Santiago to Mendoza

[elephanto]

Has anyone travelled on the bus over the Andes from Chile to Argentina? How was the journey?

[SteveD]

We went to Argentina last November and wanted to do Puerto Montt (Chile) to Bariloche (Argentina) or vice-versa. It seems to be a great trip from what we found on the Internet. It was also featured on one of the travel programmes on BBC and looked wonderful there (it involves a series of bus and boat trips).

However, we didn't do it because it would have involved a one-way international flight which would have been very expensive. All our other flights were domestic ones within Argentina. Maybe you should check this out.

I don't know about Santiago to Mendoza but that could be an equally exciting adventure.

As part of our holiday we went on a day trip from El Calafate in Argentina to the Torres del Paine national park in Chile. That was travelling and crossing international borders like it used to be years ago in Europe!

Last year's visit to Argentina was our second; the first was awesome and, as the country is so big and there was so much left to see, we decided to go again. There are still areas we haven't been to (including Mendoza) so.... watch this space.

[jno]

weird place, Bariloche, looks like Switzerland and is full of chocolate shops... but I didn't actually like the chocolate at all.

Which isn't much help because I haven't actually done the trip you're asking about...

[elephanto]

Thankyou Steve for another idea of a route over the Andes.We are backpacking round the world - a retirement gift to ourselves. Shanghai, Perth - Indian-Pacific train to Sydney up to Melbourne, Cairns 2 weeks in NZ Chile then Argentina then home. 71/2 weeks. Hope we wrinklies can make it. Don't go til next Jan/Feb but at planning stage. Thankyou again - sounds like we will love South America.

[jno]

good time of year, but it can be very chilly in Shanghai (just did it in Feb this year and it was gloves weather in the evening).

[SteveD]

Check this out:

http://www.ripioturismo.com.ar/ebrclakescrossi ng.htm

You can do it in one (long) day.

[Pomp]

We got a bus from Santiago to the wine region of Mendoza, then onto Los Penitentes in Argentina, which is a ski resort in the Andes and then onto Tucaman.

Journey was absolutely fine. Buses in Chile and Argentina are very good.

Check out our website for further information, www.mytripjournal.com/stuandlizontour