Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - Chile - Peru Arica / Tacna crossing March 2015

Chile - Peru Arica / Tacna 27 March 2015

The border is only 20 minutes drive from Arica. Follow the vehicle signs and park, space permitting, in the parking area in front of the right hand set of windows which are for car/motorbike passengers to process immigration documents. As part of the border processing on both sides you need four copies of the 'RELACION DEL VEHICULO Y PASSAJEROD' (RVP) each of the copies is used in sequence on both the Chilean and Peruvian sides of the border as a method of ensuring that you have not missed a stage at either customs or immigration. We noticed that prior to arriving at the border, some locals seemed to have typed copies already completed. Maybe you can get this Arica? You can buy the RVP at the border for 1,000 chile pesos or USD $2. You go to the right of the immigration windows cross the road up the stairs into the cafe area which runs across the width of the customs and immigration building. Go to the cafe cashier and pay for your carbon copy set of the RVP . Complete the RVP using information in your white 'SALASA Y ADMISION TEMPORAL DE VEHICULOS' (SATV) document provided for your vehicle on entry to Chile. Then take it back to the immigration officer at the first set of windows. He will take the top RVP copy and stamp the next copy and process your passport. Take the remaining RVP copies and the SATV document to the customs windows just beyond the immigration windows. Here the SATV will be taken as will the top copy of the RVP, the next copy of the RVP is stamped to show you have completed Chilean customs. Take the remaining two RVP copies and leave Chile.

A short drive brings you to the Peruvian side, park in the car park then go into immigration office, complete the Peruvian entry form and get that and your passport processed, immigration will stamp the next RVP copy. Then ride past the kiosks up to the customs inspection officer who will undertake a food check. Continue on to the car park beyond the building, park there and go to the first office on the right of the building for vehicle customs. Take your two RVP copies and your vehicle registration documents, in our case a V5 for the UK. You will be asked the vehicle's value and sign a form for duty payment if the vehicle remains in Peru, similar to Chile. Your last RVP copy is stamped and then handed in at the exit gate as you leave the administration area.

Getting Seguro Obligatorio Automóviles Transito (SOAT) insurance is easy and compulsory, about 500 meters from the exit from Peruvian customs and immigration on the right is a new, we think, office for La Positiva. It took us about 10 minutes to obtain one month's insurance for both motorcycles about US$92. It may be cheaper for longer periods or at other locations but the queue of Chilean vehicles mean that locals use it as well and it is done. The whole border crossing and insurance process took about two and a half hours. It really depends on the number of people crossing at the time and their requirements. We had a pretty quick crossing and I even adjusted my motorcycle chain at one point.

This border crossing has become fairly easy to cross just follow the processes and we found the officials on both sides were very helpful. Hope this is useful.