Nous partons fin Juin à 5 amis pour un trip entre le Venezuela et la Colombie.
L'atterrissage en fin d'après-midi à Caracas un vendredi nous oblige à y passer au moins une nuit. On ne compte pas y rester plus que le weekend car vu les témoignages/messages/sites à voir à Caracas, on n'a pas trop intérêt à y rester longtemps.
Il y a déjà des posts à ce sujet mais ils sont un peu obsolètes donc je vous sollicite pour une mise à jour.
On lit partout que Caracas est peu attractive pour les touristes et peut être dangereuse. Il semblerait que les quartiers d'Altamira/Chacao/Mercedes soient un peu plus calmes.
Connaissez-vous des hôtels dans ces quartiers ?
Nous avons fait notre deuil sur les hébergements pas chers, de qualité et sûrs, cela n'a pas l'air d'exister.
Couchsurfing n'est pas envisageable à 5 et on ne compte pas jouer les guerriers à braver tous les dangers seulement parce qu'on est à 5 mecs. Notre but est de partir très vite vers le Parc de Morrocoy puis Merida avant de passer en Colombie pour Cucuta.
L'atterrissage en fin d'après-midi à Caracas un vendredi nous oblige à y passer au moins une nuit. On ne compte pas y rester plus que le weekend car vu les témoignages/messages/sites à voir à Caracas, on n'a pas trop intérêt à y rester longtemps.
Si tu n'y passes qu'une nuit et que tu ne veux pas forcément aller en ville, à 5 min de l'aéroport, avec navette qui vient te chercher : Posada La Parada à Catia La Mar.
On lit partout que Caracas est peu attractive pour les touristes et peut être dangereuse. Il semblerait que les quartiers d'Altamira/Chacao/Mercedes soient un peu plus calmes.
Connaissez-vous des hôtels dans ces quartiers ?
Nous avons fait notre deuil sur les hébergements pas chers, de qualité et sûrs, cela n'a pas l'air d'exister.
désolée, je n'ai pas d'adresse à te donner, j'avais dormi dans Sabana Grande
Notre but est de partir très vite vers le Parc de Morrocoy puis Merida avant de passer en Colombie pour Cucuta.
tu vas probablement prendre un bus local à San Cristobal pour passer la frontière.
Demande expressément au conducteur de s'arrêter pour que vous puissiez faire timbrer vos passeports, sinon il passe tout droit ! 😕 😏
J'avais déjà noté tes autres réponses sur le forum à ce sujet. Pour la Parada, ça sera une bonne idée pour le retour à Paris car on compte passer qu'une nuit à Caracas avant de repartir.
Par contre, on comptait quand même faire un petit tour sur Caracas au moins un soir autour d'Altamira.
Des gens de Caracas à travers Couchsurfing m'ont suggéré de dormir à Los Chaguaramos à l'Ateneo Popular. Par mes propres recherches, j'ai trouvé un hotêl à Altamira (un peu cher mais bien situé, Avenida Felix Jose Sosa) ou encore un hostel à la station Capitolio : Le quartier te dit quelque chose ?
Des gens de Caracas à travers Couchsurfing m'ont suggéré de dormir à Los Chaguaramos à l'Ateneo Popular. Par mes propres recherches, j'ai trouvé un hotêl à Altamira (un peu cher mais bien situé, Avenida Felix Jose Sosa) ou encore un hostel à la station Capitolio : Le quartier te dit quelque chose ?
Salut,
ah oui, je connais bien le Capitolio, c'est le seul endroit en 5 mois de voyage où on a essayé de me piquer mon appareil photo 😛
le centre (Capitolio) n'est pas recommandé d'après les guides.
moi je connais le Backpackers Hostal dans Sabana Grande. Ce n'est pas le meilleur des quartiers mais c'est, encore une fois, celui qu'affectionnent les routards. L'endroit est simple, mais propre et bon marché pour CCS.
L'hôtel Cristal, près de la place Vénézuela, dans le centre de Caracas. 20 à 30 € la nuit environ.
Bd de Sabana Grande, Pasaje Asunción
Caracas - Venezuela
Tél. +58 212 761 9131
Entre le métro Plaza Venezuela et Sabana Grande.
Un peu bruyant le matin, si le marché existe toujours.
"CAFEEEEE" crié par le vendeur de café ambulant
"MILLE MILLE MILLE BOLIVARES" crié par le magnétophone du vendeur.
Tu peux demander à être déposé à la plaza venezuela par le taxi et descendre le boulevard Sabana Grande. Le passage est sur la droite.
Malgré tout, il est bien situé, entre deux stations de métro.
Je te confirme que le quartier d'Altamira est le plus huppé, entreprises étrangères, centre d'affaires, ambassade des EU.
Tu peux suivre la ligne de métro pour te promener de plaza venezuela à altamira.
Si vous êtes 5, vous n'aurez pas de problème d'insécurité. L'important est de se fondre dans la masse. La population est accueillante et curieuse des touristes. Reste vigilant.
Tiens moi au courant, si tu le souhaite et fais moi part de ton expérience, j'en serais ravi.
Hola
Jy etais en avril mai de cet annee jai pris un taxi a l aeroport dormi a sabana grande , je crois hotel cristal, prix 380 BF tres bien propre situe a qq metres du metro place venezuela puis le lendemain jai pris le metro pr la station altamira 4 stations en direct
Je nai eu aucun problem bien que seule
Les gens de caracas ont ete fort aimables et m ont bien aidee
Je reviens de mon trip Venezuela/Colombie et je voulais vous donner quelques infos.
Je suis donc allé à l'hôtel Cristal comme conseillé plus haut : L'hôtel est pas trop cher, les chambres sont un peu sales mais c'est largement acceptable. C'est quand même un hôtel de passe mais c'est pas le pire du quartier. De plus, il est vraiment bien situé et le personnel est vraiment très sympa. C'est sûr et nous avons même changé 2000 dollars avec le gars à la réception. Tout s'est passé très bien sans la moindre entourloupe.
Un hôtel à conseiller donc.
Pour le reste en terme de sécurité, le Venezuela est tellement quadrillé par une police très nerveuse qu'il est difficile de faire un pas sans voir la police notamment à Sabana Grande toute la nuit. Ils contrôlent très souvent les touristes et les traîtent de la même façon (méprisante) que les locaux. Avec souvent de grosses questions à la con.... sans parler des contrôles anti-drogues à 4 heures du matin dans le bus de nuit. Mention spéciale du jury pour le passage de la frontière vers la Colombie : 25 checkpoints de la Guardia Nacional en 100KM.
Après mon témoignage n'est pas forcément très révélateur de la situation car nous étions 5 hommes, ce qui est très dissuasif et nous n'avons jamais été embêté. Les venezueliens sont en plus très sympas dans l'ensemble. Après Caracas, nous avons visité Chichiriviche et Merida. Les deux sont géniales.
Pour le reste en terme de sécurité, le Venezuela est tellement quadrillé par une police très nerveuse qu'il est difficile de faire un pas sans voir la police notamment à Sabana Grande toute la nuit. Ils contrôlent très souvent les touristes et les traîtent de la même façon (méprisante) que les locaux. .
Je m'étonne de ce commentaire. Si je peux comprendre la nervosité des policiers de nuit à Sabana Grande, je me suis fait contrôler plusieurs fois dans le bus, sans aucun soucis.
Tu montres ton passeport et c'est bon. Je dirais même que seuls les hommes ont droit à la fouille de leurs affaires. Cela m'a d'ailleurs bien fait sourire 🙂
Mention spéciale du jury pour le passage de la frontière vers la Colombie : 25 checkpoints de la Guardia Nacional en 100KM. .
Pareil. Tu te fais arrêter 25x, mais tu montres ton passeport et on te laisse repartir sans souci.
Si t'as rien à te reprocher, ce n'est pas gênant 😉
Non, je n'ai pas eu ce plaisir. Par contre, deux colombiens en situation irrégulière dans le bus avec nous qui rentraient chez eux ont bien du payer en tout presque 500 bolos de bakchich !
Ah oui en bus... je comprends mieux... vous avez dû perdre un certain temps avec tout ces contrôles 🤪
Moi je l'avais fait en taxi. Un rapide coup d'oeil à la couleur de nos passeports et on était déjà repartis 🙂
"C'est quand même un hôtel de passe". Ha ! Ha ! Ha ! Oui, c'est aussi dans le quartier gay. Je ne le suis pas, je me suis fait invité par un guide d'un musée(une ancienne maison avec du mobilier ancien très joli en haut de Caracas) à manger ensemble. Il m'a emmené dans ce quartier et a essayé de me faire payer le diner. Il a échoué.
Le gars de la réception avait essayé de m'arnaquer une nuit.
Question sécurité, j'ai été contrôlé(suivi par la RG locaux) dès la première journée. Il faut dire que c'était juste avant l'anniversaire de la mort de Francisco Miranda et que le "commandante" allait faire une apparition publique et qu'il y avait subit des tentatives d'assassinat quelques temps auparavant. Étant seul, j'ai constaté qu'il m'est arrivé de prendre l'ascenseur de l'hôtel en même temps que deux enfants, dont un m'a demandé l'heure. Je pense que la police souhaitait savoir à qui ils avaient affaire.
Je suis content de t'avoir rendu service Chérif. Pourrais-tu actualiser le coût de la chambre ? Merci et merci d'avoir réveillé mes souvenirs en racontant ton voyage.
Le prix de la nuit était d'environ 12€. Je ne m'en rappelle plus en bolos car on avait échangé de l'argent au black.
Merci à toi également pour cette adresse car finalement, le staff était plutôt sympa, l'hôtel pas trop sale et le boulevard Sabana Grande est plutôt bien contrôlé par la police (les blocs derrière sont beaucoup plus craignos).
Merci pour ta réponse. Oui, je confirme, les rues derrière étaient craignos, c'est d'ailleurs dans un hôtel de ce coin que je suis arrivé, qui m'a été trouvé par le conducteur de taxi qui m'a amené de l'aéroport. Dès que j'ai visité le boulevard Sabana Grande, j'ai vu la différence et c'est ainsi que j'ai trouvé cet hôtel.
Y a-t-il toujours le marché des petites échoppes dans cette rue, dans la partie piétonne ? A l'époque, le gouvernement tolérait ces activités non officielles qui s'installaient dans la rue piétonne, juste devant les magasins des commerçants. Cela surprend la première fois.
Oui il y a toujours les artisans locaux qui vendent des petits articles au début du passage Asuncion. Mon sentiment sur place est que la situation sécuritaire s'améliore doucement.
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! I’m heading to Colombia in January 2026 and have a few questions. In Salento, which is better to do—Cocora Valley or Carbonera Valley? After that, I want to fly from Medellín to Rincón del Mar. Is there an airport in Tolú? I can’t find any info. Thanks in advance, and *buen viajé* to all! Kristian
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! 🙂
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,
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.
