Bonjour à tous,
avec mon amie nous allons passer 2 semaines complètes à Rio De Janeiro du 04 au 18 Mars 2014. Nous logeons chez l'habitant à 50m de Copacabana.
Carnaval des Champions le Samedi 8...
Pour le reste, visite de la ville et des lieux mythiques, plage, soleil, et sans doute une location de voiture pour descendre au sud sur Paraty & Ihla grande, et aussi au Nord sur Buzios...
Qui sera dans le coin pour partager des moments sympas avec nous, des excursions, restau et autres festivités locales ??
Au plaisir de vous lire
Brigitte & Christian
Pour faire suite à notre message, plein de question en suspends :
- déplacement dans la ville, à pied, taxi, bus ou metro... des choses à éviter ?
- Louer une voiture, est ce abordable ? et la circulation dans Rio ? Hors de Rio vers PArati ou Buzios ?
- L'argent pratiqué dans ce pays est le Real, mais le dollar et l'Euro sont ils acceptés ? Que vaut il mieux faire, arriver avec des euros ou dollars, ou retirer des Reals au distributeur ?
- Des idée sur des lieux à ne pas louper (en dehors des classiques, Pain de sucre, Corcovado etc) ? Toutes les bonnes expériences sont les bienvenues, y compris les bonnes adresses de restau sympa et typiques..
- Idem pour la visite d'une école de Samba...!
Merci de vos infos éclairées et au plaisir de se croiser sur place...
Bises
Brigitte & Christian
Je suis actuellement sur Rio et voici mes petites réponses à tes questions :
- déplacement dans la ville, à pied, taxi, bus ou metro... des choses à éviter ?
Pendant le carnaval : se déplacer à pied dans Copacabana et Ipanema car, c'est un peu la seule solution si tu veux éviter les bouchons et le métro bondé. Le taxi pourra t'aider pour aller au Sambodrome mais, si j'étais toi, je sortirais de Copacabana en métro pour prendre le taxi dans un quartier moins bondé.
Autre solution : tu peux prendre le métro jusqu'à la station "Central" et marcher vers le Sambodrome ensuite. Tu trouveras toujours un carioca ou même un touriste depuis cet endroit pour t'expliquer comment y aller. C'est une histoire de cinq minutes à pied.
De manière générale, je te conseille de ne pas te balader avec un sac, prendre que le minimum niveau argent et ne rien laisser dans tes poches car ça va très vite le fouillage de poche dans les blocos.
Hors carnaval : Se déplacer en métro, c'est très simple car il existe que deux lignes à Rio, mais elles relient presque tous les lieux importants. Si tu habites à Copacabana, suivant l'endroit où tu es, tu pourras prendre un bus direction Urca pour voir le Christ ou y aller à pied.
Attention, le bus à Rio c'est toute une histoire. Je te conseille de préparer à l'avance ton argent, car une fois que tu rentres dedans, le chauffeur n'attend pas que tu sois bien installé pour démarrer comme un fou (j'ai déjà vu un chauffeur passer la 5ème, mais en général, ils sont plus en 4ème 😛). Pour stopper un bus, il suffit d'être à un arrêt et de le héler. Pour aller au Christ, il faut prendre le métro et s'arrêter à Largo do Machado pour ensuite prendre le bus direction le Cosme Velho. Tu dois avoir un busqué va là-bas depuis Copa et donc plus rapide, mais je ne connais pas son nom.
Pour info : aux dernières nouvelles, le billet pour le Pain de Sucre est à R62 et celui pour le Christ R50. Pour le Christ, tu peux réserver en ligne, mais attention car il faut être sûr de ton horaire et arriver au minimum 30mn à l'avance. Ah, et aussi, il faut bien écrire son numéro de passeport car, si tu te trompes dans une lettre -> pas de ticket.
Hors carnaval, n'hésites pas à utiliser le taxi, je crois que celui de Rio est le moins cher du Brésil. Pour info, certains taxis ne veulent pas aller à Santa Teresa la nuit.
Pour les choses à éviter, je dirais tout simplement la visite de Favela sans un ami qui y vit dedans et se balader avec son appareil photo visible, téléphone en main, montre et bijoux, aller se baigner et laisser ses affaires sur la plage.
Il faut toujours laisser son passeport à l'hôtel, garder un billet de 50 réais sur soi bien caché et garder qu'une copie de son passeport.
- Louer une voiture, est ce abordable ? et la circulation dans Rio ? Hors de Rio vers PArati ou Buzios ?
Personnellement, je ne pense pas qu'une voiture soit indispensable à Rio sauf si tu habites à Barra. Il faut savoir que pour un européen, tu vas forcément penser que les chauffeurs brésiliens sont des fous 😄 Pour conduire à Rio, il faut d'abord observer un carioca conduire à mon avis, parce que là-bas, le signe orange ne veut pas dire stop, mais "conduis le plus rapidement possible". 😇
Pour Paraty et Buzios, je ne connais pas.
- L'argent pratiqué dans ce pays est le Real, mais le dollar et l'Euro sont ils acceptés ? Que vaut il mieux faire, arriver avec des euros ou dollars, ou retirer des Reals au distributeur ?
Alors oui, c'est le Real qui est autour de 1 réal = 3,25€. C'est le top pour un français ! Le dollar et l'euro ne sont pas acceptés, il faut faire du change. Tu peux le faire directement à l'aéroport. Je ne me souviens pas trop de la procédure pour les "changes" mais je sais que tu n'auras pas de problème si tu viens avec des dollars.
Si tu comptes utiliser le distributeur, n'utilises surtout pas le HSBC de l'aéroport de RJ. Tout le monde se fait cloner sa carte (j'ai vécu l'expérience). Si j'étais toi, je n'utiliserais d'ailleurs pas les distributeurs de l'aéroport, car je trouve personnellement qu'ils ne sont pas bien gardés.
Je sais que certains sur le forum conseille d'utiliser HSBC et Citibank, mais perso c'est tout ce que je déconseille car tous les touristes vont dans ses banques donc c'est une bonne source de revenue pour nos amis les cloneurs de carte surtout à Copacabana. J'utilise de mon côté les banques brésiliennes, en semaine (attention, elles ferment à 16H00), celles qui sont protégées par un policier et je cache toujours bien mon code. Si tu peux éviter d'utiliser ta carte dans les boutiques c'est mieux ;)
- Des idée sur des lieux à ne pas louper (en dehors des classiques, Pain de sucre, Corcovado etc) ? Toutes les bonnes expériences sont les bienvenues, y compris les bonnes adresses de restau sympa et typiques..
Cela va faire que un mois et demi que je suis à Rio, mais voici ma liste perso :
- Escadaria Selaron (le fameux escalier multicouleurs qui mène à Santa Teresa)
- Le Parque Das Ruinas à Santa Teresa pour sa vue magnifique
- Faire le centre ville historique à pied (il existe des visites gratuites) + rentrer dans le Cabinet Royal de Lecture Portugaise
- Le Jardin Botanique et le Parque Lage (dans le même quartier, juste à côté du Lagoa)
- Aller à Lapa boire un verre un vendredi soir (mais faire très attention à ses affaires)
- Aller à la Vista Chinesa dans la Forêt de Tijuca
- Voir un coucher de soleil à Arpoador
- Si tu as le temps, aller à Barra da Tijuca pour voir la différence entre Rio et Barra (même si je crois que Barra est considéré comme un quartier de la ville)
- Si tu aimes l'aventure, fait du deltaplane depuis Pedra Bonita (je te conseille aussi la randonnée de Pedra Bonita, environ 30mn, pour une vue magnifique !)
- Prendre un verre dans un grand hôtel (Copacabana Palace, Fasano)
- Faire du standing paddle à Ipanema
Ca ne fait pas longtemps que je suis là donc je suis sûre que des personnes du forum pourront te donner des informations plus complètes que les miennes
Merci de toutes ces informations Peachandcrea, on va tacher de s'y tenir, en particulier pour les distributeurs de l'aeroport et les lignes de transport.
Au plaisir peut être de se croiser sur RIO...
Brigitte & Christianchandcrea
Je pars dans une semaine au bresil et je cherche une agence ou hotel qui pratique de bon prix pour un saut en deltaplane a Rio. je me suis laissé entendre que l on pouvait en avoir pour 250 reals !
Merci d avance pour toute infos sur ce sujet que tu puisses m'apporter.
Alexandre
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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.
Bonjour à tous,
avec mon amie nous allons passer 2 semaines complètes à Rio De Janeiro du 04 au 18 Mars 2014. Nous logeons chez l'habitant à 50m de Copacabana.
Carnaval des Champions le Samedi 8...
Pour le reste, visite de la ville et des lieux mythiques, plage, soleil, et sans doute une location de voiture pour descendre au sud sur Paraty & Ihla grande, et aussi au Nord sur Buzios...
Qui sera dans le coin pour partager des moments sympas avec nous, des excursions, restau et autres festivités locales ??
Au plaisir de vous lire
Brigitte & Christian
