Mendoza to Santiago

Mendoza to Santiago 6th May

In Mendoza we stayed with Raul for a few days who operated an Air B & B from his home. He was excellent and helped us with local intel. He dropped us off early at the bus station to catch the bus over the Andes to Santiago to connect with our flight to La Paz, Bolivia. The ride over the Andes was a great experience with fabulous views of the mountains. It was a double decker bus and for some of the journey Jim sat up front, up top. The road itself was reasonably impressive with some extensive construction, tunnels and structures. Once again we go to have a look at the old railway, the Transandine Railway. Just prior to the border crossing the drivers assistant came around with a plastic bag asking for tips.  Due to our lack of Spanish we weren’t sure if they were for the border staff or for him and the driver to share.  Another kiwi on the bus was also unsure and we were all reasonably amused - anyhow we gave them a tip and the border crossing went smoothly and efficiently. 

Once in Santiago, at the bus station we organised a taxi to the airport for our flight to La Paz. Organising taxis in these busy bus terminals is rather stressful and chaotic not having any Spanish, wifi for Uber or the correct cash as we had come from Argentina to Chile - anyhow we found a driver that would take a credit card and got to the airport for a good price and safely. (Some of the taxi drivers we have had have been maniacs, as they think a great service is going as fast as possible and the traffic in these big cites is crazy!

Morning sun on the mountains leaving Mendoza

The route across the Andes

One of the many road stops you have in South America

Heading into the mountains

Some of the many tunnels in video

These are the old snow sheds that covered the railway line near the top of the pass

Tunnel at the top 

Some more old railway tunnels on the Chile side of the pass

The roadway was protected by these structures on the Chile side

Looking down some of the hairpin bends on the Chile side