Gran Viaje Check-Ins

Supposedly the campground at the highest elevation in Europe.
It’s the perfect base for several hikes and climbs. Hiking for all levels, beautiful views, plenty of space. Can spend multiple days here :)
Open from May/June to September. No reservation possible, no numbered placed.
Check their homepage for all details.

Beautiful small mountain lake. A 30min hike from the main road, no technical difficulties. Perfect place for a picnic.
Can be hiked in a loop from Arolla, a bit more technical but secured with ropes. Breathtaking views.

Let’s start with the highlights: the location is great, especially if you want to hike to Oeschinensee. Even now during high season and COVID it doesn’t feel too crowded.
Hospitality is very Swiss. The first thing the camp manager told us was to not destroy the green by turning the wheels while standing. He didn’t even introduce himself first. Not exactly the vibe you are looking for.
There are two showers and toilets each for the whole campground(!). The showers are extra, 3min = 1CHF.
There is a WiFi at the reception, didn’t try it.
Paid ~42CHF for one night, 2 people, one dog.
Probably wouldn’t stay there again, maybe it’s a better deal during low season?

This place is permanently closed.

No overnight camping/parking allowed.....

grocery store with a lot of fresh produce and quality food. in addition there is a bakery and restaurant, toilets and free wifi. outdoor parking with no height restrictions. great stop when traveling on the I-5

there are two campgrounds here. one with facilities where this point is and another one which is officially closed and doesn't provide anything but imho is at the much nicer location. to get there, just follow the road out to the peninsula. in OSM the second camping is simply called "Camping 2".
the mosquitos however are relentless and there are unbelievably many!

big area with lots of space, hot showers with great pressure (no doors), toilets with no seats and some just with a hole in the ground, that's a first.
100.- per tent in high season, was free now.
a few permanent campers there, all very nice.

annoying dogs still here, free offseasons, very beautiful sunset.

stayed a few nights here at the end of our journey. very nice place, very friendly owners, decent wifi and when it's cold and rainy you have a place to sit inside with an oven :)
500Uyu per car, per day. Not per person.

This place is permanently closed.

great find, very quiet, good protection from the wind and level. with a tent you can go into the little forest or behind the dunes, with a car you are visible from the road, but there is basically no traffic.
just a few locals who go fishing.

This place is in wrong location - it is located at -34.67745, -54.26726

This place is permanently closed.

original spot no longer accessible, but you could stay at the end of the road in the parking lot.
road in top condition, no problems even when wet.

110uyu today for a car. no checkpoint, just toll.

good for a night, toilets were super gross but free. not really a tent friendly place, it's just a parking and turnaround for RVs

entry fee is 50uyu now. still a nicely restored fort with plenty to see

This place is permanently closed.

cool waterfall. after multiple days of rain deep and current too strong to cross. locals in 4x4 turned around and so did I :)
camping prohibited.

big no camping sign. dont camp here.....

I was here after a week of rain, not possible to cross the river, too much current and at least 60cm deep. see pictures.

This place is in wrong location - it is located at -28.78390, -49.98332

coming from the north this beach is not really worth a stop. it's not bad but it's also not special... good for surfing I guess.
motorhomes, trailers etc are not allowed here

perfect spot to wash clothes. while doing so i had the oil changed in the same complex.

most bridges are limited to 10t. good dirt road.

very quiet place. Braulio the owner is nice, he speaks a bit German.
I paid 15 Reais, slow satellite internet included but works only at the reception.
you can make a fire, a crate of firewood is 30brl.
compared to lago azul everything looks a little run down. and it looks like lago azul has wifi which covers the whole campground.

no problem finding this place. still 25pppn, still a Jose running the place.
has a big no pet sign but I am pretty sure he wont send you away if you have a dog ..

some information about the hike to pico parana:
do not underestimate this hike! it is longer and much harder than it looks on OSM (maps.me etc).
the first 4k are steep but pretty easy, good trail. however afterwards your are basically scrambling over rocks and roots (both quiet slippery) for another 4.5km. some sections are climbing with metal steps and ropes. while doing so you do a ton of elevation, down and up.
my garmin logged 1900m to the peak!!

bring plenty of water, some energy bars/candy and a good lunch if you attempt to summit.

most people do this hike in two days, there are several spots to tent and now I know why!

the views are nice and you'll summit the highest peak in southern Brazil ;)

I've added a few pictures from some if the climbing sections

just an update to the work done:
- they forgot the change the front bushings but kept the parts. had some custom made in Brazil
- the a frame ball joint (delphi) survived only 20000km. replaced with lemmförderer in brazil
- the head gasket stared to leak about 15000km later, my guess is that either the head bolts weren't tightened properly or the ste stretched and should have been replaced.

🤷‍♂️

3000km left to Montevideo, then I'll get it sorted out properly at a capable mechanic.