Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
306
Traveling by Boat to Chile
Cruce Andino
is the name of the company now running the spectacular lake-
crossing journey from Bariloche over the border (and the Andes Mountains) to
the Chilean Lake Distric t. It's a boat-and-bus c ombination that t erminates in
Lago Todos los Santos, near Ensenada and Puerto Varas, although it can also be
done in r everse, from Chile t o Bariloche. If you're planning t o visit Chile , it's a
superb option that allows you to take in the beaut y of the Andes and the v ol-
canoes, riv ers, and wat erfalls in the mountain range . I don 't r ecommended
making this journey during hea vy rain. The trip can take 1 long da y or 2 da ys,
with an o vernight in the Hot el Peulla or the r ecommended Hot el Natura in
Chile. The 1-day trip costs $230 (£156) per person f or the boat trip (including
lunch), and an average of $310 (£211) per person based on double oc cupancy
for an overnight at the Hotel Natura in Peulla, Chile. Book at any travel agency
or fr om Cruc e Andino 's offic es in Bariloche (
&
02944/425444;
w ww.cruce
andino.com).
11
BY BUS
The
Terminal de O mnibus
(
&
02944/432860
) is at A v. 12 de O ctubre
2400; a doz en companies ser ve most major destinations in Argentina and Chile.
Via
TAC
(
&
02944/434727
) schedules thr ee daily arriv als fr om B uenos Air es and daily
service fr om E l Bolsón, Esquel, M endoza, and Cór doba.
Vía B ariloche
(
&
02944/
432444
) has eight daily arriv als from Buenos Aires (the trip lasts about 20 hr .) and one
daily trip from Mar del Plata.
Andesmar
(
&
02944/430211
) has service from Mendoza,
Río Gallegos, and N euquén, and ser vice from Osorno, Valdivia, and P uerto Montt in
Chile. For long trips, opt for the slightly mor e expensive (usually $15/£10 mor e)
coche
cama
or supercama for chairs that practically become beds. I n addition, there are a fe w
daily buses from San Martín de los Andes via the scenic S iete Lagos (Seven Lakes) route
(only during the summer); from Villa La Angostura, try
Ko-Ko
(
&
02944/431135
).
BY CAR
Motorists can reach Bariloche from San Martín via several picturesque routes.
The 200km (124-mile) scenic
Siete Lagos route,
from San Martín de los Andes, follows
rutas 234, 231, and 237 (av oid this r oute when it 's raining, as the dir t roads turn to
mud). The 160km (99-mile)
Paso Córdoba
follows rutas 234, 63, and 237. The safest
route for night driving or cr ummy weather, the
Collón Curá
runs 260km (161 miles)
along rutas 234, 40, and 237; it 's the longest r oute, but it's entirely paved. To get to E l
Bolsón, follow RN 258 south; continue do wn 40 to get to Esquel. To cross into Chile,
take the Puyehue Pass via RN 231 (through Villa La Angostura); during periods of heavy
snowfall, chains are required. The drive from Buenos Aires will take y ou upwards of 20
hours, and there are few pit stops en route. Driving here from Buenos Aires, or similarly
far destinations such as El Calafate and Mendoza, is not recommended.
Getting Around
BY FOOT
The city is compact enough to explor e on foot. M ost visitors spend just a
few hours touring the city , however, and then use it as a base for exploring the r egion.
The main str eets for shopping and tourist agencies ar e Mitre and S an Martín/Moreno.
The center of town is the scenic Centro Cívico (Civic Center) plaza. From here, distances
