Ideas for cheap travel to Chile

[lentlers]

I need to get to Chile for Christmas (date flexible) and haven't got much money to spend on getting there!

Flights are too expensive, buses have put their prices up and I don't have a car.

Any ideas???

 

[Bajo_cero2]

There is a train. And once in Bariloche you can take a bus to Pto Month.

 

[RichardP]

I've hitchhiked from Buenos Aires to Santiago and had good luck.

 

[lentlers]

Thanks! We need to get to Santiago and were thinking of hitch hiking so good to know someone's had good luck doing it! Any tips RichardP?

 

[RichardP]

Thanks! We need to get to Santiago and were thinking of hitch hiking so good to know someone's had good luck doing it! Any tips RichardP?

Truck drivers will often give you a ride if you can actually talk to them at a gas station or restaurant. Try to hitch where cars aren't traveling at high speeds already on the open road. When people find out you are foreign they will often go out of their way to help out. It doesn't hurt to offer some pesos for gas, but most people will refuse the offer.
I traveled all over in Argentina and Chile in the 90's this way.