Je viens partager un itinéraire de 5j autour de San Pedro de Atacama pour visiter salars, lagunas, vallées et bien plus que les excursions classiques, par soi même, que nous avons réalisé en Avril 2014 (Je voulais faire ce post depuis longtemps). Cet itinéraire s'adresse par contre uniquement aux personnes qui aiment le bivouac et se retrouver en dehors de l'affluence des tours. Il est donc nécessaire d'avoir tout son matos, tente, duvets chaud, réchaud, popottes, etc.
Pour faire l'itinéraire, il est NÉCESSAIRE d'avoir une carte détaillé de la région. Je recommande la carte San Pedro de Atacama 1:350000 (décrit toutes les pistes de la région) de la marque Trekkingchile.com édition 2012. Et pour le J4, il est OBLIGATOIRE d'avoir récupéré le tracé GPS pour accéder au Salar de Tara sur un support GPS (Garmin, Smartphone, ou tablettes) pour y accéder sereinement.
A la fin de chaque journée, vous trouverez un lien sur notre site qui vous montre les différents sites visités.
J1 : Location de vélos pour la journée (6000 pesos). Partir dès 9h pour visiter le matin la vallée de la mort. Retour à San Pedro vers 13h pour manger et se reposer durant les heures de fortes chaleurs.
Reprendre les vélos vers 16h en direction de la vallée de la luna (entrée 2000 pesos), cela vous laisse le temps de visiter les différents points d'intérêts avant de profiter du coucher de soleil. Si vous voulez être tranquille pour profiter du coucher de soleil, au lieu de monter sur la fameuse dune de sable où se retrouvent entassés tous les touristes venues avec les excursions, montez sur la crête sur votre gauche juste à la fin du secteur de l'amphithéâtre. Il y a un petit parking, et suivre ensuite le chemin balisé par des pierres au sol qui monte sur la crête. Retour de nuit à San Pedro. Pensez à prendre vos frontales. Nuit à San Pedro de Atacama.
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J2 : Location d’un pick-up 2×4 à Calama pour 4j. Location effectuée à 10h du matin . Prendre le bus de 8h du matin de San Pedro à Calama (2700 pesos avec TurBus). Je recommande personnellement l'agence Econorent, qui louent des pick-up en super état, pas cher (4j pour 200$ environ), et en plus l'agence est très proche à pied de la gare de bus de TurBus. Avant de reprendre la route direction San Pedro, faites le pleins de nourriture pour les 4j dans l'un des immenses supermarchés de la ville (Tout est cher à San Pedro, et seulement des mini épiceries y sont présentes).
Retour à San Pedro de Atacama par la route 23 puis continuer sur la route 23 direction Sud. Possibilité de déjeuner au niveau de la zone aménagée au bord de la route dans la zone du Parc National Los Flamencos. Puis route pour la Laguna Miscanti et la Laguna Miñiques (2500 pesos) que vous aurez l'occasion de profiter en après midi seul (car les tours y vont le matin). De plus la lumière y est bien plus belle sur les lagunes. Reprendre la route en direction de Socaire (Belle petite église), puis tourner à gauche sur la route B365 (Direction Peine). Après quelques kilomètres vous trouverez plusieurs pistes qui partent sur la gauche, qui vous permettront de choisir un emplacement pour bivouacer tranquille en admirant le coucher de soleil sur le Salar d'Atacama.
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J3 : Partir tôt pour visiter la Laguna Chaxa (2500 pesos), c'est le matin et le soir qu'il y a le plus de flamants roses. En repartant par la piste vous atteignez la route 23, prendre la route en face qui part à l'Est qui passe par Talabre et monte sur une bonne piste rejoindre la laguna Leija (avec ses flammants James). Laguna à 4300 m, avec une vue exceptionnelle sur le volcan Leija, Corona et Lascar. Beau coin pour déjeuner!!!
Ensuite redescendre pour rejoindre la route 23, puis direction Laguna Tebenquiche.
Rejoindre ensuite San Pedro et prendre la direction Paso Jama. Avant d'atteindre les 4000 m, il y a de nombreux endroits discrets au bord de la route pour bivouacer tranquillement pour être sur la route pour le Salar de Tara le lendemain.
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J4 : Partir tôt, vers 6h du matin afin d'arriver sur le site du Salar de Tara avant les groupes, et si par malchance vous vous enlisez dans le sable, une agence sympa pourra ainsi peut être vous sortir de là.
Pour ce qui est de la description pour ce rendre au Salar de Tara, regarder la réponse que j'ai faite sur le sujet: http://voyageforum.com/discussion/salar-tara-en-solo-chili-d6131765/
De retour du Salar de Tara en fin matinée, reprendre la direction de San Pedro d'Atacama pour manger et y faire le plein d'essence. En après midi, vous pouvez allez flotter dans la laguna Cejar et voir les Ojos du Salar. En fin de journée, prendre la route direction Nord pour les Geysers de Tatio. Afin de ne pas dormir à trop haute altitude, des possibilités de campement sont trouvables avant que la route ne sépare soit pour Machuca ou pour les Banos de Puritama.
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J5 : Pour les geysers de Tatio, selon la distance de votre campement aux Geysers, partir entre 4h30 et 5h afin d'arriver vers 6h du matin sur le site au début de l'aurore. Bien prendre la route qui passe par Machuca(en meilleur état). Difficile d'éviter ici les groupes, car c'est seulement au petit matin que les geysers sont le plus impressionnant. Par contre, je vous conseille de rester sur le site un bon moment et de prendre le temps de se balader, car après 8-9h il n'y a quasiment plus personnes, les geysers se sont transformées en fumeroles et le cadre est complètement magique. De plus vous aurez les thermes rien que pour vous!!!
Vers 10h-10h30 quittez le site, reprendre la même route qu’en arrivant et tourner à droite à la première intersection sur une route qui monte progressivement. Arrivez jusqu'à une intersection qui offre une très belle vue des montagnes entourant le site des geysers, et de là prendre sur votre droite la route pour aller en direction du village Caspana. La route devient asphaltée, passe un col, puis redescend dans une nouvelle vallée. La route offre de super points de vue sur de nombreuses quebrada, idéal pour la pause déjeuner. En après midi, possibilité de visiter les villages de Caspana (avec des cultures en terrasses au bord du canyon), Ayquina (belle petite église ancienne) pour arriver en fin d'après midi au charmant village de Chiu-Chiu et son église la plus vielle du pays. Possibilité de camper dans un petit complexe touristique à l'entrée du village en venant de Ayquina par la route B-165.
http://la-sed-de-viaje.tumblr.com/post/86306040164/
J6 : Seulement à 1h de Calama, départ vers 9h pour rendre la voiture vers 10h. Ensuite possibilité de revenir en bus à San Pedro, partir en bus pour Uyuni, ou rester cette journée à Calama pour visiter la plus grande mine de cuivre du monde!
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Super le compte-rendu!
Le Chili sera notre destination pour le début 2016 (6 à 7 semaines). Je commence seulement à réfléchir quoi comment. La région de SPA fait partie des options.
Tous les détails que tu as donné sont les bienvenus 🙂 surtout que ce sera notre façon de voyager: 4x4 et tente et qu'on aime les lieux loin des foules.
J'ai cru voir sur ton itinéraire sur ton site que vous étiez également passé par Villa O'Higgins. Tu comptes faire le même genre de compte-rendu pour cette partie-là? 😊😇
Merci, et je suis content que ce récit puisse servir. En effet nous étions bien aussi passé par Villa o'Higgins. En fait, nous avons passé 7 mois en Amérique du Sud du Sud au Nord en longeant la cordillère des Andes pour faire essentiellement du trek en montagne.
Nous avons passé environ 1 mois et demi au Chili qui fait partie de nos pays coup de coeur de notre voyage. Pour les amoureux de nature, il y a vraiment de quoi se faire plaisir vu la diversité que peut offrir ce pays tout en longueur. Un conseil, je ne perdrais pas trop de temps dans les villes qui ne présentent peu d'intêret, excepté Valparaiso.
Je ne pense pas faire un récit de toute notre aventure au Chili, mais par contre si tu as des questions particulières sur certaines régions, il me fera plaisir de t'aider. Nous voyagions essentiellement en bus et marche à pied. Nous avions seulement loué un 2x4 pour SPA.
Les régions que nous avons bien exploré : La carretera Austal, Chiloé, La région des volcans autour de Pucon, Parque Laguna del Laja, Ile de Paques et la région autour de SPA.
Je ne pense pas faire un récit de toute notre aventure au Chili, mais par contre si tu as des questions particulières sur certaines régions, il me fera plaisir de t'aider.
Je ne manquerai pas de te contacter 🙂 Encore merci
La Carretera Austral et l'île de Pâques sont d'or et déjà sur la liste de notre itinéraire 😎
Je vous sollicite une fois de plus car vos conseils sont toujours utiles, et je vous avoue que je suis un peu perdue sur l'itinéraire de Patagonie. J'ai pas…
J'ai la chance de (re)partir bientot pour un tour du monde, et la Patagonie chilienne et argentine est cette fois prevue, en fevrier-mars Je me renseigne…
Je vais réaliser un rêve prochainement dont une partie se passe en Patagonie entre octobre et décembre 2026. Je voyagerai seule. Mon plan: - descendre en…
Je souhaite marcher sur les traces d'Antoine de Tounens, le roi des Mapuches. Auriez vous un itinéraire à me conseiller en Araucanie chilienne? J'ai les…
Voyager avec des enfants › Argentine / Chili · 14 replies
Nous sommes un couple avec un bébé de 2 ans et demi. Nous allons partir en Patagonie en mars ou avril 2026. Nous n'avons pas encore de dates précises car ce…
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