Going to hitch through Chile and Patagonia

[Juanito]

I'd really like to hear from people who have hiked in Southern Chile. I'm planning on doing this in Jan/Feb 2006. Maybe with a Chilean buddy, or possibly solo. I would like to get as far south as possible.

I'm curious about how hard or easy it is to get rides on the Carretera Austral. Any tips, or comments you'd have to offer would be greatly appreciated.

I've lived in Chile for awhile, so I can speak Spanish - definitely will make the trip a little smoother, I think.

You can post here or email me

[jlgijsbers]

I'm in Chile right now (Pucon), and I've done a bit of hitching around here. In general, it's absurdly easy to get rides here. Just two days ago, I simply walked to the outskirts of Valdivia, and got a ride to Loncoche (junction with Villarica/Pucon) in 5 minutes.

I only did a little bit of hitching on the Carretera Austral. I went from Futaleufu to Chaiten (200km), which took me about 6 hours, of which probably 2 hours were spent waiting for two rides. I also hitched a daytrip back and forth to El Amarillo from Chaiten (25km).

The traffic was pretty sparse: maybe one vehicle every 5 minutes. The big problem is that 95% of the people will indicate (by waving their hand in a circle) that they're staying very close to where they are. I didn't even try to get those anyway, simply because I don't have a tent if I'd end up between towns at night.

Anyway, good luck, and if you're north of where I am right now... drop me a line and we can meet somewhere.

[Juanito]

Thanks for the info. I've got a few questions for ya:

Are you travelling alone? Most people I know, including Chileans say that going alone is really, really dangerous. I can't ever recall hearing in the news about someone who went missing, so I think it's just misinformation. I want to go alone, but if it's really _that_ bad, then I don't.

Where have you been staying while travelling? I'm planning on staying at some hostels, but to save money, I'd like to sleep in safe places for free. I've thought of staying in bus terminals, since nobody would say anything to you if you went to sleep there. There are a lot of the Copec centers where there are bathrooms with showers, etc. Are there any/many of those further down south? I haven't been down south in about 5 years, and I don't recall them.

I'm living in Rancagua right now. Not too crazy about hitching so close to Santiago, so I might take a bus ride further south or I might just go from here, I'll have to wait and see.

[jlgijsbers]

Yup, I'm traveling alone. I guess it could be dangerous, but, well, nothing's happened to me so far. Not even a situation where I felt like I was in danger.

The thing is, I'm a tall guy (2mts), and not dread-thin either, so I'd like to think I don't look like a pushover (I am, really, just a big softie without much fighting experience whatsoever, hee). Also, I think it's a lot easier to get a ride with one guy than with two guys.

I mostly stay in hostels, yes, but in Argentina I needed to sleep outside once. That time I slept in a field near the service station, after asking the station owner whether I could. I'd always do that, and try to get his name, so you can invoke it if some random guy or a cap comes along to get you out of there.

In the Lake District & Chiloe, I remember seeing loads and loads of service stations. Nearly every town seems to have one. And since towns are usually not much more than 50kms apart, that's good enough. I *think* there were fewer on the Carretera Austral, but I wasn't really paying attention then. Too busy looking at the marvellous scenery. Anyway, try taking a look at http://www.copec.cl - it seems to have a list under 'estaciones de servicio'.

Myself, I'm taking the train up from Temuco, just because I like the rhythm of trains so much. I might go hitching again in central Chile or back into Argentina.

[Juanito]

How's the travelling going? Where are you at now?

I'm also curious - what kind of prices are you getting at hostels? Most places seem to be upwards of 5k pesos unless you are staying in a tent outside. Did you find places that were cheaper than that? It is not quite tourist season so prices are probably going to be less then January when I'm planning on going out.

[jlgijsbers]

Well, I've arrived in Santiago a few days ago, and I have been simply enjoying the nightlife here for a couple of days. Starting to take its toll, though, so I'll probably try to hitch to Valparaiso tomorrow (any tips - good spots in/near of Santiago - would be appreciated).

Yeah, most of the established places are definitely 5k or more. What I did a few times is go to the tourist office and ask them for family accomodation. Not all of them were equipped for it, but I did get some places for between 3 and 4k. Of course, not all of them were too pleasant, and you have to realize you generally won't be meeting other travellers, but if that's okay with you, no problem. I like to meet and hang with other travellers sometimes, so I don't want to stay in places like that all the time.

Also, listening to the touts in the bus terminals may seem like a stupid idea, but it can get you some pretty decent and cheap places sometimes. Just don't be afraid to get the crap out of a place if you don't like it, even if it'll make the pretty girl smiling at you pout in disappointment.

[chuckenchile]

I have done most of latin america at one time or another, and Southern Chile is simply one of the safest places to travel in all of Latin America, and perhaps the Americas. Yea, there is crime, but nothing on the scale in the rest of South America. I would say there are three major reasons.

Chile has done a pritty good job of cutting down the type of rob or your family will starve type crime. It still exist, but more in the central region around Santiago.

Southern Chile, being the wrong direction on the drug trade routes, has very low drug use. Once in a while, some trafficer takes a wrong turn, but not with much.

The police are honest. I would say more honest than what you would find in the States. If you can not trust the police, then the place is really dangeroius. It also means a lot of people commit crimes because all they have to do is slip a little money to get out of trouble to the cops. I lived in Guatemala for several years. No one would stop for a cop, unless they wanted to be robbed or the cops where using physical force to stop you.

So, there is something to be said about being on the end of the world, for also missing most of the worlds worst problems.