Results for "Amazonie+|+101+>+123"

Bonjour!

Mon copain et moi on planifie aller passer quelques mois en Amérique du Sud en mai prochain (mai a aout environ). La seule chose de certaine, c'est qu'on veut visiter la Bolivie, mais encore la, combien de temps?

Moi j'ai déja passé 2 semaines au Pérou, on risque d'y retourner pour qu'il puisse voir ce merveilleux pays aussi, mais sinon, je ne connais pas beaucoup l'Amérique du Sud. Tous les pays m'intéressent, mais a cause de problèmes politiques ou de distances, j'imagine qu'on va se restreindre.

Présentement, on explore un peu toutes les destinations et j'aimerais ca savoir si vous avez des suggestions quant aux pays ou villes a ne pas manquer en Amérique du Sud, quant aux activités qui sortent des sentiers battus. Mon copain étudie en sociologie et il sera la pour rencontrer les gens, discuter et comparer la culture latine a celle des nords-américains. Si vous connaissez des endroits particulièrements ouverts et accueillants, on aimerait ca entre autres dormir chez l'habitant et "vivre" avec eux (peut-etre faire du bénévolat un peu ou s'établir 1 mois dans une ville pour tater le poul un peu).

On adore la montagne alors les trecks dans les Andes feront partie du périple. La jungle aussi assurément. Quel pays est le mieux pour ca?

Finalement, il y a le climat et l'hiver a prendre en considération...

J'attends vos suggestions - commentaires - recommandations - récits de voyage - contacts - etc!!!

Gracias para todo!!

A si, yo hablo espanol :)

Véronique

Hola !!

Serait-ce possible de se vacciner contre la fievre jaune et autre vaccins necessaire une fois AU PÉROU??? Je ne connais pas mon ittinéraire donc je ne sais pas encore si ca vaut la peine maintenant de dépenser une somme de 100 $?! 😕

Je me demandais s'il n'y aurait pas quelqu'un qui connaitrait une clinique de voyage à Montreal pour se faire vacciner contre l'hépatite A. Apparemment c'est le seul vaccin obligatoire, et coute un autre bras!! 63 $ + 30 $ service de l'infirmiere.

Derniere ptite question... est-ce que ces 2 vaccins seront suffisant pour mon sejour de 2 mois au Pérou?? ou dois-je également penser au PALU?! Hépatite B ?!

merciiiiiii 😉

Deux films de ce realisateur portant sur l Amerique du Sud et sur deux periodes de son histoire au travers de la conquete et de la course a "l or noir" (le caoutchouc et pas le petrole).

"Aguirre, la colere de dieu" : relate l expedition de Ursua et d Aguirre a la recherche de l Eldorado. Decrit toute la folie humaine s etant emparee d une partie des espagnols a l epoque de la conquette, et qui peu mieux incarner cette folie que Klauss Kinski.

Pour ceux qui aimeront le film, je conseille alors la "relacion", c est a dire le texte originel datant du 16eme siecle. Il est traduit en francais et se trouve dans toutes les bonnes librairies portant sur les sciences humaines. Facile a lire.

Un autre ouvrage est la "relacion" du frere Gaspard de Cravajal portant sur la premiere descente du fleuve Amazonne par F. de Orellana. Gaspard de Carvajal etait embarque a bord d un des navires. Interressant a lire pour se rendre compte de la facon dont les amerindiens de la basse amazonnie ont promene les espagnols dans leur quete illusoire de l Eldorado et de son or. Aussi en francais et facile a lire.

"Fitzgeraldo" : ou comment un homme fait abattre une montagne tant son desir de richesse l accable. Toujours avec Klauss Kinski, l acteur fetiche d Herzog. Dans ce film, se deroule une scene ou Klauss Kinski est entoure d amerindien voulant le tuer. Il faut savoir que les indiens ne jouent pas. Ils desirent vraiment tuer Kinski car ils le consideraient comme l incarnation du mal. Herzog a continuer a filmer durant ce passage.

Bonjour,

je pars faire un tour du monde à partir du mois d'Octobre 2004, et je serais en Amérique du sud à partir de janvier-février. Pour l'instant j'ai prévu dans mon itinéraire de faire le Chili puis l'Argentine et enfin le Brésil. Ce choix vous paraît il judicieux ? Si non quel itinéraire faire ? Je pensais faire du Chili en Argentine par le bus en partant vers le sud du chili et en remontant l'argentine pour prendre l'avion ensuite de Bueono Aires jusqu'à Sao paulo.

Tous vos conseils sont les bienvenus.

Merci

Juste un petit post pour preciser certains points sur le continent americain et plus particulierement la partie latino americaine (bien que cela soit aussi valable pour le nord du continent).

L Eldorado n existe pas et le mythe du bon sauvage n est plus. Les tribus, groupes ethniques, chefferies et les cultures dites isolees en plein coeur de la foret amazonienne ont toutes eu des contacts avec le monde occidental. Je ne veux pas briser le reve de l authenticite, mais si celle ci existe encore (dans le sens propre du terme, c est a dire aux traditions authentiques donc originelles et de ce fait preservees), ce n est certainement pas sur le continent latino americain que l on pourra la rencontrer. Certes, certains elements culturels ont perdure au fil des siecles, mais ils ont assimile et integre des elements etrangers. Notamment dans la religion, d ou le fort synchretisme de ce continent (ce qui est d ailleurs une vrai richesse). On peut, bien sur, se retrouver a 4500m dans un tout petit hameau a aider les quechuas peruviens ou equatoriens a travailler la chacra de patate, de yuca ou, a plus faible altitude, le champ de mais. Mais on n aura pas ete pour autant avec des "incas". Juste avec des paysans travaillant avec des techniques rudimentaires. Je ne suis pas en train de dire qu il n y a pas une survivence dans les tecniques ou outils de travail, mais je dis justement qu il n y a qu une survivence et pas vraiment une authenticite. Ce sont juste des paysans, et ils n ont plus rien a voir avec leurs ancetres ; si ce n est une langue qui a cependant assimilee beaucoup d elements exterieurs (espagnol essentiellement). Un tres bel exemple reside dans celui des indiens Urus du Lac Titicaca (cote peruvien) : ces derniers partent aux aurores de Puno pour etre bien en place sur leurs iles flottantes a l arrivee des touristes, et tard le soir ils retournent a Puno. Ce n est finalement qu une attraction touristique, une vitrine de l authenticite. Et les vetements que portent les populations andines (par exemple dans la region de Cusco au Perou) n ont rien a voir avec ceux de leurs ancetres.

Ces exemples portent sur les peuplades andines mais sont aussi valable pour les peuplades forestieres : les lacandons (Mexique et Guatemala) roulent en 4*4 grace au tourisme (mais devant ce dernier portent leurs tuniques blanches), les shuars, yanomanis, ...utilisent de la vaisselle en alluminium et ont adopte les bottes en caoutchouc avec le short et le jooging. Ils ne se liment plus les dents, ne se baladent plus avec une coupe au bol et vetus d un pagne rouge (sauf cas tres exceptionnel au Bresil, mais les tenues dites traditionelles sont revetues pour la television, ou bien pour une ceremonie telle qu un rite de passage. Il ne faut pas croire que raoni se balade quotidiennement avec son plateau d argile dans la levre inferieure). Aussi difficile (peut etre) que cela puisse paraitre, un paysan andin ne connait rien aux incas et quand il parle des sites archeologiques, il les attribu a des "dieux" venus dans des temps anciens, en fait c est une facon de dire qu il ne sait pas. De meme pour les populations forestieres. Seul le chaman ou le chef de tribu connait l histoire de son peuple et il la rattache toujours a une vison cosmogonique, mythique, et non a une vision historique. Tous ces derniers ont finalement tres tres peu connaissance de leurs racines. Bien sur, il y a toujours une ou deux personnes connaissant plus ou moins l histoire de sa culture (maitre d ecole, maire de la communaute) mais cela represente une tres faible minorite.

De plus, ces populations sont les plus pauvres et vivent au quotidient le racisme des plus riches. Etre type indien (en opposition au type occidental qui est synonyme de reussite sociale) est quasi comme une tarre (par exemple, au Perou etre "traite" d indien est une insulte sur la cote). D ou un des problemes majeur de ce continent : il y a un racisme envers ses propres racines...

Je ne veux pas couper une part du reve, mais voyager dans ces pays ne consiste pas a s occulter la realite. Venir ici et s imaginer rencontrer, ou "rentrer en contact" (terme tres 19eme siecle, mais le temps du romantisme et des voyageurs-explorateurs n est plus) avec des mapuches, quechuas, quichuas, aymaras, jivarros, yanomanis, ....de "pure souche" et vivant encore a "l etat sauvage" comme si le temps et l histoire ne les avaient pas atteind est un erreur et est surtout tres loin de la realite. Alors, evidemment, on peut toujours rever et voir uniquement se dont on a envie, mais c est s occulter la realite.

Juste un dernier point, les gouvernements francais obligent les populations amerindiennes de Guyane Francaise a recevoir le RMI (depuis sa creation bien sur), alors que la majeure partie des chefs de tribu le refusent. Mais l argent est remis en main propre aux populations. Cela a une consequence toute simple, ils delaissent l autonomie pour l assistanat et se saoulent. En d autres termes, il s agit ni plus ni moins d un procede d acculturation.

Bonjour

Qui a faible'expérience de l'achat d'un billet d'avion Montréal Rio Brésil ? Et de l'achat d'une passe intérieure de 4 envolé partout au Brésil. J'aimerais connaître vos expériences. Pour dans quel mois de l'année l'avez-vous acheté? Ou l'avez-vous acheté à Montréal? Combien de temps êtes-vous partie? Combien vous ont coûté ses billes d'avion Montréal Rio et quatre vols intérieurs au Brésil?

Merci

salut tout le monde !!!

j'aimerais me rendre au panama en octobre au royal decameron, sur l'hotel pas de probleme, j'ai lu d'excellent commentaires !!!

Ma question est la suivante, qu'en est il du temps a cette période précise de l'année, quel sont vos conseil, vos suggetions !

d'avance merci !!!

@+

mnestor

Bonjour,

Je pars 4 semaines en août en Bolivie. J'arrive et je repars de Santa Cruz. Le Lonely n'étant plus très à jour, j'aimerai savoir si l'un(e) d'entre vous a déjà visité ce pays et les conseils que vous pouvez me donner. De La Paz, il y a beaucoup de possiblités d'excursions, mais quid des autres villes ?

De Santa Cruz, à part les missions jésuites, qu'y a t-il d'autre à voir ou à faire : possibilité de faire des randos ? Pour gagner du temps dans les transports, est-il intéressant de prendre un bolleto ?

Enfin, tous les plans, toutes vos expériences seront bonnes à partager.

Merci d'avance.

Yveline

bonjour

je souhaite partir alone en amerique latine début septembre pour une période de 6 mois et pour une première expérience en solo : quelles difficultés serai-je amenée à rencontrer en tant que femme voyageant seule dans ces pays ?

merci pour vos réponses et bons voyages à tous

katia

salut a tous

je projete de partir en amerique du sud l'annee prochaine vers le mois de decembre.l'idee se serai de partir en voilier de france jusqu'au antilles et ensuite redescendre sur l'amerique du sud ou eventuellement sur l'amerique centrale.je ne sais pas quel pays visiter en priorite alors je fais appel a vous pour que vous me donniez des conseils.sur place j'aimerais m'investir dans une asso "humanitaire"(peut etre les MAPN ) ou faire de l'ecovolontariat et du"wwoof"(travailler dans des fermes).j'ai pleins de projets mais je ne connais pas l'amerique du sud si vous avez des conseils, des bons plans ou meme si vous etes interesse par mon projet ca me ferai plaisir d'en discuter et pourquoi de constituer un petit groupe.

qqun connait il le groupe manà?jen suis devenue fan par le biais d'amis mexicain.est ce qu'ils font des concerts en france???

Salut à tous,

De Mars à Juillet 2003, j'ai eu la chance d'aller en Bolivie dans le cadre de mes études pour travailler sur des glaciers de la Cordillera Real. Au cours de ce voyage, j'ai réalisé qu'une partie de ma vie était là-bas, qu'il fallait y retourner car plein d'expériences étaient encore à y vivre. C'est pour ça que j'ai d'ores et déjà prévu d'y repartir vers Mars 2004. Au cours des cinq à six mois que je vais passer là-bas, j'aimerais profondément travailler avec une association ou une ONG en tant que bénévole. Les secteurs où je pense pouvoir être le plus compétant, compte tenu de mes expériences passées sont l'encadrement d'enfants (soutien scolaire, cours de musique...), et le développement rural. Je suis néanmoins ouvert à toutes les propositions.

Ma question, chers amis passionnés de voyages, est donc la suivante : connaitriez-vous des assoc' ou des ONG qui oeuvrent en Bolivie dans les domaines de l'éducation ou du développement rural ? Pourriez-vous m'en transmettre les coordonnées ?

Gracias a todos para su ayuda, Zaki.

Bonjour à tous!

Je compte aller en Bolivie, un mois cet été et je cherche des gens qui ont deja fait ce voyage pour me conseiller sur les sites à ne pas manquer

J'attends vos réponses!

Merci d'avance et à bientôt

The theme for this July’s photo contest is: Bridges of the World

Vasco da Gama Bridge in Lisbon

Here’s the definition of a bridge: “A structure, typically made of stone, wood, or metal, that spans a depression or obstacle (such as a transportation route or waterway) by connecting the two sides or crossing over the obstacle.”

Viaducts, aqueducts, and footbridges will all be accepted.

Millau Viaduct

To allow for as many original photos as possible, the bridge can be photographed from the side, below, or above—the main thing is that it’s the focal point of the image.

Bridge in the Algarve

Pont du Gard from below

Details are also welcome, as long as you can still recognize it’s a bridge 😊

Brooklyn Bridge

Practical details:

Participation: Each VF member can submit up to 3 photos, until Sunday, 26/07 at 11:59 PM Paris time. Each photo must be posted in a separate message, with its number (1, 2, or 3). Don’t forget to add a little explanation (comment, location, etc.).

Voting: Each VF member can vote for the 3 photos they consider the best, based on their own criteria and the theme.

Voting will take place from Monday, 27/07 to Friday, 31/07 at 11:59 PM Paris time.

Selected photos should be listed in order of preference: - 1st photo: 3 points - 2nd photo: 2 points - 3rd photo: 1 point

The winner is the photographer whose photo receives the most points.

Results will be announced on 01/08. In case of a tie, the number of first-place votes will decide. The winner will have the honor of organizing August 2026’s contest.

Photos that have already been nominated (1st, 2nd, or 3rd place) in another contest are not eligible to participate in this one.

This thread is exclusively for contest submissions. Any discussions or comments should be posted in the following thread: Here

Introduction: For years, I’ve heard about Costa Rica, which seems like a country "made for me"—nature, not cities. I almost went in 2019, but a family issue made me cancel. Initially, I wanted to spend at least three weeks there, planning to go in our summer despite it being the rainy season. Then I realized what I wanted to do could fit into two weeks, so I ended up going in February. Plus, January’s weather was so awful that some sunshine should do me good. I found a flight at a decent price, but with two downsides. The first is that it leaves from Paris CDG, and the second is that it’s with Air France—a airline I’d sworn off after my misadventures with them back in 2008. We’ll see how it goes!

CUSCO-LA PAZ FLIGHT Hi, I’d like to fly from Cusco to LA PAZ (to save time… so I don’t want to deal with a canceled flight). Any feedback on Avianca? (It’s the only direct flight I’ve found.) Thanks

Why Colombia? It's quite simple. For the past few years, my daughter has been living with a Colombian from Bogotá. The idea was to discover his country, meet his family, and do part of the trip all four of us together. We’re heading out first as scouts, then they’ll join us to continue the journey. The itinerary was shared in another post—now it’s time for the impressions. No photos, as for me, it’s video and nothing more!

Day 1: The big departure What was planned: A flight from Lyon Saint-Exupéry late morning heading to Frankfurt. Two hours of waiting in Frankfurt (just enough time to eat a pretzel!!) and then off to Bogotá for an arrival around 7 PM local time. I hadn’t done the Check-Mig (to be done 72 hours before the flight). I did it on my phone, giving a fake arrival date in Colombia, and the attendant told me there wouldn’t be any issues in Bogotá. Actually, two hours of delay at departure in Lyon because a sick passenger was on the plane—they had to evacuate him, and the ambulance that was supposed to be there didn’t have permission to come near the plane. Ah, French administrative formalities!!!!! Flight to Frankfurt with Lufthansa went smoothly. A sprint through the airport—very well organized. Connection secured, so we boarded the plane, and two hours later than scheduled, we took off for an 11-hour flight! Arrival in Bogotá, and the immigration process took over an hour and a half because of the crowds. However, no issues with the Check-Mig—they barely glanced at it. Our daughter’s father-in-law ended up waiting over 3 hours at the airport because of this!!! Surprise: No luggage. Luckily, we had packed essentials in our carry-ons! Quick administrative paperwork, and Lufthansa informed me our bags would be on the next flight, so no big deal. Off to our hotel in La Candelaria and a good night’s rest.

The plus: We’re in Bogotá! The minus: Flight delays are becoming more and more common.

Hi there,

The title might be a bit long, but I hope it’s completely understandable!

When it comes to choosing your next trip, what tips the scales in favor of Eritrea over Ibiza?

Why pick Canada over French Polynesia?

The price? A magazine or TV report, a travel journal, an Instagram ad? Ease of travel? Minimal time difference? The country that has the most in common with all the trip participants? Activities? Relaxation? The desire to push your limits?

A photo?



What else, I wonder...

Personally, I often prioritize simple destinations (no administrative hassles), where I’m not at risk (nothing extraordinary like getting kidnapped by Daesh or ending up in a jail cell because the current geopolitics aren’t favorable to my passport, etc.), and where I can drive.

Wide-open natural spaces are more my thing than urban anthills.

Finally, I try not to spend three days on a plane to reach my destination, and I aim for a maximum budget of 3500 € (for 3 weeks) in comfortable conditions—that means charming hotels, good meals, etc.

What about you?🙂

This catchy and somewhat mysterious title comes from several questions I’ve been asking myself.

VF has been back open for a reasonable number of weeks and months now. The number of visitors overall matches past averages, but the number of members online in the last 24 hours seems relatively lower than what we used to see.

Yet, to my surprise, I’m seeing fewer travel journals, way fewer messages, and way fewer questions. I don’t see many new registered users online, and I notice a number of members who are logged in but either aren’t participating or have stopped participating.

Something’s not adding up for me because, in my opinion, VF is still appealing, and I don’t see which other sites could really compete.

Was there a real break between pre- and post-Covid? Does it just take more time for some people to discover the site or learn that it’s active again? Do people now prefer quick consumption on sites like FB or others I’m not familiar with? Where have the site’s old-timers gone, and what are they doing with their time now? What’s really going on here?

"In one place, in one day, a single deed accomplished, May hold the theater filled until the end."

- Sunday morning, a chilly dawn - The kitchen - Smell of coffee and toast, a jar of honey on the table.

- Tits pecking at sunflower seeds in the transparent feeder stuck to the window.

- France Musique on the radio: Brahms, violin concerto by the lovely Hilary Hahn - Characters: - An old man in a plush dark blue dressing gown - An old woman in a worn-out duck-blue dressing gown. They dance cheek to cheek, the woman’s head resting on the old man’s broad chest. The old man breathes in the tangled hair of the lady. She smiles. Happy. Tomorrow, they’re off on a trip.

Hi,

I’m starting this thread after a digression that began in the India section and continued in a travel journal about Kerala.

The original topic was whether India is—or isn’t—a nature destination.

I’ll let you all discuss and share your own definition of a nature destination. 🙂

Hello fellow travel enthusiasts! 🌍 As a traveler and blogger, I’ve often been struck by the huge inequalities tied to freedom of movement. While some cross borders with ease, others face major obstacles due to their nationality, background, or the restrictive policies of certain countries.

On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, I wrote an article reflecting on this issue: 📖 Travelers' Rights: A Reflection on Freedom of Movement and Global Inequalities

In this article, I cover topics like:

Inequalities between passports ("strong" vs. "weak" passports). The specific challenges faced by travelers from marginalized communities. How to take action to promote more inclusive and equitable travel.

I’d love to hear your thoughts! 😊 Have you ever experienced these inequalities while traveling? How do you think we could raise more awareness about this issue? Feel free to share your experiences or ask questions in this thread. I can’t wait to discuss this with you!

Travel is also about building bridges between cultures. So let’s make sure it becomes a reality for everyone. ✈️🌎 Thanks for reading, and I look forward to exchanging ideas with you!

Fellow travelers,

Don’t they say "never two without three"? It seems so. Here I am again on the forum to share—and let’s be honest, indulge a bit of selfish pleasure—by recounting the story of this third installment in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Where? It’s all in the title. On the island of Kyushu in southern Japan, more precisely in the northwest between Fukuoka and Nagasaki. I hope to take you along with me for 19 nights and 18 full days this autumn of 2024. On the itinerary: gastronomy, crafts, festivals, waterfalls, encounters, and leisurely strolls in all simplicity.

A last-minute flight booked just 7 days before departure, and the route evolved regularly based on whims and accommodation availability, eventually settling on this:

- 5 nights in Fukuoka: Fukuoka city, Ukiha, Itoshima, Dazaifu, Yanagawa - 4 nights in Hasami, Nagasaki Prefecture: Okawachiyama, Arita, Takeo, Kashima, Yobuko, Karatsu, Kabeshima - 6 nights in Nagasaki: Ureshino, Higashi-Sonogi, Nagasaki city, Unzen, Sotome - 4 nights in Fukuoka: Karatsu, Fukuoka city

Most of the trip was done by car for practical reasons—easier access to certain places and freedom of movement—but also for the sheer joy of it. Despite slow traffic at times, driving in rural Japan is a delight.

If the program interests you, see you soon for the start of the journey.

Hi there,

This summer, we spent 3 weeks in northern Colombia. A vibrant trip that complemented our southern Peru adventure from the previous year perfectly. Two neighboring countries, but completely different.

To start, we had to make a choice because the country is vast.

So we focused on 3 different regions for our 3 weeks: - Week 1: Bogotá and the colonial villages (Villa de Leyva, Barichara) - Week 2: Medellín and the Coffee Region - Week 3: the Caribbean coast

We entrusted the organization to a small local agency that handled accommodations, guides, and transportation. Transportation is key. The country is large, the road network isn’t very efficient, and we spent a lot of time traveling (cars, planes, and boats...), but it was the price to pay to explore it.

The overall budget isn’t exactly "backpacker" level. We spent 7,500 € (excluding Air France) for our 3-week stay (hotels, drivers, guides, flights, visits, meals). But we treated ourselves to nice accommodations—you’ll see as we share more posts.

For vacations, I try to follow Philippe Noiret’s motto: "Travel is short. Let’s try to do it first class."

CORSICA From September 24, 2024 to October 9, 2024 Thank you, thank you, thank you for reactivating my favorite forum, which has given me so many ideas for my trips since... 2008—it’s been ages, as they say! So, to celebrate its return, I’m sharing this little travel journal from our latest road trip, not too long ago, since it was Corsica in the autumn. Autumn is the ideal season to visit Corsica: fewer tourists, perfect temperatures around 25°C, and, most importantly, less stress on the roads. You can feel it everywhere. Servers and shopkeepers are more relaxed and have time to chat (yes, Corsicans do talk... but not all of them!)

09/24 Arrival in Erbalunga Whether you're from northern France or Belgium, like us, the easiest way to reach the Isle of Beauty is by flying from Lille-Lesquin Airport. Volotea offers two destinations: Bastia and Ajaccio. Be careful, though—while the ticket prices are attractive, the airline makes up for it with baggage fees. A 25kg suitcase for 212 €—that really drives up the cost of transportation! For us, it’ll be Bastia. After this short flight and an arrival that lets you clearly see the east coast of Cap Corse, we’re welcomed by our friend Jean-Claude, who’s kindly hosting us for a few days. We met this Corsican and his wife during our four-year stay in French Guiana, and I have to say, he completely changed my opinion of Corsicans and even made me want to visit his island. The house, clinging to the rock above the sea, is stunning and offers a breathtaking view of the island of Elba. I’d always heard of Elba but must admit I wouldn’t have known where to place it before. We’ll stay here for five nights, long enough to explore the north of the island.



Since we’ve just arrived, Jean-Claude wants to show us his village, ERLALUNGA, a quiet little port, and the small village of CASTELLO above it, where he spent a lot of time in his childhood...

Hi everyone, I’m restarting my travel reports with my 2023 trip that took me from Costa Rica to Suriname over a month and a half.

First stop: Costa Rica. I arrived in late September in San José, a city I know well and never linger in. As soon as I got off the early-morning flight, I headed to the domestic airport—just a 5-minute walk away—to catch a 45-minute flight to Puerto Limón on the Caribbean coast. The 40-minute flight in a small Cessna was fun, especially since we landed on a tiny airstrip right by the sea—it felt like landing on the beach, which immediately set the mood. Plus, I wasn’t keen on enduring the 4–5-hour bus ride to Cahuita, especially since large sections of the road were under renovation. In Cahuita (where I’ve been going every year since 2015), I stayed at Kenaki Lodge on Playa Grande. It’s a great lodge, about a 45-minute walk from Cahuita’s center, but you’re just 50 meters from the beach and usually have it all to yourself. The lodge is run by Béa, a Frenchwoman, and depending on the season, you can help release baby turtles on the beach. The room was 55 €, very spacious, and you can use the outdoor kitchen. I’d recommend it for anyone looking for peace and quiet and a private beach.

After 5 days there, I flew to Cartagena but didn’t stay overnight. Instead, I headed straight to Rincón del Mar, a 3-hour bus ride from CTG. I’d mostly heard about it from a friend who lives there and runs El Ché, a beachfront restaurant. Rincón del Mar is a tiny seaside village, very peaceful, with a pretty nice beach. There are lots of small hotels and restaurants, and it’s a spot that’s likely to grow quickly in the coming years. Note: there’s no ATM there, so you’ll need to withdraw cash in San Onofre, about 30 minutes away by moto-taxi. The round trip costs around 25,000 COP. That’s also where you catch the bus to Cartagena. For accommodations, rooms were roughly 70,000–90,000 COP, with a so-so value for the price. As for things to do, I’d recommend the tour that takes you to watch the sunset in front of Bird Island, followed by a swim in a lagoon with bioluminescent plankton. The excursion (if I remember correctly) cost around 90,000 COP.

After a week in Rincón del Mar, I headed back to Cartagena and decided to fly to Yopal to visit the Río Meta. In Yopal, you’ll need to go to the bus terminal (10 minutes by taxi from the airport). From there, I took a bus to Orocué (50,000 COP) for about a 4-hour trip—it felt endless because the road was in terrible condition. Orocué is a tiny town on the banks of the Río Meta, but it has all the essentials (hotels, restaurants, ATMs). It’s lovely to stroll along the river at sunset. There are a few small bars, the area is very natural, the sunsets are stunning, and when there are distant storms, it’s just breathtaking. For lodging, I stayed at Hotel Brisas de San Miguel. It wasn’t bad—fan-cooled room for 70,000 COP. There were quite a few mosquitoes. I spent 3 days in Orocué. If you want to swim, head to the bridge (the only one), Cano San Miguel, and on the right, there’s a swimming spot. With the heat, it’s a great way to cool off.

From Orocué, I took a fast *lancha* (boat) up the Río Meta to Puerto Carreño, in the Vichada department at the far end of Colombia. This brings you to the majestic Orinoco River, right across from Venezuela. The boat ride is long—10 hours—and costs about 60 €. We left around 6 AM, with a few stops for bathroom breaks and meals along the way. But you *must* book your spot 1–2 days in advance. To do that, go to the small square above the dock—there’s a "navigation office" there. The trip was long but enjoyable. I never get tired of river journeys.

I was happy to finally arrive in Puerto Carreño, a small border town with Venezuela. No surprise that half the population was Venezuelan. In Puerto Carreño, I stayed at Hotel Delfines del Orinoco. The room was 80,000 COP, decent, with A/C, and the best part was the pool. I spent 2 nights there. One thing you *must* do—morning and evening—is hike to the top of Cerro de la Bandera (the *cerros* are huge rock formations typical of the Orinoco region, and there are many in the area). From the summit, you get amazing 360° views of the savanna and jungle. Sunrise is especially incredible. The trail is well-marked—from downtown Puerto Carreño, it takes about 20 minutes.

Next, I spent 3 nights at Rancho Barú. About an hour by boat from Puerto Carreño, you get off at Casuarito, and someone from the lodge picks you up by motorcycle for a 30-minute ride. The ranch is in the middle of the savanna, with a river/rapids beach just a 5-minute walk away. You can also fish—bites come quickly. For the lodge, one night (room or hammock) with shared bathrooms, three meals included, one excursion, plus the round-trip motorcycle ride costs 245,000 COP. An extra night without an excursion is around 100,000 COP, but you need to let the lodge know in advance so they can prepare enough food—there’s absolutely nothing for miles around.

After those 3 great days at the ranch, I took a canoe to cross into Venezuela, since Casuarito is right across from Puerto Ayacucho. The crossing costs 10,000 COP, but I got shaken down by Venezuelan immigration, who invented a violation and made me pay $40 USD. Puerto Ayacucho didn’t inspire me much. The city felt sketchy, with many hotels closed. Dealing with currency exchange was the hardest part—you *must* bring cash (USD or Colombian pesos), know the exchange rate, and find someone with enough money to exchange with you. It took me at least 2 hours. I stayed in a decent hotel downtown for $20 USD a night, but I’ll admit that going out at night—even in Puerto Ayacucho—felt pretty dodgy. All the buildings have bars on the windows, and there weren’t many people outside. I didn’t linger and found my plans to continue south too complicated. The next day, I took a bus across the country to the Brazilian border at Santa Elena de Uairén. The trip took a day and a night, with countless military checkpoints where they made everyone get off, unload all the luggage, etc. Not exactly a fun ride.

Photos: - 2 sunrises near the Orocué dock - Storm over the savanna at Rancho Barú - View of the savanna and Orinoco near Casuarito - Photo taken during the Río Meta boat trip

Certains ne quittent jamais leur ville ou leur province et ne le souhaitent pas. Nous autres voyageurs avons un beau jour attrapé le virus de la decouverte et il nous faut voir l Ailleurs.

il y a eu une fois une petite semence qui a germé : un voyage de classe, un pays decouvert avec des amis, des vacances avec les parents, un passage de frontiere. un moment qui nous a donné le goût, un moment qu on veut revivre à tout jamais, a chaque fois.

Bonjour,

Je suis en train de réfléchir aux vacances 2021, et j'aimerais savoir si les pays ci dessous sont compatibles avec un voyage en étant enceinte entre 2 et 4 mois, et avec un enfant qui aura 3 ans et 10 mois (presque 4 ans donc) : Équateur + Galapagos Costa Rica Cap vert Floride Afrique du Sud

Ce serait pour un voyage en novembre 2021.

Merci,