College is over. Now what? Arnaud and his girlfriend have decided to spend ten months in South America. Their home on the road: a 2002 Toyota Land Cruiser KZJ120 named Celso, complete with a rooftop tent. There were many things the two of them would need on the road that they hadn’t been able to do before. That seems to have been part of the plan.
OLLI Friends are people who get out there and do their own thing. We tell their stories—about being on the road, about arriving, and about everything that happens in between.
Tell me… Who are you—and what drives you?
My name is Arnaud. For the past ten months, I’ve been traveling through South America with my girlfriend in our 4x4 with a rooftop tent. Our vehicle is a 2002 Toyota Land Cruiser KZJ120 named Celso.
Right after we finished our studies, we both decided that now was the perfect time to take the plunge, explore this incredible continent, and finally experience the freedom of van life for ourselves.
What does “One Life. Live It.” mean to you?
For me, it simply means: If you don’t take the plunge, no one else will do it for you. So stop hesitating.
We only have one life. That’s why we should really live it to the fullest, discover as much as possible, and seize opportunities. Don’t just sit on the couch waiting for something to happen. Take matters into your own hands and just do it.
Even if something doesn’t go according to plan, it’s not a failure. You’ll always bounce back. Take risks, don’t overthink it, and just do it. Your future self will thank you for taking that risk.
“If you don’t take the leap, no one else will do it for you.”
What are you traveling in—and why South America?
We’re traveling through South America for ten months in our 4x4 with a rooftop tent.
I chose South America because of my past experiences. I studied in Spain for a year and lived with a family in Mexico for a full month. I’ve always been drawn to Hispanic and Latin American culture. So traveling across a continent where I could truly immerse myself in that culture was a dream come true.
That’s how our project to explore South America in a 4x4 came about.
What experience from your travels will you never forget?
It was on a two-day 4x4 route in Argentina where we didn’t run into a single person. In the middle of nowhere, with no cell service and no one around for kilometers, a tire popped off the rim after we hit a deep rut.
The most stressful part was realizing that there was no one around to pull us out if we really got stuck. On top of that, we had never changed a tire in our lives! We just had to pull ourselves together and figure out how to do it.
In the end, against all odds, we managed to change the tire in just 45 minutes and without any major problems. What started as sheer panic turned into a huge sense of accomplishment—definitely a moment we’ll never forget from our trip.
“We’d never changed a tire in our lives.”
What has traveling taught you?
Life on the road has taught us to be incredibly resourceful and to adapt to living together in a very small space. We’re also much less likely to get stressed or panic these days.
Unpredictable situations—both good and bad—constantly arise on the road. You learn to let go, stay calm, and face whatever comes your way, whether it’s a mechanical problem or unexpected road conditions.
We’ve truly grown through this journey and have learned to appreciate the simple things in life: a breathtaking landscape, a spontaneous dip in a river, or a special encounter with someone along the way.
Plan A or Plan B?
Plan B. No question about it.
Most of our best memories happen when things don’t go according to plan. That, to me, is the beauty of traveling. For example, you might be looking for a place to stay without knowing what to expect—and suddenly find an incredible spot right by a lake or river. The unplanned moments are always the ones that stick with you.
That’s why we don’t need a fixed travel itinerary. Going with the flow and improvising always leads to incredible, unexpected experiences. The less you plan, the better it gets—whether you make a new friend along the way, happen to stumble upon a breathtaking spot, or take a lovely detour that wasn’t on any GPS map.
Alone or together?
Together!
Traveling alone is fine. But for me, it would be a shame not to be able to share these experiences. When you’re together, you experience every moment and every memory side by side. That gives the adventure a completely different character.
And when you’re back home eventually, you can reminisce together about all those crazy stories.
Comfort or freedom?
Freedom. Without a doubt.
That’s where my most unforgettable memories are made. If you stick to everyday comforts, time just slips by and not much really sticks with you.
With freedom, on the other hand, come real challenges. And that’s how you learn to overcome obstacles—whether you break down in the middle of nowhere or get stuck in a mud hole.
When something goes really wrong…
The most important rule is: don’t panic. Don’t stress. There’s always a solution.
Looking back, you usually realize that the situations that seemed scary at the time weren’t actually that catastrophic. The key is to stay calm, ask people around you for help if possible, and talk to each other.
People are usually incredibly helpful. And somehow, you’ll find a way out of a difficult situation.
What reliably drives you up the wall when you’re traveling?
The plastic trash that’s littered everywhere in Peru—especially in beautiful, wild places.
It really broke my heart to see trash on the sides of roads, in nature parks, and in completely untouched areas. It’s frustrating to watch people throw plastic bottles out of car windows because environmental awareness is still lacking.
Peru is an incredible country with mountains, coastlines, and breathtaking landscapes. That makes it all the more sad to see this natural beauty littered with trash.
Which is harder for you: setting off or coming back?
Definitely coming back.
Right now, we’re actually stuck in Colombia, trying to ship our 4x4 back to France. The shipping company we were supposed to use canceled on us at the last minute. Now we’re stuck here and don’t know exactly when we’ll be able to return.
Staying in Colombia longer isn’t, of course, the worst thing in the world. But this uncertainty makes the return a bit stressful.
Setting off, on the other hand, was completely hassle-free.
How do you sometimes drive your travel companion crazy?
When tension builds in such a small space, I put on my headphones, listen to music or a podcast, and retreat into my own little bubble to give her some space. Sometimes this quiet retreat probably frustrates her even more in the moment.
But as soon as we’ve both calmed down and had a little time, we talk it out, clear things up—and everything’s back to normal.
What else do you really want to experience?
Just travel a lot more. Not necessarily just in a 4x4, but also using other modes of transportation.
A little spoiler: We’re toying with the idea of a trip on old mopeds with saddlebags. A bit shorter, but more intense—maybe in France or across Europe.
But we’d also love to take more road trips in a 4x4 or van, because we’ve really fallen in love with this way of traveling. It allows us to connect deeply with local people, discover breathtaking landscapes off the beaten path and away from the crowds, and continue to grow through new experiences and encounters.
What dish do you cook over and over again when you’re on the road?
Definitely wraps.
With ham, cheese, fresh vegetables, or just whatever’s on hand. They’re our go-to meal, especially for lunch. Quick, easy, filling, and delicious.
We pull over to the right, open the trunk, roll up a few wraps, eat—and off we go.
What makes a trip special for you?
1. A place where you just want to stay.
We had an incredible campsite on a cliff overlooking the ocean, which we reached only after an hour on a dirt road. We had the whole place to ourselves. We watched the sunset there and, the next morning, the sunrise right from our rooftop tent. Indescribable.
2. People who help when things go wrong.
When we got stuck in a muddy ditch for the first time, the local police initially tried to help us. Then people from the area showed up with every tool they could find. While we waited for the fire department, another 4x4 driver finally pulled us out. Stressful, but unforgettable.
3. The people of Colombia.
It’s our last country and by far the place where we’ve met the warmest, friendliest, and most generous people. It’s a shame that media coverage often does their reputation a disservice. They have a beautiful country and truly deserve the best.
ARNAUD & CELSO
Arnaud Dargier de Saint Vaulry
Traveling with: his girlfriend
Trip: 10 months in South America
Vehicle: Toyota Land Cruiser KZJ120
Model year: 2002
Name: Celso
Setup: Roof tent