Chile Forum

This just happened, we will see if there is anything on the news about it.

Got the report Charles, thanks. I'm a little more curious if the border will open soon so I can get home!!!!!!!!!!

Not to be a wet blanket, Vicki, but I read that a strike is imminent in Argentina, too. The border might be closed for awhile.

Holy Moly Batman! Tis' perhaps a perfect storm of Murphys' Law - meets Twilight Zone. RWS...I have not seen anything on situations in Argentina. We will chill out here in Osorno and if it looks like a protracted situation, check on ferries from PM, or Isla Chiloe to Chaiten, although that looks more and more less likely. All I can say is thank goodness we made the trip for necessary prescription meds when we did or we might have been stuck in Futa with no way to get any! We always keep a 3-6 months supply but after a tumultuous year, had let it dwindle to just a couple weeks.

We are checking on the boarder situation. We have more than a few people caught in Customs/immigration mess. What we hear is that there are emergency measures that will allow the boarder to kind of function, but it will be slow.

I appreciate the info. What I see here is that we can't buy a ticket for a bus crossing the border at this time. The bus station is a mob scene without the bad behavior of a mob. We'll spend the night in Osorno and see if things settle down.

Encouraging news is that Chile is sending police to keep borders partially open. Other news tidbits:

Reuters reports, "Organizers said the strike had partially or fully closed schools, health facilities, garbage collection and customs offices. Local media eported corpses were stacking up in hospital morgues."

And then we have the last paragraph of a CNN World article, "The government also announced a series of emergency contacts, including telephone numbers and Web site addresses, for some services such as tax collection."

Hi,
after 4 long years I'm traveling again to Patagonia.
This time I will start in Bariloche (there is a direct TAM flight from Sao Paulo), go south to Esquel, Trevelin and Futa. From Futa south to Coyaique e Cerro Castillo.
Reading the last posts, I understood there is a strike happening in Chile and this can affect my plans. I will be crossing this border next Saturday.
I would be very happy if someone can keep track of this and update the information.

thanks a lot,
Marcelo

Marcelo,

Just crossed the Osorno to Bariloche border crossing yesterday, and it was the quickest we'd ever passed through. Possible it's either the lack of people attempting, or they have replacement workers who are far more efficient (or don't care and just stamp and pass). The crossing at Futa was the same. There is a sign up in the Futa Aduanas office that reads, "Aduanas en Paro!", but they are there and we skipped on through with no problem. Keep in mind, there are no buses to the border from Esquel except Monday and Friday (8 am and 1800-ish). It's always possible to hitchhike from Esquel, walk across from Argentina to Chile, and hitch again to Futa, as we did. Very quiet times right now and possibly a long wait for a ride.

Of course, that could change, but I think the Futa crossing is a sure thing...too many people here have families and livlihoods split between Trevelin, Esquel and Futa. Good Luck!

yea, if Customs does not work at the Futa boarder their families starve, their cars run out of gas, and people start throwing rocks at them in the streets. Much more abstract at say the Santiago Airport.

Those are wonderful news.
I will be driving a rental starting in Bariloche to Coyaique, and back to Bariloche.
The first night I will stay in Trevelin at Casa de Piedra and then cross to Chile, where I will spend at least 3 nights along the way to Coyaique.
It is a 10 days trip to take pictures and enjoy the nature.

Thank you very much for the information.
I have a non-commercial site with my photos from Patagonia.
Check it at http://www.photopatagonia.com

Reagards e saludos,
Marcelo

Marcelo,

Top off your gas in Trevelin. Your next gas station will be La Junta. And if you've been this way before, you know the roads are gravel top. Drive careful and enjoy. This afternoon I spoke with someone who said that they want the perception to be that borders are shut down, but that it's not practical, and in reality in the south, just not possible. So I think that it's a good thing to approach the border personnel graciously (as I always do anyway as I usually have a two-pound hunk of pickled ham in my coat pocket). Today, when we crossed in Futa, I did not have the diplomatic Spanish to express my solidarity..I wish I had. Anyway, travel on Marcelo! If the wind isn't blowing too hard, stop in Futa and check it out!

Vicki