Connection from Santiago to Buenos Aires
 

Hi,

Currently in Australia, I'm looking into shipping options to South America. I hear shipping to Buenos Aires is expensive on the Argentinian side, and that Santiago is the better option. Still true in 2009?

I definitely want to go to Buenos Aires, learn some Spanish and then head down to Ushuaia for the christmas meeting.

Is it possible to cross the Andes from Santiago going east into Mendoza. Looking on google earth, the roads would be Route 57/60 on the Chilean side, border crossing at Eva Peron, then Route 7 on the Argentinean side to Bueons Aires.

Nice ride? Road conditions? Traffic? Border crossing possible there?


Cheers
Bjorn

Forgot to say: I'd be riding into Buenos Aires end of October...

I didn't cross that border, but lots of buses go that way, as far as I know it is the main crossing between the two countries. The Chile-Argentina border crossings are usually easy. Should be a nice ride across the Andes, but from what I have heard the the road to BsAs is boring once you leave the mountains. But that goes for all roads to BsAs...

Thanks guys! Sounds great - looking forward to it :)

Hi Bjorn
We are shipping our bike that way from NZ to Chile end of September then riding over that same route to the Falls in Argentina. Riding two up. Shipping rate not to bad from NZ to Chile via Singapore, takes about seven weeks.
Cheers
Donald

Hi Donald,

Looks like the bike shipping isn't too bad. But the actual airfare from Sydney or Melbourne to Santiago is around AU$2000 one way.... are they out of their mind? I mean - I checked quite a few websites. Quantas, LAN, Opodo,... it's unreal!
It's actually cheaper if I fly via Europe & come to visit some friends!

Bjorn

Thats true Bjorn

As it is not a popular route the big names dont fly that way. They use Air Lan and Air Argentina instead and there seems to be a varied cost in ticket prices. Look at the return ticket cost as it will be cheaper by about $500.

Thanks for the info on the route north Waterfox, will look into that and give it a try

Donald