Tout d'abord, le forum m'a beacoup aidé à créer notre voyage. Les conseils, opinions, montrent une aide réelle entre les personnes.
J'habite en Espagne depuis un an, et vient de décider d'y rester pour y vivre. De cette décision est sortie l'idée de partir un mois au Péru et Bolivia, "de mochileros", avec une amie qui me rejoindra elle du Québec.
Habituée à partir du jour au lendemain pour quelques jours en Europe, sans rien prévoir, aujourd'hui je franchis une autre étape, très différente. Je ne suis jamais partie en sac à dos dans ces pays éloignés. Tout ce que j'ai lu sur le forum m'a beaucoup aidé.
Je demande donc vos conseils, aujourd'hui, pour le trajet que j'ai construit... Longueur, durée, remédiations... Le voici :
Jour 1 (jeudi 27 décembre 2007)
Arrivée à Lima, Perú
Ne pas y rester, si on a de l’avance on visitera à la fin du voyage (prévu 3 jours de battements)
Jour 2
Lima – Puerto Maldonado (avion matin)
Puerto Maldonado jour 1
Boire un verre, se retrouver !
Trouver le guide Semaforin
Jour 3
Puerto Maldonado jour 2–excursion en amazonie
Jour 4
Puerto maldonado jour 3 –excursion en amazonie
Jour 5 (lundi 31 décembre 2007)
Puerto Maldonado - Cuzco (Avion matin)
Cuzco jour 1
Jour de l’an CUZCO (ou agua calientes ??)
Cusco : Téléphoner avant pour réserver pour dormir, car jour de l’an !!
« je conseille la "HOSPEDAJE WINAY WAYNA" à Cusco, c'est 30 soles la chambre double avec sdb commune, très propre, cuisine à dispo »
Jour 6
Cuzco jour 2
1er janvier, fêtes dans la ville. Remise des bâtons de commandement
Site de Pisac
Site d’Ollantaytambo
Machu Pichu – Route des Incas (pour cause des prix : option prix Km104 ?? ou option longer les rails / usine hydroélectrique ?)
Jour 7
Cusco – jour 3
Site de Pisac
Site d’Ollantaytambo
Machu Pichu
Jour 8
Cusco – jour 4
Site de Pisac
Site d’Ollantaytambo
Machu Pichu
Jour 9 (vendredi 4 janvier 2008)
Ici : manque 1 jour ??
Cusco - Puno - Traversée de l’Altiplano 7 heures en bus avec arrêts – visites (bus Pony express ou Inka Express) Train cher et plus long – orient express 10h30 en train
Puno – Bord du Lac de Titicaca
Aller direct à Copacabana ??
Jour 10
Puno – Copacabana (car mieux Copa.)
« puno - copacabana = cela dépend des formalités de la douane et de comment vous trouvez un collectivo une fois de l'autre côté car c'est moins cher de prendre 2 collectivos que les bus qui passent la frontière ... »
Copacabana jour 1
Lago, isla del sol… autres iles, balade en ane ou cheval…
Isla del Sol (1h30 bateau), dormir là bas (au nord c’est moins cher)
Jour 11
Copacabana jour 2
Isla del Sol - Copacapana
Rester au lac, pourquoi pas balade autour
Site de la ville Tiwanaku, UNESCO ??
Jour 12
copacabana - La Paz
départ le matin - 4h en fonction du bac (dernier bus à 17h30)
La Paz (pas forcément y rester, Sucre ville coloniale plus intéressante à notre gout)
cathédrale, le musée de l ‘or, le marché des sorcières…
Soir : départ pour Sucre – Bus de nuit (16 heures)
Jour 13
Arrivée à Sucre
Sucre jour 1, la ville blanche
Jour 14
Sucre jour 2
Si dimanche, marché de Tarabuco
Visiter UNESCO Chuquisata ?
Jour 15 (jeudi 10 janvier 2008)
Sucre à Potosi (3heures) départ le matin
Potosi – mines + couvent de Santa Teresa
La plus haute ville du monde
Jour 16
Ici, manque un petit jour.. ?
Potosi – Uyuni
Départ en fin de matinée. Potosi à Uyuni (6 heures)
Uyuny : Rien à voir dans la ville. Ne pas y rester.
Voir notre agence pour départ le lendemain matin.
Uyuni et Sud Lipez: Excursion 3 jours avec ile pescador – Geysers sol de la mañana, etc… Jusqu’à San Pedro
Agence pamela Tour 85 dollars (guide carlos ou marcelo) ou voir avec l’Organisation familiale INCAHUASI B&B (logement), à San Pedro de Atacama, qui me proposent une excu par une agence à 80 dollars)
Jour 17
Salar et Sud Lipez 1
Jour 18
Salar et Sud Lipez 2
Jour 19
Salar et Sud Lipez 3
Arrivée a San Pedro
Dormir à : Organisation familiale INCAHUASI B&B, à San Pedro de Atacama
Jour 20 (mardi 15 janvier 2008)
Jour de battement en cas de retard
Sinon rester à San Pedro, ou repartir direct, à notre envie
Jour 21
Dans l’am : Trajet San Pedro – calama 1h30
Calama – Arica (de nuit)
Jour 22
Arica – Tacna Taxi collectivo
Tacna – arequipa 6h – arrivée en début d’am
Descanso - voir les excursions des jours suivants
Jour 23
Arequipa et alentours jour 1
Arequipa canyon et volcan et Oasis
Jour 24
Arequipa et alentours jour 2
Arequipa canyon et volcan et Oasis
Jour 25 (dimanche 20 janvier 2008)
Arequipa et alentours jour 3
Arequipa canyon et volcan et Oasis
Jour 26
Jour de battement ou retour Lima en 2 fois
Jour 27
Retour à Lima
En plusieurs fois (arrêt à Ica, bled à 7 km) :
Arequipa /Nazca : 30 soles, environ 9 heures
Nazca/ Ica : 7 soles, environs 2 h
Ica / Pisco : 3soles
Pisco/Lima : 14 soles, environ 3 h 50
Ou direct en 1 nuit + matinée – Sont très réguliers, nombreux
Soir : Arrivée Lima
Jour 28 (mercredi 23 janvier 2008)
Lima
(Visite du couvent de San Francisco)
Jour 29 (jeudi 24 janvier 2008)
Lima
Départ Pasc pour Lyon
Jour 30 (vendredi 25 janvier 2008)
Lima
Départ Ga pour Madrid
Ouah, planifier vraiment au jour-le-jour. Mais bon en gros c'est tres faisable - Nouvel An definitivement Cusco au lieu d'Aguas Calientes - enfin si vous voulez faire un peut la fete.
La marche le long des rails je l'ai fais, et je le recomende pas trop (ont devait prendre le train d'ollantaytambo apres avoir fait le Lares trek mais l'agence par la quelle nous etions passe n'avait pas achete de billets et on avait pas le temps d'atendre 24hrs alors on a decider de le faire a pieds. Y'a pas grand chose a voir - et c'est tt de meme long - plutot faire le chemin de l'inca (que ce sois de 4 jours ou 2 jours) ou bien alors prendre le train - si vous optez pour le train preferer le train la veil et passer la nuit a Aguas Calientes pour prendre le premier bus pour monter a M.P.
Titicaca - moi j'aime bien le cote Peruvien - Uros, Amantani, Taquile - mais bon si vous voulez le voir que du cote Bolivien alors tant qu'a faire allez directement a Copacabana depuis Cusco si vous prenez le bus de Cusco pour Puno le matin vous devriez arriver a Puno avec plein de temps pour pousser jusqu'a Copacabana.
Je pense que La Paz merite une nuit mais bon c'est votre choix. Un truc bien cool c'est la decente en velo de la route de la mort - elle avait ete nome la route la plus dangereuse au monde mais maintenent il y a une nouvelle route donc les camions prennent plus le chemain de terre qui descent a flanc de montagne. Mais bon ca c'est une journee entierre.
Puis si non - Nazca vaut bien une journee - survol des lignes le matin, visite des tombes ouverts (facinent), visite du planetarium le soir (acheter les billets a l'avance)
Et le bled en question pres de Ica est Huacachina - pour une session de dune buggy et sand boarding ca vaut la peine.
Allez, non voyage
Très beau programme, mais à mon avis trop ambitieux pour 30 jours. Il faudrait bien 45 jours pour ne pas tomber dans le travers des touristes: en voir la maximum en un minimum de temps.
Cusco en 3 jours et demi: trop peu!. Les îles du Titicaca me paraissent incontournables (Amantani, Taquile ou Isla del Sol) : c'est l'occasion unique de vivre avec les gens. Un jour de plus pour le Sud Lipêz et Salar de Uyuni serait aussi le bienvenu.
A toi de voir
Buen viaje
Ton trajet est plutôt serré, mais bon, tu verras sur place. J'ai quelques suggestions à te faire.
Pour la partie Cuzco et Machu Picchu, il te manque 2 jours pour bien visiter les sites et la ville.
Je suis d'accord que Copacabana est beaucoup mieux que Puno. Y'a des bus qui partent de Puno et qui vont à Copac. (env 4 hrs je crois). Pour l'Isla del sol, tu peux descendre du bateau au nord de l'île et te rendre au sud à pied par le sentier et y passer la nuit. Ça se fait très bien dans la même journée.
J'ai préféré La Paz à Sucre. Y'a plus de choses à y faire: excursion à Tiwanaku (1 journée), descente de la route de la mort à vélo, visite de la ville, treks, etc. Sucre m'a laissé sur ma faim...
J'ai beaucoup aimé Potosi (visite des mines et des termas de Tarapaya).
Personnellement, je trouve que 3 jours dans le salar de Uyuni et le sud lipez c'est suffisant. Moi, j'ai réservé à une agence en arrivant, et je suis parti en excursion el lendemain.
Voilà pour les étapes que je connais. Bon voyage.
🙂Oui, en effet, planifier au jour le jour. Je suis d’accord avec toi, Tomh. Nous avions besoin de calculer l’itinéraire, afin de savoir si nous devions prendre un avion pour retourner à Lima ou non… Pour ceci, feuille de route provisoire déjà écrite afin de savoir à l’avance si nous devions acheter un billet d’avion ou non…
Et, en effet, du côté d’Arequipa, c’est à ne pas louper !!
Du côté de Nazca, en effet, nous amerions bien voir ces mystérieuses lignes et ces tombeaux ouverts… Si le temps nous est donné.
Pour La Paz, en effet, Tomh et AndréT, vous n’êtes pas les premiers à me dire que ca vaudrait plus le coup que Sucre. Comme nous ne pouvons pas tout voir, nous devons faire un choix : LA PAZ, ou SUCRE ??
Comme le soulignent Pelet et AndréT, durée un peu serrée… 😕 Car, même si c’est notre premier voyage au Peru et Bolivia, nous n’avons pas envie de nous stresser par le temps. Trois jours, dans ce programme, sont mis en « battements », mais en effet, Cusco et el Lago méritent quelques-uns de plus. Dans ce cas là, pensiez-vous qu’il faille éliminer Sucre et Potosi ?? 🙁Ou… ? Juste Sucre, et faire un tour à Potosi depuis Uyuni avant le Salar et Sud Lipez ?
AndréT, pour la route de la mort, que l’on me conseille d’effectuer, cela va en effet s’ajouter à notre programme. Si nous décidons de réduire notre passage en Bolivie, le Tiwanaku se rajoutera peut être… Merci pour l’astuce de traverser l’Isla del Sol à pied, très bonne idée !!😉
S'il faut éliminer une étape en Bolivie, je conseillerais d'éliminer en 1er Sucre plutôt que La Paz ou Potosi.
Pour un éventuel vol de retour sur Lima, c'est beaucoup moins cher un vol intérieur au Pérou qu'un vol d'une ville de Bolivie à une autre au Pérou.
Pour la route de la mort en vélo, je l'ai fait avec l'agence El Solario pour 60$ (où il y a aussi un hospedaje El Solario dans le même édifice) qui peut aussi te donner un coup de main côté transport à Potosi et Uyuni. J'ai fait aussi l'excursion à Tiwanaku avec la même agence.
Si tu veux d'autres infos, n'hésite pas à me recontacter.
Ton voyage va ressembler à celui que j'ai fait cet été l'Amazonie en moins pour ma part... D'ailleurs, est-ce que je me trompe complètement ou c'est la pleine saison des pluies en décembre... pour l'Amazonie, faut y réfléchir.
Sinon pour le reste, pour moi tu n'as clairement pas assez de temps à Cusco. On n'a pas fait de trek (donc pas le chemin de l'inca non plus) et on y est restés 7 jours... C'était tout juste. Visiter Ollantay et Pisac le même jour c'est très, très, très dommage. Surtout que trois jours pour faire ces deux sites plus le Machu Picchu, je ne vois juste pas comment tu vas t'y prendre. Si vous êtes vraiment serrées au niveau du temps, je vous conseillerais le programme suivant pour la Vallée Sacrée. Mais c'est 5 jours...
1. Cusco
2. Pisac et si tu as le temps un ou plusieurs des quatre sites sur la route Pisac Cusco (Tambo Machay, Qenko, Puka Pukara et Sacsayhuaman)
3. Route vers Ollantay (avec visite sur la route de Chinchero, Salinas et terrasse de Moray par exemple), train le soir pour Aguas Calientes
4. Machu Pichu
5. Train le matin pour Ollantaytambo + visite du site et retour à Cusco
Pour info ce train est le train Backpacker à 47$, qui te fait passer deux nuits à Aguas Calientes mais qui te fait gagner énormément de sous quand même! En plus tu peux être vachement tôt au Machu du coup et éviter les hordes de touristes. Même chose pour le site d'Ollantay que tu auras alors la chance de voir à l'ouverture! Réserve ce train dès ton arrivée à Cusco au guichet Perurail de la gare.
Peru, Bolivia....
Ceci n'est pas un conseil, mais seulement une constatation car après avoir parcouru l'Argentine, la Bolivie, le Chili, le Pérou, le Paraguay et une partie du Brésil il ne vaut mieux pas prévoir d'horaires en Amérique Latine, tout est parfait mais pas toujours à l'heure!!!
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, 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! 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! 🙂
I live in Quindío and I’ve seen a lot of worried questions since the August earthquake. Here’s an update for those planning a trip to the coffee region.
Tourist sites are operating normally: Salento, the Cocora Valley, Filandia, and Pereira Airport are open and welcoming travelers. The region needs visitors—coming here directly helps the locals.
A few tips to plan your stay:
• Airports: Pereira and Armenia, each about 1 hour from Salento.
• Where to stay: Salento for the vibe and proximity to Cocora, Filandia, or a *finca* near Quimbaya for more tranquility.
• Cocora: Easy to explore independently from Salento, with the Willys (local jeeps) leaving from the square. Go early to avoid crowds.
• La Carbonera: Less known, wilder, and home to the largest wax palm forest. The road is long—best done in a 4x4 or with a Willy driver.
• Coffee: Many small family-run *fincas* offer tours around Salento and Filandia.
• Hot springs: Santa Rosa de Cabal, on the way to Pereira.
• Duration: Plan at least 3 days to enjoy without rushing.
If you have any questions about the region, ask away—I’m happy to help.
Hi everyone! I’m heading to Colombia in January 2026 and have a few questions. In Salento, which is better to do—Cocora Valley or Carbonera Valley? After that, I want to fly from Medellín to Rincón del Mar. Is there an airport in Tolú? I can’t find any info. Thanks in advance, and *buen viajé* to all! Kristian
Hi there, we’ve decided to head to Brazil at the end of March for 2.5 weeks with our 13-year-old son. From what I’ve gathered from some research, Rio seems like a great destination at this time of year, and I’m thinking around 4-5 days to explore it—does that sound right to you? Copacabana, Ipanema, Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, maybe a favela tour, or any other ideas?
How’s the best way to get around locally? I’ve heard about Bonito or Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande—what do you think of those? Fernando de Noronha for snorkeling or even diving? Is Recife a good option at this time of year?
If you’ve got any suggestions, we’re all ears—it’s for our 50th birthdays! :-) Thanks so much for your help and tips. See you soon.
Hi everyone,
We’re planning 40 days in Uruguay and Argentina in February and March, trying to avoid as much rain as possible.
We’re thinking of starting in Buenos Aires, then heading to Bariloche, and from there flying to Córdoba, Mendoza, or Salta. Maybe by bus or renting a car to explore each region.
Do you have any suggestions or tips for us? We love picturesque, historic cities and landscapes. As seasoned travelers, we’re used to planning our trips ourselves.
Thanks in advance!
We’ve planned our road trip in Chile, and the only thing left is to book the TABSA ferry from Punta Arenas to Puerto Williams.
Problem: the ferry that leaves Punta Arenas at 1 AM isn’t available for booking, no matter the day or month. All the other departures can be booked, though.
On top of that, Tabsa isn’t responding to any messages.
We’re planning to explore Peru’s main highlights and were wondering if anyone could share insights on the quality and comfort of overnight buses. If so, which bus company should we trust?
Hi,
My wife and I are heading to Brazil from November 6th to December 2nd. We’ll be stopping in São Paulo, Paraty, Ilha Grande, Rio, and Salvador de Bahia.
Could you recommend some nice, non-luxury places to stay in each of these spots?
Also, any suggestions for places to visit would be great.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Marc
Hi there.
I already posted a message asking for advice about our upcoming trip to Chile.
Details: Getting around by bus or train.
Starting from Valparaiso, heading north, passing through cities and places to visit, then returning to Santiago via a different route.
Avoid the beaches...
Thanks
Hello,
my wife and I will be in Cusco for a week in March 2027.
I’d like to organize the visit to the site on our own, combining the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.
We’d leave Cusco on Day 1 to arrive at the site in the morning, then stay in Aguas Calientes or Ollantaytambo, and on Day 2 return to Cusco while visiting the Sacred Valley.
Is this doable?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Cédric.
Hello,
We’re spending 3 weeks in Rio between February 20 and March 15, 2027, to visit our son and daughter-in-law. We’re thinking of one or two "escapes" from Rio—3-day trips to get away from the city (so not too far, max 3–4 hours by car or bus). We’re all ears for suggestions! We love beautiful nature and authentic experiences, not so much the touristy spots... even though those spots are often in beautiful places, we’d rather avoid them.
Thanks for your insights!
Catherine
Hi there,
I’m planning a trip with my partner (no kids this time—thanks, Grandma!) for two weeks to celebrate her 40th birthday. I’ve been thinking about Chile. We’re looking at leaving around September 18, 2027, starting in the south and returning in early April.
Here’s what I had in mind:
8 nights in a van in the Lake District and the start of the Carretera Austral (up to the Chaitén area). We’re set to arrive in Puerto Montt around 2:00 PM. We don’t want to go too far south since we’re planning to explore the heart of Patagonia (Chile and Argentina) with the kids when they’re older. The idea is to spend 3 nights discovering the lakes (up to Cochamó) and 3 nights in Pumalín Park. I’ve also added two transition nights.
7 nights in the Atacama to experience another side of Chile (San Pedro), taking a domestic flight from Puerto Montt to Calama in the early afternoon. We’ll depart for France in the early evening from Santiago.
IMPORTANT NOTICE for those planning to take a bus to another city, state, or destination from Salvador!
Starting January 20, 2026, the intercity bus station Rodoviária is changing its address!
The Rodoviária is leaving the Iguatemi area and will now be located in ÁGUAS CLARAS (about twenty kilometers from downtown Salvador).
A brand-new station (the most modern in Brazil) has just been set up there, accessible by car/taxi/Uber/metro.
Allow for much more transfer time (especially during rush hours), so leave early if you're heading to Chapada Diamantina or other Brazilian cities by bus.
Remember, there are also private transfers (even French-speaking ones) that can take you directly from your hotel in Salvador to your hotel in Chapada. Sure, it’ll be more expensive, but you’ll save on transfer time and comfort.
Tropical greetings from Salvador,
@ivanbahiaguide
Loyal member of the French-Speaking Brazil Forums for over 15 years already 😊 🇧🇷
Hello,
We’re thinking of spending 1 month in Chile, maybe doing a loop?
From 12/23 to 01/22.
What are the must-see sights, given we’re more interested in the country’s cultural side than the beaches?
Thanks
Hi everyone,
We're planning a trip to southern Chile in November. Here's our tentative itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Santiago, then a flight the next day to Balmaceda where we'll pick up a rental car to reach Coyhaique.
Day 3: Walk in the Coyhaique National Reserve, then continue to Puerto Chacabuco. Return to Coyhaique for the second night.
Day 4: Drive to Villa Cerro Castillo for a hike in the national park. Continue to Puerto Tranquilo and stay there for 3 nights.
Day 5: Boat tour on Laguna San Rafael.
Day 6: Day trip to Monte San Valentin Glacier.
Day 7: Excursion to the Marble Chapels, then drive to Puerto Guadal. We'll stay there for 3 nights.
Day 8: Walk along Lago Carrera and return to Puerto Guadal.
Day 9: Rio Baker Valley and, if possible, a glacier excursion.
Day 10: Drive to Cochrane and hike in Tamango National Reserve. We'll stay 2 nights in Cochrane.
Day 11: Walk in the Chacabuco Valley.
Day 12: Drive to Caleta Tortel. We'll stay there for 2 nights.
Day 13: Cruise in the Rio Baker delta.
Day 14: Return to Cochrane.
Day 15: Return to Balmaceda in two stages.
Day 16: Continue the return journey.
Day 17: Return the rental car and head back to Santiago.
After this, we're also planning to explore northern Santiago. I'll post about that part once I have a clearer idea of the route.
What do you think of this itinerary? Is it doable in 17 days?
Thanks in advance for your tips and recommendations.
martine
Hi there, I’ll be in Brazil from December 10th to the end of February.
I’ve sketched out a rough itinerary but I’m not sure how to arrange it—considering the climate, year-end holidays, and Carnival.
Basically, I’m thinking of the Amazon, the Northeast coast with Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (but skipping Chapada Diamantina),
Ouro Preto, Paraty, and Ilha Grande—but no Rio visit.
Is this doable in 3 months?
Which direction should I take for this itinerary?
Thanks in advance!
Hi everyone, does anyone know the agency Ventura Travel Agency (not ventura travel)? After lots of research and quotes, it’s the only one offering Uyuni at a reasonable price while meeting all the criteria: transfer to the border, private-room accommodation, and a very fair rate. Other agencies or guides either offer shared rooms, no border transfer, or prices that are way too high. But I’d love to hear some reviews about this agency. Thanks in advance!
Hi everyone,
We're planning a trip to Chile to visit the Atacama Desert and then head toward Putre, Lauca, Salar de Surire, etc.
Which would be the better time to go, April or November?
Is an SUV enough?
Looking forward to your tips!
Hi everyone, French travelers in Chile—what credit cards do you use for your various car rentals in the country? I’m traveling in September and was planning to switch my regular debit card (a VISA PREMIER in deferred debit mode) for the deposit guarantee.
My rentals are with Figal in Punta Arenas, Econautos in Arica, and Chilean Rent a Car in Temuco, and all of them want the deposit on a credit card. For me, deferred debit *should* work, but I’ve read comments saying the opposite.
How’s it actually working on the ground with these rental companies right now? Will a deferred debit card work, or not at all?
In France, banks don’t issue credit cards, right—or am I mistaken?
Hi everyone, is it still possible to travel in Ecuador outside the Amazon region? If so, do you have a reliable agency to recommend? All your recent experiences from the past few months would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much
Hi,
We’re heading to Buenos Aires for 3 days in November and would like to do a guided tour of a few neighborhoods. There are "free" tours, but none in French. Does anyone have a guide to recommend so we can really get to know the city beyond just the architecture?
Thanks
Hi there,
I’m desperately looking for info on the schedules and routes of (shared) boats to visit the islands of Lake Titicaca.
From what I’ve found, there’s a *combi* (bus) that leaves from Puno to go to Llachon. Where do you catch it? What are the schedules and frequency? Does it take about 1 hour?
Then in Llachon, you can take a boat to Amantani (45 min). Same question—where do you check for frequency and schedule?
After that, from Amantani, boats go to Taquile and then Uros. Do you have enough time to visit the islands between two boats? Frequency and schedule?
The goal is to do this tour independently (no agency) over 2 days. Thanks for any tips you might have!
I just got back from a trip to Bolivia and wow—what a wake-up call. It’s not the easiest country, but it’s absolutely stunning.
I started with Isla del Sol, perfect for easing into the altitude at a relaxed pace. Try to stay in the northern part of the island—it’s quieter and the views are insane. And the trout there? Unreal. Quick tip: bring cash in small bills; they almost never have change, and cards are rarely accepted.
Next up, La Paz. The city’s pretty wild, built in every direction. I did a few hikes in the area, including the famous Charquini Lagoon (the blue lake) at over 5,000 m—let’s just say I struggled 😅 but it was so beautiful it was totally worth it.
After that, I headed to Sajama. It’s cool, especially for the hot springs, and I stayed in Tomarapi. But honestly, if you’re short on time, you can skip it without too many regrets.
The highlight of the trip: the Salar. I did it starting from Tupiza, and I *highly* recommend going Tupiza → Uyuni. Way less crowded at the start and the landscapes are super varied. For the tour, I used SplitYourGuide to find a group, and it worked out great. Super handy for splitting costs and meeting people.
I wrapped up in Sucre—this city is gorgeous, all white, with such a chill vibe. And the salteñas + ice cream? Next level 😋
Bottom line: Bolivia’s a bit rough around the edges, sometimes exhausting (shoutout to the altitude), but it’s 1000% worth it.
If you’ve got questions or need tips, I’m happy to help!
Martin
I was planning to go to Réunion and stay in half-board accommodation with non-professionals, but it seems that’s not really the custom there—or maybe my budget isn’t big enough.
So, since I’ve already traveled around Ecuador and Peru, I’m now looking at Argentina, especially for its mountains (like the ones in Réunion that tempted me, even though—frustratingly—I could only admire them from below).
I plan to get around by bus and don’t know in advance where I’ll sleep, so I won’t book ahead. If I like a place, I might stay for several days.
I know that in Chile, it’s easy to find half-board accommodation, but what about in Argentina?
I’d like to stay with locals in half-board without it being a professional setup. I’m not sure if this is common practice there. It’s up to me to find someone willing to host me.
What do you think?
What would be a fair price (keeping in mind that 40 to 50 € is the max I can spend on accommodation, breakfast, and dinner)?
Hi everyone,
We’re heading to Patagonia for three weeks in November, starting from Coyhaique in Chile.
We won’t have a car, and I’m struggling to find information about transportation options for a few parts of the itinerary we’d like to do:
1) From Perito Moreno (the town, near Los Antiguos), we’d like to travel down Ruta 40 to visit Perito Moreno National Park and then cross into Chile via the Paso Roballos (at the latitude of Bajo Caracoles) to reach the road to Cochrane. Without a car, it seems we’ll need to use private agencies to get to the national park—do you have any recommendations or suggestions? Also, does anyone know if it’s possible to cross into Chile via Paso Roballos (from Bajo Caracoles) without a rental car? That is, without having to go all the way down to El Chaltén or back up toward Perito Moreno/Los Antiguos, etc.?
2) The second stretch that seems a bit tricky (though still easier, in theory) is from Caleta Tortel to Villa O’Higgins on the Chilean side. Do we have to go back through Cochrane, or are there ways to get directly from Tortel to Villa O’Higgins?
3) Finally, we’d like to hike into Argentina (El Chaltén) from O’Higgins. Any recommendations for this? Do we need to go through an agency? What’s the estimated duration of the trek?
As you’ve probably gathered, we want to visit some off-the-beaten-path spots but don’t have a car, so we’re looking for the best possible compromises.
Thanks so much in advance for all your suggestions!
Thomas
