Quelqu'un aurait-il une bonne adresse d'agence pour un circuit au Salar de Uyuni ? Quitte à ce qu'elle soit plus cher que les autres.
Après avoir exploré plusieurs forums, je n'ai eu que des echos négatifs des agences évoquées.
Avec peut-être un bémol pour "Oasis Tour", qui a des critiques un peu moins négatives, voir certaines positives.
Y'a-t-il d'autres alternatives que choisir une agence à Uyuni ? J'ai lu qu'il était possible de trouver une agence à Tupiza, mais comme je viendrais probablement de Sucre, ça n'est pas très pratique.
Salut,
Si j'ai un conseil à te donner, passe par Tupiza et offre toi un tour de 4 jours sud Lipez, Salar d'Uyuni. Une agence sérieuse: Tupiza Tour.
Gilles
je suis a Sucre, demain a Tarabuco puis Potosi lundi ou mardi
j ai contacte ce jour par mail l agence Tupiza Tour recommande par l internaut du forum, depart de Tupiza generalement
un autre internaut avait recommande une agence . voir messages bolivie
Agence TT egalement recommade par le tres serieux guide lonely planet
bonne route,
ml
Des contacts directs avec des PROFS sur place. Il vaut mieux joindre ceux qui connaissent vraiment et surtout qui sont responsables.
Des agences il y a pas mal, essayez une agence francophone Grandes Espacios je vous donne le lien avec leur mail: viatgen@yahoo.com😇
Merci pour vos réponses.
Emmanue, j'ai bien pris note. Je vais essayer de trouver des infos sur le net les concernant
Laourole, l'agence "Tupiza Tours" que tu proposes m'a l'air pas mal du tout. Je suis allé sur leur site, et ai aussi entendu du bien d'eux sur un autre forum.
Je commence à me demander si je ne vais pas faire un détour jusqu'à Tupiza pour passer par eux.
D'après les retours, les paysages sont parmis les plus beaux du monde. Ce serait donc dommage de gacher ce moment unique par le manque de sérieux de l'agence choisie...
Merci aux deux autres réponses. Je vais regarder un peu tout ça.
Buenas notte,
Je conseille aussi de faire le tour à partir de Tupiza et finir sur le salar.
Une agence extraordinaire : Grano de Oro !!!!
Ils sont tout simplement géniaux. J'ai vécu 4 jours "touchants" !
N'hésitez pas si vous avez des questions
Suerte
effectivement un depart de Tupiza pour le sud lipez et le Salar d UYUNI est ce qu'il u a de mieux.
Pour le choix il vous faut mieux choisir une agence dans le centre ( beaucoup s'accorde à dire que tupiza tour sort du lot) et surtout etre certain qu'il y a une bien une cuisiniere avec vous. (autrement la nourriture s'en ressent) .
Choisissez egalement un equipage d'un maximun de 4 à bord ( hors chauffeur et cuisiniere) pour plus de confort dans le 4X4.
Bonne route car c'est un endroit qui est magnifique
Sans hésiter: expediciones empexsa, une toute petite agence avec des gens vraiment adorables. Demandez s'il est possible de faire la route avec Rudy et Maritza. Vous serez ravis.
Bon voyage!
Merci à tous pour vos réponse.
Je suis content d'avoir posé la question, car j'ai trouvé dans cet échange plus d'infos précieuses qu'en cumulant les forums que j'ai pu trouvé traitant la question !
Au vu de ce qui a été dit : il faut aller à Tupiza pour préparer son tour au Salar de Uyuni, avec notamment Tupiza Tours, Grano de Oro Tours, et Expediciones Empexsa.
Pour ceux qui ont d'autres tuyaux, n'hésitez pas !
Sinon, autres petites questions : le plus confortable est-il d'y aller en train depuis Oruro ?
Et est-il facile d'aller à Sucre depuis Uyuni ?
Petite précision: empexsa organise les tours depuis Uyuni.
Rejoindre Sucre depuis Uyuni est très facile. Il y a des bus en partance pour Potosi tout le temps. Puis Potosi/Sucre se fait en 2h30 (taxi ou bus). Mais mieux vaut prendre le temps de rester flâner à Potosi!
Bonne route!
Merci pour la précision. C'est ce que j'ai compris en chaisant mes recherches sur le web ce matin.
Apparemment le trajet Uyuni - Sucre est mouvementé !
Et pour tout le monde, j'ai une question qui va faire sourire certains : est-il compliqué de voyager avec une valise ?!!!
Je voyage presque toujours en "routard", mais avec une valise !! (en fait, 2 valises, car nous sommes deux ...). J'ai toujours trouvé ça plus pratique de tirer une valise que de se coltiner un sac à dos, mais je me demande si ça ne va pas causer des problèmes, notamment pour les bus et les 4x4 pour l'excursion autour du Salar de Uyuni...!
bonjour
C'est plus facile avec des sacs à roulettes car vous pouvez également les porter sur votre dos avec les sangles, lorsque la chaussée et cabossée ou humide. autrement vous le trainez sur ces roulettes :)
Bon voyage
Pour notre part, nous somes partis de la Paz, puis Suce, Potosi et enfin Tupiza. Le voyage en car s'est bien passé. Nous avons logé à l'hote qui dépend de l'agence tupiza tours.. vraiment pas à la hauteur de ses critiques sur les différent guides touritiques. L'agence Tupiza tours a été à la hauteur (certaineent parce que les paysages etaient tellement exceptionnels qu'on oublie le coté négatif des choses) meme si nous avons été très déçus par la faible qualité des informations données par notre guide (vendu comme tel par notre agence ais qui n'est au final qu'un chauffeur !). D'ailleurs, c'est un mensonge assez récurrent en Bolivie, donc méfiance si vous partez en trek.. parfoi les prestations ne sont pas du tout à la heuteur et les négligences des agences boliviennes en matière de sécurité peuvent avoir de facheuses conséquences. Je parle en connaissance de cause....
Le 4x4 etait plutot fatigué.. nous avons fini l'excursion sans garniture de freins... ce qui n'a pas eu l'air de perturber plus que ca notre chauffeur.
En revanche, nous avons effectué l'ascension du Tunupa, faute de pouvoir effectuer celle du Licancabur. Exceptionnel !!!!! a faire absolument si on aime les treks en altitude... Ceal mont qd meme à 5400 m.. et la montée est trè rude...
L'avantage de commencer le circuit par tupiza, c'est que l'on a un jour de plus d'excursion et que tous ceux qui commencent de uyuni, n'ont pas a chance de voir les sublimes paysages qu'il y a entre Tupiza et la Lagune verde !!!
bonjour
j'interviens dans ce forum car nous serons en camping car de location dans le NOA vers le 20 juillet. Nous souhaitons voir le sud lipez et le salar d'uyuni.
quelle est le meilleur point de départ entre Tupiza ou San Pedro de Atacama coté Chilien?
une bonne agence à San Pédro ?
merci par avance
Nous sommes partis de Tupiza...le gros avantage est qu'il y a une grosse portion de route que les autres tours opérators qui partent de SPA ou uyuni ne font pas.. et ça vaut le coup !!!
Je ne connaissais pas l'existence de ce type de sac (rouylettes + sangles).
Mais sinon, niveau encombrement, est-ce que tu penses (ou quelqu'un d'autre) que je risque d'avoir des problèmes, notamment pour le train allant à Tupiza, dans le bus faisant Uyuni-Sucre, et surtout pour le circuit en 4x4 dans le Salar ?
Enfin, question primordiale que je pose à qui peut me répondre : dans quel état sont les toilettes dans les dortoirs pendant le circuit dans le Salar de Uyuni ???!!!!! :-)
je me permets d'intyervenir dans ce post car ton info de l'ascension m'interesse.
je pars avec mon copain dans un mois, et j'ai contacté Tupiza T. pour qu'ils me proposent un trip de 5 jours incluant l'ascension du Licancabur..
est ce que tu peux me dire pourquoi vous n'avez pas pu faire le licancabur ?
le Tunupa c'est 5400 m, mais le Licancabur nous attire comme un aimant !!!
puis je également te demander combien de jours durait votre trip et combien aviez payé ??
Nous n'avons pas pu faire l'ascension car il n'y avait pas assez de partiipant. Il fallait remplir une voiture soit au moins 4 personnes, et nous n'étions que deux. si vous tenez vraieent a faire cette ascension, il vaut mieux partir de Uyuni, ou vous aurez plus de chance de remplir une voiture, car plus de touristes choisissent cette ville de départ.
Je comprends que le licancabur vous attire. On etait bien dégouté, mais on n'a pas regretté d'avoir fait celle du Tunupa, beaucoup moins connue... et le lever de soleil sur le Tunupa et le salar sont exceptionnels.(voir photo ci dessous).
Bonne chance !
Dans mes souvenirs, on a paye 300 dollars à deux pour 4 jours, 3 nuits. attention, bien verifier avec l'agence que l'ascension est incluse. on a du payer le guide sur place, et du faire un scandale ensuite a l'agence pour se faire rembourser. Faire tout mettre par ecrit, car tupiza tours est un peu de mauvaise foi.
Sinon, on a fait une autre ascension géniale mais pour le coup difficile car elle s'efffectue en crampons de 5200 à 6088 m.. le Huayna Potosi, si jamais vous remontez vers La Paz. Tres beau trek de mise en forme avant l'ascension de 3 jours : Trek du Condoriri.
oui le Tunupa, mais la Laguna verde vue d'en -haut, çà doit être, sans mot !!
effctivement Tipiza m'a d'bord coté le trip de 5 jours, et quand j'ao demandé s'ils louaient du matos de marche (type batons télescopiques), ils m'ont spécifiez que non et que le guide c'était 60 USD par groupe en plus...
ORO DEL GRANO m'ont aussi coté, çà a l'air sympa aussi avec eux !
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
