Depuis 2-3 semaine j'ai des opinions partagées sur ce que moi et mes amis devrions faire pour visiter ce site à côté duquel nous ne pouvons nous permettre de passer sans visiter. En lisant des tesxtes de d'autres gens sur le forum j'ai découvert une route que l'on peut faire à pied et en autobus pour se rendre a Aguas Calientes et y dormir.. j'ai vu 2 personnes qui l'ont fait a date, y en a t il d'autres? Suite a un article paru dans un journal de chez moi j'ai aussi vu qu'il était très difficile et dispendieux de trouver du logement a Aguas calientes! Évddement ca reviendrais quand meme moins cher que de prendre le train mais je me demandais si quelqu'un aurait des suggestions d'un Hostel ou nous pourrions dormir? (Nous sommes 4) J'ai un peu moins de soucis car nous serons là durant le mois de mai alors je crois que nous sommes pas encore dans la saison touristique.. pour ce qui est du prix de la visite combien faut il prévoir?
N'importe quelle information serait grandement appréciée :)
Merci
Priscilla
Tu as raison que la visite du MP est un incontournable quand tu vas au Pérou. Je l'ai visité il y a 2 ans, et c'est vraiment magique.
Le meilleur moyen pour s'y rendre (et je croyais que c'était le seul) est le train. Tu achètes ton billet à la gare de Cusco, mais tu peux le prendre à partir de Ollantaitambo si tu veux économiser quelques $.
Les hôtels à Aguas Calientes sont un peu plus chères qu'ailleurs au Pérou, mais c'est quand même pas comme à Montréal... En plus, en mai, tu pourras probablement négocier un peu les prix. Tu trouveras des propositions dans les guides touristiques.
Pour l'entrée sur le site, je ne me rappelle pas combien j'ai payé. Les prix montent un peu à chaque année.
Un conseil: arrive très tôt sur le site pour en profiter avant l'arrivée des touristes et faire de meilleures photos. Aussi, je te suggère de faire la montée du Wayna Picchu, qui est le piton rocheux que l'on voit sur les photos. C'es inoubliable... et redescent par la face opposée pour visiter la caverne et le temple de la Lune. Y'a pas beaucoup de monde qui le font, et c'est dommage parce que ça en vaut la peine.
Prévois de l'argent liquide car il n'y a pas de guichet automatique à Aguas Calientes, et les hôtels pas chers ne prennent pas les cartes de crédit.
Bon voyage, et bonne visite du site.
Il y a plusieurs possibilites pour arriver a Agua Calientes/Machu Picchu Prendre le train, a partir de Cusco ou moins cher a partir d'Ollantaytambo (bus tres frequents entre Cusco et Ollantay, 2-3h, environ 5 soles). De memoire, le train le moins cher a Ollantay part vers 20h45 le soir, retour le surlendemain vers 5h45, 47$ en juin 2007 d'Ollantaytambo, prendre un colectivo jusqu'au km82, puis marcher les 30 kilometres jusqu'a Agua Calientes en suivant la voie ferree (environ 6h) toujours d'Ollantaytambo (ou de Cusco) bus jusqu'a Santa Maria (5h, 15 soles), puis colectivo jusqu'a Santa Teresa (2h, 5 soles), camion jusqu'a Hidroelectrica (30 min, 5 soles) puis environ 2h de marche jusqu'au Machu Picchu en passant par Machu Picchu pueblo.
Il y a deja pas mal de messages sur le forum a ce sujet si tu veux plus de details
Cote hotel, ce n'est pas forcement plus cher qu'a Cusco ou ailleur. Il y a des chambres pour 15-20 soles par personne.
L'entree du site est de 120, 5 soles en juin 2007. Il y a un bus d'Agua Caliented pour ceux qui ne veulent pas monter a pied, 12$ AR, 6$ AS.
Bonsoir, j ai fait le machu-picchu en mai cette annee, periode parfaite, quelques precisions, tu pourras trouver un hotel a 20 soles (5 euros) jusqu a 30 soles avec douche si je ne me trompe pas. De plus il y a des distributeurs de sous sous maintenant. Le chemin par Sainte Teresa, c est vraiment genial mais : 27 heures aller-retour de bus entre Cusco et Sainte maria pour cause de travaux immenses et un eboulement sur la route (une nuit dans le bus), une adaptation trop rapide au tourisme et l impression d etre parfois pris pour un con (pareil a agua calientes), un combis (mini bus) a 35 dont une partie sur le toit en passant par une route en prise directe avec des precipices qui m ont un peu foutus la trouille, une grippe de 5 jours a la cle .... Et un souvenir inoubliable. Le site du machu-picchu c est fantastique, sensation indescriptible.
Aussi, je te suggère de faire la montée du Wayna Picchu, qui est le piton rocheux que l'on voit sur les photos. C'es inoubliable... et redescent par la face opposée pour visiter la caverne et le temple de la Lune. Y'a pas beaucoup de monde qui le font, et c'est dommage parce que ça en vaut la peine.
Prévois de l'argent liquide car il n'y a pas de guichet automatique à Aguas Calientes, et les hôtels pas chers ne prennent pas les cartes de crédit.
Bon voyage, et bonne visite du site.
Je conseille aussi cette marche... mais la déconseille un peu à ceux qui ont le vertige... surtout la redescente vers le temple de la lune et la grande caverne. Il faut prévoir un peu de temps pour faire cette descente qui parait un peu interminable -mais belle- lorsqu'on a fait l'inka trail pour arriver au machu picchu.
Je confirme aussi qu'il y a un distribueur (ATM) de liquide à Aguas calientes (depuis au moins decembre 2006)
Peux-tu stp me donner un peu plus d'informations concernant la descente vers le temple de la lune et la grande caverne?
Une fois qu'on y est, peut-on retourner sur le Macchu Picchu?
Etant donné la limitation du nombre de visiteurs et vu le côté magique du lever de la brume de là-haut (je l'ai gravi il y a quelques années), je voudrais commencer notre visite par le Wayna Picchu et faire le site après. Votre plan du temple de la lune m'intéresse mais comment le combiner avec la visite du site après?
Merci de votre aide et bravo pour votre site que j'ai lu du début à la fin
MoPriscilla
Salut,
N'allez pas loger à Aguas Calientes, c'est la ville la plus chère du Pérou, uniquement pour touristes.
Prenez plutot le chemin des incas (3 à 4 jours de randonnées jusqu'au Machu Picchu) et dormer sous les tentes. Il faut s'adresser à une agence de voyage de Cuzco. C'est obligatoirement organisé je crois et accompagné d'un guide, mais ça vaut le coup. un hotel au Pérou, c'est en moyenne 20 à 40 soles (3 à 6 euros) par nuit (tarif 2003 pour un hôtel 1 ou 2 étoiles).
D'un coté, il ne faut pas dormir à Aguas Calientes parce que c'est trop cher( pour une dizaine d'euros maximum)
D'un autre coté, dormez sous tente sur le chemin de l'inca (prix environ 300 $ us)........
Mais le chemin de l'inca n'est pas obligatoire pour aller au Machu Pichu et peut être eventuellement remplacé par un autre trek tout aussi interessant et certainement moins cher.
Nota: 1 euro c'est environ 4, 2 soles donc 20 à 40 soles c'est de 5 à 9 euros
Ok pour la conversion des soles j'ai été très approximatif et donné des chiffres qui datent et de mémoire. Mais c'était pour donner un ordre d'idée. Pour les 300 dollars du trek, je ne me souviens pas du tarif mais j'ai jamais payé autant et que ça valait le coup. Et sans avoir dormi à Agua Calientes, je me souviens que les prix des repas étaient environ 6 fois plus chers que dans le reste du pays.
Peux-tu stp me donner un peu plus d'informations concernant la descente vers le temple de la lune et la grande caverne?
Une fois qu'on y est, peut-on retourner sur le Macchu Picchu?
Etant donné la limitation du nombre de visiteurs et vu le côté magique du lever de la brume de là-haut (je l'ai gravi il y a quelques années), je voudrais commencer notre visite par le Wayna Picchu et faire le site après. Votre plan du temple de la lune m'intéresse mais comment le combiner avec la visite du site après?
Merci de votre aide et bravo pour votre site que j'ai lu du début à la fin
Lo
Salut.
Quand je parle de vertige, c'est pour ce genre de passage :
http://www.lemondeadeuxpas.com/index.php/gallery/perou/machu-picchu/p1050220#gallery
Sur la photo, l'echelle doit faire 6/8m de haut et pour y arriver tu passes d'abord par la petite corniche que l'on aperçoit au dessus de celle ci. Le mur au nivau de la corniche est deversant et il y a "seulement" et heureusement une corde pour t'aider. C'est très Indiana Jones' style :)
Pour accéder à ce chemin, il faut aller derrière les gros rochers en haut du Wyana Picchu. Tu peux demander au garde qui est au sommet et qui surveille.
Quand je dis que c'est long, c'est que la montée se fait en une petite heure. Mais la descente 2h ou + environ. En plus qd nous y etions, c'etait apres l'inka trail. premier trek de ma vie. Nous etions deja bien carbonisé de la marche effecuté les 2 jours précédents (mais on ne le regrette pas). J'ai jamais autant aprecier une boueille de coca achetée à l'entrée du Wyana. (prevoir barres cereales ou fruits secs + eau histoire de se donner des forces).
Tu repasseras automatiquement par le Macchu quel que soit le chemin que tu prennes pour redescendre. Donc pas de soucis pour visiter le Macchu après.
N'allez pas loger à Aguas Calientes, c'est la ville la plus chère du Pérou, uniquement pour touristes.
Prenez plutot le chemin des incas
excuse moi, mais le chemin de l'Inca c'est quand même bien l'usine à touristes ! Et en saison, il faut réserver des mois à l'avance... 500 touristes par jour, ça veut dire que tu fais la rando à la queu leu leu... C'est le trip touriste par excellence !
Aguas calientes est effectivement une ville itnégralement dédiée au tourisme, mais on y trouve des hôtels pas cher en cherchant, et pour une ou deux nuits c'est quand même pas la mort...
salut (peut etre deja dit, mais il y a tellement a lire...)
si tu as un peu de temps, et que tu veux pas prendre le train, il y a ce chemin, une petite aventure ou tu peux rencontrer quelques personnes qui feront pareil, mais beaucoup moins bondé que si tu prends le train.
Cuzco-Santa Maria, en bus, environ 7h, entre 10 et 18 soles par personne.
Santa Maria-Santa Theresa en combi, 2h, entre 6 et 10 soles par personne (depend du monde, et si tu arrives a marchander un peu...).
Santa Theresa-Hydroelectrico, 30 mns, 2 ou 3 soles, bus ou combi.
Hydro-Aguas calientes, marche de pres de 3 heures, en suivant les rails, mais pas de probleme.
on a dormi a Aguas calientes pour 10 soles chacun, chambre double, salle de bain privee, eau chaude (parfois les prevenir un peu avant), et en haut, il y a dortoir, nos amis y etaient pour 10 soles aussi.
Hostal El Inca, calle Wiracocha. Tel (084) 211008 . C´etait pas le plus grand luxe, mais pas mal du tout.
quand tu vois le tourist information, remonte la rue pleine de restos et magasin jusqu´a la rue Wiracocha, a droite et ca sera au bout a l´angle.
Et le lendemain matin, tres tot, on est alle au Machu en marchant, (ca monte!), sinon, il y a des bus.
Pour le retour a Cusco, meme chemin. Du coup, beaucoup moins cher que le train.
j`en garde de bons souvenirs quand meme.
voila, caro
Ollantaytambo -AguaCalientes :(backpacker noche) le train est le seul moyen : le moins cher départ 20hOO arrivée 21h40 :Retour 5h45 arrivée 7h44. 44 dollars US aller retour. Nuit sur Agua Calientes Hospedaje Punyu Wasi : tel 084 502077 / 211190 / email hospedajepunyuwasi@hotmail.com basique mais bon marché.
Salut !
2 questions sur ton plan via santa teresa :
quand l´as tu fait ? est ce praticable en ce moment ?
As tu dormi a santa maria apres tes 7 heures de bus ?
Merci !
salut, alors ce trajet on l`a fait il y a a peu pres 3 semaines, pas de probleme point de vue temps ou autre, juste prevoir quelque chose d`assez chaud pour le bus!!
sinon, on a pas dormi a Santa Maria. Ce qu`on a fait, c`est prendre le bus vers 9h du soir, on a donc dormi dans le bus.
Tu arrives vers 4 h du mat a Santa -maria (si pas de retard.....) et la, il y aura deja des combis pour partir a Santa Theresa.
voila, j`espere que ca aide.
caro
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 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.
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
