon alors plusieur chose.
Effectivement en cliquant sur Mi PC puis le lecteur de CD on voit ses photos mais ATTENTION elle sont peut etre en "Attente de gravure" et en gros c'est des raccourcis, mais elle t'apparaisent comme étant sur ton disque.
Donc il faut vérifier que tes photos ne sont pas sur les disques.Premiere chose, déja a l'oeil nu, regarder sous le cd si tu voit une diference de couleur vers le centre par rapport a l'exterieur (car 300 photo ca rempli pas un cd...). Deuxiemement essayer avec un soft genre nero, si tes cd sont vierge ou pas. Si ils ne sont pas vierge tu as encore un espoir que tes photos soient dessus, mais simplement pas lisible par ton pc. Par contre c'est un peu délicat de t'expliquer tout ca par le forum, trop de cas different et moi j'y vais plus au ressenti 😉.
Mais si te disque sont pas vierge, ou si t'es pas sur, amene tes cd vers un informaticien (un vrai, pas l'ami informaticien que tout le monde as mais qui fout plus le bordel qu'autre chose), moi je l'ai deja eu fait pour des client quand je travaillait a la fnac, mais la ca dépend du magasin (tu risque rien a aller demander).
Par contre, quand tu as gravé tes cd, tu les a gravé direct depuis ton appareil photo, ou tu as d'abord copié les photo dans leur systeme avant de les graver ? car dans le cas de la deuxieme solution, ils peuvent peut etre avoir encore tes photos dans leur systeme (si ils ont pas formaté car la trop compliquer a les récupérer).
Bon je sais pas si ca t'aide, mais je te le redit, vas voir un informaticien, il pourra surrement t'aider, ou du moin te fixer sur les cd.
Un an, a deux avec un sac a dos pour verifier que la terre est bien ronde : http://tourdumonde.cochisette.com
"Plus a l'ouest c'est l'est !" (Lao Tseu)
Bonsoir Cochise,
Merci pour ton e-mail. Tu confirmes en fait ce que j'avais plus ou moins compris ( n'étant pas une pro de l'informatique).Mes CDs ayant un aspect indemne et aprés avoir essayé nero, Je pense que je suis bien dans le 2eme cas et que les photos sont restées en attente de gravure dans l'assistant Windows ( j'ai pourtant cliquer plusieurs fois pour lancer le p.... de gravage sur le disque ) !!
D'aprés les gars du cyber café, ils auraient formatés leurs ordis il y a une semaine environ, mais en amerique du sud une semaine c'est une notion trés aproximative !!! Donc je ne sais pas, s'ils ont la flemme de chercher ou quoi..
voila je serre les dents à chaque fois que quelqu'un prononce le mot photo mais ça va passer dans quelques jours j'espère!!!
En tout cas merci d'avoir pris le temps de me répondre ...et si tu veux aller à los roques j'ai plein d'adresses de posadas et un super plan sur un voilier qui s'appelle Chubasco avec Daniella ( adorable venezuelieno/ britannique) comme skipper.
ai passé 4 jours a Los Roques avec mes enfants mi février à la Posada Cayo Luna. Los Roques est une des + belles "cartes postales en vrai" que j'ai jamais vu. Pour l'hébergement il est recommandé de réserver. Y'a pas de secret : + c cher, + c chic... Il n'y a pas non plus de plan galère. A part si tu es accro au haut de gamme, n'oublie pas que tu ne seras dans ta chambre que pour dormir, car le reste du temps tu es en bateau ou sur la plage...
Salut Tatatou,
Désolée de ne pas avoir répondue avant.Trés occupée à reprendre pied.
Los Roques oui c'est un endroit magique & unique par sa beauté. C'est la deuxiéme fois ( la première fois il ya 7 ans !) que j'y vais et l'île de Gran Roque s'est enormément développée. Mais le charme est tjs là...je te rassure
Tout dabord, il faut savoir que comparé aux reste du Vénézuela, les coûts sur place sont élevés. Pour le logement en posadas, il faut compter en pension compléte entre 80 et 180 usd et plus selon le standing .
A savoir que tout est inclus, petit dej, Déjeuner à emporter à la plage (glaciére avec sandwichs et boissons) et diner. Le prix comprend aussi le transfert jusqu'aux iles principalement Francesqui, cayo muerte et Madesqui et ils te fournissent des parasols. Si tu veux faire Craski ou d'autres îles ce sera avec supplément. De même que les consommations avec alcool à la posada sont facturées en plus ( je détaille car en fait on ne te le dit pas forcemment ce qui est facturé en plus ou non et le dernier jour on t'apporte la facture).
Nous sommes restés dans une trés jolie posada située à l'entrée de l'ile Gran Roque qui s'appelle la Cigala. Si tu y vas avec des enfants evite, car l'endroit n'est pas habitué à recevoir des demandes particuliéres.
Le prix pour nous etait de 80usd par nuit par adulte en pension compléte. on a réservé en ligne ( ils ont un site internet) à l'avance et on a réglé par virement bancaire ( c'est mieux car personne n'a de machine à carte là bas et retirer du cash n'est pas simple non plus car ça se chiffre vite en millions de bolivars !!!) tu peux essayer de négocier le prix de 15% selon la saison.
Selon ton budget et je te le conseille, tu peux embarquer sur un voilier pour 150 usd par jour et là tu peux visiter toutes les iles que tu veux sans supplément & tout est inclus. Je te conseille le voilier Chubasco ( classique) qui est skippé par Daniella ( je peux te donner ses coordonnées si tu veux).
Sur les îles tu peux faire de la plongée prés des barriéres de corail, du scuba diving à la piscina à Madresqui, du canoe, apprendre le Kite Surf à Francesqui avec liselotte & Elias, excellents professeurs, manger des langoustes chez Juanita à Crasqui, visiter le musée des tortues a los mosquites ..
Sur Gran roque, tu peux aller te ballader dans l'ile et regarder les pélicans plonger inlassablemant prés du pontons de l'aéroport, photographier les devantures colorée des maisons & posadas, entrer dans les magasins et regarder les provisions disponibles au jour le jour ( il ya des penuries fréquentes), regarder les gens faire la queue pour obtenir l'eau potable, et puis ne penser à rien juste être là et aprécier !!! pour le vols, l'aller c'est simple, tu l'achétes à Caracas, aeroejecutivo pour un vol en DC3, sol de america ou Aerotuy sont les principales compagnies. Le pris est de 100 usd environ. Pour le retour tu peux l'acheter sur place si tu veux, au pire des cas on peut te proposer un vol privé charter au même prix ( voir la boutique Oscar à coté de l'aéroport)
Voila en vrac ce que je peux te dire !!!
Attention le soleil est trés fort, et je te recommande d'apporter des protections solaires trés fortes avec toi. Sur l'ile les crémes sont vendues au prix trés fort aussi !!!
Bon n'hésite pas si tu veux plus d'infos, tu peux aller sur les sites officiels de Los Roques, ça peut aider mais tu verras ça n'a rien à voir par rapport à ce que tu peux expérimenter sur place!!!
Si je retrouve mes photos, je t'en enverrais, promis mais c'est pas gagné !!! je travaille tjs dessus
bonjour,
je suis revenue des Roques il y a une semaine, c'est vraiment un lieu magique, l'eau est tellement cristaline que les mouettes ont le ventre bleu par révervération. Un bon plan partir sur un voilier, j'étais sur Aldebaran, le skipper s'appelle Adrien et est francais, c'est le meilleur plan pour voir les iles et ne pas etre déposé pendant des heures, avec la glaciere et le parasol, par les "lancha" des possada (les barques à moteur des hotels) au moins tu restes le temps que tu veux, comme tu veux, et tu peux aller sur des iles ou les lanchas ne vont pas ! et tu as là l'impression d'être seule au paradis
Hi everyone,
We're planning a trip to southern Chile in November. Here's our tentative itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Santiago, then a flight the next day to Balmaceda where we'll pick up a rental car to reach Coyhaique.
Day 3: Walk in the Coyhaique National Reserve, then continue to Puerto Chacabuco. Return to Coyhaique for the second night.
Day 4: Drive to Villa Cerro Castillo for a hike in the national park. Continue to Puerto Tranquilo and stay there for 3 nights.
Day 5: Boat tour on Laguna San Rafael.
Day 6: Day trip to Monte San Valentin Glacier.
Day 7: Excursion to the Marble Chapels, then drive to Puerto Guadal. We'll stay there for 3 nights.
Day 8: Walk along Lago Carrera and return to Puerto Guadal.
Day 9: Rio Baker Valley and, if possible, a glacier excursion.
Day 10: Drive to Cochrane and hike in Tamango National Reserve. We'll stay 2 nights in Cochrane.
Day 11: Walk in the Chacabuco Valley.
Day 12: Drive to Caleta Tortel. We'll stay there for 2 nights.
Day 13: Cruise in the Rio Baker delta.
Day 14: Return to Cochrane.
Day 15: Return to Balmaceda in two stages.
Day 16: Continue the return journey.
Day 17: Return the rental car and head back to Santiago.
After this, we're also planning to explore northern Santiago. I'll post about that part once I have a clearer idea of the route.
What do you think of this itinerary? Is it doable in 17 days?
Thanks in advance for your tips and recommendations.
martine
Hi everyone! So happy to be back on this forum—it’s packed with such useful info! 🙂 My husband and I are planning a 2.5-week self-drive trip to Colombia at the end of the year, including some domestic flights. My first question is: is it possible, easy, and safe to do a road trip in Colombia?
Below is our draft itinerary (with questions at each stop):
29/11: France → Colombia. Overnight in Bogotá.
30/11: Exploring Bogotá: La Candelaria and Montserrate.
01/12: Gold Museum (closed on Mondays). Drive to Zipaquirá (1.5 hrs) to visit the Salt Cathedral. Then drive to Villa de Leyva (3 hrs). Explore the town. Overnight in Villa de Leyva.
02/12: Return to Bogotá via Laguna de Guatavita (5 hrs). Is it worth the detour? Overnight in Bogotá.
03/12: Flight to Pereira. Drive to Salento. Overnight in Salento.
04/12: Cocora Valley (hike among the wax palms) followed by a drive around the area. Are there any waterfalls or other sights nearby?
05/12: Visit a coffee finca—any recommendations? Then explore the surroundings: Filandia, Manizales, waterfalls? Hot springs? Which ones?
06/12: Flight to Medellín.
07/12: Exploring Medellín: Centro, Plaza Botero, Comuna 13. How do you visit Comuna 13? Is it easy to get around Medellín? Metro? Buses?
08/12: Drive to Guatapé (2 hrs). Visit the town, stroll around the lake, then El Peñol. Overnight in Guatapé.
09/12: Return to Medellín.
10/12: Flight to Santa Marta. Drive to a hotel near Tayrona Park.
11/12: Tayrona—El Zaino entrance.
12/12: Tayrona—Palangana entrance, then Bahia Concha and Santa Marta. What do you think?
13/12: Drive to Minca (45 mins). Can we reach the village by car? Pozo Azul and Marinka waterfalls. Overnight in Minca (or back in Tayrona?).
14/12: Drive to Puerto Nao (5 hrs). Stop in Ciénaga on the way + boat tour in Nueva Venecia and/or Buena Vista? Not enough time? Overnight in Puerto Nao.
15/12: Exploring Cartagena: Centro, Getsemaní, the walls + La Boquilla if we have time.
16/12: La Boquilla (is it really worth it?) if we didn’t have time yesterday, then back to the beach.
17/12: Return to France.
So, what do you think? Is this doable, or should we tweak it? Thanks in advance for your invaluable feedback and tips! 🙂
Hi there, I’ll be in Brazil from December 10th to the end of February.
I’ve sketched out a rough itinerary but I’m not sure how to arrange it—considering the climate, year-end holidays, and Carnival.
Basically, I’m thinking of the Amazon, the Northeast coast with Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (but skipping Chapada Diamantina),
Ouro Preto, Paraty, and Ilha Grande—but no Rio visit.
Is this doable in 3 months?
Which direction should I take for this itinerary?
Thanks in advance!
Hi everyone, does anyone know the agency Ventura Travel Agency (not ventura travel)? After lots of research and quotes, it’s the only one offering Uyuni at a reasonable price while meeting all the criteria: transfer to the border, private-room accommodation, and a very fair rate. Other agencies or guides either offer shared rooms, no border transfer, or prices that are way too high. But I’d love to hear some reviews about this agency. Thanks in advance!
Hi everyone,
We're planning a trip to Chile to visit the Atacama Desert and then head toward Putre, Lauca, Salar de Surire, etc.
Which would be the better time to go, April or November?
Is an SUV enough?
Looking forward to your tips!
Hi everyone, French travelers in Chile—what credit cards do you use for your various car rentals in the country? I’m traveling in September and was planning to switch my regular debit card (a VISA PREMIER in deferred debit mode) for the deposit guarantee.
My rentals are with Figal in Punta Arenas, Econautos in Arica, and Chilean Rent a Car in Temuco, and all of them want the deposit on a credit card. For me, deferred debit *should* work, but I’ve read comments saying the opposite.
How’s it actually working on the ground with these rental companies right now? Will a deferred debit card work, or not at all?
In France, banks don’t issue credit cards, right—or am I mistaken?
Hi everyone, is it still possible to travel in Ecuador outside the Amazon region? If so, do you have a reliable agency to recommend? All your recent experiences from the past few months would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much
Hi,
We’re heading to Buenos Aires for 3 days in November and would like to do a guided tour of a few neighborhoods. There are "free" tours, but none in French. Does anyone have a guide to recommend so we can really get to know the city beyond just the architecture?
Thanks
Hi there,
I’m desperately looking for info on the schedules and routes of (shared) boats to visit the islands of Lake Titicaca.
From what I’ve found, there’s a *combi* (bus) that leaves from Puno to go to Llachon. Where do you catch it? What are the schedules and frequency? Does it take about 1 hour?
Then in Llachon, you can take a boat to Amantani (45 min). Same question—where do you check for frequency and schedule?
After that, from Amantani, boats go to Taquile and then Uros. Do you have enough time to visit the islands between two boats? Frequency and schedule?
The goal is to do this tour independently (no agency) over 2 days. Thanks for any tips you might have!
I just got back from a trip to Bolivia and wow—what a wake-up call. It’s not the easiest country, but it’s absolutely stunning.
I started with Isla del Sol, perfect for easing into the altitude at a relaxed pace. Try to stay in the northern part of the island—it’s quieter and the views are insane. And the trout there? Unreal. Quick tip: bring cash in small bills; they almost never have change, and cards are rarely accepted.
Next up, La Paz. The city’s pretty wild, built in every direction. I did a few hikes in the area, including the famous Charquini Lagoon (the blue lake) at over 5,000 m—let’s just say I struggled 😅 but it was so beautiful it was totally worth it.
After that, I headed to Sajama. It’s cool, especially for the hot springs, and I stayed in Tomarapi. But honestly, if you’re short on time, you can skip it without too many regrets.
The highlight of the trip: the Salar. I did it starting from Tupiza, and I *highly* recommend going Tupiza → Uyuni. Way less crowded at the start and the landscapes are super varied. For the tour, I used SplitYourGuide to find a group, and it worked out great. Super handy for splitting costs and meeting people.
I wrapped up in Sucre—this city is gorgeous, all white, with such a chill vibe. And the salteñas + ice cream? Next level 😋
Bottom line: Bolivia’s a bit rough around the edges, sometimes exhausting (shoutout to the altitude), but it’s 1000% worth it.
If you’ve got questions or need tips, I’m happy to help!
Martin
I was planning to go to Réunion and stay in half-board accommodation with non-professionals, but it seems that’s not really the custom there—or maybe my budget isn’t big enough.
So, since I’ve already traveled around Ecuador and Peru, I’m now looking at Argentina, especially for its mountains (like the ones in Réunion that tempted me, even though—frustratingly—I could only admire them from below).
I plan to get around by bus and don’t know in advance where I’ll sleep, so I won’t book ahead. If I like a place, I might stay for several days.
I know that in Chile, it’s easy to find half-board accommodation, but what about in Argentina?
I’d like to stay with locals in half-board without it being a professional setup. I’m not sure if this is common practice there. It’s up to me to find someone willing to host me.
What do you think?
What would be a fair price (keeping in mind that 40 to 50 € is the max I can spend on accommodation, breakfast, and dinner)?
Hi everyone,
We’re heading to Patagonia for three weeks in November, starting from Coyhaique in Chile.
We won’t have a car, and I’m struggling to find information about transportation options for a few parts of the itinerary we’d like to do:
1) From Perito Moreno (the town, near Los Antiguos), we’d like to travel down Ruta 40 to visit Perito Moreno National Park and then cross into Chile via the Paso Roballos (at the latitude of Bajo Caracoles) to reach the road to Cochrane. Without a car, it seems we’ll need to use private agencies to get to the national park—do you have any recommendations or suggestions? Also, does anyone know if it’s possible to cross into Chile via Paso Roballos (from Bajo Caracoles) without a rental car? That is, without having to go all the way down to El Chaltén or back up toward Perito Moreno/Los Antiguos, etc.?
2) The second stretch that seems a bit tricky (though still easier, in theory) is from Caleta Tortel to Villa O’Higgins on the Chilean side. Do we have to go back through Cochrane, or are there ways to get directly from Tortel to Villa O’Higgins?
3) Finally, we’d like to hike into Argentina (El Chaltén) from O’Higgins. Any recommendations for this? Do we need to go through an agency? What’s the estimated duration of the trek?
As you’ve probably gathered, we want to visit some off-the-beaten-path spots but don’t have a car, so we’re looking for the best possible compromises.
Thanks so much in advance for all your suggestions!
Thomas
Hi,
we’re planning a round trip from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, to Salta, Argentina, in two months. On the way there, we’ll take the northern route via Susques, Route 27, then 52. But for the return, we were thinking of taking the southern route via San Antonio de los Cobres, Route 51, then 23. Is it similar to the northern route in terms of road surface? How busy is it, and are there gas stations? Basically, should we be worried about doing it in an SUV that’s supposedly 4x4 but has regular road tires and no second spare wheel, obviously...
I’ve seen that we can stop over in San Antonio de los Cobres.
Thanks for your feedback.
Raf.
Hi,
we’ll be in Calama at the end of March 2026, and I’m looking for a reliable car rental there for a 7-day road trip to Salta, Argentina. But I’m struggling with the car rental agencies in Calama because the reviews can be scary. I saw Gyg, which has great ratings, but I’m a bit wary (5/5 from 59 reviews—either the guy’s amazing or it’s fake...), but I can’t find any recent reviews on VF in general.
For Punta Arenas, I booked with Dachelet and didn’t have any issues with email exchanges.
Thanks in advance.
Raf.
I’m planning the trip of my dreams for next November—Chile!
I’d love to get your thoughts on my potential itinerary. I know it’s a big investment in terms of both time and money, so every bit of feedback, suggestion, or info helps immensely. Thank you in advance!!
1-Flight to Santiago
2-Explore Santiago
3-Explore Santiago
4-Bus from STG to Valpo (2h) + visit Valparaíso + night in Viña
5-Visit Valparaíso + bus back to STG (2h)
6-Flight to Calama + bus to San Pedro + explore and acclimate in San Pedro + car rental in the afternoon (+Chaxa?)
7-(Very early) Valle del Arcoíris + Laguna Cejar + Valle de la Luna
Good evening,
We’d love to go in November to enjoy some beautiful beaches for about two weeks, preferably around Bahia, as November/December seems like a great time.
We’ve already traveled to Brazil several times and know the south of Rio as well as the region between São Luís and Fortaleza, and Chapada Diamantina...
What advice would you give us: the south with Itaparica, Morro de São Paulo, Boipeba, Barra Grande—or all four? Or maybe the north?
Thanks in advance for your help
Hi everyone, it’s been a while since I last posted!
First time in South America for me, my wife, and our 7-year-old son. I’ve put together this itinerary and would love to hear your thoughts:
Bogotá 28/07 – 30/07: Arrival. Which neighborhood and outings would you recommend?
Flight to
2 Filandia 30/07 – 03/08: (255 €). Waterfalls and horseback riding,
Cocora Valley,
Hiking,
Nearby villages.
Flight to
3 Tayrona 03/08 – 07/08: Hotel La Casablanca
Hike with Tierra Nevada and the Kogui village (any feedback?). Return by inner tube for the little one.
Short night hike.
Second hike to La Piscina, etc., return by 🐎.
4 Cartagena 07/08 – 10/08: Air-conditioned bus.
Staying in Getsemaní? Mangroves & the Castle, exploring the city.
5 Bogotá 10/08 – 12/08
Feel free to share your feedback!
Have a great day!
Hi,
During an upcoming trip to Peru, we’ll have one day to explore around Arequipa (excluding Colca Canyon) with a car and driver.
We’ve got a few options:
- Toro Muerto petroglyphs and dinosaur footprints at Querulpa
- Ruta del Sillar and Quebrada de Culebrillas
We’re a group of 6 friends with an average age of 70, all mobile, and we’re planning a trip to Peru in September/October 2026. Below is an idea of what we’re looking for: a French-speaking guide, accommodation in 3-star hotels or homestays with comfort.
Duration: 16 to 20 days on-site.
Visit the main sites with immersion in the culture and way of life.
Which francophone agency in Peru would you recommend? Thanks
Hi there!
I’m putting together my itinerary for Brazil, looking for beautiful natural spots with wildlife, flora, and great hikes...
I’ve come across the Cananeia / Super Agui / Ilha do Mel region and the PETAR / Intervales / Alto Ribeira area.
Has anyone here been to these places? If so, do you have any recommendations for accommodations and activities?
Thanks in advance!
Best,
Olivier 🌍
I’ll be in ARICA in northern Chile at the end of May 2026 and want to get to TACNA.
Are there taxis, buses, or collectivos that run the border crossing route?
After that, bus to AREQUIPA (Peru): any bus company you’d recommend?
Hi there,
We’re spending 3 weeks in Brazil, arriving in São Paulo—a couple plus a teen—and we’ll have a rental car.
We especially love nature: hiking, wildlife watching, birds, etc.
We’re planning to wrap up with a week around Paraty and Ilha Grande.
We’re not really into visiting big cities like São Paulo or Rio unless you think we’d be missing out big time.
So we’ve got 2 weeks to explore the south/southwest region of São Paulo.
What do you recommend?
National parks? Off-the-beaten-path nature spots? Iguazu Falls?
Hi there,
Do you have any recommendations for comfortable accommodation in Leyva and Barichara? We're also looking for a guide to explore the areas around these two towns (parks, waterfalls, etc.).
Thanks for your tips!
I visited Colombia in January 2016 and I’m heading back from August 6th to 17th with the same airline to see how things have changed. Starting August 18th, I’ll continue with independent exploration. I prefer slow travel and enjoying places at my own pace.
Any tips—especially for getting around or must-see spots—are welcome!
Thu Aug 06. Fly Montreal to Bogotá 20:55-04:05+1 Air Canada
Fri Aug 07. Bogotá
Sat Aug 08. Bogotá
Sun Aug 09. Bogotá
Mon Aug 10. Fly Bogotá to Medellín
Tue Aug 11. Medellín - Explore Guatapé
Wed Aug 12. Comuna 8 & Hill of Values - PM Fly to Pereira
Thu Aug 13. Montenegro
Fri Aug 14. Salento - Cocora Valley
Sat Aug 15. Fly to Cartagena
Sun Aug 16. Explore Cartagena
Mon Aug 17. Explore Cartagena
Tue Aug 18. Fly Cartagena to Cali 12:20-14:55 Latam
Wed Aug 19. Cali
Thu Aug 20. Cali
Fri Aug 21. Cali
Sat Aug 22. Bus Cali to Popayán 09:00-13:00
Sun Aug 23. Popayán
Mon Aug 24. Popayán
Tue Aug 25. Popayán - Day trip to Silvia (Market Day)
Wed Aug 26. Overland Popayán to Tierradentro by public transportation 4h, 100km
Thu Aug 27. Tierradentro
Fri Aug 28. Tierradentro
Sat Aug 29. Overland Tierradentro to Garzón via La Plata
Sun Aug 30. Bus Garzón to San Agustín 10:30-13:00
Mon Aug 31. San Agustín
Tue Sep 01. San Agustín
Wed Sep 02. San Agustín
Thu Sep 03. San Agustín
Fri Sep 04. Overland San Agustín to Tatacoa Desert via Neiva
Sat Sep 05. Tatacoa Desert
Sun Sep 06. Fly to Bogotá via Neiva 16:00-17:00 Latam
Mon Sep 07. Bogotá
Tue Sep 08. Fly Bogotá to Montreal 09:00-16:30 Air Canada
Hi there,
Three years ago during a trip to Java (no, I didn’t post in the wrong forum!), I came across the address of former miners who had switched to “tourism” and organized nighttime ascents of the Kawah Ijen volcano and descents into the crater.
So I was thinking—maybe there are miners on the salt flats too, either former or still active, who do the same thing. If you’ve had an experience like this, I’d love any tips you can share.
Thanks in advance.
Hi there, since there isn’t much recent info on how to get to MP, I’d love to know if there have been any improvements to the "route" to Hydroelectrica. Is it feasible to drive there in February? And is it still possible to walk all the way to Aguas Calientes? I think I read somewhere that it’s no longer allowed??
Do you think I can buy Machu Picchu entrance tickets last-minute at that time of year, given the weather?
A group of friends and I are heading to Brazil in March 2019 and we’d love to attend the Carnival parade. I could really use your help because I’m struggling to find reviews for online ticket sellers for Carnival.
I came across rio-carnival—is this a reliable agency?
Do you have other agencies to recommend or experiences to share?
Any advice is welcome.
Everything You Need to Know About Argentina’s Currency Exchange Maze (2026 Edition)
Hi fellow travelers,
Packing your bags for Buenos Aires? Watch out—here, money is a science almost as complex as the dance steps in a tango!
As of March 2026, the situation has shifted dramatically: the "Blue" (parallel) rate is now neck-and-neck with the official rate. To save you from losing your hard-earned euros in bureaucratic mazes or "disastrous" exchange rates, I’ve laced up my reporter boots and hit the famous Calle Florida for you.
In my latest video (and the accompanying article), I take you behind the scenes of currency exchange:
Arbolitos and Cuevas: Who are they, and can you still trust them?
The Rate Showdown: Why Banco Nación is currently the worst place for your savings.
Western Union: Why it’s often your best ally right now.
Cash or Card? The little secret to getting an instant 10–15% discount at restaurants or hotels.
The Bill Trap: Why your 500 € notes or stained dollars might stay in your wallet.
Argentina changes fast—*very* fast (by the end of March, today’s advice might already be old news!). So don’t leave without checking the market’s pulse.
