Bonjour à toutes et à tous,
je suis en train de préparer mon voyage au perou et bolivie qui aura lieu cet été. j'arrive à Arequipa le 21 juin et serai en mouvement a partir du 28 juin.
L'idée est la suivante:
le 29 canyon de colca pendant 3 jours puis direction cuzco le 3 juillet depuis arequipa en avion retour le 12 et ensuite direction le lac titicaca avec puno , l ile de taquile puis copacabana et l ile du soleil ensuite direction la paz, la paz oruro, oruro tupiza en train faire le desert d uyuni et sud lipez puis ensuite potosi sucre et pourquoi pas santa cruz. retour en avion jusqu à la paz le 5 aout pour ensuite rejoindre arequipa le jour meme ou le lendemain afin de revenir en france.
Mon problème pour l'instant c'est de savoir combien de temps il faut pour visiter tous ces sites mentionés ci dessus et donc savoir si cela est possible avec le temps qui nous est imparti.
En plus de cela j'aurais aimé avoir des renseignements sur quelle formule choisir pour le canyon de Colca ainsi que la qualité du trek du chemin des incas (ou le meilleur à faire)?
Malgré mes recherches sur les différents forum je n'ai pas reussi a trouver tous les infos...
je vous remercie d'avance
De combien de jours disposez-vous au total? Le plus de jours serait le mieux bien évidemment, mais pour vous donner un minimum de jours à consacrer à chaque région du Pérou pour ne pas passer à côté, voici un ordre d'idée:
-4-5 jours pour Cusco et ses alentours, si vous pouvez y rester plus c'est mieux; 1 jour pour la ville et le temps de s'habituer doucement à l'altitude qui peut être un choc pour certaines personnes. 1 jour complet pour le Machu Picchu qui n'est pas vraiment à côté de Cusco (40min de taxi+3h30 depuis en train depuis Cusco ou 1 journée de trajet par la route alternative), sachant qu'il est mieux d'y arriver la veille et de repartir tranquillement le lendemain ou le soir). Plusieurs jours selon ce que vous souhaitez pour la vallée sacrée (Pisac, Moray, Sacsayhuaman, salines de Maras, Chinchero, etc). Si vous souhaitez faire le chemin de l'inca, il vous faudra obligatoirement prendre une agence (il y a une liste d'agences autorisées), le prix est assez élevé. Comptez environ 4-5 jours rien que pour le trek, qui vous fait passer par des sites non ouverts au public en dehors du chemin de l'inca, en terminant par la cerise sur le gâteau, le Machu Picchu. Il existe d'autres treks un peu mois chers et tout aussi sympas comme celui de Choquequirao.
-Pour Arequipa, comptez au moins une journée si vous voulez visiter la ville qui est très jolie (le centre historique, le couvent Santa Catalina, le musée où l'on voit la momie Juanita! etc.) et 2 à 3 jours minimum pour le Canyon du Colca (le trek peut se faire en 2 ou 3 jours, en fonction du rythme que vous choisirez). Vous pouvez y aller par vos propres moyens (6h de route depuis Arequipa) ou bien prendre une agence depuis Arequipa qui vous organise tout (hébergement, repas, guide, transport, etc).
-Pour Puno et les alentours du lac Titicaca; comptez minimum 2 jours, voire plus si vous voulez prendre le temps de découvrir plus et d'aller sur les îles un peu moins fréquentées.
Ça n'est pas la peine de passer par une agence pour faire le canyon del Colca, ça vous prendra 3 jours en gros. Vous prenez un bus depuis Arequipa jusqu'à Cabanaconde, le trajet dure un peu plus de 6 heures (couvrez-vous bien, ça caille dans le bus...). Vous passez la 1ere nuit à Cabanacondé et après vous pouvez partir en itinérant sur plusieurs jours en trek. Vous pourrez trouver des cartes et des infos à Cabanaconde.
La Paz la visite peut être assez rapide, la ville n'est pas des plus agréable.
Le Sud Lipez+Saler Uyuni ça prend 4 jours, auxquels il faut ajouter les trajets arrivée/départ.
Sucre 3/4 jours.
Potosi, ça dépend des visites que vous voulez effectuer.
Vous pouvez économiser pas mal de temps en évitant l'étape de Santa Cruz. La ville en elle-même n'offre pas un grand intérêt, et faire la visite des missions demande du temps.
bonjour et merci à vous pour ces infos,
effectivement les dates seraient du 28 juin au 5 aout, le retour en france s effectuant le 7 aout, je préfère avoir un coussin de secu en cas de problème de transport.
pour la précision , je serais à Arequipa a partir du 21 juin mais ma copine finissant son stage le 28 j'aurais une semaine tranquille pour faire la ville et commencer le trip à partir du 29.
Avec vos réponse j'ai déjà une meilleure idée de certaines étapes notamment Cusco uyuni et Sucre.
Reste pour mi à éclaircir cette idée de Trek... plusieurs avis divergent à propos du chemin des incas le qualifiant autant de trop touristique (voir sale et surexploité) que de magnifique.
Pour le canyon de Colca l'avez vous fait? qu'en avez vous pensez?
Avez vous fait copacabna et l ile de Taquile?
Enfin je pense supprimer l'étape Santa cruz, pour la distance et vu ce que tu disais Tacahduob..
dans tous les cas merci pour ces premiers éclaircissements.😉
Oui, le trek du Canyon est indéniablement un beau trek, un peu physique pour les personnes qui ne sont pas habituées, mais rien d'impossible.
L'île de Taquile est une belle île, surtout pour ses paysages (voir photo), le tourisme s'y développe beaucoup même si l'île est moins touristique que ses petites soeurs d'Uros! Si vous cherchez plus de dépaysement, préférez l'île d'Amantani qui est aussi magnifique (ne manquez pas la vue depuis Pachamama et Pachatata au sommet de l'île!)
Le chemin de l'inca, tout comme le Machu Picchu et la région de Cusco, est devenu assez touristique, mais si on fait abstraction de tout ça les paysages restent splendides. Même chose pour le Machu Picchu: dès qu'on entre sur le site et qu'on le voit, on oublie tout le monde autour…
J'ai fait le trek dans le Canyon del Colca, c'est vraiment superbe. Je pense que c'est à faire (et je le ferai à nouveau avec plaisir), mais sans passer par une agence. Comme ça vous pourrez être tranquille et marcher à votre rythme.
Je n'ai pas visité les îles du côté péruvien, seulement l'Isla del Sol.
Nous n'avons pas fait le chemin de l'inca dans notre voyage car j'ai trouvé ça trop touristique. Mais on est allé au machu picchu et ça a été magique.
Nous on a fait le canyon del colca en juillet 2013. On a adoré, la seule chose c'est qu'on a longtemps réfléchis seuls ou avec agence on a choisis agence mais on l'a un peu regretté. Au final il est très simple de le faire seul. Ça vaut vraiment le coup d'y aller.
Pour Copacabana j'y suis allée en 2009 et encore une fois on a vraiment bien aimé. On est également allé sur l'ile du soleil qui offre une visite / ballade très sympa avec une vue imprenable sur le lac titicaca.
Un grand merci à vous tous, j'y vois un peu plus clair maintenant sur comment mon sejour va s'orienter.
c'est super d'avoir eu ces réponses et j'espère pouvoir vous rendre la pareille à l'occasion ;)
Pour le canyon du Colca, effectivement il est inutile de passer par une agence. Tous les hôtels à Capanaconde ont des cartes, surtout si vous partez à deux. Je suis partie seule pour trois jours et deux nuits dans le canyon, j'ai croisé trois hommes en bas du canyon et j'ai fini la route avec eux.
Il faut bien six heures en bus depuis Arequipa. Donc faire au moins deux, voir trois jours dans le canyon, sinon il est relativement dommage de faire tout ce trajet pour une journée dans le canyon.
Arequipa, je l'ai fait en une journée, ça a amplement suffi : effectivement le couvent San Catalina, magnifique, ainsi que le musée avec la princesse, un jolie point de vue dans la ville sur le Misti.
Tu peux faire Arequipa - Cuzco ensuite par bus de nuit, prendre à prendre tes billets dès le départ en arrivant à Arequipa. Une super compagnie : Excluciva! Encore mieux que Cruz del Sur réputée là-bas : non seulement moins chère, mais en plus couchettes à 180°, complètement allongé!
Si tu veux te laisser une journée de marge pour ton avion, autant que tu visites la ville sur le retour sur ton temps de marge.
Cuzco, effectivement prévoir au moins 4 à 5 jours minimum. IL y a de quoi faire dans les environs, et il faut compter un certain temps pour aller jusqu'au Macchu Picchu.
Ensuite, beaucoup de liaisons pour Puno. J'ai fait Uros / les îles flottantes / Amontani et Taquile. Ca vaut le coup.
Puis comme toi, direction Copacabana. Tu peux visiter l'Isla del Sol. Idem, cela se fait facilement. Tu as des bateaux qui partent le matin depuis Copacabana pour l'Isla del Sol. Je n'ai pas fait l'Isla de la Luna pcq apparemment un peu moins intéressante que l'I. del Sol, et cela s'apparente à Amontani ou Taquile, je ne sais plus.
Tu arrives sur l'Isla del Sol sur le nord de l'île, tu as la journée tranquille pour faire une balade jusqu'au sud de l'île, et de là tu reprends le bateau. Attention aux derniers départs vers 16h / 16h30. Tu peux également dormir sur l'île, mais c'est vraiment très très tranquille;
La Paz effectivement, rapidement.
Pourquoi aller à Oruro? Il n'y a absolument rien à faire, hormis un carnaval vers février je crois. Je rappelle (et j'en ai eu, ainsi que des gens que j'ai croisé), attention aux faux policiers! Ils n'ont pas à vous demander vos passeports, et surtout ne pas monter dans un taxi avec eux ou aller au poste avec eux! OU à pied avec témoins! J'en ai croisé plusieurs qui se sont fait dépouiller comme cela!
Uyuni trois jours
Potosi, Sucre, sympa.
Santa Cruz la ville est agréable mais sur un laps de temps court comme le tien, ça ne vaut pas le coup.
A la rigueur, s'il te reste du temps, tu peux envisager d'aller de Uyuni au sud d'Uyuni pour San Pedro de Atacama au Chili, si tu as au moins 3/4 jours c'est magnifique là bas également.
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.
