Bonjour,
J'ai l'occasion d'aller au bresil une semaine (billets offerts) debut decembre 08, donc dans moins d'un mois.
Biensur rien n'est preparé, pas vacciné non plus, tout va bien.......🙂
Je pense faire le tour suivant, j'aimerais votre avis :
Arrivée à Rio : 2 nuits (visite de la ville/Pain de Sucre/Christ/Plage/Bars)
Rio pour Ilha grande (bus+bato): 2 nuits, plage, plongée et petite randonnée, bato
Ilha grande pour Sao Paulo (bato+bus) : 2 nuits
Sao Paulo pour Iguazu (bus nuit) : nuit dans le bus
Iguazu : 1 nuit sur place, Aller du cote Argentin, bato cascade + mini trek dans la foret
Iguazu pour SaoPaulo (Bus de nuit/ ou retour en avion) : puis retour en France.
Hormis le fait que ca va faire bcp de bus, que ca ne tiendra pas en une semaine.
Est ce que l'itineraire : France-Rio-Ilha-SaoP-Iguazu-SaoP-France,
est-ce une bonne idée pour avoir le bon cocktail 2 jours de ville/ 2 jours d'iles/2 jours de foret
ou plutot une fausse bonne idée.
Une autre option serait de faire des haltes pendant le trajet Rio et SaoP, en descendant
par etape le long de la cote, ce qui eviterait 28h de bus :-) mais nous
priverait d'Iguza mais permettrait de faire peut un trek de 2 jours ?
Ou de se caser un canyoning ?? Qui y a til d'incontournables comme sites ?
Autres choses pour le logement, je pense aller en auberge de jeunesse
pour Rio, SaoP et Igazu par un petit hotel un peu standing en bords de plage à Ilha
Pour l'herbergement, j'ai trouvé par hasard ce site pour les auberges de jeunes
http://www.hostelscentral.com/
Je voudrais savoir si il est fiable, l'utilisez vous, vous connaissez ?
Tout dernier point, pour les hotels, comment fait vous d'une maniere
generale, vous reservez tout d'avance ou vous faites tout sur place
du jour au lendemain pour plus de liberté.
A bientot.
Desole pour la densité de ce mail mais cela resume bien
l'ensemble de mes interrogations.
Esseker,
oublier le bus.
chercher une agence de voyage qui va planifier votre voyage à RIO par exemple.
Faite marcher la concurrence.
le bus est plus chere que vous pensez .fatigand.pour prendre un bain impossible.
l'agence de voyage va vous cherchez à l-aéroport et vous conduit à l'hotel.
va planifier votre itinéraire.
Madmax
Bonjour,
Faire tout ces trajet en bus ????????????,
Nous avons fait en voyage organisé avec déplacement en avion, les distances sont immenses.
Nous avons visité 3 points, Salvador de Baya et alentours, avion jusqu'aux chûtes, puis avion pour Rio.
ceci en 10 jours.
Les photos sont sur le site avec un diaporama en espérant que tout le monde peut l'ouvrir!!!
Bon voyage.
@+ Michel T@
http://michel.talon.free.fr
Bonjour,
Merci à tous pour vos conseils. (je suis un tout petit voyageur comparé à vous)
En effet plus j'examine le sujet plus je me dis
que c'est une mauvaise idée et que je vais zapper les chutes ....
Est ce si incontournable que ca ? N'y a til d'autres cascades
plus reduites en taille mais avec moins de touristes du coup et bcp proche de la cote ?
Du coup je pense que je vais plutot me rabbatre sur un trek dans parc
avec nuit en bivouac sans la foret ( ca peut etre sympa comme experience)
Y a til des coins remarquables pour
crapahuter dans la nature autour de saoP ou Rio ?
Encore Merci pour vos conseils.
Esseker.
ps : concernant les voyages organisés, j'imagine bien
la plus value (permet de visiter 2 à 3 fois plus de sites
sans perdre de temps dans les transports),
mais pour l'instant ce que je recherche c'est plus une certaine autonomie.
mais je pense que j'y viendrais certainement sur des destinations plus complexes.
JE ne sais pas avec quelle cie tu arrives à rio, mais si c'est la tam, penses peut être aux air pass qui te permettraient de prendre l'avion sur plusieurs destinations.regarde aussi le site de GOL qui était une cie low cost(mais qui l'est de - en -)dans ton itnéraire tu passes trop de temps à sao qui est une mègalopole sans grand intérêt.j'ai bien compris que ce voyage t'est offert et que tu veux faire beaucoup de choses mais il faudra que tu élagues .je n'ai pas en tête s'il y a des avions pour iguaçu depuis rio mais ça pourrait être une solutions pour ne pas passer par sao à l'aller.
je trouve que les chutes d iguaçu sont un must, beaucoup plus que ilha grande.
bonne recherche..........................
Salut,
la cote entre Rio et Sao Paulo est vraiment très jolie c'est la costa verde.Je viens de ressortir un dépliant et à Rio Claro (au dessus d'Angra dos Reis)c'est une région ou l'on peut faire du rafting, vtt, rappel...sinon moi je me suis arretée à Paraty qui est une petite ville colonial touristique, animée.
Pour ce qui est des bus il y en a toutes les heures et sont faciles à prendre.
Rio_Angra il doit falloir 2h30( mais nous ne venions pas de Rio et je ne l'ai pas pris )
Angra _Paraty nous avons mis 2h30 je crois
Paraty_Sao Paulo ....6h30
Iguaçu est loin mais c'est une merveille de la nature
Iguaçu_Rio 2heures en avion et il y a certainement des vols partant de Sao Paulo.
Les chutes sont magnifiques. Vous pouvez prendre un vol intérieur de Rio p.ex. aller-retour, cela ne coûte pas trop cher. (vous avez des vols avec les compagnies Gol ou Tam p.ex.)
Ilha Grande est très beau, je peux vous recommander la Pousada Naturalia (le proprio est Français) et le gérant parle également très bien le français. Rio est magnifique, par contre si vous n'avez pas beaucoup de temps je laisserais tomber Sao Paulo à votre place: c'est une ville immense et il n'y a pas beaucoup de points d'intérêts touristiques.
Moi je ferais: Rio et Ilha Grande (vous avez Mangaratiba à 2h de bus de Rio, d'où partent les bateaux) et je prendrais un vol intérieur pour Iguaçu de Rio. Si vous ne faites pas les chutes, je peux vous recommander Paraty (entre Rio et Sao Paulo) - une petite ville coloniale assez touristique et il y a de belles plages dans les environs, ou le Minas Gerais (surtout Ouro Preto et Mariana à côté) à environ 300 km de Rio, c'est faisable en bus (mais les chutes non).
Rio + Ilha Grande et je zappe SaoP.
merci pour l'hotel (Pousada Naturalia ),
je pense que je vais aller la bas, tout le monde en dit du bien.
Pour la suite, soit je trouve un bon plan pour Iguazu (avion+hotel)
soit direction paraty/ Ouro Preto en bus decouvrir la cote
et essayer un peu le rafting ou un sport nature
Paraty est très jolie, mais assez touristique. Tu peux faire des balades en bateau, c'est super, il y a aussi de belles plages dans les environ. C'est à environ 2 heures (ou même 1h30) de Angra dos Reis, d'où part un ferry pour Ilha Grande.
Ouro Preto est très beau également mais assez loin de Paraty. Ouro Preto est à l'intérieur du pays, et plus proche de Rio que de Paraty. J'y ai été la semaine dernière et on a mis environ 5 heures en voiture de Rio.
Salut,
si tu veux une idée des paysages que l'on rencontre à Paraty ou Ouro-Preto et ses environs j' ai mis des photos en ligne :escapade.bresilienne.over-blog.com
Ouro-Preto est à environ 8 heures de bus de Rio mais cela peut se faire de nuit et moi de Ouro-Preto j'ai été directement à Angra sans passer par Rio bus de nuit aussi.
A Paraty nous logions a la Pouso Familar c'est indiquer à la rodovaria c'est tenu par un belge ancien cycliste et qui continue à pratiquer il connait les bons plans autour de Paraty .
Ton itinéraire se précisant si tu veux un renseignement précis n'hésite pas, dans la mesure ou je peux aider ce sera avec plaisir.
A plus, bye
Pascale
Pas besoin de réserver pour Ilha Grande : tu arrives à Abrao, le village principal où débarque le bac et là tu auras une flopée de guest houses un peu partout bien moins chères que les quelques rares "hotels" de l'île. Même en pleine saison j'ai toujours réussi à trouver une chambre. (um quarto para a noite). Sinon tu peux te rabattre sur le camping ou voir si on peut te prêter un bout de jardin.
Pour le trek sur place, pas besoin de guide : je te conseille de partir d'Abrao vers Lopes Mendez considérée l'une des plus belles plages du Brésil (4km de sable blanc). Très protégé comme endroit. Sur le chemin tu passeras par quelques petites criques dont l'une avec campings où tu peux également passer la nuit (ultra paisible et bonnes rencontres à faire). D'autres rando possibles le "pico do papagaio" (de mémoire !), au milieu de l'île. Sinon, tu peux faire une petite balade vers la prison où on été enfermés bcp de prisonniers politiques sous la dictature.
A ta place je ferais : Rio-Ilha Grande - Paraty-Rio
Paraty est un village colonial magnifique qui donne sur une baie magnifique. près de Paraty tu as le vieux reste de ville : Paraty Myrim que tu atteinds par un chemin de terre qui longue un fleuve traversé de temps en temps par des ponts uspsendus. Des communautés d'indien y vivent encore. Et la plage est VIDE, sauvage. le temps d'une capirinha et d'une bouffée de calme. Tu as quelques randos sympas à faire autour de la ville vers des cascades. Ensuite tu peux aller à Trinidade, ancienne communauté de Pécheur, bien âbimée depuis ces 10 dernières années mais c'est encore très joli et particulier. Je te conseille de chercher la posada de gusmao. Il faut demander, tu ne la verras pas tout seul. Elle se situe sur la "praia do meio" Et Gusmao est un sculpteur Robinson qui a construit sa maison à flanc de montagne, à 20m de la plage... dans les arbres ! Pas de mur extérieur, ultra simple mais lui est très intéressant et dormir façon petite maison dans la prairie (en haut de la mezzanine!) dans les arbres, vaut le détour. Sinon toute la côte entre Paraty et Ubatuba est magnifique : d'un côté la mer et de l'autre la mata atlantica, une forêt riche et dense.
En 9 jours je ne m'éloignerais ps trop de Rio.
J'ai passé 5, 5 ans à Sao Paulo et c'est une ville que j'aime. Mais en 2 jours tu ne vas rien réussir à apprécier.
Iguaçu est fantastique mais tu vas mourir en bus pour aussi peu de jours et autant de distance. A moins de pouvoir y faire un saut en avion.
Merci pour les conseils du local :-)
en plus avec les noms des lieux ca va simplifier notre itineraire.
Donc a priori je vais faire le tour que tu proposes puis descendre
jusqu'a Parati pour essayer de trouver qques randos la bas.
Merci a Inaha et Pascale (je suis actuellement sur ton blog).
Pour ma part je pense que voyager en bus est vraiment bien !!
En plus les bus au brésil sont de très bonne qualité pour voyager, contrairement à ce que l'on pourrait croire.
Je pense que tu vas perdre beancoup de temps en avion, le temps d'enregistré les bagages, etc
Surtout que l'avion coute cher et n'est pas très ecolo....
J'ai vayager durant un mois en bus, mais tu profites au moins des paysages.
Ihla grande est une petit paradis, mais attention quand meme car les poussadas profite bien des touristes.
N'hesite pas à marchander le prix, ou le mieux est d'aller sur les petites plages ou tu trouveras des petits campings, avec chambres pour certains pour un prix plus que raisonnable.
reflechis bien et sache que ilha grabnde est vraiment magnifiques.
J'y ai passé deux jours, et j'y serais bien resté plus longtemps.
Va sur la plage de lopez mendez, à voir .............;
Sur rio, le quartier Botafofogo est assez sympa le soir et le weekend mais il faut quand meme faire attention
Profite bien car c'est vraiment super joli.
tsapik
It's decided—2027 will be Brazil, in the summer (unless you advise against it 😕). From what I’ve read, the weather’s okay, even if it’s a bit chilly for swimming. We’re going, as always, as a group of four, with our teens. 🙂
We’d be looking at a solid two weeks, at least 14 days on the ground. I’m planning way ahead to nail down an itinerary and book our flight tickets (the prices I’m seeing already are freaking me out…).
From my research, I’ve come across some classic routes: Rio/Iguazu/Paraty/Ilha Grande.
Roughly: 4 days in Rio, 2 in Iguazu, 2 in Paraty, and 3 on Ilha Verde. That’d leave us one more stop on the trip.
Since we like to end with a "chill" stop for the kids,
My questions:
- Is Ilha Verde worth it this time of year? I’ve read that swimming might not be an option—water’s too cold… So not ideal for a chill/relaxing destination?
- How should we round out the trip in the South? São Paulo? Another stop along the Costa Verde?
- Wouldn’t it make more sense to head up to the Northeast, where it’s warmer, like Salvador de Bahia?
But Salvador raises other questions:
- Are there flights from Iguazu to Salvador?
- And for the return to France, would we have to connect through Rio or São Paulo from Salvador?
- Any suggestions for places to stay around Salvador?
Thanks for your input—I’m sure I’ll have more questions as I go along. 😉
Hi there, we’ve decided to head to Brazil at the end of March for 2.5 weeks with our 13-year-old son. From what I’ve gathered from some research, Rio seems like a great destination at this time of year, and I’m thinking around 4-5 days to explore it—does that sound right to you? Copacabana, Ipanema, Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, maybe a favela tour, or any other ideas?
How’s the best way to get around locally? I’ve heard about Bonito or Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande—what do you think of those? Fernando de Noronha for snorkeling or even diving? Is Recife a good option at this time of year?
If you’ve got any suggestions, we’re all ears—it’s for our 50th birthdays! :-) Thanks so much for your help and tips. See you soon.
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’m looking for recent info on a boat trip with sleeping accommodations from Belém to Santarém. I don’t want a "luxury cruise for wealthy tourists"—just a bed with a minimum of comfort seems great to me🙂. I didn’t find any up-to-date details with Amazon Star. Do you have any companies, guides, or prices for this route to recommend?
I’d love to hear tips and feedback on this trip, especially since I’m traveling solo. I’d like to get a sense of what to expect and ensure some basic safety with transportation.
Thanks.
Hi everyone,
We’re planning 40 days in Uruguay and Argentina in February and March, trying to avoid as much rain as possible.
We’re thinking of starting in Buenos Aires, then heading to Bariloche, and from there flying to Córdoba, Mendoza, or Salta. Maybe by bus or renting a car to explore each region.
Do you have any suggestions or tips for us? We love picturesque, historic cities and landscapes. As seasoned travelers, we’re used to planning our trips ourselves.
Thanks in advance!
We’ve planned our road trip in Chile, and the only thing left is to book the TABSA ferry from Punta Arenas to Puerto Williams.
Problem: the ferry that leaves Punta Arenas at 1 AM isn’t available for booking, no matter the day or month. All the other departures can be booked, though.
On top of that, Tabsa isn’t responding to any messages.
We’re planning to explore Peru’s main highlights and were wondering if anyone could share insights on the quality and comfort of overnight buses. If so, which bus company should we trust?
Hi,
My wife and I are heading to Brazil from November 6th to December 2nd. We’ll be stopping in São Paulo, Paraty, Ilha Grande, Rio, and Salvador de Bahia.
Could you recommend some nice, non-luxury places to stay in each of these spots?
Also, any suggestions for places to visit would be great.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Marc
Hi there.
I already posted a message asking for advice about our upcoming trip to Chile.
Details: Getting around by bus or train.
Starting from Valparaiso, heading north, passing through cities and places to visit, then returning to Santiago via a different route.
Avoid the beaches...
Thanks
Hello,
my wife and I will be in Cusco for a week in March 2027.
I’d like to organize the visit to the site on our own, combining the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.
We’d leave Cusco on Day 1 to arrive at the site in the morning, then stay in Aguas Calientes or Ollantaytambo, and on Day 2 return to Cusco while visiting the Sacred Valley.
Is this doable?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Cédric.
Hello,
We’re spending 3 weeks in Rio between February 20 and March 15, 2027, to visit our son and daughter-in-law. We’re thinking of one or two "escapes" from Rio—3-day trips to get away from the city (so not too far, max 3–4 hours by car or bus). We’re all ears for suggestions! We love beautiful nature and authentic experiences, not so much the touristy spots... even though those spots are often in beautiful places, we’d rather avoid them.
Thanks for your insights!
Catherine
Hi there,
I’m planning a trip with my partner (no kids this time—thanks, Grandma!) for two weeks to celebrate her 40th birthday. I’ve been thinking about Chile. We’re looking at leaving around September 18, 2027, starting in the south and returning in early April.
Here’s what I had in mind:
8 nights in a van in the Lake District and the start of the Carretera Austral (up to the Chaitén area). We’re set to arrive in Puerto Montt around 2:00 PM. We don’t want to go too far south since we’re planning to explore the heart of Patagonia (Chile and Argentina) with the kids when they’re older. The idea is to spend 3 nights discovering the lakes (up to Cochamó) and 3 nights in Pumalín Park. I’ve also added two transition nights.
7 nights in the Atacama to experience another side of Chile (San Pedro), taking a domestic flight from Puerto Montt to Calama in the early afternoon. We’ll depart for France in the early evening from Santiago.
IMPORTANT NOTICE for those planning to take a bus to another city, state, or destination from Salvador!
Starting January 20, 2026, the intercity bus station Rodoviária is changing its address!
The Rodoviária is leaving the Iguatemi area and will now be located in ÁGUAS CLARAS (about twenty kilometers from downtown Salvador).
A brand-new station (the most modern in Brazil) has just been set up there, accessible by car/taxi/Uber/metro.
Allow for much more transfer time (especially during rush hours), so leave early if you're heading to Chapada Diamantina or other Brazilian cities by bus.
Remember, there are also private transfers (even French-speaking ones) that can take you directly from your hotel in Salvador to your hotel in Chapada. Sure, it’ll be more expensive, but you’ll save on transfer time and comfort.
Tropical greetings from Salvador,
@ivanbahiaguide
Loyal member of the French-Speaking Brazil Forums for over 15 years already 😊 🇧🇷
Hello,
We’re thinking of spending 1 month in Chile, maybe doing a loop?
From 12/23 to 01/22.
What are the must-see sights, given we’re more interested in the country’s cultural side than the beaches?
Thanks
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 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.
