Nous souhaitons louer une voiture pour rouler entre Guyaquil et Quito, en passant par l'Isla de la Plata et Cotopatxi.
Est'il nécessaire de louer un 4X4 ou une simple berline suffit? (état de la route, ...)
Est'il nécessaire de réserver à l'avance sur les sites de locations?
Holà !
Nous revenons d'Equateur le 01 août et avons effectué 3036 km en voiture. Notre parcours nous a conduit de Quito vers Tena (par Baeza), Misahualli, Banos, Riobamba, Cuenca, Loja, Vilcabamba, remontée vers Ingapirca puis Guayaquil, Puerto Lopez (par route de la Costa del Sol), Porto Viejo, Quevedo, Quilotoa, Saquisili, Otavalo (en évitant Quito), Cotacachi, Ibarra puis retour vers Quito.
Je juge le 4x4 indispensable car de nombreuses routes sont difficiles (empierrées et avec de nombreux trous, abimées et glissantes si nuages, pluies fortes et possibles glissements de terrain ou chute de pierres) comme par exemple Porto Viejo vers Quevedo, Zhud vers La Troncal ou les montées vers la lagune du Quilotoa et le site d'Ingapirca. Par exemple, nous avons mis 10 heures pour effectuer 400 km entre Puerto Lopez et Quilotoa (montée de Quevedo vers Quilotoa toute en travaux).
A de nombreux endroits la Panaméricaine est en gros travaux avec des passages non asplaltés, des déviations parfois difficiles et attente à prévoir car passage sur une seule voie.
La Panamericaine est très praticable dans le nord du pays (Imbabura), entre Quito, Tena, Banos, et une véritable autoroute entre Cuenca et Loja. La route de Guayaquil vers Salinas et Manta est tres belle aussi. La descente de Quilotoa vers Latacunga est une pure merveille car les paysages sont magnifiques (vue sur Cotopaxi incroyable).
En résumé, je te conseille fortement le 4x4 car les risques d'emprunter des routes difficiles sont très élevés. Par ailleurs, les traversées ou abords de villes moyennes sont souvent plus compliquées que les trajets entre villes. Si vous allez à la rencontre de communautés (Misahualli, Chilcapamba, San Clemente, Ahuana) les chemins d'accès seront difficiles avec une voiture "normale".
Attention, il faut être équipé d'une carte assez détaillée et de plans de villes car il y a très peu (euphémisme) d'indications. Nous avons peiné à trouver certaines directions dans les villes de Cuenca, Guayaquil, Quevedo. La partie nord (Otavalo, Ibarra) est mieux indiquée. Nous nous sommes perdus entre Banos et Riobamba ce qui nous a conduit sur une route empierrée pendant plusieurs dizaines de kilomètres, nous ne regrettons pas car les paysages sont magnifiques. Les équatoriens sont très accueillants et indiquent facilement le bon chemin à prendre. Ne pas hésiter à demander au moindre doute sur la route choisie.
Pour une famille de 3 avec bagages et fauteuil roulant, nous avons loué un 4x4 (Chevrolet Gran Vitara) à Quito (Budget) pour 25 jours pour la somme de 2200 dollars. C'est très cher mais ne regrettons absolument pas cette dépense. Nous avions réservé à l'avance (4/5 jours) par l'intermédiaire du site Budget. Prendre en kilométrage illimité car les km supplémentaires sont chers aussi.
Les postes d'essence ne manquent pas, néanmoins par prudence, je refaisais le plein dès le réservoir à moitié vide. Pour info, le super est à environ 2 dollars le gallon (un peu plus de 3 litres).
Voilà, je profite de ce post pour remercier tous les "amis" qui ont répondu à nos propres questions précedemment. Ce pays est très beau et ses habitants chaleureux et accueillants. Nous vous conseillons un passage (voir plus) dans les communautés, avec une mention toute particulière pour la famille de Segundo et Virginia MORALES à CHILCAPAMBA (qq kms de Cotacachi).
A première vue le 4*4 semble indispensable... Et pensez-vous qu'il faille absolument réserver à l'avance ou nous pouvons voir ça directement sur place?
En fait, ce qui nous contraint à louer une voiture est le fait que nous souhaitons aller à l'isla de la plata, près de Puerto Lopez (en bus cela semble infaisable non?). Avez-vous visité cette ile? Si oui qu'en pensez-vous? A moins que nous puissions facilement trouver une voiture avec chauffeur qui nous y amène de Guayaquil?
En fait de très nombreux bus sillonnent l'Equateur. Vous trouverez sûrement une compagnie à Guayaquil pour Puerto Lopez via Jipijapa. Mais je ne ne peux vous en dire plus sur ce sujet.
L'ile de la Plata est à 1h30/2h de bateau de Puerto Lopez. Vous pourrez admirer les baleines durant le trajet, un peu mouvementé dans notre cas à l'aller. Le spectacle est très beau (baleines vues à 50/100m). L'Ile est intéressante pour les différents oiseaux qui s'y trouvent (fou à pattes bleues, albatros, frégates). La "balade" dure 2h environ. Au retour, les bateaux s'arrêtent pour pour une halte "plongée" avec tuba.
Puerto Lopez est une bourgade assez animée le soir, nombreux restaurants et hôtels. L'arrivée des bateaux de pêche est un spectacle en soi et bien sûr il est possible de se baigner facilement.
D'autres lieux de sortie sont possibles aux alentours : plage Los Frailes et le parc Machalilla.
La solution voiture + chauffeur est bq plus chère que le bus.........mais bien sûr possible.
La réservation à l'avance est plus sûre pour obtenir la voiture de votre choix, mais pas indispensable.
Hi there,
I’m planning a trip to Russia and Mongolia, starting from France.
Crossing the border at Poland/Belarus or Georgia/Russia—other borders seem either closed or complicated.
Tourist visas for 3 months with multiple entries.
Do you have any info on Russian companies that cover a 4x4 vehicle for 3 months, and what prices in rubles or euros you’ve paid?
Which bank did you use for expenses? (EuroMastercard and Visa cards no longer work.)
Regarding Russian SIM cards, a new system called "Gosuslugi" has been introduced. How long did it take you to get one, and what steps did you follow?
Hi,
we’re planning to visit a park again.
Could you point us toward the camps in Gonarezhou Park?
>We’re traveling completely self-sufficiently.
We love wildlife.
Thanks for any tips you can share!
JP
Hi there, we’ll be in Mozambique in early December 2026 and we’d like to travel from Vilanculos to Beira by car or bus to reach Beira airport. After that, we’re planning to visit Gorongosa National Park before flying back to France from Beira. From what we’ve heard, the road to Beira is tricky, especially at this time of year (start of the rainy season). Could anyone share their thoughts or suggest a solution? Thanks so much for your help!
Anne
Hi there,
I’m heading to Lesotho in a few days and I’m struggling to find info on the best route between Katse Dam and Sehlathebe National Park. There’s a fairly "direct" route from Thaba Tseka, but the roads seem rough, and we’re not exactly 4x4 pros. Anyone have any tips to share? Thanks!
Hi everyone,
We’re heading to Mozambique in October and are looking for either a 4x4 or 4x2 rental in Maputo, or a driver transfer option to reach:
- Ponta Do Ouro
- Tofo
- Vilankulos
The idea is to be self-sufficient for sightseeing and stops while still being able to access certain lodges or beaches that require a 4x2.
Do you have any contacts, addresses, or ideas to share?
Thanks in advance,
Hello,
We're hitting the road again in 2027 to discover new countries and cultures.
Could anyone give me some tips on driving from Ulaanbaatar to Lake Baikal and the route to take?
Thanks, and safe travels to those who are setting off!
We’re planning a 4x4 trip from Belgium to Central Asia, passing through Georgia, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
For these countries, our national insurance obviously doesn’t cover the vehicle, so we’ll need to get local insurance.
Will it be a problem if the vehicle is registered under person A and the national insurance is under person B? Both A and B will be in the vehicle, and both will be listed as drivers on the insurance.
When we get the local insurance, if we again list A and B as drivers, does the order matter? Could we get stuck at the border for this reason?
Hi,
For those who’ve driven on Iceland’s gravel roads in their own or a rented Duster, could you tell me what tires were fitted on the vehicle?
Were they All Terrain tires or more "standard" ones like all-season tires, for example?
Follow-up question: if they were "standard" tires, did that cause any issues on the gravel roads and rough terrain?
Thanks so much for any info you can share.
Best,
Marc
Hi there,
I'm planning a 4x4 road trip from Darwin to Broome with a rooftop tent in July 2026.
I'd like to know if I need to book overnight stops in advance or if I can just wing it and stop wherever I feel like it?
Some evenings, we'd like to stop and make use of campsite facilities (restaurant, shop, showers, toilets).
What do you recommend?
Do I need a permit?
My rough itinerary looks like this:
Darwin - Kakadu
Kakadu - Nitmiluk
Nitmiluk - Kununurra
Kununurra - Purnululu
Purnululu - El Questro
El Questro - Mt Elizabeth - Bell Gorge - Broome
I’m planning a trip to Iceland for next July-August, with a car and tent, and I’m wondering about booking campsites.
From your experience, is it necessary or even essential to book campsites in advance, or do you always manage to find a spot to pitch your tent?
We’ll also have the option to sleep in the car without pitching the tent.
Does that give us the flexibility to stay outside a campsite for a night here and there?
Hi,
I’m planning a road trip in the Middle Atlas, starting and ending in Fez and heading down to the south of Midelt, the Assoul Massif.... We’ll be traveling with two small 4x4s.
I’m looking for detailed maps of this region that include small roads and tracks.
Last year, we had a fantastic road trip in the Anti-Atlas and High Atlas using Erfahren maps, but unfortunately, they don’t cover the area we’re interested in this year.
Thanks for your suggestions!
Dominique
We’re planning a 13-day family road trip in Morocco this July, with six people in a Toyota Prado 4x4 (renting in Marrakech).
We’ll alternate between bivouacking and small hotels/riads depending on the stops.
Here’s the planned route (in this order):
Marrakech
→ Ouarzazate
→ Draa Valley
→ Zagora
→ Erg Chegaga
→ Lake Iriki
→ Foum Zguid
→ Tata
→ Tafraoute
→ Aït Mansour
→ Tiznit
→ Mirleft
→ Taroudant
→ Back to Marrakech
Our goal:
Atlas Mountains + desert + dunes + plateaus + valleys + a bit of coastline.
We’ll cover about 1,700 km in total.
We’re planning:
Bivouacking in the Chegaga/Iriki area
Flexible for the rest (booking the day before or same day)
Sand gear: traction plates, compressor, tow strap, roof rack
Questions:
Is the Zagora → Chegaga → Iriki → Foum Zguid crossing in July doable on our own (single vehicle, no guide)?
Are there any truly technical or risky sections between Chegaga and Iriki?
Does the overall itinerary seem manageable in 13 days without rushing?
Any suggestions for great bivouac spots or particularly interesting stops along this route?
The points on the route are provisional overnight stops. Some spots will include two nights in the same area.
We’re used to off-road driving, but not yet in the Moroccan desert.
Thanks in advance for your feedback and tips! 😊
Good evening
I could use some advice 🙂
Our trip to Namibia is planned for June/July 2026.
We’re struggling a bit with timing and choosing activities for the part of the trip between Sesriem and Brandberg.
Day 1: Sesriem to Mirabib
Day 2: Mirabib to Swakopmund – visit Swakopmund, overnight in Swakopmund
Day 3: Sandwich Harbour – overnight in Swakopmund
Day 4: Kayaking with the seals + the living dunes – overnight in Swakopmund
Day 5: Moon Landscape, Henties Bay + Cape Cross – overnight at White Lady Lodge in Brandberg
Does this itinerary seem realistic to you? Is Cape Cross really worth the trip? If I had to choose between Cape Cross and kayaking with the seals, which would you recommend?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hélix
My son and I are heading to Georgia this summer to explore the High Caucasus (Svaneti, Kazbek, and Tusheti regions). For this, we’re planning to rent a 4x4.
However, the rental agencies we’ve found prohibit driving on the tracks to Omalo (Tusheti) and/or Ushguli (Svaneti).
Do you know of any agencies in Tbilisi (local and reliable) that allow rented 4x4s to drive on these tracks? If so, which ones?
Hi everyone,
I’m starting to plan an itinerary for September 2027 focused on Zimbabwe and Zambia. I’d love to visit Gonarezhou National Park—I see there are two sectors: the Mwenezi Region in the south and the area around the Runde River in the north. Should I cover both sectors or just focus on the northern region?
For the parks along the Zambezi River, is it better to visit Mana Pools on the Zimbabwe side or Lower Zambezi on the Zambia side?
Thanks in advance for any tips on the parks in these two countries.
Have a great day, everyone.
We’re spending 18 days in New Zealand from 05/04 to 05/21, arriving in QUEENSTOWN and leaving from AUCKLAND.
Any ideas for a road trip that covers the highlights of both islands but only changes hotels every 3–4 nights?
Thanks.
For our trip to Georgia in July, I’d like to rent a 4x4 starting from Tbilisi.
Do you have any rental companies to recommend?
The traditional rentals like Hertz, Avis, etc. seem way overpriced compared to local companies—what do you think? Are they properly insured?
Has anyone here tried Geo Rent Car, Auto 4 Rental, or Sur Price?
Also, I’m looking for info on the condition of the Ushguli–Lentekhi track—is it passable?
Hi everyone,
A well-prepped 4x4, a travel plan across Africa in stages since I’ve got kids to see regularly and work to earn a living.
I’m leaving in November for about a month with the goal of reaching Senegal via Mauritania. I’d love to share this trip with someone who wants to discover Mauritania and a bit of Senegal... and also experience life on board a 4x4 in the desert or bush, sometimes sleeping in the vehicle or in hostels/small hotels for comfort. I want to share this rediscovery because two’s better than one!
Just traveling, exploring, and living! !
I’m planning to explore Argentine and Chilean Patagonia for a month in December 2019.
I’m looking for a rental company (or several) that offers single-cab 4x4 pick-ups with a fitted camper cell for two people. I’m specifically after a vehicle with an indoor shower for extra comfort ;)
So, no vans—at least not from the rental companies I’ve seen so far.
While browsing the forum, I came across the Chilean rental company Holiday Rent. But do you have any recommendations for Argentine rentals?
Because, if I can’t return the vehicle in the same city as pickup, I’d prefer—and it’d likely be cheaper—to at least return it in the same country.
I’m traveling through Argentina and Chile (as well as Paraguay and Uruguay) with a 2019 Toyota Hilux Euro 6. Could anyone tell me if the local diesel is suitable for its engine, or if I need to take any special precautions (like adding an additive, for example) for these countries?
I’d also like to know if driving at high altitudes is possible, and up to what elevation—or if I should worry about the vehicle going into limp mode?
If that happens, what should I do?
Hi there,
Can you tell me if the road between Zagora and M'Gouna is easy or difficult for a 4x4? How much time and how many kilometers should I plan for? I’m traveling in May.
Thanks!
Hi there,
My trip to South Africa is starting to take shape.
However, I'm struggling to figure out the route through Kruger Park. I can't seem to find the information I need about getting around.
Coming from the south, I plan to arrive on Day 1 in the early afternoon at Malelane or Crocodile Bridge.
Do some shopping in Malelane (or Crocodile Bridge main area) and stay overnight outside the park.
Leave on Day 2 at 5 AM for the park. Explore the southern part of the park.
Stay overnight around Skukuza or Lower Sabie. (We don’t want to stay in one of the park’s big camps. We’re looking for a lodge around 200 €.
Head out on Day 3 for a self-drive safari, maybe as far as Orpen.
We’d like to stay in a private reserve on nights 4 and 5.
We’re not sure which one or how to get into a private reserve. Do we need to exit Kruger Park?
On Day 5, we’d like to leave to visit Blyde Canyon (on Day 6).
I’m planning to leave Morocco for the summer but want to leave my 4x4 there to avoid exceeding the famous 6-month limit. I’d like to park it in one of the two Spanish enclaves (Ceuta or Melilla).
Does anyone know of people or companies that handle long-term parking (preferably secure) in either place?
Once the car is parked, what’s the best way to get back to France using public transport?
Is the nearest airport Tanger from Ceuta?...
How do I get there easily, etc. etc.
hello! I’d like to go to Kazakhstan and rent a fitted 4x4 locally so I can drive off-road trails and sleep inside the vehicle... could anyone share some local rental company addresses, please? Thanks! !
I'm about to rent a self-drive 4x4 in Mongolia. Has anyone heard of GOBI.RENT?
Otherwise, do you have any tips for checking this company since there's no info on their website (e.g., registration number on the RCS)?
I’m finalizing my trip starting from Namibia.
When I arrive in Divundu, I’d like to head straight to the Khwai area early in the morning to one of the campsites in the Khwai Development Trust. Is the drive doable with a good 4x4 in a day?
We’ll spend 2 nights in Khwai, then 2 or maybe 3 nights in the Moremi area (Third Bridge/Xakanaxa/Mboma) before heading back to Maun to wrap up our journey.
Is that too much time to spend in each place?
We’d also like to do one or two boat excursions in the delta. Any suggestions for the best options and operators?
Thanks in advance for your tips and advice!
Best,
Patrick
Hi everyone,
I’m planning to explore the western part of Madagascar from May 1st to 5th, specifically to visit the Tsingy. I’ve heard different versions about the road conditions and access to the Tsingy during this time, so I’d love to hear from people who’ve actually made this trip during this time of year.
Have you traveled from Morondava → Tsingy between May 1st and 5th?
Was the journey doable and safe?
Did you have access to the Grands Tsingy, or just the Petits Tsingy?
Thanks so much for your feedback—it’ll really help me get a clearer picture! 😊
Also, if you have any recommendations for reliable and experienced driver-guides, I’d love to hear them.
Thanks again!
