First trip to Santiago

[FrankPintor]

Any buses to Santiago via/from Mendoza that are preferable? Price these days?

There used to be hourly mini-buses doing that route, not sure how it is now. Traveling by bus, I'd be worried about the queues at the border. I would avoid weekends, at least.

 

[carride]

As long as you are there, stay the month and travel around. The whole pacific coast is nice. Scenic vineyards. Atacama to the north. After time in Argentina take the opportunity to eat true fresh shellfish especially in the mid-south Bio-Bio region. Valdivia waterways feel like Seattle and coastal waters of Washington state. The outside market there has piles of a extremely different variety of barnacles,clams, mussels, and scallops, plus they have to fight off the Sea Lions waiting to get a free lunch.

Valparaíso and the other beaches of that Santiago area will be filled with summer travelers from Argentina.

Any buses to Santiago via/from Mendoza that are preferable? Price these days?

The Chile owned bus companies and smaller transport are easier to find at the Mendoza bus terminal. Not found on platforma10

 

[FrankPintor]

As long as you are there, stay the month and travel around. The whole pacific coast is nice. Scenic vineyards. Atacama to the north. After time in Argentina take the opportunity to eat true fresh shellfish especially in the mid-south Bio-Bio region. Valdivia waterways feel like Seattle and coastal waters of Washington state. Valparaíso and the other beaches of that Santiago area will be filled with summer travelers from Argentina.


The Chile owned bus companies and smaller transport are easier to find at the Mendoza bus terminal. Not found on platforma10

You bring back memories

Vineyard tours in Casablanca, on the way to Valpo. Or around Puente Alto, before going up to Valle del Maipo (Go all the way to the glacier if you can, I've never been that far).

Don't be fixated on the beaches (blazing sunshine in summer, ice-cold Pacific water), go to the lakes in the south (Lago Ranco, white sand beaches, Lago Villarica in Pucon, black sand beaches), warmer than the sea.

Travel by bus, there used to be direct routes from Santiago (Vitacura) to Lago Ranco (Llifen).

A day or two in Valdivia would be nice, drive to Curiñanco, or if you're adventurous, take the "balsa" with your car to Corral and drive south. Be prepared for dirt roads, dust, blazing sunshine and unpredictable weather.

Drink cidra (a much more egalitarian product than in Argentina, the best comes in a recycled Fanta or Coke bottle). If you're at the "muelle" when the fishing boats come in (like in Los Molinos, near Valdivia), make sure you have your lemons and your box of cheap white wine and enjoy your seafood fresh from the sea, sitting on the pier.

 

[LuckyLuke]

I just spent a week in Renaca recently. Surprisingly slow given the holidays but maybe we got there early. Vina del Mar is always nice too. Didn't visit Valpo again this time around because it was just too crazy with the kiddos in tow. It was a great break to eat some new foods. My wife ate ceviche every day and my daughter salmon. They couldn't get enough of the seafood before returning to Argentina.

I had a funny time ordering "Vacuno Pollo Ganso" thinking it was some kind of Turducken only to find out when the plate arrived that it was cow butt cheeks

One tip, if you are going to rent a car to leave Santiago, be aware of the tolls. So many tolls, holy crap. Some take card, some take cash only.

 

[carride]

I just spent a week in Renaca recently. S

@LuckyLuke Starting from Neuquén, you can full-day travel by car or bus to Temuco with stops in Pucón Lago Villarica as @FrankPintor mentions, because it is very beautiful area. A week or two in that whole family friendly lakes region is similar to Neuquén lakes areas, yet different and more humid. The less busy border crossing are time saving
(sometimes). Probably only go to Temuco if shopping, or staging for a hop to coast or lakes, or simply interested in exploring a mid-sized Chile city.

 

[paulo]

Wow that's really helpful & interesting. Thanks!!!

I wonder if the winding roads feel safe. If I go that route I thought it would be 7 or 8 hours from Mendoza to Santiago are buses and minivans equally safe? Yeah, I'm a bit squeamish about heights... though in years past I've been on some high passes in Morocco....

Will avoid weekends for traveling. I think I will avoid the Cow Butt Cheeks as well!

 

[ihano]

Roads are safe but Santiago estación sur is a very sketchy place, watch out for your belongings.

 

[Rich One]

Wow that's really helpful & interesting. Thanks!!!

I wonder if the winding roads feel safe. If I go that route I thought it would be 7 or 8 hours from Mendoza to Santiago are buses and minivans equally safe? Yeah, I'm a bit squeamish about heights... though in years past I've been on some high passes in Morocco....

Will avoid weekends for traveling. I think I will avoid the Cow Butt Cheeks as well!

Descending downhill towards Santiago from the top (around 3000 mts high), you go through a STEEP road with 29 sharp curves. If you sit, on the bus front top deck on each curve you are over the precipice. Some buses have to do a back and forth attempt. Not for the scary types. Need good brakes that don't overheat

 

[Rich One]

There used to be hourly mini-buses doing that route, not sure how it is now. Traveling by bus, I'd be worried about the queues at the border. I would avoid weekends, at least.

Buses to Santiago leave from Retiro price about $100,000 Argentinos. ETD BA 19,00 ETA Santiago 13.00 next day

 

[FrankPintor]

@ihano , I don’t know any Santiago Estación Sur, which might be because it’s been a while for me… do you mean Estación Central by any chance? That is sketchy now.

I just saw a news ítem about 7 landslides on the Chilean side of the Cristo Redentor crossing from Mendoza. Take precautions.