j'ai vu qu'il est possible de visiter des favelas au Brésil, notament à Rio (favela Rocinha).
Ma 1ere réaction fut de me dire que c'est purement et simplement du voyeurisme !
Puis en me promenant sur le forum LP anglais j'ai vu qqs personnes disant qu'elles l'ont fait et que c'était vraiment bien.
Je reviens du Brésil et j'admets que je me suis posée la même question.
J'ai donc questionné un peu des gens qui habitaient là bas et leur réponse a été unanime : à éviter, car une partie de l'argent que tu verses aux agences va direct dans la poche de petits "mafieux" locaux car la visite des favelas est devenu un vrai business, même avec des gens assez connus style Marcello ....... ! et même si c'est en principe pour visiter des associations.
La conclusion c'est que je ne l'ai pas fait....
mais je suis toujours aussi indécise... et peut etre que je changerais d'avis lors d'un prochain voyage.
Totalement contre, par principe! J'ai fait l'erreur de visiter Cité Soleil à Port-au-Prince il y a des années et je me suis fait honte!
Maintenant, si cette visite est le déclencheur d'une action réelle - qui sera une goutte d'eau, mais avec les gouttes d'eaux... alors pourquoi pas
Si c'est juste pour aller voir: NON, c'est de la simple décence, ça relève de l'ignoble, de la télé-réalité où tout le monde perd🏴☠️
de fait de l argent va aux chefs locaux, mais dans ce cas toute action de l etat ou municipale renforce le systeme. Il n en demeure pas moins que les habitants ont besoins de services eau electricite etc
La favela est un quartier de la ville et sera absorbee dans 20 ans par elle
A ecouter la chanson de Caju e Castanha sur Rocinha qui remet les choses
C'est effectivement en portuguais le texte dit qu'il y a des antennes pour mobiles,
des motels pour s aimer, des terrains de football, des eglises des ordinateurs,
enfin que c est une ville avec des gens normaux.
D ailleurs ce sont le cobrador du bus la serveuse du lanchonette ses habitants.
Pour info ils passent mardi soir au careau du Temple a 20 H et c est gratuit
bonne journee
Boa Noité,
quel intérêt pour un touriste de visiter une favelas, réponse : aucun
une favelas, est un quartier défavorisé, á l´intérieur duquel une mini ville s´est crée avec ses commerce, sa vie associative, ses régles..
Les gens des favelas ne sont pas des parias, ni des gens sans cultures, au contraire, on peut trouver toutes sortes de niveaux sociales.
Visiter une favelas, n´apportera rien au touriste, qui ne sera de passage d´une heure ou deux, il verra des maisons en tôles ondulées ou en bois, empilées les une sur les autres, sans luxes extérieures, avec en dehors des enfants qui jouent aux cerf volant, et des personnes agées assisent sur l´entrée de leur porte, il verra aussi peut être des carcasses de voiture sur les trottoires. Voila, donc comme je le dis plus haut rien de bien intérressant, il a meilleur temps d´aller photographier, chez lui, les cités HLM ou les banlieux désherités, céla sera idem...
Je suis d'accord avec toi, Chicobrasil............
De quel droit un touriste irait visiter une favela ?
S'il veut voir de la misère, il n'est point besoin de prendre l'avion a partir de l'Europe...........!
Michel Rocard jadis, dans un éclair de lucidité, avait appelé "toute la misère du monde".
Je préferre lire un beau poême de :
Fernando Pessoa
>>
>>Navegue, descubra tesouros, mas não os tire do fundo do mar, o
>>lugar deles é lá.
>>Admire a lua, sonhe com ela, mas não queira trazê-la para a terra.
>>Curta o sol, se deixe acariciar por ele, mas lembre-se que o seu
>>calor é para todos.
>>Sonhe com as estrelas, apenas sonhe, elas só podem brilhar no céu.
>>Não tente deter o vento, ele precisa correr por toda parte, ele tem
>>pressa de chegar sabe-se lá onde.
>>Não apare a chuva, ela quer cair e molhar muitos rostos, não pode
>>molhar só o seu.
>>As lágrimas? Não as seque, elas precisam correr na minha, na sua,
>>em todas as faces.
>>O sorriso! Esse você deve segurar, não o deixe ir embora, agarre-o!
>>Quem você ama? Guarde dentro de um porta-jóias, tranque, perca a
>>chave!
>>Quem você ama é a maior jóia que você possui, a mais valiosa.
>>Não importa se a estação do ano muda, se o século vira e se o
>>milênio é outro, se a idade
>>aumenta; conserve a vontade de viver, pois não se chega a parte
>>alguma sem ela.
>>Abra todas as janelas que encontrar e as portas também.
>>Persiga um sonho, mas não o deixe viver sozinho.
>>Alimente sua alma com amor, cure suas feridas com carinho.
>>Descubra-se todos os dias, deixe-se levar pelas vontades, mas não
>>enlouqueça por elas.
>>
>>Procure, sempre procure o fim de uma história, seja ela qual for.
>>Dê um sorriso para quem esqueceu como se faz isso.
>>Acelere seus pensamentos, mas não permita que eles te consumam.
>>Olhe para o lado, alguém precisa de você.
>>Abasteça seu coração de fé, não a perca nunca.
>>Mergulhe de cabeça nos seus desejos e satisfaça-os.
>>Agonize de dor por um amigo, só saia dessa agonia se conseguir
>>tirá-lo também.
>>Procure os seus caminhos, mas não magoe ninguém nessa procura.
>>Arrependa-se, volte atrás, peça perdão!
>>Não se acostume com o que não o faz feliz, revolte-se quando julgar
>>necessário.
>>Alague seu coração de esperanças, mas não deixe que ele se afogue
>>nelas.
>>
>>Se achar que precisa voltar, volte!
>>Se perceber que precisa seguir, siga!
>>Se estiver tudo errado, comece novamente.
>>Se estiver tudo certo, continue.
>>Se sentir saudade, mate-a.
>>Se perder um amor, não se perca!
>>Se achá-lo, segure-o!
>>"Circunda-te de rosas, ama, bebe e cala. O mais é nada".
Je reviens juste du Brésil et effectivement, ces excursions sont régulièrement proposées.
On ne l'a pas fait, un peu hésitants pour toutes les raisons énoncées ici, mais par contre je trouve un peu caricatural les réponses de certains. Personne ne l'a fait alors qui peut juger???
Ce qui m'a marqué, c'est que tous les grands médias et les guides conseillent pourtant ce type d'excursion, en expliquant justement que cela est très loin du voyeurisme mais permet d'approcher une autre réalité du Brésil. En plus, une partie de l'argent revient aux favelas. Forcément, c'est moins glamour que Copacabana...
A toi de voir mais les "pros" du tourisme et des medias conseillent ces excursions. C'est que cela doit être intéressant un minimum...
J'ai fait la visite de favellas à Rio avec le fameux Marcello. Et bien je peux t'assurer que c'est une expérience très intéressante pour comprendre certaines choses : la promiscuité de la richesse et de la pauvreté (le lycée américain au campus ultra luxueux est à moins de 20 metres de l'entrée de la favella), le fait que ces favellas ne sont pas des villes cartons ou les gens sont paumés mais bien des villes à part entière qui grouillent, avec leur activité économique et sociale, leur poste de police, des gens "normaux" qui vont bosser tous les matins et pour certains d'entre eux (pas forcément traficant de drogue) la possibilité de se construire une baraque confortable ou d'avoir une bagnole.
Petite anecdote authentique mais qui montre la méconnaissance et la méprise totale des cariocas "riches" et de nombreux touristes dont le cerveau a été lavé par les médias et les nombreux "on dit" et "il parait": tu entends régulièrement des bruits de coup de feux venant des favellas. De nombreuses personnes croient qu'il s'agit de la enième fusillade entre gangs ou entre un gang et la police. Or ce n'est rien d'autre que des pétards qui sont allumés par des vigiles à l'entrée de la favella signalant l'arrivée de la police...
Moi aussi je me suis posé la question de savoir si ce que je faisais était bien et pas bien. J'ai décidé d'y aller tellement j'étais exaspéré par l'image déplorable que véhiculent les brésiliens "riches" eux même sur leur pays et notamment sur le thème de l'insécurité (alors que l'insécurité, ou tout du moins le sentiment d'insécurité, je suis persuadé que c'est eux qui en grande partie la créent avec les gros murs qui entourent leur grosse maison, avec leurs vigiles armés de gros fusils et leur grosse voiture blindée!!!).
Le côté voyeur de la visite réside dans le fait d'être obligé de payer une agence alors que c'est ni plus ni moins qu'une ballade à la découverte d'un quartier de Rio, comme tu irais à Lapa, à Santa Theresa ou à Copacabana. C'est sûr, j'aurais préféré y aller tout seul, en bus, mais je n'ai pas voulu tenter le diable. J'ai préféré être voyeur mais un peu moins ignorant des réalités. Je te conseille donc très fortement cette visite.
Pour ou contre, à chacun de se faire son opinion. En ce qui me conceerne, l'intérêt de ce genre d'escpade "aventurière" et sans intérêt! Je pense qu'on peut appeler ça sans exagérer du"voyeurisme " ou de la curiosité malsaine. En effet, je m'explique on ne visite pas telle ou telle "slum" pour un quelconque intérêts touristique ou culturelle, mais bien pour la petite particularté "exotique ou aventurière" que cela peut procurer chez certaines personnes qui souhaite s'y rendre.
Aucun intérêt puisqu'il n'y a aucune curiosité à voir pour un touriste!
les gens ne sont pas dupes...de vous rencontrer la-bas avec votre jolie petite mine de touriste en mal de sensation. D'autre part, ces tours sont devenu intérêssant après le succès du film "cidade de deus" par ex et j'en passe ou autres reportages (tjrs les mêmes d'ailleurs) sur ces quartiers!
On ne va pas "visiter" ces quartiers en particulier pour le simple fait d'animer une fois rentrer, ces petites discussions entre amis en disant: " tu sais j'ai visité une favela....et l'autre répond: "wahou, ah bon?!!"
merci pour cette réponse. C'est bien d'avoir un son de cloche différent. Et puis finalement chacun fait cette "ballade" pour des raisons différentes, voyeur ou pas.
Mais je pense rester sur mon idée de départ et ne pas effectuer cette visite. Je ferai le "voyeur" sur ipanema et copacabana.... 😉
"Aucun intérêt puisqu'il n'y a aucune curiosité à voir pour un touriste! "
Je me permets de mettre ta phrase en perspective avec la (superbe) phrase de Bouvier qui te sert de signature; et les 2 me paraissent bien antinomiques. Je pense que Bouvier doit se retourner dans sa tombe en lisant cela.
Que les voyages seraient triste (et chers!!!)si on devait sans cesse "voir" ou "faire" quelques chose! Dans ce cas là, inutile de t'eterniser à Rio ; tu fonces au Corcovado, tu te baignes à Copacabana et hop, tu files au Pelourinho à Salvador d'un coup d'avion!! Il n'y a rien à voir d'extraordinaire à Santa Teresa, pas plus qu'à Botafogo, ou Urca. Et pourtant, "voir" est bien moins important que vivre, sentir et essayer de comprendre.
Bien évidemment que: "voir est bien moins important que vivre, sentir et essayer de comprendre".
Si tu mets cette phrase en perspective comme tu le fais, cela donne quelque chose de simplement grossier et caricatural bien entendu! Ce n'est évidemment pas le sens du message que tu en fait, que j'essayais de faire passer dans ce post.
Bonjour
J'ai ete a Rio le mois dernier avec des amis, je souhaitais donner mon opinion.
Quand vous allez en Asie, en Amerique du Sud la pauvrete est partout, pas seulement dans la favela. Aller en Bolivie, au Perou, au Mexique, en Argentine, et vivre agreablement parce que pour nous rien n'est cher, vivre au milieu de gens qui ont beaucoup moins que nous, passer dans des quartiers pauvres, partout, c'est indecent. Doit-on s'interdire tout contact avec la pauvrete sous pretexte de decence ? Ces choses existent et nous n'y pouvons pas grand chose, alors pourquoi se voiler la face ?
Aller a la Favela c'est justement faire une demarche vis a vis d'une pauvrete dont le touriste est 99% tenu a l'ecart, dans tous les pays du monde.
Mes amis et moi avons fait cette visite, et nous la recommendons car elle ouvre l'esprit a quelque chose que nous pouvons difficilement comprendre et apprehender et sur lequel il est vrai que l'on vehicule des legendes inquietantes. Ca permet de se rendre compte que ces gens sont avant tout comme tout le monde, qu'ils apprecient qu'on s'interesse a eux. Certes c'est un tour organise, polisse et protege, mais ce n'est pas un safari.
Apres, chacun fait ce qu'il veut de sa vie et je ne comprends pas ce besoin de toujours juger et valoriser/devaloriser les experiences des uns ou des autres. Par exemple, on pourrait facilement debattre des heures sur "l'indecence" de tous ces occidentaux qui vont chercher des filles faciles au Bresil.
Juste un petit mot pour dire que l'on peut également aller faire la fête dans les favelas.
J'ai vu une affiche pour une "Favela Funk Party" dans un hotel de Rio.... Pas d'inquiétude, il parait qu'il y a un coin "VIP" 😉
Dans un style assez proche, on peut également aller assister à une répétition de Carnaval, toujours dans une favela. Très bien, super spectacle et ambiance selon 2 personnes qui y sont allé.
Dans les 2 cas, le prix affiché est 45 réals, environ 15€...
Bonjour! en citant: (...)"à éviter, car une partie de l'argent que tu verses aux agences va direct dans la poche de petits "mafieux" locaux car la visite des favelas est devenu un vrai business, même avec des gens assez connus style Marcello ....... !" C'est qui ce "Marcello"? Merci
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 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! 🙂
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,
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
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