Salut, j'ai l'intention de partir en Argentine au mois d'Octobre, en principe j'avais pensé aller au Sud: Patagonie, Perito Moreno, Ushuaia, Valdés, etc... mais voilà que en parlant avec deux argentin ils me disent d'aller au Nord Jujuy, Salta, ... Qu'en pensez vous? J'aimerais avoir l'opinion d'autre personne qui connaissent le pays.
Merci D'avance 🙂
Marga
Si Juan a dit d aller à Salta, Pablo à Mendoza, Pedro à Posadas, et Alejandro a Neuquen ...quelle importance ?????
Tu vas là ou tu tu veux aller !!!! A cette epoque toute l Argentine est agreable, donc fixe toi un point de chute et passe tes vacances autour !
Que te dire de plus ? Nord ? Est ? Sud ? Ouest ? Ce sont tes vacances à toi de decider !
Biensur! Mais avant de décider je voudrais avoir des info de personnes qui connaissent les deux endroits. J'avais envie du Sud, mais peut être que le Nord est moin touristique mais plus agréable, c'est pour cela que je vous demande votre avis. biensur c'est a moi de décider.
Merci
Marga
Tu vas avoir des avis de ceux qui sont allés partout ou même de ceux qui y vivent ( comme moi ) mais ce n'est pas pour autant que tu dois aimer ce que eux aiment !
Rien n est touristique en Argentine en dehors des vacances scolaires argentines, les vacances d hiver viennent de finir et maintenant jusqu aux grandes vacances d'ete qui commencent vers le 20 decembre tu es libre d aller ou tu veux il n y a personne ! Donc documentes toi sur ce que tu mets en preference dans tes vacances et en fonction de ca tu choisis ta destination ( mer, montagne, campo, cheval, vielles pierres, froid, chaud, villes, villages, agriculture, desert, forets, cactus, pampa, parcs naturels, dinosaures, peche, rafting, andinisme, altitudes, raz de la cote, pecheur, estancia, ...etc....)..
Choisis 4 à 5 themes et en fonction de ca, on commence a pouvoir t aiguiller !
pour moi ca depends de ce que tu aimes. je m explique: nord= beaux paysages de vallees encaissees et meme au dessus de jujy d un desert de sel (loc de voiture indispensable)
Sud= montagne glaciers et grands espaces....
Pour moi c est un crime d aller au nord et de ne pas passer la frontiere bolivienne pour aller au desert d uyuni et au salar. (et je ne parle que des paysages...)
Sinon moi je suis amoureux du sud argentin mais parceque j adore les montagnes et tt ca.
apres si tu cours et que ton objectif ce st que les paysages alors tu as peut etre moyen de faire le sud et un peu du nord: 15 jours 3 semaines dans le sud et 1 semaine ou 10 jours au nord: Iguazu, salta, une viree au nod de salta de 2 jours en voiture, cafayate et un retour a bs as. mais je te dis, ya une boucle en 4*4 de 4 jours au sud de la bolivie qui coutent 60 doll et je crois que ce sont les plus beaux pasysages que j ai vu dans tout mon voyage.
www.meumeu.canalblog.com
Merci Herge. Pour le moment j'ai trouvé pas mal de choses sur le Sud qui a l'air incroyable!! Quand au Nord La quebrada de humauaca m'a fasciné. Je vais continuer a chercher sur le Nord....
Merci Hergé
Ciao
Marga
Salut,
Ben, à mon avis, il serait bien d'avoir le temps de faire les 2!!!!
Bon, soyons sérieux ..;si tu ne peux faire qu'un de 2 "secteurs"....;je suis incapable de te conseiller: je connais les 2 assez bien, et je ne sais choisir. Tout est magnifique, époustouflant....et très différent
Tire au sort pour cette fois et l'an prochain, tu fais l'autre....Mais tu sais, il y a aussi d'autres régions argentines qui méritent le détour.
Va faire un tour sur mon site ( un peu merdique ) pour découvrir ce que tu préfèrerais voir comme paysage:
http://brondy.free.fr
Dis moi ce que tu choisis et si tu as besoin d'aide pour préparer ton voyage
Je repars le 20 septembre pour 3 mois...C'est la 4ème fois! Tu as compris que j'aime?
je suis avec Cierzo, oui c'est a lui de choisir, mais on choisi mieux apres les rensignements des voyageurs!moi j'ai fait les deux il y a deux ans plus le chili et le sud de la Bolivie ( salar de uyuni) en deux mois, les deux sont tres differents, le sud oui c'est plus touristique, mais el chalten et torres del paine au chili ca va le coup mais il faut aimer les randonnes, valdes, punta tombo il faut aimer les animaux mais tres touristique, le nord oui est tres different, si tu arrives a faire la valle de humauaca entrer au bolivie faire le salar et revenir de le desert de atacama au chili jusq' a Salta je crois c'estplus dur mais tres especial.Ca depend ce-que tu aime.Bon voyage
si tu peux, arrete toi dans le village de purnamarca, un vrai havre de paix avec "la montaña de siete colores" arriere, dans la "valle de humauaca", ciao
Bonjour,
j'ai fait un petit voyage en Argentine en 2005 : Salta et le nord puis Ushuaia et la terre de feu. Je t'avoue que j'ai eu un faible pour le nord... la "civilisation andine", les paysages formidables (vallées, cactus, montagnes colorées comme la palette d'un peintre, ruines, lacs salés, lamas...) le patrimoine architectural hérité de la colonisation espagnole ... mais tout dépend où sont tes centres d'intérêts...
En tout cas : bon voyage !
Poélise
le choix est difficile cela depend de plein de paramettre, je te donne l'adresse de notre blog nous on a fait le tour en 3 mois en moto moi pers o j'ai une petite preference pour le nord ouest c'est le seul endroit ou tu peux rencontrer des " aborigenes" mais ds le sud devant le perito moreno tu es comme un petit enfant devant c'est cadeaux de noel idem qd tu n'avigues avec les baleines... par contre ushuaia c'est une usine a touriste ou il n'y a que la senssation d'etre au bout du monde qui fait tripppper...
ceci est un avis strictement perso mais pour moi le plus beau en argentine c'est les gens qui sont hyper sympa ils ont gardé le sans des relations humaines on a fait des rencontres fabuleuses, style ds buenos aires on se promemne avec un plan une jeune nous demande si elle peut nous aider, sans rien nous demander en echange, ds une petite ville on demande l'adresse d'une auberge a un taxi il nous dit suivz moi et il nous anmene a notre adresse sans rien nous demander, .... enfin plein de chose qui m'existe plus chez nous mais qui est tellement important, c'est surtout pour cela que l'on voyage ..
chilienmoto.blog.expedia.fr
fred
Honneur aux dames, Cergio tu trouveras des infos dans ce que je dis a Nicole
Nicole, je te remercie pour tes conseils, on a passe un super sejour dans le nord.
On a passe 7 jours dans le Nord a SALTA. Je n ai pas appele tes amis dans le nord, par manque de temps, mais aussi parce que en fait, on peut tres bien se debrouiller tout seul. On a loue une voiture pour 5 jours.
Premier jour: SALTA TILCARA. On s est arrete a viaducto desormais connu grace au train de los nubbes. LEs paysages sont fantastiques sur la route. La route l est bcp moyen, que de la piste, pas tjs facile avec une voiture de tourisme. On a passe bcp de temps au niveau de SALINAS GRANDES, superbe egalement. On a passe une nuit a TILCARA. Je sui stombe amoutreux de TILCARA< chouette petit village, un superbe musee, de super resto, on a eu le droit a un concert improvise par un proprietaire bolivien d un resto place sur la place centrale... excellent.
CIERZO, je te conseille de faire cela aussi en voiture, ne prends pas de tour operateur, ca ne vaut pas trop le coup je pense: 1 c est pas donne, 2 tu es avec d autres touristes dans un car de 30 places.
Fais le musee de TILCARA, il vaut le coup, ensuite marche une bonne demie-heure pour arriver au jardin botanique et aux ruines juste a cote, a faire absolument.
On a pousse notre sejour jusqu a HUMAHUACA a environ 45min de TILCARA. Nous voulions le lendemain rejoindre SALTA par la route de JUIJUI, mais au niveau de PURMAMARCA, un piquete... LEs indigenes ont bloque la route durant 3jours apparement, reclamant la venu du gouverneur ou du president afin d obtenir leur terre perdue il y a des annees. Ne sachant pas du tout quand aller se debloauer la situatin, nous avons ete oblige d aller reprendre la route tout au nord, a ABRA PAMPA...et revenir ainsi sur SALTA.. Un detout de 400 bornes... Mais bon, quqnd on a pas le choix, on a pas le choix. On est donc repasser par salinas et San Antonio de LOS COBRES... DOmmage, on aura pas vu la route sympatoche entre JUYJUY et SALTA.
Arrete toi a MAIMARA, tu y verras de superbes couleurs sur les rochers.. Incroyable
Juste pour info, tu es a plus de 4000 m je crois, Nicole confirmera du cote de SAN ANTONIO
Une fois de retour sur SALTA, nous sommes partis sur CAFAYATE. Route agreable, tranquillou, mais tu changes completement de paysage.. jen dis pas plus...
Entre SALTA et CAFAYATE, tu mets tranquillement 5h, le temps de s arreter, d admirer etc.
Passe une nuit la-bas, et fait un tour dans la ville. On a bien aime. Le lendemain, grosse journee. CAFAYATE-CAHCI, la parti entre MOLINOS ET CACHI n est pas rigolote, car la route est pas terrible, c est tjs de la piste, mais de la piste pas top... -:)
Encore une fois, tu decouvres d autre paysage, tu empruntees la route 40 qui va de la pantagonie a la frontiere bolivienne, plus de 4300 bornes. On a croise entre CAFAYATE et CACHI, grand max 10 voitures.
Temps de parcours: compter une bonne journee
Et le dernier jour CACHI SALTA entre 5 h, une descente monstrueuse, des paysage tops.
Vraiment on regrette pas du tout de ne pas avoir fait le sud. Ca nous donnera l occasion de revenir en Argentine. Faire le Sud en jiullet aout, c est qd meme pas top car il fait froid, les jours sont courts, il fait vite nuit.
Ensuite Nicole, on est parti sur IGUAZU, mais comme je l avais compris, pas bcp de flotte. Comem ca au moins, on a des photo inedites des chutes de IGUAZU... Impossible de faire du bateau, tu vois plus les rochers que les cascades... Mais c etait impresionnant tout de meme. Bon, on a que de la flotte sur IGUAZU, ca a aussi son charme...
VOila qq news, je t enverrai si tu veux qq photos de notre periples
A bientot
Cierzo, si tu as des questions...tu sais me trouver
Feliciations pour ton voyage en argentine ! Le sud est vraiment sympa et grandiose : perito moreno et ses glaciers, la reserves de pingouins, baleines...,
Merci Fred!!! Quel chance l'Argentine en moto en 3 mois!!! Le rêve le blog est génial. Tu as raison dans les voyages une des choses les plus importantes c'est les gens. J'ai voyagé l'année dèrnière au Québec et j'ai adoré biensure les paysage qui sont extraordinaires, mais ce qui m'a vraiment enchanté c'est les gens qui sont absolument adorables.
Je connais plusieurs argentins et je dois dire que ce sont des gens formidable, 😉 mais rien que leur merveilleux accent (pour moi c'est l'accent le plus beau de tout les pays hispanoparlant) fait déja beaucoup.
Merci Fred et enchantée de ton message.
Marga
Coucou, je suis contente d'avoir de vos nouvelles et que de plus vous soyiez satisfaits...
Cela ne m'étonne pas.
Bien sur, on peut faire tout seul mais quelquefois, quelqu'un qui connait bien la région peut t'emmener dans des zones inconnues...Par ex, mon ami qui est anthropologue et aussi archéologue connait des endroits qu'il est seul à avoir découvert et travaillé dessus ( nous faisons à 5 un circuit dans la puna, au dela de Las Salinas Grandes et Susques pour qu'il nous montre ces sites archéologiques)
As-tu vu ma copine Graciela au musée de peinture de Tilcara?
Tu as raison, tout ce que tu as fait est magnifique et même qd on l'a vu plusieurs fois, on a envie d'y retourner...je repars dans 4 semaines.
Pour ce qui est des piquetes, j'ai suivi au jour le jour ( ou presque) j'ai m^^eme fait signé par internet des pétitions pour les aider à gagner.
Mon ami Merardo ( l'anthro...) était avec eux dans cette lutte...il n'aurait donc pas été disponible pour vous promener.
ils ont gagné; cad que leurs terres qui leur ont été piquées et devaient leur être rendues depuis 60 ans suite à une décision de Peron vont leur être enfin rendues dans 2 mois, y compris des mines.
Par contre, la joie de cette victoire s'est transformée en peine de deuil car il y a eu un accident : un véhicule conduit par un gars en état d'ébriété a percuté des gens: 4 morts du village de Cangrejillos et 7 blessés dont 3 graves.
Les ruines de Tilcara, tu veux dire: la Pulcara de Tilcara?
Je ne connais pas Cierzo...je vais m'enquerrir de ce lugar la prochaine fois.
Iguazu sans eau ce doit être plutôt particulier!!!Je me demande si j'y emmène ceux qui seront avec moi en octobre/ novembre. Il ne pleuvra surement pas d'ici là et il y aura encore moins d'eau.
Etes vous rentrés en France?
A+
It's decided—2027 will be Brazil, in the summer (unless you advise against it 😕). From what I’ve read, the weather’s okay, even if it’s a bit chilly for swimming. We’re going, as always, as a group of four, with our teens. 🙂
We’d be looking at a solid two weeks, at least 14 days on the ground. I’m planning way ahead to nail down an itinerary and book our flight tickets (the prices I’m seeing already are freaking me out…).
From my research, I’ve come across some classic routes: Rio/Iguazu/Paraty/Ilha Grande.
Roughly: 4 days in Rio, 2 in Iguazu, 2 in Paraty, and 3 on Ilha Verde. That’d leave us one more stop on the trip.
Since we like to end with a "chill" stop for the kids,
My questions:
- Is Ilha Verde worth it this time of year? I’ve read that swimming might not be an option—water’s too cold… So not ideal for a chill/relaxing destination?
- How should we round out the trip in the South? São Paulo? Another stop along the Costa Verde?
- Wouldn’t it make more sense to head up to the Northeast, where it’s warmer, like Salvador de Bahia?
But Salvador raises other questions:
- Are there flights from Iguazu to Salvador?
- And for the return to France, would we have to connect through Rio or São Paulo from Salvador?
- Any suggestions for places to stay around Salvador?
Thanks for your input—I’m sure I’ll have more questions as I go along. 😉
Hi there, we’ve decided to head to Brazil at the end of March for 2.5 weeks with our 13-year-old son. From what I’ve gathered from some research, Rio seems like a great destination at this time of year, and I’m thinking around 4-5 days to explore it—does that sound right to you? Copacabana, Ipanema, Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, maybe a favela tour, or any other ideas?
How’s the best way to get around locally? I’ve heard about Bonito or Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande—what do you think of those? Fernando de Noronha for snorkeling or even diving? Is Recife a good option at this time of year?
If you’ve got any suggestions, we’re all ears—it’s for our 50th birthdays! :-) Thanks so much for your help and tips. See you soon.
Hi everyone! So happy to be back on this forum—it’s packed with such useful info! 🙂 My husband and I are planning a 2.5-week self-drive trip to Colombia at the end of the year, including some domestic flights. My first question is: is it possible, easy, and safe to do a road trip in Colombia?
Below is our draft itinerary (with questions at each stop):
29/11: France → Colombia. Overnight in Bogotá.
30/11: Exploring Bogotá: La Candelaria and Montserrate.
01/12: Gold Museum (closed on Mondays). Drive to Zipaquirá (1.5 hrs) to visit the Salt Cathedral. Then drive to Villa de Leyva (3 hrs). Explore the town. Overnight in Villa de Leyva.
02/12: Return to Bogotá via Laguna de Guatavita (5 hrs). Is it worth the detour? Overnight in Bogotá.
03/12: Flight to Pereira. Drive to Salento. Overnight in Salento.
04/12: Cocora Valley (hike among the wax palms) followed by a drive around the area. Are there any waterfalls or other sights nearby?
05/12: Visit a coffee finca—any recommendations? Then explore the surroundings: Filandia, Manizales, waterfalls? Hot springs? Which ones?
06/12: Flight to Medellín.
07/12: Exploring Medellín: Centro, Plaza Botero, Comuna 13. How do you visit Comuna 13? Is it easy to get around Medellín? Metro? Buses?
08/12: Drive to Guatapé (2 hrs). Visit the town, stroll around the lake, then El Peñol. Overnight in Guatapé.
09/12: Return to Medellín.
10/12: Flight to Santa Marta. Drive to a hotel near Tayrona Park.
11/12: Tayrona—El Zaino entrance.
12/12: Tayrona—Palangana entrance, then Bahia Concha and Santa Marta. What do you think?
13/12: Drive to Minca (45 mins). Can we reach the village by car? Pozo Azul and Marinka waterfalls. Overnight in Minca (or back in Tayrona?).
14/12: Drive to Puerto Nao (5 hrs). Stop in Ciénaga on the way + boat tour in Nueva Venecia and/or Buena Vista? Not enough time? Overnight in Puerto Nao.
15/12: Exploring Cartagena: Centro, Getsemaní, the walls + La Boquilla if we have time.
16/12: La Boquilla (is it really worth it?) if we didn’t have time yesterday, then back to the beach.
17/12: Return to France.
So, what do you think? Is this doable, or should we tweak it? Thanks in advance for your invaluable feedback and tips! 🙂
Hi there, I’m looking for recent info on a boat trip with sleeping accommodations from Belém to Santarém. I don’t want a "luxury cruise for wealthy tourists"—just a bed with a minimum of comfort seems great to me🙂. I didn’t find any up-to-date details with Amazon Star. Do you have any companies, guides, or prices for this route to recommend?
I’d love to hear tips and feedback on this trip, especially since I’m traveling solo. I’d like to get a sense of what to expect and ensure some basic safety with transportation.
Thanks.
Hi everyone,
We’re planning 40 days in Uruguay and Argentina in February and March, trying to avoid as much rain as possible.
We’re thinking of starting in Buenos Aires, then heading to Bariloche, and from there flying to Córdoba, Mendoza, or Salta. Maybe by bus or renting a car to explore each region.
Do you have any suggestions or tips for us? We love picturesque, historic cities and landscapes. As seasoned travelers, we’re used to planning our trips ourselves.
Thanks in advance!
We’ve planned our road trip in Chile, and the only thing left is to book the TABSA ferry from Punta Arenas to Puerto Williams.
Problem: the ferry that leaves Punta Arenas at 1 AM isn’t available for booking, no matter the day or month. All the other departures can be booked, though.
On top of that, Tabsa isn’t responding to any messages.
We’re planning to explore Peru’s main highlights and were wondering if anyone could share insights on the quality and comfort of overnight buses. If so, which bus company should we trust?
Hi,
My wife and I are heading to Brazil from November 6th to December 2nd. We’ll be stopping in São Paulo, Paraty, Ilha Grande, Rio, and Salvador de Bahia.
Could you recommend some nice, non-luxury places to stay in each of these spots?
Also, any suggestions for places to visit would be great.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Marc
Hi there.
I already posted a message asking for advice about our upcoming trip to Chile.
Details: Getting around by bus or train.
Starting from Valparaiso, heading north, passing through cities and places to visit, then returning to Santiago via a different route.
Avoid the beaches...
Thanks
Hello,
my wife and I will be in Cusco for a week in March 2027.
I’d like to organize the visit to the site on our own, combining the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.
We’d leave Cusco on Day 1 to arrive at the site in the morning, then stay in Aguas Calientes or Ollantaytambo, and on Day 2 return to Cusco while visiting the Sacred Valley.
Is this doable?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Cédric.
Hello,
We’re spending 3 weeks in Rio between February 20 and March 15, 2027, to visit our son and daughter-in-law. We’re thinking of one or two "escapes" from Rio—3-day trips to get away from the city (so not too far, max 3–4 hours by car or bus). We’re all ears for suggestions! We love beautiful nature and authentic experiences, not so much the touristy spots... even though those spots are often in beautiful places, we’d rather avoid them.
Thanks for your insights!
Catherine
Hi there,
I’m planning a trip with my partner (no kids this time—thanks, Grandma!) for two weeks to celebrate her 40th birthday. I’ve been thinking about Chile. We’re looking at leaving around September 18, 2027, starting in the south and returning in early April.
Here’s what I had in mind:
8 nights in a van in the Lake District and the start of the Carretera Austral (up to the Chaitén area). We’re set to arrive in Puerto Montt around 2:00 PM. We don’t want to go too far south since we’re planning to explore the heart of Patagonia (Chile and Argentina) with the kids when they’re older. The idea is to spend 3 nights discovering the lakes (up to Cochamó) and 3 nights in Pumalín Park. I’ve also added two transition nights.
7 nights in the Atacama to experience another side of Chile (San Pedro), taking a domestic flight from Puerto Montt to Calama in the early afternoon. We’ll depart for France in the early evening from Santiago.
IMPORTANT NOTICE for those planning to take a bus to another city, state, or destination from Salvador!
Starting January 20, 2026, the intercity bus station Rodoviária is changing its address!
The Rodoviária is leaving the Iguatemi area and will now be located in ÁGUAS CLARAS (about twenty kilometers from downtown Salvador).
A brand-new station (the most modern in Brazil) has just been set up there, accessible by car/taxi/Uber/metro.
Allow for much more transfer time (especially during rush hours), so leave early if you're heading to Chapada Diamantina or other Brazilian cities by bus.
Remember, there are also private transfers (even French-speaking ones) that can take you directly from your hotel in Salvador to your hotel in Chapada. Sure, it’ll be more expensive, but you’ll save on transfer time and comfort.
Tropical greetings from Salvador,
@ivanbahiaguide
Loyal member of the French-Speaking Brazil Forums for over 15 years already 😊 🇧🇷
Hello,
We’re thinking of spending 1 month in Chile, maybe doing a loop?
From 12/23 to 01/22.
What are the must-see sights, given we’re more interested in the country’s cultural side than the beaches?
Thanks
Hi everyone,
We're planning a trip to southern Chile in November. Here's our tentative itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Santiago, then a flight the next day to Balmaceda where we'll pick up a rental car to reach Coyhaique.
Day 3: Walk in the Coyhaique National Reserve, then continue to Puerto Chacabuco. Return to Coyhaique for the second night.
Day 4: Drive to Villa Cerro Castillo for a hike in the national park. Continue to Puerto Tranquilo and stay there for 3 nights.
Day 5: Boat tour on Laguna San Rafael.
Day 6: Day trip to Monte San Valentin Glacier.
Day 7: Excursion to the Marble Chapels, then drive to Puerto Guadal. We'll stay there for 3 nights.
Day 8: Walk along Lago Carrera and return to Puerto Guadal.
Day 9: Rio Baker Valley and, if possible, a glacier excursion.
Day 10: Drive to Cochrane and hike in Tamango National Reserve. We'll stay 2 nights in Cochrane.
Day 11: Walk in the Chacabuco Valley.
Day 12: Drive to Caleta Tortel. We'll stay there for 2 nights.
Day 13: Cruise in the Rio Baker delta.
Day 14: Return to Cochrane.
Day 15: Return to Balmaceda in two stages.
Day 16: Continue the return journey.
Day 17: Return the rental car and head back to Santiago.
After this, we're also planning to explore northern Santiago. I'll post about that part once I have a clearer idea of the route.
What do you think of this itinerary? Is it doable in 17 days?
Thanks in advance for your tips and recommendations.
martine
Hi there, I’ll be in Brazil from December 10th to the end of February.
I’ve sketched out a rough itinerary but I’m not sure how to arrange it—considering the climate, year-end holidays, and Carnival.
Basically, I’m thinking of the Amazon, the Northeast coast with Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (but skipping Chapada Diamantina),
Ouro Preto, Paraty, and Ilha Grande—but no Rio visit.
Is this doable in 3 months?
Which direction should I take for this itinerary?
Thanks in advance!
Hi everyone, does anyone know the agency Ventura Travel Agency (not ventura travel)? After lots of research and quotes, it’s the only one offering Uyuni at a reasonable price while meeting all the criteria: transfer to the border, private-room accommodation, and a very fair rate. Other agencies or guides either offer shared rooms, no border transfer, or prices that are way too high. But I’d love to hear some reviews about this agency. Thanks in advance!
Hi everyone,
We're planning a trip to Chile to visit the Atacama Desert and then head toward Putre, Lauca, Salar de Surire, etc.
Which would be the better time to go, April or November?
Is an SUV enough?
Looking forward to your tips!
Hi everyone, French travelers in Chile—what credit cards do you use for your various car rentals in the country? I’m traveling in September and was planning to switch my regular debit card (a VISA PREMIER in deferred debit mode) for the deposit guarantee.
My rentals are with Figal in Punta Arenas, Econautos in Arica, and Chilean Rent a Car in Temuco, and all of them want the deposit on a credit card. For me, deferred debit *should* work, but I’ve read comments saying the opposite.
How’s it actually working on the ground with these rental companies right now? Will a deferred debit card work, or not at all?
In France, banks don’t issue credit cards, right—or am I mistaken?
Hi everyone, is it still possible to travel in Ecuador outside the Amazon region? If so, do you have a reliable agency to recommend? All your recent experiences from the past few months would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much
Hi,
We’re heading to Buenos Aires for 3 days in November and would like to do a guided tour of a few neighborhoods. There are "free" tours, but none in French. Does anyone have a guide to recommend so we can really get to know the city beyond just the architecture?
Thanks
Hi there,
I’m desperately looking for info on the schedules and routes of (shared) boats to visit the islands of Lake Titicaca.
From what I’ve found, there’s a *combi* (bus) that leaves from Puno to go to Llachon. Where do you catch it? What are the schedules and frequency? Does it take about 1 hour?
Then in Llachon, you can take a boat to Amantani (45 min). Same question—where do you check for frequency and schedule?
After that, from Amantani, boats go to Taquile and then Uros. Do you have enough time to visit the islands between two boats? Frequency and schedule?
The goal is to do this tour independently (no agency) over 2 days. Thanks for any tips you might have!
I just got back from a trip to Bolivia and wow—what a wake-up call. It’s not the easiest country, but it’s absolutely stunning.
I started with Isla del Sol, perfect for easing into the altitude at a relaxed pace. Try to stay in the northern part of the island—it’s quieter and the views are insane. And the trout there? Unreal. Quick tip: bring cash in small bills; they almost never have change, and cards are rarely accepted.
Next up, La Paz. The city’s pretty wild, built in every direction. I did a few hikes in the area, including the famous Charquini Lagoon (the blue lake) at over 5,000 m—let’s just say I struggled 😅 but it was so beautiful it was totally worth it.
After that, I headed to Sajama. It’s cool, especially for the hot springs, and I stayed in Tomarapi. But honestly, if you’re short on time, you can skip it without too many regrets.
The highlight of the trip: the Salar. I did it starting from Tupiza, and I *highly* recommend going Tupiza → Uyuni. Way less crowded at the start and the landscapes are super varied. For the tour, I used SplitYourGuide to find a group, and it worked out great. Super handy for splitting costs and meeting people.
I wrapped up in Sucre—this city is gorgeous, all white, with such a chill vibe. And the salteñas + ice cream? Next level 😋
Bottom line: Bolivia’s a bit rough around the edges, sometimes exhausting (shoutout to the altitude), but it’s 1000% worth it.
If you’ve got questions or need tips, I’m happy to help!
Martin
I was planning to go to Réunion and stay in half-board accommodation with non-professionals, but it seems that’s not really the custom there—or maybe my budget isn’t big enough.
So, since I’ve already traveled around Ecuador and Peru, I’m now looking at Argentina, especially for its mountains (like the ones in Réunion that tempted me, even though—frustratingly—I could only admire them from below).
I plan to get around by bus and don’t know in advance where I’ll sleep, so I won’t book ahead. If I like a place, I might stay for several days.
I know that in Chile, it’s easy to find half-board accommodation, but what about in Argentina?
I’d like to stay with locals in half-board without it being a professional setup. I’m not sure if this is common practice there. It’s up to me to find someone willing to host me.
What do you think?
What would be a fair price (keeping in mind that 40 to 50 € is the max I can spend on accommodation, breakfast, and dinner)?
Hi everyone,
We’re heading to Patagonia for three weeks in November, starting from Coyhaique in Chile.
We won’t have a car, and I’m struggling to find information about transportation options for a few parts of the itinerary we’d like to do:
1) From Perito Moreno (the town, near Los Antiguos), we’d like to travel down Ruta 40 to visit Perito Moreno National Park and then cross into Chile via the Paso Roballos (at the latitude of Bajo Caracoles) to reach the road to Cochrane. Without a car, it seems we’ll need to use private agencies to get to the national park—do you have any recommendations or suggestions? Also, does anyone know if it’s possible to cross into Chile via Paso Roballos (from Bajo Caracoles) without a rental car? That is, without having to go all the way down to El Chaltén or back up toward Perito Moreno/Los Antiguos, etc.?
2) The second stretch that seems a bit tricky (though still easier, in theory) is from Caleta Tortel to Villa O’Higgins on the Chilean side. Do we have to go back through Cochrane, or are there ways to get directly from Tortel to Villa O’Higgins?
3) Finally, we’d like to hike into Argentina (El Chaltén) from O’Higgins. Any recommendations for this? Do we need to go through an agency? What’s the estimated duration of the trek?
As you’ve probably gathered, we want to visit some off-the-beaten-path spots but don’t have a car, so we’re looking for the best possible compromises.
Thanks so much in advance for all your suggestions!
Thomas
Hi,
we’re planning a round trip from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, to Salta, Argentina, in two months. On the way there, we’ll take the northern route via Susques, Route 27, then 52. But for the return, we were thinking of taking the southern route via San Antonio de los Cobres, Route 51, then 23. Is it similar to the northern route in terms of road surface? How busy is it, and are there gas stations? Basically, should we be worried about doing it in an SUV that’s supposedly 4x4 but has regular road tires and no second spare wheel, obviously...
I’ve seen that we can stop over in San Antonio de los Cobres.
Thanks for your feedback.
Raf.
Hi,
we’ll be in Calama at the end of March 2026, and I’m looking for a reliable car rental there for a 7-day road trip to Salta, Argentina. But I’m struggling with the car rental agencies in Calama because the reviews can be scary. I saw Gyg, which has great ratings, but I’m a bit wary (5/5 from 59 reviews—either the guy’s amazing or it’s fake...), but I can’t find any recent reviews on VF in general.
For Punta Arenas, I booked with Dachelet and didn’t have any issues with email exchanges.
Thanks in advance.
Raf.
Argentine and Chilean Patagonia from El Calafate to Ushuaia
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