nous sommes deux amies et nous partons 3 semaines en Argentine du 15 Août au 5 Septembre. Nous souhaitons visiter le NOA, notamment Tolar Grande et les Salinas Grandes. Cependant, comme c'est l'hiver, nous nous demandons si c'est faisable à cette période de l'année?
Si oui, quelqu'un connaît-il une agence/personne qui propose des circuits sur quelques jours et les prix approximatifs? Comme c'est une région reculée on nous a déconseillé de louer une voiture et d'y aller par nos propres moyens car nous n'y connaissons rien en mécanique et on n'est jamais à l'abri d'une panne...
Autre question : si on souhaite prendre des vols intérieurs, est-il intéressant de les réserver à l'avance depuis la France ou vaut-il mieux attendre d'être à BA ou Salta?
Je vous recommande l'agence oneworldromtravel basée à Salta, ils proposent pas mal de circuits et les excursions sont faites par un chauffeur de Tolar Grande et et un guide local
Tu trouveras + d'infos sur ces sorties sur mon carnet de voyage en Argentine
merci pour toutes tes infos, je suis allée sur le site où tu avais pris ton excursion et je ne trouve pas le tolar grande? y a t'il des excursions qui ne seraient pas affichées?
merci d'avance,
merci pour toutes tes infos, je suis allée sur le site où tu avais pris ton excursion et je ne trouve pas le tolar grande? y a t'il des excursions qui ne seraient pas affichées?
merci d'avance,
elen
Bonjour
Nous venons d'écrire un mail à cette agence car nous voulons faire l'excursion de Tolar vers le 18
Le tarif est de 1190 ars je crois sur leur page d'accueil
Moi ce qui m'interesse c'est d'avoir le retour de personnes qui l'ont fait par leur propre moyen, je ne sais pas s'il y en a sur le forum mais leur expérience me serait bien utile ...
Bonsoir,
Nous avons fait tolar en janvier dernier avec onerom travel, mais c'était largement faisable en autonomie et si c'était à refaire je me débrouillerai. Attention je n'ai rien à reprocher à cette agence qui a tenu son circuit et ses prestations avec un guide agréable, juste que je préfère un peu l'aventure en solo mais en l'absence de retour concret sur le lien je me suis abstenu. Après comme beaucoup d'endroit en AMS il suffit du mauvais moment, mauvaise saison pour que tout bascule. Tu as en fait un passage difficile s'il il pleut une cote raide en lacet et terreuse. L’agence nous l'a bien dit, à cette endroit, en mauvaise conditions météo 4x4 obligatoire, siono ça passe tout seul, c'est très bien indiqué ou fléché et tu dois pouvoir trouver à te loger assez facilement à tolar.
Bonsoir,
Nous aimerions aller à Tolar Grande par nos propres moyens, en VW Amarok, fin octobre 2014.
Est-il plus judicieux de prendre avec nous un chauffeur-guide à San Antonio de los Cobres ou bien une fois arrivés à Tolar
Grande ?
Par ailleurs, sur les campings argentins en général existe t'il des emplacements avec électricité.
Merci d'avance !
Miesele
Nous serons à Tolar Grande début novembre.
Dommage que nos dates ne coïncident pas, car, nous aussi préférerions y aller par nos propres moyens (j'ai aussi réservé un 4x4) pour pouvoir plus et mieux en profiter que la visite guidée prévue sur 3 jours/2 nuits au départ de San Antonio de Los Cobres (avec seulement 1 jour entier sur place... ce qui est vraiment très peu pour pouvoir explorer cette région🤪)
Il s'agit de notre 1er séjour, mais via google earth, j'ai repéré de nombreuses pistes sillonnant la région de Tolar Grande, avec les principaux sites à y découvrir.
Et l'arrivée jusque Tolar Grande semble aisée.
Il n'y a pas moyen de se perdre, d'autant que j'ai trouvé facilement sur internet, la carte de l'endroit délivrée par la municipalité de Tolar Grande.
Le problème, c'est l'état des pistes... qui varie assez vite en fonction de la météo et du trafic lié à la production minière.... et qu'on ne peut donc pas prévoir.
Le 2ème problème, c'est que l'endroit est désertique et qu'il n'est donc pas concevable de compter sur une aide rapide en cas de problème.
Et un 3ème problème, en ce qui me concerne, est lié à l'altitude: il s'agit de notre 1er voyage à très haute altitude...et j'ignore comment nous allons réagir.
J'aurais donc préféré être à plusieurs véhicules pour pouvoir s'entre-aider en cas de problème mécanique (lié à la voiture) ou physique.
Bonjour,
De mon point de vue un guide n'est pas nécessaire. Il est assez aisé d'arriver à tolar et de là de visiter les sites autour. Si tu le souhaite tu peux demander à un habitant de Tolar de te guider, cela donne du boulot aux locaux.
Pour les camping, oui le peu que j'ai vu était équipé délectricité.
De mon point de vue un guide n'est pas nécessaire. Il est assez aisé d'arriver à tolar et de là de visiter les sites autour. Si tu le souhaite tu peux demander à un habitant de Tolar de te guider, cela donne du boulot aux locaux.
Très bon jugement et trés bonne philosphie en sécurisant cette excursion🙂🙂🙂🙂😉😉
Bonjour Jacqueline
Merci pour tes précisions, donc on devrait pouvoir se rendre aisément à Tolar Grande avec son propre véhicule.
Par contre je n'arrive pas à trouver la carte dont tu me parles, pourrais-tu me donner le lien 😉
Une fois arrivés à Salta on décidera si on va à Tolar ou non, selon la météo et en fonction des rencontres sur place.
Dommage, car à 1 semaine près on aurait pu se rencontrer.
Bonne continuation de préparation 😎
Miesele
Bonjour Pascal
Merci pour tes réponses à mes questions.
Effectivement nous privilégions les découvertes en individuel quand cela est possible bien sûr et s'il est possible de trouver des guides locaux c'est encore mieux. On a un 4x4 camper double cab donc pas de problème pour emmener quelqu'un.
On avisera une fois sur place.
Miesele
Bonjour Sylvain
Donc tu confirmes que c'est parfaitement faisable.
Par contre pour l'Abra del Açay on ne va pas s'y aventurer 😏
A+ pour d'autres posts, on n'en est qu'au début de notre itinéraire de 6 semaines !
Miesele
Bonjour Miesele
Bien sûr que c'est faisable mais ce n'est pas DysneyLand, il faut un véhicule adapté, pas forcément 4X4 mais puissant, pneus tout terrains, haut sur pattes....
Un Toyota HiLux ou Volkswagen Amarok 4X2 sont de bons compromis, encore mieux en version 4x4.
Aprés Pocitos, la piste peut présenter quelques difficultés par endroits mais cela est impévisible et évolutif. Rien d'insurmontable avec prudence et un bon véhicule.
Je vois deux zones précises potentiellement difficiles mais il y 1 an et demi que je m'y suis rendu.
Dans le sens Pocitos/Tolar Grande, deux endroits peut-être délicats, la remontée en lacets aprés "el desierto del diablo" et ensuite à la descente vers le salar d'arizaro, une cinquantaine de metres bien sableux.
Cette piste est relativement fréquentée et vous pouvez compter sur des véhicules de passage en cas de besoins. (Ce n'est quand même pas l'A1 á la sortie de Paris !)
Prenez de l'eau, faites le plein à San Antonio, des habits chauds, de la nourriture.
Le risque de crevaison est faible contrairement à la légende. On creve avec des clous, des ferrailles pas avec des pierres , du sable et du sel
Un gonfleur qui se branche sur l'allume cigare est de toute façon une sécurité.
Dans le sable, une seule solution, tout á fond !!! faites rugir le moteur et ne vous arrêtez surtout pas !
Quant à l'Abra del Acay, c'est du même acabit, tout dèpend de l'état de la route en descendant vers la Poma.
Ça peut être facile ou impossible selon l'état de la route. Par contre, le traffic est trés faible, il ne faut compter que sur soi-même.
Si vous ne souhaitez pas vous aventurer dans la descente vers la Poma, n'hésitez pas à monter à l'Abra del Acay depuis San Antonio en mode aller retour, la piste n'est pas du tout difficile sur le côté nord de l'abra del acay.
Arffff... ton message me fait encore plus regretter de passer par un TO pour visiter la région de Tolar Grande.
Mais... bon... je vais jouer la prudence, vu qu'il s'agira de nos 1ers jours (après qq jours à SPA qd même). Si ce séjour avait eu lieu en fin de circuit, on aurait eu le temps de bien tester les capacités du 4x4 loué et de voir notre réaction à l'altitude.
Connais-tu aussi l'état de la piste 129 (qui mène directement au salar de Pocitos, sans passer par la Route 51)? Cette piste n'est-elle pas plus jolie que le trajet classique ( route 51 + route 27) ?
"Le risque de crevaison est faible contrairement à la légende. On creve avec des clous, des ferrailles pas avec des pierres , du sable et du sel"
Euh... y a des pierres qui coupent et entaillent facilement un pneu (ça arrive sur certaines pistes ds l'ouest américain🤪).
Tu veux sans doute dire que les pistes qui mènent à Tolar Grande ne sont pas parsemées de ces cailloux coupants?
Mais qu'en est-il des autres pistes, celles qui parcourent tte la région de Tolar Grande ?
"Un gonfleur qui se branche sur l'allume cigare est de toute façon une sécurité. "
De fait, un outil indispensable ds le coffre, avec aussi qq mèches
"Dans le sable, une seule solution, tout á fond !!! faites rugir le moteur et ne vous arrêtez surtout pas !"
en faisant zigzaguer son volant continuellement si le sable est très profond
Un autre problème à Tolar Grande, c'est le manque de station essence (mais apparemment y a moyen de réserver 1 jerrycan en s'y prenant à l'avance)
"Si vous ne souhaitez pas vous aventurer dans la descente vers la Poma, n'hésitez pas à monter à l'Abra del Acay depuis San Antonio en mode aller retour, la piste n'est pas du tout difficile sur le côté nord de l'abra del acay."
Je suis contente de lire ça, car c'est ds mon projet.
Merci d'avoir confirmé que c'est possible.
J'ai estimé l'A-R à +/- 2h30. Est-ce correct?
Connais-tu aussi l'état actuel de la piste (nouvelle rte 40) au-delà du viaduc de la Polvorilla (en venant de San Antonio)?
J'ai lu à plusieurs reprises que ce n'était pas une piste facile, mais ce ne sont pas des infos récentes. Alors comme l'état peut varier d'une année à l'autre, est-ce tjs une piste difficile ?
Members' personal websites › Brazil / Argentina · 1 reply
Hi, We visited Iguazu Falls on both the Brazilian and Argentine sides over a couple of days. I wrote a post to share our experience and give details about how…
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
