Je viens enfin de me décider! Je viens d'acheter un forfait avion et hôtel pour Rio de Janeiro, au Brésil, du 23 au 30 janvier. Une petite semaine, vraiment pas chère, dans une des villes de mes rêves!
MAintenant, je me mets à la recherche d'information: comment se déplacer dans Rio? Est-ce que ça coûte cher pour se nourrir? Combien cela coûte-t-il et comment peut-on faire un aller-retour, dans la journée, vers Sao PAolo? Quelles sont les activités essentielles à faire et à voir dans une petite semaine à Rio?
Merci si vous pouvez m'aider à me lancer dans mes recherches!
Le deplacement dans Rio est tres bien desservis en bus , minibus ou van , aucune difficulté pour cela et dans tous les endroits de la ville , il y a aussi le métro mais plus reduit a certains quartiers .
Il est possible de faire un aller retour Rio>Sao Paulo dans la journée , soit par avion a l aeroport Santos Dumond situé dans le centre ville ou par bus
Temps de vol avion = 40 mn
temps du trajet bus = 5h45 a 6h00 de route , pour ceci il faudrait prendre le bus a la Rodoviairia ( gare routière ) située également dans le centre ville , a ta plce je choisirais l avion qui reste encore le meilleur moyen .
Pour le prix de deplacement en bus compte aller retour +- 150 reais
avion compte de 200 a 250 rs aller retour mais je ne peux te confirmer l exactitude des prix , je ne me souviens plus au juste .
Prix des aliments et repas ; tres bon marché en allant dans les " lanchonetes " le prix de chaque repas est calculé en fonction du poids compte en gros pour bien manger de 15 a 25 rs pour un repas de midi , petit dejeuner de 12 a 15 reais
Tu peux egalement aller dans les restaurants et demander un plat commercial ( prato comercial ) qui varie de 10 a 20 rs , tres copieux et tres bon également .
habillements ; tres bon marché , dans le centre ville , excepté dans les centres commerciaux ou c est bien plus cher a titre d exemple pour un bikini = de 30 a 50 rs
Activités pour une semaine a Rio , a part l aspect touristique , pain de sucre , corcovado , tu as également le jardin botanique , le couvent de santo antonio ( centre ville a cote de la station de métro carioca , il est simplement splendide !)
Les grandes plages de Barra da tijuca , recreio dos bandeirantes , grumari ( attention pour grumari , l acces pour celui qui n a pas de voiture est compliqué ) pour les autres plages c est ok en transport .
Les musées , la foret de tijuca ..les boites de nuits et musiques de bossa nova , les petits restaurant connus et tipiques ( bar do Tom et do vinicius ) situé dans le quartier de Ipanema que tu aimeras certainement , le mercado Hyppie , situe praça nossa senhora da paz a Ipanema a chaque Dimanche , c est un marché d artisanat qui pourra certainement t interresser .
Tu peux également faire un tour d helicoptère survolant les grandes plages , c est simplement splendide et bon marché , l helico se prend a recreio dos bandeirantes ( entreprise Helimar ) a avenida das americas , tout le monde connait cette avenue ici ..
a ta place deja que tu veux connaitre Sao Paulo qui franchement n est qu une grande ville sans trop d aspect touristique interressant je te conseille plutot d aller visiter les villes de Cabo Frio et buzios , situées a 190 km de Rio , par bus = 2h30 de voyage et ça vaut bien plus la peine que Sao Paulo , je te conseille d y rester un jour au moins , ça sera 1000 x meilleur pour toi et bien moins fatigaunt et moins cher aussi , tu pourras trouver des tas de pousadas ( auberges ) a des prix tres accessibles .
STP respecte les consignes de securités des grandes villes , ne te promene pas avec tout ton argent sur toi , garde ton appareil photo devant toi et pas en bandouilliere , n echanges pas ton argent dans la rue avec n importe qui mais dans une maison de change ou banque , ne reagit jamais a une agression ...
en esperant avoir repondu a tes questions je reste a ta dispostion pour n importe quoi
Wow! Merci pour toutes ces informations! Tu es resté longtemps au Brésil? Ou tu y es encore?
ESt-ce que tu as un plan des transports en commun ou quelque chose comme ça? J'aimerais bien me faire une idée de la facon de se déplacer là-bas et surtout, trouver la meilleure façon de rejoindre mon hôtel quand j'arriverai au Brésil, après un long long périple en avion!
Est-ce que le transport en commun coûte cher?
Comme je ne suis pas longtemps là-bas, peut-être que je me concentrerai sur Rio et que je resterai dans les environs. Ce sera moins fatiguant, moins cher, et j'aurai profité à fond de ce beau voyage!
J habite Rio depuis 1981 , ça fait deja pas mal de temps ..
le transport en commum est tres bon marché ici au Bresil de l ordre de 2, 20 rs
de l aeroport pour rejoindre ton hotel ( tu ne m as pas donné le quartier de l hotel ) tu peux prendre le bus special a l aeroport lors de ton arrivée ou alors prendre un taxi ( ceux qui sont a l aeroport ) le taxi est bien plus cher compte de 70 a 85 rs jusque copacabana
Comme le dis Jean Marc si tu veux voir autre chose que SP, tu peux aller prendre l' air à la montagne.
Petropolis et Teresopolis.
Une des destinations d'hiver préférées des originaires de Rio de Janeiro, Teresópolis accueille divers styles de touristes. Des couples viennent à la recherche de scénarios romantiques représentés par les auberges et les restaurants de charme avec leurs cheminées, la cuisine de qualité et les bons vins. Dés leur arrivée les familles se lancent sur les achats dans la traditionnelle feirinha d'artisanat, tant que les enfants font la fête dans le Parc National de Serra des Agences. La réserve abrite la principale montagne de la région, le sommet du Doigt de Dieu, à 1.692 mètres d'altitude.
Je serai, comme Marie-Christine, à Rio de Janeiro, du 16 au 28 janvier, en compagnie d'une amie. Hormis la visite de Rio et alentours, nous hésitons fortement entre passer la deuxième semaine du côté du Pantanal, ou alors de Salvador de Bahia.
Alors, Pantanal ou Salvador de Bahia, que me conseillez vous ?
Les vols intérieurs type Rio -S.de Bahia sont-ils chers ? Avec l'avion, cela est-il le coup de faire les 3, finalement ?
D'autre part, n'y a t'il pas une autre réserve naturelle, du côté de Rio ou de Salvador de Bahia, dans laquelle nous pourrions observer caimans, piranha, oiseaux et autres, ...Cela nous permettrait de combiner les 3 en optimisant le temps passé dans les transports.
Il me semble que tu aimes beaucoup la nature , dans ce cas je te conseille fortement le Pantanal au lieu de Salvador de Bahia , Salvador est jolie , une ville historique , le Pantanal est sauvage je pense que ceci serait de ton intêret .
Les vols intérieurs Rio >salvador sont tres accessibles question prix , je ne me souviens plus du prix excate pour un Rio > salvador mais il me semble que c est moins de 420, 00 reais ( 1 euro aujourd hui =2, 60 reais ) Oui ça vaut vraiment le copup de faire les trois bien que tu ne seras ici que pour une semaine ce qui est tres juste pour bien visiter les choses .
A Rio tu as la reserve Biologique du Marapendi qui va de Recreio dos bandeirantes a Barra da tijuca , elle est tres grande , tu pourras y voir des caimans , des petits singes et autres animaux natifs de la region .
En fonction de ton sejour tres court ( hélas ) je te conseille ceci :
Rio de Janeiro > 2 jours
Pantanal > 3 jours
Salvador .2 jours et depart de salvador vers la France
a bientôt Noemie et la prochaine fois reste un peut plus longtemps ici
Merci Jean-Marc, de ta réponse aussi rapide !
Pour être honnête, connaissant une petite partie de l'Amazonie, depuis mon voyage en Equateur, je serai plus tentée par Salvador de Bahia. Cependant mon amie préfère le Pantanal, d'où mes questions pour essayer de combiner les trois et de contenter tout le monde.
Merci beaucoup pour tous ces conseils. Effectivement, 12 jours à peine, c'est très court...Mais, qui sait, je n'exclue pas un possible retour pour les JO Olympiques, dans quelques années...
Effectivement le choix est toujours compliqué quand le temps manque ..
Salvador j y habitais avec ma famille pendant presque 5 ans , c est une jolie ville , avec a coté une vegetation splendide et des plages magnifiques mais par contre ce serait mieux d avoir une voiture pour connaître Salvador et ses environs comme l Ile de itaparica , ile dos Frades et a estrada do coco ( linha verde ) , direction Araraju et pouvoir visiter le projet Tamar qui est la preservation des grandes tortues de mer , a part cela le centre historique de Salvador et le Pelorinho en particulier est tres interessant a voir , il est tres bien conservé également , les eglises sont des oeuvres d art baroque , a ne pas manquer surtout ainsi que les musées et les restaurant typique comme le solar de l união dans la ville bassse pret du mercado modelo (marché d artisanat ( au dessus de ce mercado modelo il y a un restaurant tres connu )
Voir les bahianaises vendrent leurs produits typiques , acarajé , abara et pé de moleque a ce sujet la plus connue est la bahianaise Dinha , qui se trouve a Praia Vermelho , son acarajé et abara sont d une qualité sans égale , un délice !
Il existe une certaine facilité d hebergement a Salvador a des prix vraiments tres interresants , tu trouveras facilement des petits hotels et pousadas ( auberges )
Pour le Pantanal c est surtout l aspect écologique qui domine cette région , une région magnifique et des plus interresantes a connaître , le mieux serait de pouvoir faire le pantanal et connaître également Salvador qui restera certainement pour moi ma ville préférée .
L acceuil de sa population est légendaire ici ainsi que le calme de ses habitants et leur sourire qui restera pour toujours dans ma mémoire .
Il est certain que tu reviendras un jour pour connaître le reste car celui ou celle qui connaitra Salvador de Bahia certainement reviendra , dans mon cas venant a Salvador pour y travailler pendant 3 mois j ai finit pour y rester pour 5 ans .
a bientôt Noemie , a bientôt ma belle ville de Toulouse , ville Rouge , ville de Claude Nougaro .
Bjour la communauté je dois sejourner 10 jours à rio de J en mars pour un mariage Que faire à rio et aux alentours en dehors des grands classiques? afin de…
Lors de mon vol retour de Buenos Aires en direction de Paris, j'ai une escale de 23h30 à Rio de Janeiro (aerport "Internacional"), arrivée 00h20 sur place.…
Suite à un voyage au Brésil, j'ai écrit un article sur notre séjour à Rio. Tu trouveras dans cet article tous les conseils pour visiter cette ville: où dormir?…
Nous partons a rio debut juin, c'est une aer et nous souhaiterions avoir de bonnes adresses oour manger, plages et activités uniquement sur rio, merci a vous
Bonjour,
Nous allons avec ma femme au Brésil du 6 Novembre 2 Décembre. Nous allons faire des étapes à Sao Paulo, Paraty, Ilha Grandé, Rio et Salvador de Bahia.
Auriez-vous des adresses de lieux d'hébergement sympathiques, non luxueux pour chacune de ces étapes.
Auriez-vous également des idées d'endroits à visiter.
Je vous remercie d'avance de votre collaboration.
Marc
Bonjour.
J'ai déjà posté un message sur des renseignements au sujet de notre futur voyage au Chili.
Les précisions: Se déplacer en bus ou en train.
Partir de Valparaiso aller jusqu'au nord en passant par des villes et des lieux à visiter puis revenir à santiago en empruntant un autre chemin.
Éviter les plages ..
Merci
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.
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!
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
Hello,
we’re arriving in Fortaleza on February 14, 2027, and planning to rent a car to drive to João Pessoa in two stages. We’ll leave from there on the 20th or 21st to head to Rio. Our questions:
- Which stop between Fortaleza and João Pessoa would be the most enjoyable?
- How long does it take to drive from Fortaleza to João Pessoa?
- Are there any easy hikes (no guide needed) around João Pessoa?
Thanks for all your replies—I’m hoping for lots!
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 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
