RN40 Argentine Patagonia

"Is this possible and easy to do without paying excessive surcharges?"

It is possible but ont cheap.

Jorge Daniel Barchi.
Buenos Aires.

There is no regularly scheduled bus service from Bariloche to Calafate. The alternative bus connections are:

1 ) First leg of journey, Bariloche to Puerto Madryn; takes 13 hours and costs 45.00 US$. Then Puerto Madryn to Rio Gallegos; takes 17 hours and costs 55.00 US$. Then Rio Gallegos to Calafate; takes 4 hours and costs 13.00 US$.

2 ) First leg of journey, a Don Otto bus from Bariloche to Comodoro Rivadavia; takes 15 hours and costs 42.00 US$. Then an Andesmar/Don Otto bus from Comodoro Rivadavia to Rio Gallegos; takes 11 hours and costs 33.00 US$. Then Rio Gallegos to Calafate takes 4 hours and costs 13.00 US$.

The one-way trip Calafate-Perito Moreno-El Chalten-Bariloche or viceversa costs 127.00 US$ plus 21.00 US$ for a single room for the one-night stay at a hotel or 33.00 US$ for a double room.

The following are previous reports:

I did it in December 2006 with Chalten Travel along Route 40. If you are into openess and the vastness of Patagonia, it is a good 2+ day trip. But to be honest, a lot of people on my bus were pretty sick of "nothingness" after a few hours. Usually there are two overnight stops...one in El Chalten and one in Perito Moreno. It is not a cheap bus ride either and forget about semi-cama or cama...the buses are very, very normal ( no video, no foot rest, etc.).

We took the Ruta 40 Chalten Travel trip from Chalten to Bariloche 2 years ago and enjoyed it so much we did it again this year ( December 2006 ). I am sorry to report that the Perito Moreno to Bariloche bus was a cooker. We were all drenched in sweat after a very long ride. I do not mind open windows, but the bus was modern and the windows would not open. For the amount they charge for this trip in comparison to other routes I would suggest taking the longer way until Chalten Travel realizes they need to improve their bus. If this was a route locals took, they would not stand for this service.

www.chaltentravel.com</a><BR><BR>Jorge Daniel Barchi.
Buenos Aires.

"Is a 4WD vehicle necessary these days?"

No, it is not.

"by 2007 it should all be sealed"

We, Argentines, are accustomed to promises that are never fulfilled.

Jorge Daniel Barchi.
Buenos Aires.

One way rentals are very very expensive! A 4 WD is not necesary but it would be more comfortable for some parts. It won´t be paved by 2007, nor 2008, nor 2009, nor 2010 allthough there is progress and some parts are añready paved. The conditions of the graveled parts depends a lot on the climate. If there have been more rains than usual, conditions can be very bad. If the climate is normal dry, the conditions at most parts will be pretty good. The parts which are not paved are very lonely, so there is really not much traffic which makes it much more easier to drive along. I personall would cross into Chile at Perito Moreno Town to Chile Chico and go up inside Chile and recross into Argentina at Esquel. If you have enough time you can rent a car in Bariloche, drive down along the coast till Calafate (3/4 days with some stops along the road and then make your way up. You should allow at least 2 weeks for this but in this way you drop off the car in Bariloche again without paying the one way rental which will be more expensive than hiring the car for 2 weeks

hmmmm... thanks for the info. Might have to do some serious thinking about this. Would prefer to hire a car - but at least there is the option of public transport