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9 Dec 2012
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Registered Users
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Routing suggestions south of Bolivia: Ride Chile or Argentina until Mendoza/Santiago?
Hi folks:
I'm planning my route south of Bolivia as I prepare to leave the country in a week or two. I'm trying to figure out whether I should be exiting Bolivia for Argentina or Chile. I'm interested in discussing routing until Mendoza/Santiago first, but would love suggestions farther south.
Positives I've heard about Argentina Route:
* No road tolls like Chile
* Cheaper gas
* Cool stops along the way (Cafayate, Cordoba)
* Supposedly beautiful
Negatives I've heard about the Argentina Route:
* Really heavy winds of 60-100km can happen
* Incredibly boring road
* Gravelly (maybe this is routa 40 farther south)
Positives I've heard about the Chilean route:
* You get to actually see the coast (I love the coast) at some points
* Highway is supposedly beautiful
* No wind
Negatives for Chile:
* Road tolls
* Deserty type terrain in northern Chile like the Peruvian coast (didn't love Peru coast with some exceptions like Mancora).
Would love your thoughts!
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9 Dec 2012
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Super Moderator
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bellingham, WA, USA
Posts: 3,982
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Skip back and forth between one and the other. Riding over to Chile from Uyuni is not to be missed. Also not to be missed: riding to Argentina over any of the high passes from Chile. Repeat crossings until sated, with intervals in northern Argentina cities and along Chilean coast. Try to squeeze in a winery or two while you're at it.
Mark
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9 Dec 2012
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Contributing Member
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: St Helens
Posts: 763
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Quote:
Originally Posted by arooni
Hi folks:
I'm planning my route south of Bolivia as I prepare to leave the country in a week or two. I'm trying to figure out whether I should be exiting Bolivia for Argentina or Chile. I'm interested in discussing routing until Mendoza/Santiago first, but would love suggestions farther south.
Positives I've heard about Argentina Route:
* No road tolls like Chile
* Cheaper gas
* Cool stops along the way (Cafayate, Cordoba)
* Supposedly beautiful
Negatives I've heard about the Argentina Route:
* Really heavy winds of 60-100km can happen
* Incredibly boring road
* Gravelly (maybe this is routa 40 farther south)
Positives I've heard about the Chilean route:
* You get to actually see the coast (I love the coast) at some points
* Highway is supposedly beautiful
* No wind
Negatives for Chile:
* Road tolls
* Deserty type terrain in northern Chile like the Peruvian coast (didn't love Peru coast with some exceptions like Mancora).
Would love your thoughts!
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We have just ridden north from Santiago then via Mendoza. And can compare the two routes as we went south from Arica -> Puerto Natales 2 years ago.
Between Bolivia and Mendoza the route is *HOT*, we did not use Ruta 40 so tarmac all the way. Wind not too bad.
Fuel easy to find (except between San Juan and San Agustine ( Valle Fertil).
Cafayete worth a visit. So is Salta.
However, I'd say go to San Pedro and then cross back to Argentina.
Ruta 5 is OK in Chile, I like deserts (but this time when we return to Santiago we will try and hit the coast a bit).
Chile is toll free until La Serena.
If you are happy on gravel/ripio then yes flip between the two. If not, then don't do the San Pedro crossing, take the higher one from Oruro to Arica :-)
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10 Dec 2012
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Registered Users
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Seattle
Posts: 92
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BruceP
Fuel easy to find (except between San Juan and San Agustine ( Valle Fertil).
Cafayete worth a visit. So is Salta.
However, I'd say go to San Pedro and then cross back to Argentina.
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Sounds like there is some stuff visiting on the Argentian side... can I ask you why you might prefer the route south on the Chilean side?
Many thanks in advance!
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10 Dec 2012
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Registered Users
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Brisbane Australia
Posts: 193
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Don't forget the Dakarstarts in a few weeks and traverses some of the area you are talking about.
Would be worthwhile to watch a stage or 2.
I will be chasing it from Lima down to Santiago as much as possible.
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10 Dec 2012
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Contributing Member
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: St Helens
Posts: 763
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Quote:
Originally Posted by arooni
Sounds like there is some stuff visiting on the Argentian side... can I ask you why you might prefer the route south on the Chilean side?
Many thanks in advance!
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Better road, cooler.
Then when you hit Patagonia, brill :-)
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