My husband and I and some friends plan to rent a car in Temuco in February of 2008 and drive first to Villarrica and Pucon, spending a couple of nights in Pucon. We will then drive to Valdivia for two nights. From Valdivia we'd like to drive to San Martin de los Andes. It looks to me like we'll have an unpaved road from Panguipulli all the way to Puerto Fuy. I am wondering if that is where one takes the ferry (on Lago Pirihueico?) to Paso Huahum and eventually over to San Martin de los Andes. Will that be too much driving in one day? How is the trip from San Martin to Villa la Angostura, our next stop? Will the return trip, from Bariloche to Osorno be too much driving in one day? Should we have all of our lodging booked, or can we give ourselves some leeway? Any suggestions will be much appreciated.
Mil gracias!
Rent a car, it is the best way to see the region. Make sure you have the right documents and insurance to cross borders. I did many times with my car from Brazil.
I know 2 good, scenic roads to cross the Andes in the region. The main road Osorno-Bariloche, all paved. The other road is from Pucon/Villarrica to San Martin de los Andes, part gravel. The gravel roads are safe, but even if it seems to be possible to drive at high speed, 100 km/h, don't go over 50-60 in level roads, and below it in mountain. The ferry can be interesting, but I don't know details, and it can be only one or two boats a day. You can do a round trip using these 2 roads, it will be a lot more expensive if you try to return the car in other country.
If you go to Bariloche by car, don't miss Tronador mountain, there is frequent fall of big ice blocks from a glacier with thundering sound, forming a new, black glacier you can see nearby, even touch a black iceberg. There are many, short and long treks there (from half an hour to a few days). It is about 1 1/2 h from Bariloche.
Yes there is a ferry, twice a day, across lake Pirehueico, it's very scenic. The distances are not that long in the region.
Thanks so much for this help! I have a more specific question. Since we want to see Valdivia, we thought we'd head there after our sojourn in Pucon, and then backtrack a bit to get to Panguipulli and from there to the ferry on Lago Pirehueico and into Argentina. I guess we'll have to find out about the timing of those two ferries a day. Another possibility would be to go straight to Valdivia from Temuco and then (retracing some of our route) head for Villarrica and Pucon and Curarrehue and over the Paso MM into Argentina, down to San Martin de los Andes, passing through Junin. Which would be best?
San Martin to Angosturo is only a short trip (2-3 hours?), generally well made roads, perhaps one section of narrow gravel. I don't think you need to make this an overnight stop unless you really want to, although it is a beautiful little town. Between San Martin & Bariloche is known as the Siete Lagos route, with many beautiful scenic photo opps. You could drive it in a day, stopping in Angosturo for lunch? Just an idea, if you need to cut down on time. The other bits I can't help you with.
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