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1. Colombia[$ = Prices in Colombian PESOS - current January-June 2008 --- Electricity: 110V/60Hz] |
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| Town / Camp Site | GPS | Price p. Night | Description / Our Impression |
| Cartagena parking lot near convention centre |
N 10°25.179' W075°32.888' |
not used! | option - not used: public parking lot, fenced, by the bay, with 24 hour security (hourly charge). relatively quiet location near the historic centre of town, some traffic, but not excessive. good restaurants near-by, also some night clubs (noise?). not much shade, but some breeze, no facilities. there's a second large parking lot near the navy museum - next to the round-about to Bocagrande (busy w.traffic). entrance road is full of tourist buses during the day. most parking bays are very short, some shade, good breeze, we filled here once with water (tipped the attendant). |
| Playa De Manzanillo near Cartagena Beach restaurant |
N 10°30.587' W075°30.045' |
$10.000 | turn off the main highway to Baranquilla at km9, at the military post, and follow the road to its end. greedy pig of an owner, overcharging (also for food)! I had to get out of town, and only found this place along the beach - NOT recommended (see below for alternative location). beach shelters used extensively during day time, very quiet over night. no shade, windy, and fine sand blows into everything. parking on sand (be careful: soft in some places), not very level. fair bit of trash, toilets so run down I didn't use them, no fresh water, no other facilities. |
| before Playa De Manzanillo Palma Real on beach |
N 10°30.587' W075°30.045' |
free | turn off the main highway to Baranquilla at km9, at the military post, and then off the road to Manzanillo (see above) turn right into the dirt track at the sign pointing to Palma Real and the "Calipso" restaurant, keep straight. I had asked the restaurant owner if it was o.k. to stay, and he replied it was safe and quiet. he also offered us to stay at his place, get power and water, but too many closely planted palms and 5 dogs made me think better... we later talked with the very friendly neighbours, too, who even invited us for drinks! beach sand is firm, almost moist, and easy to get level. very exposed and windy location, but we felt safe here. no shade, no facilities. |
| Cartagena km8 Via Mamonal |
N 10°19.188' W075°30.112' |
CARTAGAS | to reach this place you basically have to follow the shoreline south, past all commercial ports like "Muelle El Bosque"... it's on the left hand side opposite a MOBIL refinery. ATTENTION: looking to re-fill another bottle at Cartagas (at the now defunct plant) in Santa Marta I was told that all bottles are trucked in from Cartagena and this is the only filling station along the coast. |
| on the way to Playa Blanca beach camping |
N 10°13.442' W075°34.575' |
free | the road is rough and very dusty. this little spot between the road and calm waters is shaded, but only half a car length off the road. decent breeze, quiet over night apart from a few stray dogs. I wouldn't have stayed but it was too late to reach the main land and find anything better. no facilities. I went to Playa Blanca and didn't like it: you can't access the beach with any vehicle, so the only options are 1. to tent, or 2. stay above the beach in the dirty and dusty parking lot, for which you have to pay. I didn't like the beach much, very windy and crowded (Saturday). road is getting narrower and rougher the further along you go. |
| Santa Marta off C. Ferrocarril |
N 11°13.895' W074°11.945' |
Carrefour in "Ocean Mall" | large supermarket, which has almost everything, but fairly expensive. in the mall you will find banks and internet cafés. outside are water taps in the lawn, where we filled our tanks several times (you need a tool). free un-locked WiFi, best on top floor in the food court area! one night I even slept there, parked on the road behind the shopping mall, and it wasn't too noisy once traffic stopped around 11:00 (it started again at 6:00) - security around the mall is good with armed guards and dogs patrolling all night. |
| Taganga Hotel "Dolfin" parking lot |
no reading | $20,000 !! | near the end of the beach road, narrow entrance, small parking lot (watch out for low tree branches). it was carnival and the town was packed - it was noisy almost all night, didn't get more than 3 hours of sleep. due to its central location it wouldn't be much quieter any other time of the year. use of clean toilet, power from power point near office, there's a tap in the yard to fill water if needed. |
| Taganga parking lot |
N 11°16.170' W074°11.565' |
$6,000 | to reach this place you have to drive all the way to the end of the beach road (past the Hotel "Dolfin" listed above). I wanted to park near the fishing boats, but a local told me it wouldn't be safe and that I would be in the way in the morning... roaming dogs barked almost all night, owners got up before 6:00 = not much sleep. paid parking lot, not very level, tree with low branches across the entrance, no facilities. another option, not used: you could try up on the hill near the two football fields, where there are several hostels near-by. this is a quieter part of town with some decent breeze (and little shade). to reach it turn up the hill near the police station / speed bump at the entrance of town. |
| Tayrona Natl.Park Gayraca beach |
N 11°19.059' W074°06.476' |
free 1) | 1) entrance fee to National Park is (for foreigners) $25,000 p.person + $8,000 for the vehicle. first exit off the main road (coming from Santa Marta) into the Natl.Park, opposite a fuel station. road is in bad repair, but mostly sealed. driveway into property is dusty with a few trees you have to watch out for. this was the nicest beach camping we found in Colombia; a local in Taganga had recommended this place. calm bay with a few fishermen's huts, one small restaurant which only opens sporadically... restaurant owner is very friendly. not many visitors during the week. large lot with many trees, several being rather low, not very level. good shade and almost too much breeze, dusty. there's no power, no running water, so bring everything! but it's a very quiet place to relax and enjoy a safe swim! I stayed 4 nights (no repeat entrance fee). the next bay down the road, Neguanje, is a lot more busy, with local tourist buses, many boats operating, the accompanying commerce and rubbish - for which they are asking an 'amenity fee'... |
| Tayrona Natl.Park outside entrance |
N 11°16.561' W074°07.056' |
free | another time in Santa Marta we wanted somewhere quiet for one night and just drove up to the entrance gate (after closing hours - it's a good 10 kms from town), where we slept outside the gate in a parking lot - nobody seemed to mind. no facilities, not quite level, but good breeze and very quiet over night (22:00 - 6:30) |
| near Los Najanjos "Casa Grande" Camping |
N 11°16.684' W073°51.909' |
$8,000 p.person | right at the beach, far enough off the main road that you don't hear much traffic. surf is rough, creating lots of sea mist. some cocos palms and trees offer shade. decent breeze. a dozen simple cabins for rent. popular over weekend with surfies tenting, but still quiet enough to sleep well. o.k.-ish bathrooms and cold showers. upon asking I was offered to get power from restaurant, but then I camped too far away. |
| Chiriguana "Hotel Chiriguana" |
N 09°21.748' W073°35.850' |
took a room! | it is hot in the interior low lands of Colombia (coolest o/n 27°), so after a long day of driving we took a room with private bath and a/c ($50,000). we created quite a spectacle in this little town, and we left with "Gracias Australianos - Los quieros mucho" written into the dust of our bonnet... Chiriguana is a little off the main highway and a lot quieter than settlements along the main road. |
| near Rio Negro on way to Bucaramanga Balneario "Brisas Del Rio" |
N 07°13.565' W073°09.196' |
free | large property a little set back from the main highway (you hear more of the river than the road), in a bend of the river. very steep and rough driveway, but once down lots of level space, some with decent shade under mature trees, some on grass. once again a very friendly owner, this one with 14 dogs! water, o.k. toilets, cold showers, probably could have got power, too (didn't ask - it was free after all!). |
| Giron next to Police station Parqueadero |
N 07°04.191' W073°10.109' |
not used! | large walled parking lot in walking distance to historic town centre. almost level, road doesn't seem too busy, and you could get a bit away from it... we only parked here for the day. some breeze (when we visited), and toilets (which we didn't check out). |
| near San Gil km 5 north of town Balneario "El Condado" |
N 06°34.223' W073°06.484' |
$10,000 p.person | turn into dirt road almost opposite the petrol station (there's a tiny yellow sign under a tree), across a narrow bridge, through the arched gate (decent clearance) which looks like a castle from the middle-ages. camping in the grassed parking lot, not very level, hardly any shade. a fair bit of truck noise from nearby highway, almost all through the night. o.k. recently renovated toilets, cold showers, power with looong extension from gate post, option to fill with not very clean water. |
| between Socorro and Santa Ana Restaurante "El Ganadero" |
N 06°05.233' W073°23.240' |
free w.dinner | roughly mid-way between Bucaramanga and Tunja. this restaurant sits right next to the highway on a small crest overlooking the country side. it got late and the options were limited (better options just south of Barbosa on road to Tunja). we parked in the back of their property, near their hotel rooms, but traffic noise was still disturbing our sleep. the meal, 2 large grilled trouts, was excellent, and at $35,000 incl. drinks for 2 not too expensive! level parking on packed dirt/gravel, use of clean toilets, probably could have got power since there are power points outside the rooms... |
| north of Barbosa (~80 kms from Tunja) |
N 05°57.815' W073°36.171' |
GASAN | propane filling station right on main highway (unfortunately closed on Sundays - we needed propane). |
| Villa De Leyva (or Villa De Leiva) just north of town Camping "San Jorge" |
N 05°38.922' W073°23.240' |
$7,000 p.person | try to find the by-pass (Av.Circonvolar, left just before the bus station) around the historic centre, which has roads that are narrow and roughly pebbled. property is left off the road down a gravel driveway (opposite bomberos / fire station). camping in grassed parking lot (might get muddy after heavy rain), not quite level (can be levelled out), no shade, but cool o/n. palapas, fire pits, blissfully quiet over night (some dogs and roosters in the distance), but busy during main holidays. we got power (w.our extensions) from one of the palapas, water near the house, nice and impressively clean new toilets, hot showers, and some laundry tubs. |
| Villa De Leyva Calle 10 8-27 |
N 05°37.884' W073°31.474' |
Lavenderia Milán | not many people in Villa De Leyva seem to know this modern laundry - good but pricey! on the way into town near the hospital (easy parking) |
| Bogotá | [no reading] | free | in front of friends' house - not recommended for general use! small barrio near the airport, noisy planes during day time, surprisingly quiet o/n. no services, but safe area. |
| Bogotá Electro Reparacíon Diesel Cra. 51 131-97 |
N 04°43.072' W074°03.448' |
recommended mechanic | modern, well equipped and clean workshop, the friendly co-owner Oswaldo Arcila (Cellphone: 317-440-8657) speaks good English and is very helpful. northern end of city not far from the Autopista |
| Bogotá Lizarautos Ltda. in Calle 131 (don't have No., rhs. just before Cra.51) |
N 04°43.065' W074°03.414' |
LANDROVER mechanic | around the corner from Electro Reparacíon Diesel; we don't know much about this place except that during our stay it was always busy with local Landrovers and Range Rovers (plus some exotics: I even noticed a Steyr Pinzgauer in their garage), and Oswaldo (see above) says these guys are good... |
| Bogotá Calle 18a 50-98 |
N 04°37.950' W074°06.268' |
PROGAS | propane filling station relatively close to city center, open 8:30-12:00/12:30-17:00/Saturdays 15:00. south bound off Carrera 50, turn right at MOBIL station. |
| near Puerto Lopez Hotel "Luna Roja" & Camping |
N 04°06.175' W072°24.500' |
$17,000 p.person !!! | recommended by friends, but we couldn't talk ourselves out of paying this "gringo price", so we stayed only one night... property on hill next to "El Corazon de Colombia" (obelisk) overlooking the countryside. cabañas and nice day-use pool. constant truck traffic (engine brakes) from before day break until after dark, quiet o/n. camping on slopey paddock, difficult to get level, absolutely no shade, but some breeze. use of o.k. toilets, pool, and outside showers (no privacy!). for the price not even access to power or water (we asked)! |
| near Villavicencio on road to Puerto Lopez Balneario "La Casona" |
N 04°05.833' W073°35.315' |
$5,000 p.person | just off the main road, which you still can hear. swimming area built into the river, water w. high mineral content is supposed to be healthy. friendly owners. camping on relatively level grass under some trees for shade, use of swimming area, basic toilets, enclosed cold shower (w. river water), and power from bar. we have the impression that it should be easy to find camping options in the Llanos since the area is geared very much towards local tourists from Bogotá. |
| between Restrepo and Cumaral Camping "De Camino" |
N 04°16.119' W073°31.810' |
$7,000 p.person | right on the main road, though behind a wall, so noisy during day, but not much traffic over night. camping on grass, almost level, under some large mango trees. access to ensuite style bathroom w. clean toilet and cold shower, electricity from power points outside the cabañas, water here comes straight out of a river |
| Santa Maria Balneario "El Peñon Del Lago" |
N 04°51.745' W073°15.837' |
$5,000 | if you want to take this route: the scenery is stunning, but the road is poor (part dirt, part potholed tar, very windy). balneario at edge of sleepy hill side town, no place to get level (nose way up), but quiet (apart from stereo and TV in balneario). could have used the large and clean pool (too cool), use of old, but o.k. toilets and cold showers (which we didn't use either). we didn't ask for power. |
| Embalsa de Neusa north of Zipaquira |
N 05°10.054' W073°56.020' |
$6,000 p.p 1x entry $6,000 p.p. camping |
you wouldn't believe that this place is less than 40 miles from Bogotá: peace & tranquility (at least during week, Saturday got busy w. local campers) and fresh forest air, beautiful calm lake, cool at 3,000 meters - we almost felt like we were in Canada... part of the access road is poor (potholed and windy). camping at lake shore on grass, some shade, almost level (in some locations), several tables and stools, bbqs. the toilet situation here is a little weird: when we arrived all were locked, we were told at 8:00 in the morning toilets at a near-by restaurant would open, the campground toilets later; when they were there was an attendant asking an extra $500 for use of clean toilet (no showers). lucky we have our own! |
| Guamo empty lot by highway |
N 04°02.173' W074°57.852' |
free | we lost over an hour searching for somewhere to stay in/around Girardot - just south of Guamo were several balnearios along ruta 45, which we didn't reach because it was getting too dark... paddock next to housing development, shared with cows, goats, and sheep. a little close to the road, but in daylight the next morning we discovered that that we could have driven in further. level, reasonably quiet over night, no facilities. |
| Desierto de La Tatacoa north of Neiva near Villa Vieja |
N 03°13.668' W075°08.308' |
free | blissfully quiet - right in the middle of this small desert, a bit off the road. upon arrival Señor Meza, the friendly local tourist police man, pulled up next to us and welcomed us with "this is your desert". almost level, nice view, no shade, good breeze, no services. down the road is a private "piscina" ($3,000 p.p.) with soft mineral spring water to have a swim - lovely! |
| San Agustín Camping "San Agustín" |
N 01°53.338' W076°16.782' |
$12,000 p.site +$3,000 p.person |
out of town along the road to the archaeological site, turn right after the Hotel Yalconia, then right again up a steep gravel drive. slightly slopey grass area, slippery when wet, some trees, it could be quiet over night, but the owner's 5 dogs and 3-4 roosters disturbed us that much that we decided to leave. difficult to get level (and to power), electricity from power point near fridge on verandah, water with owner's hose (only one hidden tap), basic, but clean bathrooms with cold showers. further up the same steep hill are the cabañas "El Maco", with camping, owned by the very friendly Swiss René - we couldn't get in due to the size of our camper and very muddy conditions. it will be a nice spot for smaller vehicles, like Landcruisers, Landrovers, and (when dry) small vans! |
| near Isnos Parking Archaeological Site "Alto de Los Idolos" |
N 01°55.010' W076°14.594' |
free | friendly staff, no problem to sleep there. parking lot in front of park entrance, almost level. very quiet over night, but traffic started early at 5:30 (market day in Isnos). no services, but we were offered the use of the toilets when gate was open. |
| near Coconuco Thermales "Aguatibia" |
N 02°15.464' W076°30.397' |
not used! | GPS reading taken at road - just off the dirt road from Isnos to Popayán at km 31 (rough road, but passable with normal vehicle) - thermales recommended by other travellers who had stayed there. looked nice (nicer than the place we ended up staying). we couldn't get in because the bridge to the property was under repair (freshly concreted)! |
| near Coconuco Thermales "Agua Hirviendo" |
N 02°19.772' W076°29.333' |
free *) | *) entrance to thermales is $4.000 per person, but payment was not really demanded (it rained, too). south end of Coconuco, take the turn-off to Hotel Coconuco, follow the road up the hill to its end. large gravelled turning circle come parking lot, almost level. cool at 2,600m. no services used! thermales are open 24 hours, and to our surprise 2 buses with bathers pulled in after 8:30 pm, they left sometime between 11:00 and midnight (on a Saturday)... in the morning loud radio music from the thermales kitchen woke us at 5:30. |
| south of El Bordo Centro Turistico "Patia" along Panamericana |
N 02°04.456' W077°02.446' |
$10.000 | roughly 2½ hours south of Popayán. large tropical garden set back a fair bit from the Panamericana, though you can still hear traffic, but it's not too bad over night... charge doesn't include use of lovely pool ($5,000 p.p. extra). also some rooms for rent and a restaurant. nice and warm at only 660m! camping on grassed area away from pool and road in the back of property, under some very large trees, level in most parts, a little muddy in some. we could use the o.k. pool side bathrooms with cold showers (the second toilet block near our campsite was disgustingly dirty). |
| El Encano Laguna La Cocha Terpel Petrol Station |
N 01°09.582' W077°09.291' |
free | parking on level concrete - no services because their water supply wasn't working. very friendly and helpful owners (if they are present, which they aren't all the time). not much sleep because the station is open 24 hours, and for some weird reason gets more business over night than during daytime hours... we originally wanted to stay at the Hotel "Sindanamoy" (recommended by other travellers) but we were sent away! close to this hotel is the Swiss owned "Chalet Guamuez", where the owner was absent and staff didn't feel confident to give us permission to stay - otherwise this might be a good option. another option, for which it was too late (most places were closed already), is a row of small restaurants by the lake and boat launch; these you can reach by driving past the Terpel station and take the first dirt road to the right, down to the lake. |
| Pasto Carrera 18 (with Calle 12) one street south of Avenida Las Americas |
N 01°12.361' W077°16.818' |
German mechanic | Carlos Koch (phone 316 347 7377) is a German engine rebuilder - he might be able to help you (particularly if you are German) with other vehicle problems and refer you to reliable mechanics. although we didn't meet him in person (he didn't work that day) he proved to be very friendly and helpful on the phone. workshop (lhs of one way road) has signage "Porlain - Ford - New Holland" |
| south of Pasto | N 01°06.588' W077°23.250' |
Supergas de Nariño | on PanAm just south of a large ESSO station where we filled with water (for free). |
| south of Ipiales Hotel "Mayasquer" |
N 00°48.972' W077°39.514' |
$40,000 *) | *) to camp only would be $25,000 - please read below. roughly 500 meters from the border to Ecuador. border is closed at night from 22:00 to 6:00, so there's hardly any traffic. we slept very well. parking on level concrete in front of the hotel entrance. earlier we had tried to follow other travellers' recommendations and use the parking lot of "Las Lajas" - far too busy and slopey for our liking to stay for the night. for the price we got to use the bathroom in one of their rooms: hot shower with plenty of water, hot water at vanity (for a shave), hairdryer, etc. free WiFi code 123abc45de |
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2. Ecuador[$ = Prices in US Dollars - June-August 2008 --- Electricity: 110V/60Hz] |
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| Town / Camp Site | GPS | Price p. Night | Description / Our Impression |
| outside Ibarra near Caranqui Vivero "Plantas Ornamentales" Graham Kerslake |
N 00°18.416' W078°07.918' |
no fixed payment leave a decent tip! |
other travellers have used this place before us, but we strongly recommend to ring (ph. 09-449 4883) or email (gkersy [at] hotmail.com) Graham in advance to arrange your stay and ask for directions (we damaged our truck, on a rough dirt track, trying to find the place by GPS only)! when we arrived Graham was unfortunately out of the country; shame because we had been looking forward to meeting a fellow Australian... large vivero (nursery) on the hill side overlooking the town and surrounding country side. camping on almost level concrete in front of the house, no shade (but at 2,400m no problem w. heat). area has almost too many dogs and roosters for undisturbed sleep. power (110 + 240 Volt!), water, use of bathroom w. electric hot shower, washing machine (bring your own detergent), clothes lines. |
| outside Otavalo Hostel "La Luna" |
N 00°11.788' W078°17.191' 2,950m |
$3 p.person | hostel about 4 kms outside Otavalo, on the way to Mojanda. hillside location with lovely views. camping on slopey grass area, difficult to get completely level, even with blocks supplied from their fire wood. access is limited to vehicles to up around our size, larger trucks will have problems to get in. the friendly owners, Kevin (British) and Tamara (Ecuatorian) don't want visitors with dogs! very quiet over night. use of bathrooms with clean toilets and hot shower (some restrictions when groups are staying at the hostel), o.k. restaurant, power w. extension from laundry, water. |
| Laguna de Cuicocha Parking Lot |
N 00°17.562' W078°21.435' 3,067m |
free *) | *) = $1 p.person entry to park. parking lot at the end of the street near boat pier, some level and paved (near restaurant), some slopey gravel, difficult to get level. blissfully quiet over night. no services, though use of smelly toilets for $0.15 during opening hours. TIP: the "Mirador" restaurant up on the hill above (rough dirt path) has a nice view and good cheap food! |
| Mindo Hostal "El Descanso" |
S 00°03.277' W078°46.642' 1,270m |
$5 | turn right into the first road across the bridge. parking lot of hostel, Ecuatorian owner Rodny speaks some English and almost fluent German. nice setting, colibri feeders. quiet over night, but too many roosters for our liking. use of clean toilets, hot shower in one of the guest rooms (we tipped for), some restrictions apply when hostel is full! |
| Mindo by the river |
S 00°03.514' W078°46.349' |
free | along the road to the cascades, opp. "Kumbha Mela", by the river. very quiet over night apart from water running across the rapids - no traffic, no dogs, no roosters. no facilities. |
| Quito Diego de Almargo Guarded Parking Lot |
S 00°12.009' W078°29.208' |
$3 p.night | in the tourist area of Quito, one-way section from Av.Francesco De Orellana to Av.Colon. parking lot on l.h.s., you can camp in the back, little uneven dirt lot. over night some traffic noise in the distance and a couple of alarms going off = not too bad for a city location! gates close at 9:00pm! there is town water available and a drain, inside the open welding shed is even a double power point (we didn't use it, but we would have paid extra for electricity!). |
| Quito TerraSystem4x4.com Rio Coca E13-138 / Los Laureles |
S 00°09.880' W078°28.234' |
good mechanic | Tito ( ph. 09-980 3030) is a really nice, friendly guy, who learned his profession in the USA, so he speaks fluent English. he is a very thorough mechanic, who works mostly on 4x4 vehicles, but will fix other cars too. he is no expert for Diesel vehicles, but will point you in the right direction. |
| Quito Av. Diego Vasquez (? - not sure) |
S 00°12.009' W078°29.208' |
Agipgas | on the northern outskirts of the city (we didn't need to use it) |
| Cotopaxi N.P. off the Pan Americana |
S 00°41.555' W078°34.048' 3,198m |
free | off the PanAm (official entry to park, near where the hwy. goes from 4 to 2 lanes), about 5 kms along a rough dirt road. place we stayed is after the second creek crossing on the right. there's a Y - road to the right gets quite a bit of truck traffic, but it's totally quiet o/n. if you continue left towards Cotopaxi you might find other places and be luckier than us: we got woken at 4:30 by the first truck. no facilities. almost level ground, windy location |
| Chugchilán Hostal "Cloud Forest" |
S 00°47.922' W078°55.137' 3,207m |
free *) | *) we paid $0.50 p.p. for a lovely hot shower and ate dinner there ($2.00 p.p.)! small concrete parking lot, almost level - there is another gravel parking further down, belonging to same hostel. very friendly owner Jose and family. quiet o/n, but honking buses very early in the morning are disturbing. use of clean toilet and shower, dial-up internet is an expensive $5/hour. |
| Rio Verde near Baños Soccer Field |
S 01°24.137' W078°17.958' 1,514m |
free *) | *) $0.50 parking fee on weekends. almost level, very quiet over night no services further down the main road (well past the next tunnel) on the rhs is "Pequeño Paraiso" Cabañas and Camping [S 01°24.'06.9" - W078°17'13.8"], owned by a Swiss and a Scot: this place was recommended by other travellers, but we couldn't get in. they were closed for renovations, but their gateway anyhow looked too low for our camper! |
| Baños Calle Velasco Ibarra parking behind playground |
S 01°24.021' W078°25.255' 1,810m |
free | almost level, reasonably quiet over night no services many travellers have used the parking lot of the "Baños de La Virgen", which is nearby, but since they open at 4:30 in the morning (and probably wouldn't do so if there is no demand) we figured it could be a restless night there. |
| south of Ambato 800m off the Pan Americana towards Montalvo |
S 01°19.966' W078°38.161' |
Agipgas | there is a large sign on the west side of the highway near the turnoff (a little south of the intersection). to fill one bottle of 20 pounds took several phone calls and almost an hour, because officially US bottles don't comply with Ecuatorian regulations, and then we were asked to pay more than the subsidised local price. |
| Ingapirca near Cañas parking of ruin site |
S 02°32.458' W078°52.340' 3,160m |
free | almost level, very muddy after rain, parking lot is part of the road, but it is fairly quiet over night, traffic starts around 7:00 in the morning. no facilities, the clean (and cold) toilets stayed open over night. |
| Cuenca "Cabañas Yanuncay" C. Canton Guataceo 21-49 |
S 02°54.343' W079°01.691' 2,579m |
$10/night $56/week |
between Av. Las Americas and Av. Loja outside old city. don't be discouraged by the low gate with the sign for "Cabañas Yanuncay" - there's a second larger gate up the road. not very level grass, rather soft after rain (be careful), no shade. the owner Umberto speaks English and German, he knows his way around town and can recommend a lot of useful addresses (laundry, dentist, organic market, mechanic, gas filling, etc.) ~½ hour walk into town centre. hardly any traffic, but dogs and noisy roosters made us finally leave (we couldn't get enough sleep). use of hot showers and toilets in a cabaña at the other end of the property, water near camping site, power with extension cord from owner. |
| outside Cuenca in subdivision near park |
S 02°51.570' W078°55.719' 2,310m |
free | quiet barrio north of the centre. from town follow Grán Colombia and then Av. González Suárez several kilometers out of town, turn right at P&S petrol station (~½ kilometer after military barracks on rhs), follow road down to T at end, turn left: at the end are a few vacant blocks opp. the park. neighbours were friendly and welcoming. no facilities, almost level concrete, reasonably quiet, but you can hear some trucks on the autopista across the valley. adjoining motorcross track can be noisy during the day. |
| outside Cuenca on road to Azogues |
S 02°50.438' W078°53.652' |
AustroGas | road is the continuation of the one leading to the camping in the barrio, listed above. large wholesale gas plant - compared with AgipGas (in Ambato) relatively uncomplicated, we paid only $1.00/20lbs. |
| Sigsig down by the river |
S 03°03.230' W078°48.025' 2,419m |
free | follow the heavy vehicle by-pass until you reach the turn off to the hospital, follow this road (past the hospital entrance) down the hill, there are several almost level areas along the river bank to choose from. CAREFUL with under-motorised vehicles - steep and unpaved grades - we had to tow friends' 2WD van uphill! no facilities, quiet o/n, only a handful of cars going past, some dogs in the far distance. |
| Gualaceo riverside park |
S 03°03.230' W078°48.025' 2,236m |
not used | parking lot by the river park, away from main road - we only used this place for a lunch break, but it probably would be a quiet and safe place to overnight. level paved parking. there are outside taps at the toilet block to fill with water, but toilets were locked. |
| Cajas Natl. Park lower parking lot |
turn-off: S 02°50.487' W079°07.404' camping: S 02°50.649' W079°08.596' 3,186m |
entry (5 days): $10 p.person camping: $4 p.p./night |
note: opening hours only from 8:00 to 16:30 - no access after hours! lower entrance to the Natl.Park (not as cold); turn-off between kilometer 13 and 14. narrow pebbled access road. with entry ticket you can explore the higher section of the park, too. almost level gravel parking lot, a little muddy. short walk to Lago Llaviucu: nice walks and fishing for trout. very quiet over night. use of o.k. toilet at entrance (short walk - new block almost finished), there are cold showers and an outside tap for water, but water supply is unreliable. |
| Loja parking lot at municipal piscina |
S 03°58.467' W079°12.137' 2,056m |
free | north end of town, one major block downhill from the main road, is the Jipira recreational park along the river bank, piscina (next to soccer field) is the only area with off-street parking. almost level gravel, we asked permission at the piscina cashier, nighttime security guard. some traffic, but not too bad over night, we slept o.k. a quieter option could be the sports fields of the university, south end of town (off the road to Vilcabamba near roundabout) - we passed it the next morning! no facilities (public toilets for a fee during day time, covered piscina entry $1 p.p.) |
| Vilcabamba parking lot of "Hosteria "Izhcayluma" |
S 04°16.690' W079°13.439' 1,719m |
$4 p.person | approx. 2 kms out of town on a hill - very nice view from the good restaurant. German owned, welcoming and friendly staff. small gravel parking lot on top of hill, not quite level, large pebbles make it difficult to get level, only room for 1-2 smaller campers (there's a larger lot next to the entrance gate, but no access to power there). the property appears fairly quiet and peaceful, but one night we were disturbed by guest returning late from the on-site bar, and early taxis picking up other guests (all taxis have to turn on the small parking lot); other nights were quieter. water to fill (ask for a hose), power from near-by massage parlour (extension needed), use of bathroom with hot shower, detached from one of the cabañas, we even were provided with towels. |
| north of Macará side of the road |
S 04°19.489' W079°56.189' 980m |
free | we first looked around in town, but didn't like the feel of it, so we back tracked and stayed at the side of the road (a place used previously for a rock slide detour). fairly level packed dirt, about 8 meters from road. hardly any cars over night, but traffic started before 5:00 in the morning, by 5:30 it was rather busy. no services! Attention: all petrol stations in town were closed on Sunday, even the ones advertising "24 Horas"! Monday morning all had long lines of cars waiting to fill up - fuel was restricted, we were allocated (by a soldier who took our details) initially 10 Dollars worth of Diesel (only one station with Diesel in town), after some discussion received an extra 5 Dollars worth of fuel - so don't arrive here with empty tanks (Diesel in Peru costs 4x the Ecuatoarian price)... |
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3. Perú[S/. = Prices in Peruvian Soles - August-October 2008 --- Electricity: 220V/60Hz] |
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| Town / Camp Site | GPS | Price p. Night | Description / Our Impression |
| general information | no reading | Propane Filling | it seems that most petrol stations, the ones which sell LPG for cars, have an attachment to fill gas bottles as well - not a cheap option (~S/.1.70 per litre at time of writing), but convenient. |
| outside Motupe beside old Panamerican Hwy. |
S 06°09.532' W079°41.998' 145m |
free | dirt lot off the road by the river, level in parts, rubbish in some areas. good breeze, a bit protection from low shrubs. unfortunately some traffic all night - we slept kinda o.k. here, but were woken early. no facilities - security? |
| Pimentel parking lot of Hostal "Garuda" |
S 06°50.122' W079°56.257' 9m |
S/.30 | upon enquiry at the iperu information in Chiclayo we were told that the beach promenade in Pimentel would be a safe place for camping vehicles to spend the night. we were just settling in when a group of local women approached us and warned us the it was in fact not safe to spend the night (a tourist had been murdered recently). so we went and searched for some police, who unfortunately repeated the same warning. hence we finally asked at this hostal. walled parking lot, level packed dirt. location right at a T intersection. security guards blowing their whistles all night keep the dogs barking = no good sleep. use of hot shower and o.k. toilets (relatively new, but could do with a decent clean). w/o use of shower S/.20 |
| Lambayeque in front of "Museo Tumbas Reales De Sipán" |
S 06°42.291' W079°54.010' 18m |
free | the tourist police at the museum's entrance suggested we stay the night in front of the gate. almost level bitumen, close to road. security guards blowing their whistles all night keep the neighbourhood dogs barking = no good sleep! no facilities - could use the very clean museum toilets if needed |
| outside Ferreñafe "Bosque De Pomac" |
S 06°28.239' W079°47.683' 60m |
free | a delightful place with delightful staff (Edwin, who was our guide, arranged for us to camp inside the park). level sand, firm but dusty. blissfully quiet all night! no facilities. |
| Huanchaco "Huanchaco Gardens" |
S 08°04.380' W079°07.105' 21m |
S/.30 | the gate says "RV Park" = that's a slight exaggeration... grassed camping area with some trees around, almost level, room for 4-5 smallish campers, nice breeze, small pool. quiet o/n, but noisy bus traffic starts early (~6:30). water to fill, power points (220V/60Hz) to plug in at 2 sun umbrellas, free WiFi (luxury!), tables, benches, chairs. simple, but clean toilet block near pool, use of warm shower in one of their rooms. Attention: the camping space might get used as a fiesta area on weekends - then you cannot stay! that's why we went for one night to the place below. |
| Huanchaco Centro Recreational "Bella Horizonte" |
S 08°05.084' W079°06.203' 36m |
free w. dinner | rhs on road to airport, yellow wall, large sign. the airport and the road to it aren't very busy; there might be only four flights per day. friendly welcome. parking on coarse gravel, not quite level. our luck: over night they had a meeting come fiesta of cub scouts - the attending adults partied well into the night. probably very quiet during week (if open at all). dinner was cheap and o.k. (nothing to remember), toilets basic, but clean-ish. |
| Trujillo Touring y Automóvil Club Calle Argentina 258 |
S 08°07.083' W079°01.926' |
good for maps | coming into town along Av.Larco turn right at PetroPeru Larco, then first right again. detailled Peru maps (north/central/south) for S./5 each. offices in other major cities, too! |
| east of Chuquicara off the road |
S 08°41.016' W078°11.727' 597m |
free | about 8 kms after the police checkpoint in Chuquicara, just past the first bridge, is this large area next to the road. packed dirt, almost level in some spots, stay away from the edges. pretty quiet o/n, you can mostly hear the rushing river. not much traffic, but passing trucks and buses create some dust. no facilities. |
| Caraz "Los Pinos Lodge" Parque San Martín 130 |
S 09°02.915' W077°48.845' 2,205m |
S/.10 p.person | parking in a rather dusty, enclosed lot behind hostal; not quite level, but a few blocks helped. parking lot is used by guests, too, so late arrivals and early departures might disturb, quiet over night. power, water to fill, small shaded verandah with some recliners, use of bathroom w. warm to hot shower (depends time of day), locked WiFi (password). parking o/n around the park in front of this hostal is considered a safe option, too. |
| near Mayorarca beside Ruta 14 from Conacocha to Pan Americana |
S 10°09.922' W077°20.717' 3,419m |
free | the road is steep and windy, full of nasty potholes, it was getting dark and this place was the first semi-level area we spotted a little off the highway: a dirt patch at the edge of a village, also the driveway to a couple of houses. too close to the highway to be really quiet. sunrise was beautiful (= didn't get to sleep in with all the truck traffic). further down the mountains it might be easier to find a level spot. no facilities. |
| Lima Miraflores Hitchhikers Hostel Calle Bolognesi 400 |
S 12°07.344' W077°02.169' 101m |
S/.15 p.person | walled concrete parking lot, room for maybe 4-5 vans (more if you move some tables out of the way), almost level, secure, at the edge of the tourist area, shopping and restaurants near-by. noisy traffic (late into night and again early). use of all common areas: clean kitchen, tv-room, bathrooms with hot showers (except in morning rushhour), water to fill and power to plug in-to, free WiFi (password). |
| Lima km17 Pan Americana Sur |
no reading | Camping Trailer Shops | we only noticed them driving past, might be a possible option in an emergency: southbound along the PanAm around km17 (service lane) are next to each other 2 dealers/manufacturers selling camping trailers - try for parts if you really need something. |
| Paracas next to Yacht Club Peruano |
S 13°50.081' W076°15.108' 11m |
free | drive through town, yacht club (w/o any yachts) is on the right hand side. almost level hard sand, a row of trees as wind break, security over night. close to beach (sand too soft to drive on) and very quiet over night. we didn't ask for services. |
| Nasca Hotel "Maison Suisse" Panamericana Sur km447 |
S 14°51.047' W074°57.505' 562m |
US$5 p.person *) | *) one night free if you book Nasca Lines flight through them. fix price and exchange rate beforehand. nice green garden, parking on coarse rock pavers in the back of property, where you still can hear a bit of the trucks on the Pan Americana. almost level, not much room to turn (piles of building sand when we visited), dense foilage cover will reduce solar power. trees and concrete edge along driveway make it rather narrow in places. lots of roosters in the neighbourhod. use of toilets and electric warm shower, all a bit neglected and dirty (were cleaned upon asking), power with your own long extension cord from a supply shed. free WiFi (password). |
| Ruta 26 Nasca to Abancay edge of Promesa side of the road next to stream |
S 14°28.580' W073°14.448' 3,480m |
free | this is as far as we got after leaving Nasca at 10:15; at 18:15 it was getting too dark to look anywhere else, so we pulled off at this wide pebbled bank of a stream... almost level, relatively quiet o/n, although we could hear passing trucks every now and then. the mudbrick building near-by doesn't seem to be occupied. no facilities. |
| on hill above Cusco Quinta Lala Camping |
S 13°30.336' W071°59.110' 3,603m |
S/.9 p.person + S/.10 p.vehicle |
on hill above town (ca. 20 minute walk into Cusco) near the closed Hotel Inca Tambo and the Sacsayhuaman ruins - get directions from their web site. this is a real travellers' meeting point, and a good spot to leave your vehicle when visiting near-by Machu Picchu and other sites. large enclosed lawn area, some chickens and naughty ducks, Dutch owner Helmie has blocks to get you level. quiet over night, if the trains in town wouldn't blow their horns early in the morning you could sleep in nicely. use of common room, small kitchen, bathroom with hot shower, water to fill, front-loader washing machine, space to empty small camper toilets, friendly help to get around town and the sites. strong WiFi is an extra S/.4 per day. unfortunately the water supply situation worsened during our stay - dry season and too many tourists. |
| Pisac, Sacred Valley Paz y Luz B&B |
S 13°25.663' W071°50.488' 2,995m |
S/.30 single room S/.80 |
NOT RECOMMENDED: we would like to rename this place to "Barking Dogs Hell", since we didn't find much "Paz" [= peace] at this place; three barking dogs inside the compound, within 10 metres of our camper, kept us awake almost all night. manager's only response "I can't control these dogs"... very narrow gate opens to a spacious, rather dry, garden, lovely looking buildings and rooms, but the service lacks seriously in quality (eg. our friend received a dry bread roll and bad coffee as her complimentary breakfast) almost level, no services for the price! to be fair: our request to sleep in vehicle came as a surprise. follow the river on a dirt road uphill out of town. we would think that you could find spots along the river bank near-by where you could camp a night for free! others have stayed on the parking lot of the ruins - very slopey and entrance fee. |
| Ollanta, Sacred Valley Ollantaytambo Lodge |
S 13°15.611' W072°15.686' 2,870m |
S/.40 S/.20 to park*) single room S/.90 |
what a contrast to our last night in Pisac: a narrow red gate leads into a lovely green garden with flowering hedges and cane seating groups, the staff are very friendly and helpful. to get here drive around the town square and back out of town (one way streets), the lane way, where the hotel is, runs parallel below the road, sharp right turn. easy walk into town and to ruins, a little further to railway station. grassed area very bumpy, difficult to get completely level. power from their store room, could probably fill with water, key for guest room to use hot shower. quiet over night. *) safe place to leave vehicle (even plugged in) and visit Machu Picchu by train. |
| Moray, Sacred Valley parking lot of archeological site |
S 13°19.802' W072°11.654' 3,525m |
not used | almost level packed dirt lot, when we visited it was very windy and dusty! should be very quiet over night. |
| near Cusco | S 13°33.498' W071°51.075' |
Llamagas | on road to Puno, on l.h.s. across a small concrete bridge, bright yellow block wall. later we discovered that our cylinders were not filled completely at this station! |
| Aguas Calientes near Tambo Cusco - Puno road |
S 14°27.068' W071°04.344' 4,046m |
free | ...it was getting too late! large, almost level, gravel parking lot a good 50 meters from the main road, in front of popular hot springs. was it the altitude or the the whistle of the on-site security guard? we both didn't sleep well here... no facilities. |
| Puno Sonesta Posada Del Inca Hotel parking lot |
S 15°49.435' W070°00.320' 3,836m |
US$15 (~S/.46) | follow the railway line along the water out of town, the hotel is right where the "Yavari" is anchored. parking on almost level concrete pavers. we were woken at 4:50 in the morning by the first bus pick-up. power from generator room, we didn't ask for water, free WiFi in reception (weak in camper), use of lovely hot shower and toilets inside hotel. |
| Sillustani soccer field behind museum |
S 15°43.480' W070°09.020' 3,860m |
free | staff at the ruin site are very friendly. windy and dusty (in dry season); soccer field is a little better protected from wind, almost level. very quiet over night. no facilities. |
| Arequipa Hostal "Las Mercedes" |
S 16°24.050' W071°32.546' 2,353m |
S/.30 p.n. | lovely old mansion, painted blue and white, right by the river, but unfortunately on a 4-6 lane main road; parking/camping in enclosed lot, only a 4 meter high wall seperates vehicle from this road. at times you have to share parking with large expedition trucks owned by Toucan Travel. reasonably quiet o/n (except Saturday night), traffic starts early on weekdays, a little later on Sundays. PlazaVea supermarket at other side of intersection, town centre in easy walking distance. use of fairly new bathroom block with hot shower, at the end of parking lot (grassed area set up for parties), there are several power points and a water tap there - we couldn't reach either because blocked off by expedition trucks (mentioned above). nice sitting room in the house, where you can plug in computer and use free (fast) WiFi. |
| just before Moquegua | S 17°12.559' W070°58.902' |
Fruit Check Point | check point, south bound, where our camper was checked for fruit (this region is free of fruit flies) - you'll probably have to hand in all fruit, particularly citrus. we didn't have any because further south into Chile you can't take any fruit or vegetables, or milk products. |
| south of Tacna Grifo opp. Free Trade Zone |
S 18°04.698' W070°17.949' 362m |
free | we first asked in town at the Gran Hotel Tacna, then at the airport, but were sent away at both. this is the last petrol station before the border with Chile! dirt lot, almost level, unpleasant smell of urine, but surprisingly quiet over night. no facilities (we didn't want to use the toilets). |
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4. Bolivia |
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| Due to political unrest in Bolivia we didn't travel in this country! Please refer Other Travellers' Sites, some of which also published a list of camping options. |
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8. Brazil[R$ = Prices in Reals - December 2008 --- Electricity varies, so always check: 110V in some provinces, 220V in others!] |
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| Town / Camp Site | GPS | Price p. Night | Description / Our Impression |
| general information | no reading | Propane Filling | we didn't manage to get an empty cylinder filled in this country - the brazilian cylinders are completely different to anything else we have encountered, and our adapter for Argentina didn't help either - so we managed on what we had left... |
| Foz do Iguaçu Hostel "Paudimar" |
S 25°35.944' W054°31.493' 192m |
R$15 p.person | off the road between the town and the falls, signposted; large hostel in a quiet area. camping is behind reception area, space is partly used as parking, so not very quiet, also some noise o/n from the hostel bar. not much shade and ground is not very level. pool, bar, etc. price includes (not very interesting) buffet breakfast. internet computers free for guest, but very slow! at reception powerpoints, network cable and WiFi to use your own notebook = faster. use of all facilties, toilets and electric hot showers are kept clean, shared kitchen. 110 Volt and 220 Volt power to use (w.own extension). taps to fill w. water. |
| east of Guarainiaçu Posto "Ipiranga" |
S 25°07.648' W052°44.452' 974m |
free | this is not one of the large truck stop petrol stations, but a smaller one next to highway 277. we don't even know if it stayed open 24 hours - we slept very well here! owner allocated us a spot right in front of his family home, almost level on paving. surprisingly quiet and just the right temperature to sleep. we didn't look for facilities! |
| Paranaguá in street near Navy base |
S 25°31.045' W048°30.108' 2m |
free | first we searched in Curitiba for the "Campingclube do Brasil" along BR116, but couldn't find it, locals and a taxi driver we asked didn't know about it, so we drove on to Paranaguá. when we arrived there we looked for the tourist information at the bus terminal - it was closed. we then ran into another couple with a camper who told us that there is no camping in/near town... north end of town in a side street. first we parked almost opposite the entrance to the navy base (guards), but traffic on cobbled road was too noisy to sleep, so we moved into this deserted side lane right next to the base. here it was quieter, used condoms on the ground revealed its other attraction. almost level, right at edge of the water. boat traffic was a little noisy. no facilities |
| Porto de Cima near Morretes "Xira Japonese" |
S 25°25.773' W048°52.648' 25m |
R$8 p.person | off the main road just by the one-lane steel bridge, through a tall wooden gate, about ½ km of potholed dirt road. this is one access to the National Park "Marumbi". property is on the left, no sign w. its name, but a "camping" sign. owners of japanese heritage keep the gardens really neat and facilties clean. camping on fine gravel, almost level, no shade, nice shady spots to pitch a tent. very peaceful - may-be more busy on weekends?! 110V electricity from shed, very clean toilets and electric warm showers, water to fill. |
| Morretes town street camping by the river |
S 25°28.587' W048°49.887' 12m |
free | street camping opposite the historic center in a cul-de-sac between some posh houses and the river; Morretes is (from talking with locals) a very safe town. no through traffic, but some youth hanging around until late - after that very quiet. not quite level on paving under some trees. no facilities, but there's a clean public bathroom across the river, next to the park, which is supposed to have warm electric showers for small fee (we didn't check). |
| between Guaratuba and Brejatuba Municipal Camping |
S 25°54.546' W048°34.607' 19m |
R$15 p.site | follow the main road along the beach, the campground is on the inland side of the road, sign posted; about ½ km off the shore, but all open land so it gets a good breeze. almost level grassed area with a few trees, some shade (not a lot). soft ground, so difficult to block up to get level. facilities could do with a good renovation but are kept very clean. sites, when fully occupied, are very small. some distant road noise. large toilet block w. some electr. warm showers, 110 Volt (+ 220V at very few sites) power, some sites come with "full RV hook-ups": water and drain connections - a first in a loooong time (actually since Costa Rica)! |
| Bombinhas Camping "Sta. Catarina" |
S 27°08.981' W048°29.414' 17m |
R$17 p.person! | just off the main road (sign) opposite a newly built, yellow painted, small shopping arcade with up-stairs restaurants - so don't expect it to be quiet (we visited just before Christmas - peak season)! obviously shopping, restaurants, and the beach are all in immediate walking distance. narrow L-shaped campground with lots of low trees for shade (which meant we couldn't drive in far and had to stay near the entrance). almost level sandy sites with some concrete rectangles to set up table and chairs, several permanent camping trailers, large covered bbq kitchen, outside sinks for dish washing and laundry. small but clean toilet block with electric warm showers. we didn't connect to power since the readings with our volt-meter were a little "iffy". |
| outside Florianópolis, Ilha de Santa Catarina Camping "Lagoa da Conceição" |
S 27°36.617' W048°26.943' 15m |
R$15 p.person + R$0.60 p. kW electricity |
at southern end of the lake, large yellow wall w. red writing points to this complex of apartments and the campground, which is more like a well set-up RV park: the majority of sites are small paved bays with good shading from mature trees and full hook-ups: locked private power box (220 Volt only!), ½ inch water tap, and a waste drain. you'll find many large camping buses semi-permanently set-up. some shaded tenting sites further back. large open communal kitchen with fridges, several stoves, bbq grills, tables and chairs, and several toilet blocks (men's could be a little cleaner, Yasha was happy with the female side). it was too busy pre-Christmas so we didn't stay long - others have stayed here during other times of the year for weeks! little road noise, since the camping is well away from the road, but don't take a site next to the east-wall: there's a dirt lane right behind which is being used as overflow parking for a near-by discotheque = noise almost all night... full hook-ups (if your equipment fits), electric warm showers, o.k. toilets. |
| SC 438 between Lauro Müller and São Joaquim in front of Hotel "Verde Serra" |
S 28°23.196' W049°30.150' 580m |
free | SC 438 is a popular tourist drive as the road winds its way from the coast up to over 1,470 meters, with some stunning vistas and hairpin bends to match... this campsite was a small shaded parking lot with a stunning view all round! unfortunately not far enough off the road, so truck traffic disturbed until around 23:00 - quiet for rest of the night. level parking, good breeze. no services, although the friendly owner of the hotel actually offered us to stand closer to the building and plug into power. |
| SC 438 between São Joaquim and Lages Campground by the river |
S 27°51.818' W050°11.982' 900m |
R$30 p.24 hours | a greedy farmer who over-estimates the value of his river front property: he charges locals R$10 per person for access to swim (there just weren't any other options to get off the road to camp). narrow gate leads into the property, river access is set back from the road (so we slept well!). bumpy grass area with some trees too spindly and low to provide decent shade. several half-finished projects (like brick tables) and a toilet block which we didn't enter! water comes straight from the river, the rest probably goes straight into the river... we didn't use any services, and the next day it rained, so a swim wasn't an inviting option either. |
| Gramado Camping A.A.B.B. |
S 29°21.844' W050°51.772' 818m |
R$10 p.person + electricity |
large park-like grounds with grassed areas, flowers, bushes, and many trees. the majority of "campers" here are actually permanent set-ups: an enclosed camping trailer with a large well-constructed annexe - most look more like holiday houses. there's a large gravel area next to the entrance set back for large RVs (not very attractive), others get sites allocated throughout the grounds. bbq-shelters, kids' playground, duck pond, large hall for private celebrations, and more. next door is a pool (which is part of AABB - though: it's cool here). despite our visit falling at Christmas, we found this a rather relaxing place, and well taken care of. several clean bathroom blocks with hot showers, electricity and water to most sites (we didn't have to pay for electricity since our site didn't have a meter), I guess there would be dumping facilities somewhere... |
| north of Novo Hamburgo parking lot along BR 116 |
S 29°29.450' W051°09.340' 260m |
free | large shaded parking lot alongside the road; we went a little further off the road, but then ended up standing under a high-voltage powerline. tight to get in with overhanging tree branches, grassed area, good afternoon shade, well protected, some breeze, not quite level (nose up). first we had German-style tuba and brass live music near-by, then dogs barking in a distance, later howler monkeys even further away, plus the constant buzz of the power line... but quiet over night and not much traffic. no facilities. |
| Novo Hamburgo BR 116, km 234 |
S 29°39.307' W051°08.682' |
Sinostrailer repair shop for camper vehicles |
we stopped here after a recommendation from a Brazilian we had met at Gramado - Paulo, the owner, speaks some German; repaired our broken Fantastic Vent - not cheap (but also not really expensive) and quickly done! they have spare parts in stock and seem to repair all sorts of different RVs. |
| Tapes, Lagoa Dos Patos Camping "União" |
S 30°41.828' W051°23.834' 6m |
R$6.00 p.person | cabañas and established campground right by the lake shore south of town (there are a few others - but all were packed this time of the year). friendly family atmosphere, but very busy and no shaded spaces available (there are a lot of mature trees providing full shade); we ended up under a tree next to the bowling hut; there are also a beach volleyball field, a covered play-area, several bathroom buildings (clean-ish, but a little dated), outside tubs to wash clothes, and a small convenience store inside the reception. power, bathrooms w. pokey little showers, electr. hot water w. little pressure. |
| north edge of Taim / BR 471 on dirt road to lake shore |
S 32°29.305' W052°35.264' 20m |
free | at the entrance (coming from the north) to this little village is a dirt road going off to the right towards "Lagoa Mirim" - you have to cross one cattle grid, but everybody seems to be treating this as public access to the lake! we didn't feel like dealing with sand, so we didn't drive all the way to the lake... absolutely no shade, but some breeze and cool o/n. our most relaxing night for a long time! it got busy the next morning (New Years Eve). no facilities. |
| Border Brazil/Uruguay | S 33°31.707' W053°22.307' |
Immigration Facilities ~ 20 kms before border |
The immigration (eg. exit stamp) is handled by the Policia Federal in Santa Victoria do Palmar - turn off BR 471 at the the gate w. the lighthouse, drive down the main street until you see the restaurant "Paraiso" (large yellow sign across the road) on your right, next street turn left and follow the signs... TIP: to get Uruguayan Pesos you'll have to stop in the town of Chuy (between the 2 border posts) - there isn't another bank (or ATM) until you reach Castillos (which didnīt accept our VISA card, and by then you will have missed "Parque Nacional Santa Teresa", and a few other nice spots) - though: many places here seem to accept Brazilian and Argentinean money. |
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