Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
parture time is always on the ticket you buy. Expect restrooms, left luggage, fast-food
stalls, kiosks and newspaper vendors inside or near almost every large terminal. In tourist
destination cities they'll often have a tourist information office. There are generally few if
any hotel touts or other traveler-hassling types at terminals; El Calafate is one notable ex-
ception.
Two websites that sell long-distance bus ticket online (and without commission) are
Classes & Costs
Most bus lines have modern coaches with spacious, comfortable seats, large windows,
air-conditioning, TVs, toilets (though don't expect luxury here - and bring toilet paper) and
sometimes an attendant serving coffee and snacks.
On overnight trips it's well worth the extra pesos to go
coche cama
(sleeper class),
though the cheaper
semi-cama
(semisleeper) is definitely manageable. In
coche cama
seats are wider, recline almost flat and are far more comfortable. For even more luxury
there's
ejecutivo
(executive) which is available on a few popular runs. If pinching pesos,
común
(common) is the cheapest class. For trips less than about five hours, there's usu-
ally no choice and buses are
común
or
semi-cama,
which are both usually just fine.
Bus fares vary widely depending on season, class and company. Patagonia runs tend
to be the most expensive. Many companies accept credit cards.
Reservations
Often you don't need to buy bus tickets beforehand unless you're traveling on a Friday
between major cities, when overnight
coche cama
services sell out fast. During holiday
stretches, such as late December through February, July and August, tickets sell quickly
so buy ahead of time. As soon as you arrive somewhere, especially if it's a town with lim-
ited services, find out which companies go to your next destination and when, and plan
your trip.
When the bus terminal is on the outskirts of a big town or city, there are often downtown
agencies selling tickets without commission. Ask at your hotel.
Seasonal Services
In the Lake District and northern Patagonia, bus services are good during summer
(November through March), when there are many microbus routes to campgrounds, along
lake circuits, to trail heads and to other destinations popular with tourists. Outside sum-
mer, however, these services slow way down.
In Patagonia the famed stretch of RN40, or Ruta Nacional Cuarenta (Route 40), was
once infrequently traveled and rough - though now much of it is paved (though it's still
good to have a 4WD for side roads). However, there's still little public transport, and it's
mostly via expensive, summertime microbus 'tours.'
