Chile

Please

which is or are the budget or best options to go from santiago international airport to the city center

Thank you very much indeed for input

New to the tree and was looking for some advise on what to bring for camping and trekking in Chile.

55 F Sleeping bag or 30 F sleeping bag?

3 season tent or 4 season tent?

Crampon's or any specialty gear?

Starting in Puerto Montt and moving as far south as Chile Chico and the a stop in Chiloe at the end.

Thanks for the help :)

Two weeks based in Santiago. Looking for suggestions for New Year's Eve. Also, we're thinking of taking one or two 3-4 days trips somewhere relatively close to Santiago, maybe one by train (can you suggest some?), and one with a rental car (again, can you suggest some, and also, might you know of a good/cheap car rental company?). Ideas we have for activities are: a vineyard, some mountain beauty, hot springs, beach, and old architectural/cultural beauty. I hope all that makes some sense…

i have 2 options to travel from Coihaique to Villa O'Higgins on the carretera austral

1. Coihaique -> Puerto Ibanez -> ferry - Chile Chico ->Puerto Gadal (route on southern stretch of lago genereal carrera) -> Cochrane - Villa O Higgins

doing this stretch i could visit and hike in RN Jeinemeni

1. Coihaique -> Villa Cero Castilo -> Puerto Tranquilo (side trip to Bahia Exploradores) -> Cochrane -> Villa O Higgins

doing this stretch i could visit and hike RN Cerro Castillo
i could also visit…

Getting ready for our trip and have a few last minute questions. We have an old guidebook since we will mostly be spending time volunteering at Torres del Paine.

What is the departure tax, and is it payable in Chilean pesos or US dollars (I know about the US$100 entrance fee)? We are flying from Punta Arenas to Santiago to the USA.

We arrive Jan. 1st in the early afternoon and need to spend a night in Punta Arenas before catching the bus to TdP. Should we make a reservation at a hostel, i.e…

Hi all,

February 2008 we're planning to do the Huerquehue-traverse, Puyehue-traverse, isla de Chiloé and Torres del Paine. We still need to buy our 2 person tent and sleeping bags. In my guidebook they mention 4-season tents are the one to go for...?

Never been there, so if you have experience with Patagonia and gear do's and don'ts, I would like to know cause these things cost fortunes! In any cause we don't want to be blown away. Some specific brand and type would be interesting.

Cause…

I have just done the John Garnrd pass, and the circuit is officially open according to Conaf, and the refuges are open and running with some supplies on the minimarkets the most important....GATO NEGRO...jejeje..
The pass is ok, some snow but doable, always ask the conditions the night before to the guys on Perros.
on the way down to Camp el Paso, the downhill is slippery i recommend no to hold to the ropes trsut your legs just go slow...2 weeks ago a chilean girl fall and dislocate her shoulder…

I'm looking at various options for exploring Easter Island, and I'm thinking I might take a tour for part of the time I'm there. I found an outfitter called Terracota Excursions. The descriptions of their trips sound good, and they seem inexpensive ($315 pp), but does anyone know anything about them? How reputable are they and are their tours worthwhile, etc.?

My husband and I and another couple thought we might stay at the Termas de Puyehue on February 12, but we've discovered it's far too expensive for what we want, since it's now an "all inclusive" spa resort and costs $236 US for a double room. Does anyone know anything about the Hosterias in Entre Lagos? Would it be best to go on to Osorno, though we're not terribly interested in staying in a city.

Good day folks
We will be flying into Santiago with our fully loaded touring bikes in about two weeks time and were wondering if anybody has any suggestions of how we could get them into downtown Santiago.

From what we can see, there does not appear to be a train from the airport, but buses. Our main concern is that the buses will not have room (nor be terribly obliging) of taking two fully loaded touring bikes on a terribly crowded bus. Taxi may also be out of the question unless there are…