Chile

  • America,  Argentina,  Bolivia,  Brazil,  Chile,  Cuba,  Our Itinerary,  Paraguay,  Peru,  TDM,  Tips,  Uruguay

    5 months in South America & Cuba: Itinerary & Transportation (Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, Cuba)

    Update May 2017: Here is the latest version of our itinerary in South America, Cuba & the Caribbean. All that lasted 5 months… I found transportation a bit complicated to understand in South America, some border crossings are recently impossible (especially Los Antiguos – Chile Chico), I had to tear out a lot of hair to establish this itinerary. There are many land border crossings, especially between Chile and Argentina, make sure you have enough blank pages in your passport. Click on the button at the top left of the map below to access the list of destinations. CHILE Easter Island(round-the-world ticket) Santiago (round-the-world ticket) Punta Arenas (plane 160€/person) ARGENTINA…

  • America,  Chile,  Country Guides,  TDM,  Tips

    One month in Chile: Itinerary, balance sheet, budget, guide, advice

    We didn’t expect to stay in Chile for so long. Apart from Easter Island, we had no other must-see planned for Chile. The beginnings were not simple: Chilean Spanish sounded like a slap in the face: incomprehensible. But we didn’t give up: after Argentina, we went back there to travel the whole country, from South to North. Itinerary Easter Island (4 days): Round-the-world ticket from Papeete. Visit of the island with a 4×4 Santiago (3 days) : Round the world ticket. Linguistic shock. We tried to understand Chilean Spanish, but without success. Hence our rather precipitous departure for Argentina Punta Arenas (1 day): Flight from Santiago. Visit of Magallanes Island…

  • America,  Argentina,  Chile,  TDM,  Tips

    What to eat/drink in Chile and Argentina?

    After having suffered from junk food in the Philippines (too fat), in New Zealand (too fat), we are saved in Argentina and Chile (very fat too). Basically, we are anything but vegetarian and we already love juicy Argentinean meat (but expensive) in Paris. We enjoyed ourselves here! Beware, the lack of vegetables will be felt at one time or another, even for carnivores like us. In restaurants, salads are more expensive than meat and vegetarian restaurants are quite rare. Remember to eat a balanced diet. In any case, after a meal in a steakhouse, it’s hard to come back the same day because the portions are so huge. Usually we…

  • America,  Bolivia,  Chile,  Country Guides,  During the World Tour,  TDM,  Tips

    How to go from San Pedro de Atacama (Chile) to Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) by bus

    There are 4 ways to get to the Salar de Uyuni from San Pedro de Atacama. It’s up to you to choose according to your desire, your ability to withstand the high altitude and the thickness of your wallet 🙂 All prices are for one person. Exchange rates in January 2017 1 USD = 0,93€ 1$B = 0,137€ 1000$CH =1,42€ 1$AR = 0,06€ Option 1: Jeep from San Pedro de Atacama to Uyuni. Duration: 3-4 days. Cost: US$200 It is the simplest option and sold by all the agencies in San Pedro de Atacama and also detailed in the Lonely Planet. The plusses This is the shortest way to connect…

  • America,  Chile,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    San Pedro de Atacama (Chile): lunar landscapes

    This article is online a week late, but better late than never, right? Más vale tarde que nunca! Anh preferring to stay at rest, I organize myself to go on an excursion by myself. In the main street, I am attracted by the sign “we speak French” of the agency “Flamingo Travel Agency”. I check the reviews on Tripadvisor and here we go! Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary The employee actually speaks French very well, I explain to him that I have a 1/2 day to do some tours. I am attracted by the “Astronomico” tour but he explains to me that the…

  • America,  Chile,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    Mountain sickness in San Pedro de Atacama (Chile) at 2500m altitude

    Santiago – San Pedro de Atacama: 24 hours by bus. After having suffered from the 26 hours of bus between El Calafate and Bariloche, this time we divide the path in two: Santiago – Copiapo (12h) then Copiapo – San Pedro de Atacama (12h). Copiaco is where 33 miners were trapped in the mines for 3 months. We arrived there at 8pm. The next day, at 8 am, we already leave for San Pedro de Atacama (2500m of altitude), one of the oasis of the Atacama desert, the most arid in the world. What I didn’t know was that even with all the chances on my side, these 12 hours…

  • America,  Chile,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    Santiago (Chile): nice but nothing more

    This is the 2nd time we visit Santiago. The first time was just after Easter Island. The Chilean Spanish (too fast, too difficult) discovered in Santiago made us flee to Argentina. This time, we come back here to wait for the arrival of my new credit card. To judge our progress in Spanish, we booked exactly the same hostel as the 1st time Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary I had to make a new credit card due to a suspicion of fraud from the bank. In reality, there was no fraud, it was me. I tried unsuccessfully to withdraw money several times from…

  • America,  Chile,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    Valparaíso (Chile): una ciudad muy linda

    For the last few days, the word lindo(a) has been coming up often, as we only visit the cities that are too cute . We are in Valparaíso, only 8.5km from Viña del Mar, the city of 42 hills, with its famous graffiti and small streets Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary Day 1 : After saying goodbye to our neighbors (to whom we got a bit attached especially after the New Year’s Eve party) in Viña del Mar, we take a bus to Valparaíso. Because of a misunderstanding with the bus driver, he drops us at the bus terminal and not the cathedral…

  • America,  Chile,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    Viña del Mar (Chile): New Year & Fireworks

    To us the best fireworks of Chile! How is Valparaíso better? Let me explain: Valparaíso’s fireworks are famous because the towns next to the bay launch their fireworks at the same time, creating a nice show. It’s not one firework that we had, but nine at once! Attending it from Viña del Mar or Valparaíso is about the same thing! Viña del Mar is only 8.5km from Valparaíso, accessible by metro and bus Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary How to get there We take a bus from Puerto Varas (which we leave with regrets) at 20h to arrive at 10h(más o menos) the…

  • America,  Chile,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    Puerto Varas (Chile): a charming little town

    Remember, in the previous episode, I asked the owner of my hotel in Puerto Montt which were the best cities to spend the New Year (apart from Valparaiso & Co.), the answer was clear: Puerto Varas. She told me about Valdivia, Pucon, among others… but Puerto Varas remains her favorite This lady was absolutely right, check it out !!!! Part 1: Travel Diaries Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diaries Day 1 : The photo above is simply (part of) the great view we have from the Llanquihue lake in Puerto Varas, on the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes. Am I in Japan, the Philippines or what? The view is…