Travel Journal
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Route: Punta Arenas (Chile) to Ushuaia (Argentina) by bus with Bus-Sur: return, review
We bought our tickets on the internet 2 days before the departure… in order to flee Chile as soon as possible after our first mixed impression. In the rush, we bought the tickets from the 1st company selling tickets online, i.e. Bus-Sur (35 000 pesos/person). And the trip was so funny/weird that we decided to tell you about it in detail. Rates You can see the schedules and buy bus tickets on Bus Bud The journey: quite an adventure There are 2 buses leaving Punta Arenas for Ushuaia on the same day: one at 8:15 am and the other at 8:30 am. We choose obviously the one at 8:15 am.…
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Ushuaia (Argentina): the southernmost city of Argentina
After a whole day of bus (12 hours), we finally arrive in Ushuaia, the southernmost city of Argentina. Because the real southernmost city in the world is Puerto Williams in Chile, accessible by boat from Punta Arenas, for a very expensive price Ushuaia is the departure point of most of the boats for Antarctica. Last-minute deals can be found very easily. Honestly, I don’t know if 5000 USD for 10 days in last-minute is a good price Part 1: Travel Diaries Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diaries Day 1 : When we arrive at 8 pm after a long day in the bus, we only think about eating…
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Punta Arenas (Chile): islands of penguins, dolphins and sea lions
After these first mixed impressions of Chile, we decide to flee to Argentina to see if we can understand their Spanish better. If we have to leave, we might as well go to Ushuaia. However, to go to Ushuaia, we first have to go to Punta Arenas, which is on the Chilean side. Part 1: Travel Diaries Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diaries As we are in mode “Let’s run away, quickly!”, we booked the flight the day before to Punta Arenas and the bus to Ushuaia 2 days in advance. For the plane, there were only 9 seats left I think and we did very well by…
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Chile (South America): Very mixed first impressions
I warn you: this isn’t a very joyful post. Morale has fallen well during these first 4 days in Chile. Our biggest problem is communication. We understand NOTHING in Chilean Spanish. Let me give you a simple example. We only wanted to do laundry at our hotel. After 5 minutes, we finally understand that the guy has a washing machine and is going to do it for us. “Cuanto cuesta?” (how much does it cost?), it’s not a difficult question isn’t it? and the guy answers us with a monologue where we can’t even understand a single word. Why make it complicated when you can make it simple? Following this…
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Moorea (French Polynesia): snorkelling with Sharks and Rays
Dear reader, what I will share with you here is HUGE! I just spent 2 days in Moorea so extraordinary that, as usual, I will not be stingy in descriptions, words and pictures. If you are also going around the world, don’t hesitate to stop over in French Polynesia, even if it’s expensive, it’s so worth it. Part 1: Travel Diaries Day 1 : From Papeete, we take an early morning ferry to Moorea. In 40 minutes of extremely pleasant journey (where I slept), we arrive at the ferry station of Moorea, where a 4×4 is waiting for us for a 4h excursion. Tom, the guide, welcomes us warmly and…
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Papeete (French Polynesia): more beautiful than expected
It still took us 6 hours to do Auckland – Papeete. We left on November 24th and arrived on November 23rd, one day earlier. We gain in efficiency I tell you! Doesn’t that remind you of another very famous round-the-world trip? AirTahitiNui takes good care of its customers On all the forums, everyone advises to leave Tahiti Nui island, limited as soon as you arrive at the airport (lol), to go to Moorea, Bora Bora… so I didn’t have a lot of expectations for this island. In the end, it is much more beautiful than expected. Part 1: Travel Diary Day 1 : The arrival in Papeete corresponds to all…
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Orewa, Karekare, Piha and Auckland (New Zealand): last days in the land of kiwis
After the visit to Cathedral Cove, we spend long hours on the road to come to Orewa where we spend the night in a Top 10 campsite. It rains a little in the evening but the weather is splendid the next morning. JB jogs on the long beach next to the campsite (Orewa Beach). It is also one of the favorite beaches of the “Aucklanders”, or “jafa” = jargon to say “Just another fucking Aucklander”. When you live in the 2nd most pleasant city in the world, well, it attracts jealousies Part 1: Travel Diaries Waiwera Thermal Resort & Spa If we flee Auckland it is to enjoy the last…
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Hot Water Beach, Cathedral Cove (New Zealand): nice if you have some time
Not very far from Hobbiton Movie Set (1h30), it is Hot Water Beach that we visit this afternoon. It’s a dangerous beach (if we swim) but fun if we just make a hole in the sand and sit in it to enjoy the hot thermal water Part 1: Travel Diaries Hot Water Beach Nobody tells us concretely how it works until we read the sign near the parking lot. There are 2 springs (2 holes of 10cm that we can only notice, from which a burning water spouts out). It is necessary to dig a hole in the sand certainly, but also a system of viaduct to make enter a…
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Hobbiton Movie Set (New Zealand): a dream come true
From Waitomo, we drive to Hobbiton Movie Set and sleep in a campsite next door. If we first visit Waitomo and Hobbiton before going to Coromandel, it’s because the weather forecast indicates that there is more chance of good weather if we go to Hobbiton right away (the shortest way would be, from Rotorua, to go first to Coromandel and then Waitomo) Visiting Hobbiton in the rain? Never of the life! If you’re not a fan of The Lord of the Rings, forget about this article, as it will focus “oh” and “ah” on the beauty of the location, the attention to detail and anecdotes that only those who have…
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Waitomo Glowworm Caves (New Zealand): thousands of glowworms
From Rotorua, we make a big detour to Waitomo Caves which is only 1h30 away. This route isn’t at all optimal, but I will explain it later in the article about Hobbiton Part 1: Travel Diary The information offices of private companies appear before the i-center information office. The prices are the same, but the interest of going to the real i-center is to choose among all the activities offered in the area. Visiting a cellar, two caves, caving or boating etc We choose the most popular activity: Waitomo Glowworm Cave with boat tour at the end. With 2000 visitors per day in the summer, reservation is necessary, but this…
