Bonjour à tous!
Je me présente, je m'appel Théo, j'habite Montpellier en France, et je suis sur le point de passer mon bac (j'ai redoublé, deux fois 🤪).
Ayant prévu de commencer l'université des la rentré de septembre 2012, je commence à me poser la question de si je n'aimerais pas partir à l'étranger pendant plusieurs mois.
J'ai trouvé un travail pour les mois de juillet et août, qui me permettront de mettre de coté environs 1500euro.
Plutôt que de recommencer tout de suite les études, je pensais me prendre les mois de septembre, Octobre, novembre et décembre pour travailler, mettre de l'argent de coté, et partir dans un pays d’Amérique du sud.
Petit, je suis allé en Argentine, le peu dont je me souvienne ma marqué jusqu'à aujourd'hui et m'a toujours donné l'envie d'y retourner.
Ma vision du voyage n'est pas celle du luxe, tout au contraire, plutôt celle de l'aventure et de la découverte.
J'ai de réel problème pour savoir par ou commencer, même quand je vous écris, j'ai du mal a savoir par quelle question commencer.
Pour commencer :
- Dans quel pays partir? Je recherche du dépaysement, de la chaleur humaine (parce qu'en France j'ai jamais connu), un pays riche en culture ou l'on peut se balader, rencontrer les gens, vivre avec eux. un pays qui n'est pas trop cher, et ou le respect existe. Et enfin un pays ou l'on peut voyager seul (même pour son premier voyage hors voyage scolaire, vous me direz si c'est une mauvaise idée).
J'aimerais pouvoir marcher, j'adore la randonnée, et le plaisir de pouvoir penser quand l'on est seul.
- Comment organiser son budget? Quelles sont les destinations qui correspondent à mes envies et qui ont des prix d'avions les plus abordables?
(Je vous parlais de l'Amériques du sud et de l'argentine, mais je souhaite avant tout découvrir autre chose que l’Europe ou les rapports humains sont un peu laissé de coté et ou la nature se fait rare.) Comment établir concrètement son budget, en fonction du pays du parcours, des visites etc. Si vous avez des bons liens, je suis preneurs !
- Comment organiser son parcours? En réalité, je rêve depuis des années de voyager, mais ne sachant pas comment m'y prendre, j'ai abandonné, sans même essayer de me renseigner.
J'ai essayé de me renseigner sur le net, mais je n'ai rien trouvé qui répondait à mes questions.
Si en mettant de coté 1500€ cet été + environs 3500€ jusqu'à décembre, ce qui me fais 5000€, si avec ces 5000€ je pouvais partir plus de 3mois se serait génial, 5mois serait parfait :)
Peut être que je m’emballe, que je pense que voyager est plus simple que ça ne l'est, et que partir seul pour un premier voyage serait une folie.
Si c'est le cas, je souhaite que vous me le disiez, et je trouverais bien quelqu'un qui souhaitera partager cette experience avec moi :)
Pour résumer :
- Comment organiser son Budget pour un voyage plutôt de type routard
- Comment organiser son parcours
-Dans quel pays partir en Amérique latine ou en asie pour un budget le plus serré possible? (plus il sera serré plus je pourrais rester. En envisageant la possibilité de rentrer plus tôt)
Désolé pour le pavé, merci d'avance pour vos réponses !
Cordialement Théo !😉
Un moyen simple pour voyager à pas cher, rencontrer des gens de pleins de pays et aussi découvrir une culture traditionnelle:
Le wwoofing!
Tu travailles contre le gîte et le couvert et en échange tes hôtes te font découvrir leur culture.
Il te suffit de t'inscrire sur le site en question (tu peux même faire du wwoofing en France et je suis sûre que tu peux trouver des gens et des paysages que tu n'aurais même pas imaginé).
Donc tu choisis le pays et tu l'associes à tes recherches sur n'importe quel moteur de recherche.
Une inscription à chaque site est payante (pour le Japon on avait payé 40$ par inscription) tu crées un compte et ensuite tu as accès aux différentes familles qui peuvent te recevoir.
C'est hyper simple et ça nous permis de passer 2 mois au Japon sans trop dépenser d'argent.
Bonnes démarches à toi.
Et sinon la Thaïlande pour un 1er trip à l'aventure est le plus approprié à mon goût.
Salut Bambizou !
Merci pour ta réponse, je commençai un désespérer :)
La Thaïland, j'y avais pensé oui, c'est une bonne idée !
Mais le pays n'est il pas trop touristique? Parce que si c'est le cas, logiquement, les locaux se comporte de façon "touristique". Ce sera le cas partout, c'est sur, mais de façon plus ou moins rodé, et plus ou moins naturel.
Je souhaite allé dans un pays ou l'européen occidental s'adapte aux mode de vie du pays visité, et SURTOUT pas l'inverse.
Pour ce qui est du wwoofing, les arrêts dans chaque lieu peuvent être courts? Le prix à payer c'est une fois pour chaque pays? Ou une fois pour chaque arrêt?
Encore merci de votre aide,
Cordialement,
Théo
Pour me 1er trip en sac à dos mon routard d'amoureux m'avait fait commencer par la Thaïlande.
Et t'inquiètes pas qu'on s'est retrouvé dans des villages où ils n'avaient pas vus de touristes depuis un moment...
En fait, en Thaïlande tu as pleins de gares routières et nous on choisissait les destinations au hasard, juste quand le nom du bled nous sonnait bien à l'oreille. De pures découvertes!
Le Nord de la Thaïlande est un peu moins touristique je pense, de part ses jungles et le sud l'est plus, vu que les plages se trouvent plus au sud.
En ce qui concerne le woofing le temps du séjour se fait en fonction de la demande et du besoind es hôtes, au japon on ne restait qu'1semaine par famille.
Le prix que tu paies est pour l'inscription au site, de plus ton inscription est valable 1 an.
N'hésites pas si tu as d'autres questions et si jamais j'ai un blog où je raconte nos aventures et où je poste nos photos.
Ha ben ouai carrement, je veux bien voir ton blog!
Bah parfait oui j'ai des questions:
Comment vous avez calculé votre budget? Vous avez mis beaucoup de coté vu que vous comptiez improviser une fois sur place?
J'ai bien envie de tester le wwoofing, parce que j'imagine qu'il aide à bien connaître les gens et à faire de belles rencontres mais pas tout au long de mon voyage, j'aimerais aussi laisser une part d'improvisation, en ayant à la fois un trajet relativement tracé
Je ne répondrai qu'à une partie de ta question, à savoir "par quel pays commencer" et j'effleurerai ton interrogation sur "comment organiser son parcours".
Aux personnes qui ont (relativement) peu de temps pour un premier contact avec l'Amérique du Sud, je conseille souvent de se rendre en Equateur. C'est un petit pays dans lequel il est facile de se déplacer et qui permet de découvrir une grande variété des paysages de ce continent sans avoir a passer son temps dans les transports. Les traditions y sont également bien présentes dans beaucoup d'endroits et, c'est un point important pour moi, on y mange bien !
Maintenant, tu as visiblement la chance de pouvoir partir plus longtemps et là, tu peux te lancer dans la visite d'un plus grand pays. Amoureux de l'Argentine, je sera tenté de te suggérer ce pays, mais l'inflation y fait son travail et les prix y sont (en ce moment) vraiment élevés et peut-être un peu au delà de ton budget pour un long voyage. Les deux pays que je connais un peu et qui me semblent les plus adaptés à ton "cahier des charges" seraient pour moi le Pérou et la Bolivie. Pour ce qui est des contacts avec les gens, chacun les aborde de sa façon, mais en ce qui me concerne, j'ai toutefois toujours eu un peu de mal a tisser des liens avec les boliviens... ce qui ne m'empêche pas de vouloir retourner dans ce superbe pays !
Pour ce qui est de l'organisation du trajet, je te suggère, une fois ton ou tes pays choisis, d'écumer voyageforum et tout ce que tu trouveras pour te faire une idée de ce que tu veux y voir. Une fois cette "liste" faite, confronte la avec les contraintes du genre météorologiques (est-ce la bonne saison pour y aller ?) et vacances scolaires locales (= transports souvent plus chers et moins faciles à prendre et moins de places dans les hébergements). Avec ce qu'il te restera comme "trucs à voir", prend une carte et visualise les distances qui les séparent et renseigne toi (toujours sur ce site, par exemple) sur les temps et coûts de trajets. Une fois que tu auras fait tout ça, pars là bas...
En revenant, tu constateras probablement que ton voyage fut passionnant et merveilleux alors que tu es allé dans moins de la moitié des endroits que tu comptais voir !
L'imprévu et la liberté de changer d'avis sont les plus grands avantages des voyages au long cours !
It's decided—2027 will be Brazil, in the summer (unless you advise against it 😕). From what I’ve read, the weather’s okay, even if it’s a bit chilly for swimming. We’re going, as always, as a group of four, with our teens. 🙂
We’d be looking at a solid two weeks, at least 14 days on the ground. I’m planning way ahead to nail down an itinerary and book our flight tickets (the prices I’m seeing already are freaking me out…).
From my research, I’ve come across some classic routes: Rio/Iguazu/Paraty/Ilha Grande.
Roughly: 4 days in Rio, 2 in Iguazu, 2 in Paraty, and 3 on Ilha Verde. That’d leave us one more stop on the trip.
Since we like to end with a "chill" stop for the kids,
My questions:
- Is Ilha Verde worth it this time of year? I’ve read that swimming might not be an option—water’s too cold… So not ideal for a chill/relaxing destination?
- How should we round out the trip in the South? São Paulo? Another stop along the Costa Verde?
- Wouldn’t it make more sense to head up to the Northeast, where it’s warmer, like Salvador de Bahia?
But Salvador raises other questions:
- Are there flights from Iguazu to Salvador?
- And for the return to France, would we have to connect through Rio or São Paulo from Salvador?
- Any suggestions for places to stay around Salvador?
Thanks for your input—I’m sure I’ll have more questions as I go along. 😉
Hi there, we’ve decided to head to Brazil at the end of March for 2.5 weeks with our 13-year-old son. From what I’ve gathered from some research, Rio seems like a great destination at this time of year, and I’m thinking around 4-5 days to explore it—does that sound right to you? Copacabana, Ipanema, Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, maybe a favela tour, or any other ideas?
How’s the best way to get around locally? I’ve heard about Bonito or Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande—what do you think of those? Fernando de Noronha for snorkeling or even diving? Is Recife a good option at this time of year?
If you’ve got any suggestions, we’re all ears—it’s for our 50th birthdays! :-) Thanks so much for your help and tips. See you soon.
Hi everyone! So happy to be back on this forum—it’s packed with such useful info! 🙂 My husband and I are planning a 2.5-week self-drive trip to Colombia at the end of the year, including some domestic flights. My first question is: is it possible, easy, and safe to do a road trip in Colombia?
Below is our draft itinerary (with questions at each stop):
29/11: France → Colombia. Overnight in Bogotá.
30/11: Exploring Bogotá: La Candelaria and Montserrate.
01/12: Gold Museum (closed on Mondays). Drive to Zipaquirá (1.5 hrs) to visit the Salt Cathedral. Then drive to Villa de Leyva (3 hrs). Explore the town. Overnight in Villa de Leyva.
02/12: Return to Bogotá via Laguna de Guatavita (5 hrs). Is it worth the detour? Overnight in Bogotá.
03/12: Flight to Pereira. Drive to Salento. Overnight in Salento.
04/12: Cocora Valley (hike among the wax palms) followed by a drive around the area. Are there any waterfalls or other sights nearby?
05/12: Visit a coffee finca—any recommendations? Then explore the surroundings: Filandia, Manizales, waterfalls? Hot springs? Which ones?
06/12: Flight to Medellín.
07/12: Exploring Medellín: Centro, Plaza Botero, Comuna 13. How do you visit Comuna 13? Is it easy to get around Medellín? Metro? Buses?
08/12: Drive to Guatapé (2 hrs). Visit the town, stroll around the lake, then El Peñol. Overnight in Guatapé.
09/12: Return to Medellín.
10/12: Flight to Santa Marta. Drive to a hotel near Tayrona Park.
11/12: Tayrona—El Zaino entrance.
12/12: Tayrona—Palangana entrance, then Bahia Concha and Santa Marta. What do you think?
13/12: Drive to Minca (45 mins). Can we reach the village by car? Pozo Azul and Marinka waterfalls. Overnight in Minca (or back in Tayrona?).
14/12: Drive to Puerto Nao (5 hrs). Stop in Ciénaga on the way + boat tour in Nueva Venecia and/or Buena Vista? Not enough time? Overnight in Puerto Nao.
15/12: Exploring Cartagena: Centro, Getsemaní, the walls + La Boquilla if we have time.
16/12: La Boquilla (is it really worth it?) if we didn’t have time yesterday, then back to the beach.
17/12: Return to France.
So, what do you think? Is this doable, or should we tweak it? Thanks in advance for your invaluable feedback and tips! 🙂
Hi there, I’m looking for recent info on a boat trip with sleeping accommodations from Belém to Santarém. I don’t want a "luxury cruise for wealthy tourists"—just a bed with a minimum of comfort seems great to me🙂. I didn’t find any up-to-date details with Amazon Star. Do you have any companies, guides, or prices for this route to recommend?
I’d love to hear tips and feedback on this trip, especially since I’m traveling solo. I’d like to get a sense of what to expect and ensure some basic safety with transportation.
Thanks.
Hi everyone,
We’re planning 40 days in Uruguay and Argentina in February and March, trying to avoid as much rain as possible.
We’re thinking of starting in Buenos Aires, then heading to Bariloche, and from there flying to Córdoba, Mendoza, or Salta. Maybe by bus or renting a car to explore each region.
Do you have any suggestions or tips for us? We love picturesque, historic cities and landscapes. As seasoned travelers, we’re used to planning our trips ourselves.
Thanks in advance!
We’ve planned our road trip in Chile, and the only thing left is to book the TABSA ferry from Punta Arenas to Puerto Williams.
Problem: the ferry that leaves Punta Arenas at 1 AM isn’t available for booking, no matter the day or month. All the other departures can be booked, though.
On top of that, Tabsa isn’t responding to any messages.
We’re planning to explore Peru’s main highlights and were wondering if anyone could share insights on the quality and comfort of overnight buses. If so, which bus company should we trust?
Hi,
My wife and I are heading to Brazil from November 6th to December 2nd. We’ll be stopping in São Paulo, Paraty, Ilha Grande, Rio, and Salvador de Bahia.
Could you recommend some nice, non-luxury places to stay in each of these spots?
Also, any suggestions for places to visit would be great.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Marc
Hi there.
I already posted a message asking for advice about our upcoming trip to Chile.
Details: Getting around by bus or train.
Starting from Valparaiso, heading north, passing through cities and places to visit, then returning to Santiago via a different route.
Avoid the beaches...
Thanks
Hello,
my wife and I will be in Cusco for a week in March 2027.
I’d like to organize the visit to the site on our own, combining the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.
We’d leave Cusco on Day 1 to arrive at the site in the morning, then stay in Aguas Calientes or Ollantaytambo, and on Day 2 return to Cusco while visiting the Sacred Valley.
Is this doable?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Cédric.
Hello,
We’re spending 3 weeks in Rio between February 20 and March 15, 2027, to visit our son and daughter-in-law. We’re thinking of one or two "escapes" from Rio—3-day trips to get away from the city (so not too far, max 3–4 hours by car or bus). We’re all ears for suggestions! We love beautiful nature and authentic experiences, not so much the touristy spots... even though those spots are often in beautiful places, we’d rather avoid them.
Thanks for your insights!
Catherine
Hi there,
I’m planning a trip with my partner (no kids this time—thanks, Grandma!) for two weeks to celebrate her 40th birthday. I’ve been thinking about Chile. We’re looking at leaving around September 18, 2027, starting in the south and returning in early April.
Here’s what I had in mind:
8 nights in a van in the Lake District and the start of the Carretera Austral (up to the Chaitén area). We’re set to arrive in Puerto Montt around 2:00 PM. We don’t want to go too far south since we’re planning to explore the heart of Patagonia (Chile and Argentina) with the kids when they’re older. The idea is to spend 3 nights discovering the lakes (up to Cochamó) and 3 nights in Pumalín Park. I’ve also added two transition nights.
7 nights in the Atacama to experience another side of Chile (San Pedro), taking a domestic flight from Puerto Montt to Calama in the early afternoon. We’ll depart for France in the early evening from Santiago.
IMPORTANT NOTICE for those planning to take a bus to another city, state, or destination from Salvador!
Starting January 20, 2026, the intercity bus station Rodoviária is changing its address!
The Rodoviária is leaving the Iguatemi area and will now be located in ÁGUAS CLARAS (about twenty kilometers from downtown Salvador).
A brand-new station (the most modern in Brazil) has just been set up there, accessible by car/taxi/Uber/metro.
Allow for much more transfer time (especially during rush hours), so leave early if you're heading to Chapada Diamantina or other Brazilian cities by bus.
Remember, there are also private transfers (even French-speaking ones) that can take you directly from your hotel in Salvador to your hotel in Chapada. Sure, it’ll be more expensive, but you’ll save on transfer time and comfort.
Tropical greetings from Salvador,
@ivanbahiaguide
Loyal member of the French-Speaking Brazil Forums for over 15 years already 😊 🇧🇷
Hello,
We’re thinking of spending 1 month in Chile, maybe doing a loop?
From 12/23 to 01/22.
What are the must-see sights, given we’re more interested in the country’s cultural side than the beaches?
Thanks
Hi everyone,
We're planning a trip to southern Chile in November. Here's our tentative itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Santiago, then a flight the next day to Balmaceda where we'll pick up a rental car to reach Coyhaique.
Day 3: Walk in the Coyhaique National Reserve, then continue to Puerto Chacabuco. Return to Coyhaique for the second night.
Day 4: Drive to Villa Cerro Castillo for a hike in the national park. Continue to Puerto Tranquilo and stay there for 3 nights.
Day 5: Boat tour on Laguna San Rafael.
Day 6: Day trip to Monte San Valentin Glacier.
Day 7: Excursion to the Marble Chapels, then drive to Puerto Guadal. We'll stay there for 3 nights.
Day 8: Walk along Lago Carrera and return to Puerto Guadal.
Day 9: Rio Baker Valley and, if possible, a glacier excursion.
Day 10: Drive to Cochrane and hike in Tamango National Reserve. We'll stay 2 nights in Cochrane.
Day 11: Walk in the Chacabuco Valley.
Day 12: Drive to Caleta Tortel. We'll stay there for 2 nights.
Day 13: Cruise in the Rio Baker delta.
Day 14: Return to Cochrane.
Day 15: Return to Balmaceda in two stages.
Day 16: Continue the return journey.
Day 17: Return the rental car and head back to Santiago.
After this, we're also planning to explore northern Santiago. I'll post about that part once I have a clearer idea of the route.
What do you think of this itinerary? Is it doable in 17 days?
Thanks in advance for your tips and recommendations.
martine
Hi there, I’ll be in Brazil from December 10th to the end of February.
I’ve sketched out a rough itinerary but I’m not sure how to arrange it—considering the climate, year-end holidays, and Carnival.
Basically, I’m thinking of the Amazon, the Northeast coast with Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (but skipping Chapada Diamantina),
Ouro Preto, Paraty, and Ilha Grande—but no Rio visit.
Is this doable in 3 months?
Which direction should I take for this itinerary?
Thanks in advance!
Hi everyone, does anyone know the agency Ventura Travel Agency (not ventura travel)? After lots of research and quotes, it’s the only one offering Uyuni at a reasonable price while meeting all the criteria: transfer to the border, private-room accommodation, and a very fair rate. Other agencies or guides either offer shared rooms, no border transfer, or prices that are way too high. But I’d love to hear some reviews about this agency. Thanks in advance!
Hi everyone,
We're planning a trip to Chile to visit the Atacama Desert and then head toward Putre, Lauca, Salar de Surire, etc.
Which would be the better time to go, April or November?
Is an SUV enough?
Looking forward to your tips!
Hi everyone, French travelers in Chile—what credit cards do you use for your various car rentals in the country? I’m traveling in September and was planning to switch my regular debit card (a VISA PREMIER in deferred debit mode) for the deposit guarantee.
My rentals are with Figal in Punta Arenas, Econautos in Arica, and Chilean Rent a Car in Temuco, and all of them want the deposit on a credit card. For me, deferred debit *should* work, but I’ve read comments saying the opposite.
How’s it actually working on the ground with these rental companies right now? Will a deferred debit card work, or not at all?
In France, banks don’t issue credit cards, right—or am I mistaken?
Hi everyone, is it still possible to travel in Ecuador outside the Amazon region? If so, do you have a reliable agency to recommend? All your recent experiences from the past few months would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much
Hi,
We’re heading to Buenos Aires for 3 days in November and would like to do a guided tour of a few neighborhoods. There are "free" tours, but none in French. Does anyone have a guide to recommend so we can really get to know the city beyond just the architecture?
Thanks
Hi there,
I’m desperately looking for info on the schedules and routes of (shared) boats to visit the islands of Lake Titicaca.
From what I’ve found, there’s a *combi* (bus) that leaves from Puno to go to Llachon. Where do you catch it? What are the schedules and frequency? Does it take about 1 hour?
Then in Llachon, you can take a boat to Amantani (45 min). Same question—where do you check for frequency and schedule?
After that, from Amantani, boats go to Taquile and then Uros. Do you have enough time to visit the islands between two boats? Frequency and schedule?
The goal is to do this tour independently (no agency) over 2 days. Thanks for any tips you might have!
I just got back from a trip to Bolivia and wow—what a wake-up call. It’s not the easiest country, but it’s absolutely stunning.
I started with Isla del Sol, perfect for easing into the altitude at a relaxed pace. Try to stay in the northern part of the island—it’s quieter and the views are insane. And the trout there? Unreal. Quick tip: bring cash in small bills; they almost never have change, and cards are rarely accepted.
Next up, La Paz. The city’s pretty wild, built in every direction. I did a few hikes in the area, including the famous Charquini Lagoon (the blue lake) at over 5,000 m—let’s just say I struggled 😅 but it was so beautiful it was totally worth it.
After that, I headed to Sajama. It’s cool, especially for the hot springs, and I stayed in Tomarapi. But honestly, if you’re short on time, you can skip it without too many regrets.
The highlight of the trip: the Salar. I did it starting from Tupiza, and I *highly* recommend going Tupiza → Uyuni. Way less crowded at the start and the landscapes are super varied. For the tour, I used SplitYourGuide to find a group, and it worked out great. Super handy for splitting costs and meeting people.
I wrapped up in Sucre—this city is gorgeous, all white, with such a chill vibe. And the salteñas + ice cream? Next level 😋
Bottom line: Bolivia’s a bit rough around the edges, sometimes exhausting (shoutout to the altitude), but it’s 1000% worth it.
If you’ve got questions or need tips, I’m happy to help!
Martin
I was planning to go to Réunion and stay in half-board accommodation with non-professionals, but it seems that’s not really the custom there—or maybe my budget isn’t big enough.
So, since I’ve already traveled around Ecuador and Peru, I’m now looking at Argentina, especially for its mountains (like the ones in Réunion that tempted me, even though—frustratingly—I could only admire them from below).
I plan to get around by bus and don’t know in advance where I’ll sleep, so I won’t book ahead. If I like a place, I might stay for several days.
I know that in Chile, it’s easy to find half-board accommodation, but what about in Argentina?
I’d like to stay with locals in half-board without it being a professional setup. I’m not sure if this is common practice there. It’s up to me to find someone willing to host me.
What do you think?
What would be a fair price (keeping in mind that 40 to 50 € is the max I can spend on accommodation, breakfast, and dinner)?
Hi everyone,
We’re heading to Patagonia for three weeks in November, starting from Coyhaique in Chile.
We won’t have a car, and I’m struggling to find information about transportation options for a few parts of the itinerary we’d like to do:
1) From Perito Moreno (the town, near Los Antiguos), we’d like to travel down Ruta 40 to visit Perito Moreno National Park and then cross into Chile via the Paso Roballos (at the latitude of Bajo Caracoles) to reach the road to Cochrane. Without a car, it seems we’ll need to use private agencies to get to the national park—do you have any recommendations or suggestions? Also, does anyone know if it’s possible to cross into Chile via Paso Roballos (from Bajo Caracoles) without a rental car? That is, without having to go all the way down to El Chaltén or back up toward Perito Moreno/Los Antiguos, etc.?
2) The second stretch that seems a bit tricky (though still easier, in theory) is from Caleta Tortel to Villa O’Higgins on the Chilean side. Do we have to go back through Cochrane, or are there ways to get directly from Tortel to Villa O’Higgins?
3) Finally, we’d like to hike into Argentina (El Chaltén) from O’Higgins. Any recommendations for this? Do we need to go through an agency? What’s the estimated duration of the trek?
As you’ve probably gathered, we want to visit some off-the-beaten-path spots but don’t have a car, so we’re looking for the best possible compromises.
Thanks so much in advance for all your suggestions!
Thomas
Hi,
we’re planning a round trip from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, to Salta, Argentina, in two months. On the way there, we’ll take the northern route via Susques, Route 27, then 52. But for the return, we were thinking of taking the southern route via San Antonio de los Cobres, Route 51, then 23. Is it similar to the northern route in terms of road surface? How busy is it, and are there gas stations? Basically, should we be worried about doing it in an SUV that’s supposedly 4x4 but has regular road tires and no second spare wheel, obviously...
I’ve seen that we can stop over in San Antonio de los Cobres.
Thanks for your feedback.
Raf.
Hi,
we’ll be in Calama at the end of March 2026, and I’m looking for a reliable car rental there for a 7-day road trip to Salta, Argentina. But I’m struggling with the car rental agencies in Calama because the reviews can be scary. I saw Gyg, which has great ratings, but I’m a bit wary (5/5 from 59 reviews—either the guy’s amazing or it’s fake...), but I can’t find any recent reviews on VF in general.
For Punta Arenas, I booked with Dachelet and didn’t have any issues with email exchanges.
Thanks in advance.
Raf.
