Crossing the Andes Mountains between Mendoza and Santiago

Crossing the Andes Mountains                               Monday, February 1, 2016

Up at 6:00AM to check out of Mandoza, we caught a cab to the bus station to cross the great Andes Mountains. A gorgeous sunrise and  pink rainbow greeted us as we boarded the bus which left at 7:30AM heading south on Argentina Route 7. The bus was very nice….leather seats that reclined with an elevating foot stool. About 25 people were traveling with us…not a full load.

Why would we consider this mode of transportation? Larry had read that it was spectacular drive. By flying we would have missed one of the most awesome parts of South America. Car rental is impossible unless you hire a driver to bring the car back to Argentina. There is no compliance with car rental companies outside of either country.

 

We spotted lots of vineyards and fruit plantations along the side of Argentina Route 7. 

                                                                                          Vineyard

                                                                         Winery

 

Easterly....Andes Mountains

 

We were thoroughly amazed to see snow capped mountains after a short drive out of Mendoza. We had the most awesome view of the second highest mountain in the world….Mt. Aconcagua….6,962 meters….second to Mt. Everest (8,849 m)

When we turned west toward the mountains, it became a thrilling ride as cars and buses passed each other up the two lane highway.

 

We passed the Patrerillos Dam and Lake. Beautiful area!

The scenery became more striking with lots of mountain views. We passed through many tunnels with the longest and most famous being Tunel Cristo Redentor, 10,105 ft long....close to two miles long.

 

Around 12:00 noon we arrived at the border, Paso Internacional Los Libertadores which passes by the highest peak  in the western hemisphere. OH MY!!! WHAT A Back UP! Lots of tractor trailers, buses, and cars were waiting to pass through customs to cross over into Chile.

Our bus driver passed all of this some how missing any on coming traffic and pulled up behind about 10 buses and tractor trailers. It was touch and go in a couple of places when east bound cars were coming at us....it made for some excitement for us passengers!


The night before, a land slide had occurred on the road ahead and it was taking a lot of time to clean it up….so everything was at a standstill. The area was full of people trying to get lunch from a single “little hole in the wall” fast food order through the window operation.

Larry and I had packed a ham and cheese sandwich, apple and lots of water for our planned 6-7 hour journey.

However, the bus sat for 4 hours and 20 minutes before moving down the Chile mountainside….at least the sun was shining and the temps were nice due to the high elevation.

Back packers were plentiful going toward Mendoza. Many were hitchhiking and were able to obtain rides.

During the lapse of time we had a chance to talk with the only two English speaking chaps on the bus (a grandfather and his grandson) who were exploring South America as well.   Around 3:00 PM we got in this long line .....twice, to get our passports stamped….once in Argentina and another line for Chile. The lines were side by side so when we finished one and we went directly to the next. Then we boarded our bus that drove down into this garage that unloaded all of the luggage on the bus and ran it through an x-ray machine looking for fruit and vegetables. We had two apples packed away; luckily,  they were not found. Then everyone on the bus lined up again to put personal carry-on bags through the x-ray machine…. #*%!Jimney Crickets!….this long bout with the border patrol was very unexpected.

Finally at 4:20 pm we motored slowly down the Chile side of the mountain. How spectacular!

Chile Route 60 was an engineer’s dream with 28 hairpin curves. Descending this long series of switchbacks was an insane adventure….hold on to your stomach as a line of cars, buses, and loaded 18 wheelers descended this incredible highway.

 The rushing stream and the mountains with waterfalls from melted snow were phenomenal. We passed through mountains of treeless sheer rock that turned into green rolling hills to desert like grasslands with cactus.

Upon arriving into Santiago, we had to take our luggage out about two blocks from the bus station….what a back up of busses! After hailing a taxi, the driver took us for about a 25 minute ride to the other side of Santiago to our new home, Time Suites. We arrived at 7:30pm. What a day! What a ride! What an adventure! We really got our pesos worth on that trip. It really was like a tour more than international transportation.