nous sommes une famille de huit personnes (deux parents et six enfants) et nous irons en Argentine du 1er avril au 22 avril.
J'aimerai voir la cordillère des Andes et donc il me semble que la region d esalta serait une chouette coin...
mais avec huit personnes, ça fait douloureux la note...
je pensais louer une voiture depuis Buenos Aires, où nous arrivons le 1er..(Mais ça n'a pas l'air si simple de louer une voiture de huit places!si quelqu'un pouvait me tuyauter aussi à ce sujet?)
quelqu'un pourrait me dire si la route depuis Buenos Aires_ salta est belle? et puis où je peux trouver une carte routière pour avoir la liste des villes et programer un itinèraire? peut etre y a til quelqu'un qui me donnerait une autre suggestion? (nous devons rentrer à Buenos Aires pour le 15 avril à peu pres pour un mariage, nous avons donc quinze jours de decouvertes), j'aimerai vraiment voir la cordillère et des gens moins européens qu'a Buenos Aires ....Merci d'avance!
Bonjour
Je vais essayer de prendre le temps aujourd'hui de mettre sur mon site la carte ou des cartes qui pourront t'aider à prévoir ton chemin vers la Cordillère: mon site: http://brondy.free.fr, album et tu y verras des photos de l'argentine, notamment de la cordillère ( NOA), autour de Humahuaca, autour d'Iruya....
Si vous n'aviez pas été aussi nombreux, je t'aurai conseillé vivement de prendre l'autobus: c'est le moins cher et le plus pratique, tout en étant confortable. Vu le nombre, je ne sais ce qui vous reviendra le moins cher! Peut-être qu'un autre internaute te dira ce qu'il en pense....Sinon, je me renseigne: j'y vais la semaine prochaine jusqu'à mi-décembre.
Tu peux peut-être trouver un véhicule à 9 places ou 11 places mais la loc doit être assez chère!
De plus, la distance entre Buenos Aires et Salta est de 1500 Km.
En t'écrivant, je me dis que c'est surement par autobus le mieux ( à tous points de vue, fatigue, sécurité, temps ) Tu peux rouler nuit et jour et cela évite de perdre du temps sur un délai aussi bref. Par contre, ce serait peut-être intéressant de louer un véhicule sur zone pour visiter au nord ou au sud de salta. Ou les 2 si c'est possible.
N'oublie pas qu'avril est déjà le début de l'hiver et que sur des zones de montagnes ( élevées) tu peux renconter de la neige.
Par contre je peux te donner l'adresse et les coordonnées d'une agence sur salta qui peut t'organiser tes circuits en fonction du temps dont tu disposes et qui est super sympa.
Dis moi si cela t'interesse
Fais vite car je m'en vais dimanche.
Merci beaucoup cher Nicobry, toutes les suggestions sont bienvenues, merci pour l'info sur le climat, je pensai qu'il ferait chaud et ce matin en me reveillant je demandai à ma femme si faire du camping ne la derangerai pas...
Sous la neige...Bon, l'autobus.. Il faudra que je me renseigne alors du prix des billets et voir la location d'une voiture a Salta...de toute manière tout coute, mais bon voir le pays en roulant me parait mieux qu'achetter un billet d'avion..
En tout cas merci beaucoup..
y buen viaje !
L'avion c'est bien aussi car souvent, on traverse de grandes zones ( plusieurs dizaines de km ) qui sont quasiment identiques. Ce n'est pas la Dordogne ou cjaque virage fait découvrir qq cose de différent.
Par contre sur des zones comme le NOA, ca vaut le coup d'ouvrir les yeux et de s'arrêter, de savourer la dimension, de faire photos et films sans réserve et surtout prendre le temps de s'acclimater à l'altitude ( au dessus de Jujuy, on est vite à 3500/4000m et ce n'est pas évident pour tout le monde, même pour des jeunes
Surtout ne prends pas de billets ni bus ni avion intérieur à partir d'ici ( c'est moins cher localement )
L'agence de salta: http://www.active-argentina.com/
Tu peux lui écrire; la jeune femme qui s'en occupe s'appelle Irène, elle est super sympa, parle assez bien le français et tu la contactes de ma part. Elle te proposera des choses adaptées ; y compris qu'elle peut te donner des précisions sur une loc locale de véhicule. Moi j'avais loué un 4x4 à Jujuy chez localizar...mais le 4x4 ne vous suffira pas. C'était le mieux car à la saison où j'étais ( janvier/février c'était plutot des pluies fortes....alors les roches decendent sur la route et les pistes sont assez inondées....plus cher mais plus sécurisant pour ne pas se tanquer dans la nature!!!
A ta dispo pour d'autres infos ...je n'ai pas la prétention de tout connaître mais assez pour me permettre de donner qq points de vue sur différentes régions d'argentine. Si vous avez peur du froid, vous pouvez aller sur Iguazu et le Corriente. C'est au Nord Est, forêt tropicale....et Iguazu est une merveille mais rien à voir avec les montagnes du NOA
Merci encore chère Nicole pour le temps que tu prends à répondre, quel bonheur de trouver ces indications, j'ai l'impression que ça devient moins compliqué.
Pour Iguazu j'y suis allé il y a 19 ans, avec ma fiancèe, et nous avions visité corrientes, posadas, la paz, , c'etait trop chouette, mais j'ai envie de voir la cordillère et des indiens.. A "monte carlo" nous avions vu des Allemands, ça faisait bizarre;-) (ils chantaient des cantiques en Allemands!)
Je me mettrai donc en contact de ta part avec Irène ce soir pour lui demander des tarifs .. effectivement j'ai trop envie de prendre le temps de nous arreter regarder, respirer savourer, et faire de belles photos, ce sera je crois LE VOYAGE en famille d enotre vie, alors il ne s'agit pas d elouper le coche....
Gracias por tu ayuda, hasta pronto, te prometo que te enviare una foto si todo pasa bien... ;-)
Sais-tu que mon époux est des environs de Bergerac: né à Issigeac, en 40, ayant passé son enfance à St Cernin de Labarde!
Sa maman habite tjrs à Brantôme....
Je vois que tu pratiques l'espagnol mieux que moi! Ca c'est formidable car pour ma part, je me débrouille sur les grandes lignes...mais le détail, c'est autre chose!
As-tu mes photos de la région...pour te donner des raisons sup d'y aller?
la carte c'est mission impossible avec mon scanner: trop grande, le scan la morcellerait trop. Je me propose de te la photocopier demain ( c'est possible sans pb) en A3 et de te la mettre au courrier postal ( si tu veux bien me donner ton adresse ....je ne t'ai pas trouvé sur l'annuaire électronique ) C'est comme tu veux, mais moi cela ne me dérange pas.
Bonsoir Nicole,
C'est vraiment gentil..
Comment puis je faire pour t'envoyer mon adresse sans passer par ce site ?
la carte me ferait plaisir, mais je ne voudrai pas t'embeter, (je pensai demander par mail à quelqu'un de la famille de ma femme à Buenos Aires si ils peuvent m'en trouver une et me l'envoyer..)
mais en tout cas merci.
Il vous arrive de passer par Bergerac?
Bonne soirée
Bonjour Nicole,
Je compte faire la route en bus de Buenos Aires à Salta. Je vois que tu connais bien le pays, peux-tu me conseiller un ou deux arrêt sur ce trajet ? On m'a parlé de Tucuman (?).
Merci pour tes infos.
Cordialement.
Marc
La route jusqu'à salta est très, très, très, très monotone, looool, tout du moins jusqu'a san miguel de tucuman.
Des champs à perte de vue, la sierra, puis le désert.
La route principale te fait arrêter à Rosario, puis, cordoba, puis tucuman....
Rosario, quelques jolis monuments, mais il n'est pas indispensable de s'y arrêter, surtout vu le stop qu'offre cordoba, qui pour moi est une des plus jolies villes d'Argentine, et qui mérite quelques jours d'intérêt (entre autre pour sa cité jésuitique, sa cathédrale, ...). San miguel de tucuman est également très sympa avec un riche passé colonial, mais qui reste tout de même moins impressionnant que cordoba.
De toute façon, en une seule traite, il faut compter entre 15 et 20 h de bus entre buenos aires et salta (1300 km), donc tu feras beaucoup de nuit, mais aussi beaucoup de jour dans le bus :)
Le mieux reste :
Buenos aires - cordoba : de nuit.
Je me rends en Argentine en octobre prochain. bon, je vois que le post date d'il y a très longtemps, mais j'ai pris note de tes conseils et tenais à te dire que j'ai été voir ton lien et ai trouvé tes photos magnifiques 🙂, elles devront m'aider dans le futur choix de mon circuit 😉
Merci de ton gentil message. Si tu as besoin d'aide pour préparer ton voyage, je peux essayer de t'aider bien volontiers ( ti ne seras pas la première!!!)
Pour plus simple, je peux t'appeler sur un portable ou un fixe. Il me suffit de n°s et des horaires et jours qui te conviennent
Tu peux aussi m'appeler sur mon fixe ( 04 94 94 59 93) mais c'est plus compliqué car je ne peux d'avance te fixer mes moments où je me trouve à proximité....
Comme tu veux. C'est parce que je trouve plus commode pour saisir ce que tu recherches dans ton voyage.
A+
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.
