Actually, I came to Chile by accident. Well, I was traveling the continent, starting in Colombia. Not sure if it was due to the first year of El Niño, but it was extremely hot – and because it was the beginning of the summer also very moist. I spend a good deal of time, made some friends, got Dengé fever, went skydiving, saw amazing graffiti art in Medellins District 13 and wandered through amazing Colombian nature. But the noisiness of Colombia got to me and I decided to leave for Peru. But in Lima it was even worse. Clouded but hot. And nosy.
(‘Is this a story that should make me want to travel to South America?’ Yes, it is! Just wait for it.)
So I decided to skip Peru and the Incas for now and take the plane to Santiago de Chile to find a little bit of quiet, some coolness and maybe more local people that would not end their conversation with the question ‘dollares?’. It turned out to be a good move. I bought a travel guide, dived into the natural wonders of Chile and made a plan: I was going to explore Chile in a ‘casa rodante’, a camper van. I took the bus to Quillota, met with camper sales agent Juan and his wife (wonderful people) and after a week I road off in my Mitsubishi L300.
My first ride I drove to IKEA to buy a good topper matras. Sleeping well is vital. After that I travelled without a clear plan. Every morning I would start with a cup of coffee or two, look at the map, read about the highlights and then just go. The camper van was amazing. A 2.4 liter engine in a 2012 body and made in Japan turned out to be an excellent recipe for a camper van. I was traveling alone. Sometimes quiet for a long time, sometimes listening to music, sometimes singing and sometimes just talking. It did not take long before I came up with a name for my four-wheeled friend: Wilson. Like the volleyball in Cast Away. And with my unshaved cheeks I slowly turned into Tom Hanks.
I travelled 12.000 kilometers with a dust-clumped petrol filter being the only serious issue (that was fixt for under 50 euros). I saw the country from the inside, in my own pace. I explored wonderful nature, met wonderful people (among which Ghanis) and slept like a baby after every exiting adventure. I cooked the most amazing improv meals (well, at least I though they were amazing) and watched the sun set while sitting on the roof rack. It was sometimes challenging, even frustrating. But the one word that comes up after all is: amazing.
Chile is a beautiful country for a camper adventure. With the right camper and mindset, it can’t be anything but a success. And if you want a little more certainty along the way—after all, it remains an unfamiliar country where you don’t speak the language and don’t know anyone — opt for our Travel Coaching. Roadtripping with peace of mind is the best.
Tips
- Buy a van if you travel for more than 2 months. It is cheaper in the end and getting attached to your own van is a great feeling (Thanks, Wilson).
- I strongly advice to BUY at Juan (WhatsApp: +56 9 9165 5165) and RENT at Andes Campers. And if you want to rent a van, check if ‘our’ Wilson is available.
- Make sure you have your complete file of documents at hand. The police might ask for it.
- Make sure to check how much of the upcoming road is ‘sin pavementio’, so without asphalt. Depending on how much stress you can take, you might want to take another road.
- When you are south of Puerto Montt, so in Patagonia, always get petrol at any station you pass. It might be the last possibility for a long time.
- And don’t forget to take a 15 liter tank of petrol for emergencies.
- Bought the van? In March every one with a vehicle needs to renew the SOAP and get a Permiso de Circulation at the municipality where your van is enlisted. This most often can be done online.
- Tip: if you want to stay longer than 3 months in Chile, it is possible to cross the border to Argentina and, on your way back into Chile, get another 3 months.
Enjoy your Chile roadtrip!
Gerjon