Chile is not around the corner for most people. It’s quite a journey from (for example) New York to Santiago, and quite a bit further if your travel destination is Patagonia. Not surprisingly, many Chile travelers consider combining the trip with Argentina. This sounds logical, but there are some caveats that I like to discuss in this weblog.
Geographical differences
Chile and Argentina are both located in the south of the South American continent, separated by the immense Andes Mountains. This mountain range, besides being very cold, is also a kind of wall between the two countries. Much of the rain clouds that rise from the west release their mass of water before the Andes. Now rain is not always nice, but it does make Chilean nature beautifully green. On the other side of the Andes, where little precipitation falls, it is much drier. Resulting in the famous Argentine Pampa. Depending on how much variety you need on your trip and how much heat you can handle, it may be wise to skip the pampas. Especially since many of the roads are unpaved (and thus bumpy, slow and dusty).
Cost
Chile is quite pricey for a country in South America. But prices are stable there. This is very different in Argentina. There the exchange rate is so volatile that sometimes (like last year) prices can suddenly rise fourfold. And then your gallon of gasoline or your beer on a terrace becomes very pricey. If you are traveling “on a budget” this is a consideration.
Concentrated
In Chile you can take a wonderful trip by almost any means of transportation – bicycle, motorcycle, car, bus, plane. Chile is enormously diverse and you never have to drive very long before the next highlight presents itself. In Argentina, this is different. There the natural wonders are more concentrated, so in most cases it’s better to take the plane there. This does not apply to Patagonia, which is the subject of the next paragraph….
Patagonia
Patagonia is actually one big national park. Incredibly large and wonderfully diverse. Both the Chilean and Argentine parts are unbelievable beautiful. The downside is accessibility. Patagonia is in a way a collection of islands and fjords and traveling to the parks is not always easy. For example, I traveled by camper (but by car, bike or motorcycle is also possible) the famous Route 7 to the south. This famous Carretera Austral starts in Puerto Montt (you can skip this city in my opinion) and ends in Villa O’Higgins. A beautiful route. But then you are nowhere near the south of the continent and not even close to Torres del Paine. For that, you either have to take the plane or the Ferry. The first option is pricey, the second is both pricey and time consuming. And be sure to book early in either case, because spots are scarce.
Buenos Aires
And then a last-but-not-least reason people want to visit to Argentina: Buenos Aires. City of tango and extroversion. This bustling cosmopolitan is undeniably impressive. If you travel on a limited budget, it may not be your city. And in summer, Buenos Aires is extremely hot, especially in recent years. So preferably plan your visit in the fall or spring.
Conclusion
Combining your Chile trip with Argentina is quite possible. It does depend on how much time you have (the distances on the continent and length of travel will always surprise you) and how much budget. Glosoli is “only” travel specialist for Chile. But we work closely with a travel agent in Argentina and can make sure your Argentina trip fits seamlessly with your Chile adventure.
Whatever you choose: enjoy your trip!
Gerjon
Note: Satellite photo by NASA