FigTree

We are planning on spending 2 weeks in Patagonia over Christmas and New Year's. We would like to cross the border from El Calafate, Argentina to Puerto Natales, Chile by bus on Sunday Dec 28. Can anyone tell me how to buy/reserve bus tickets ahead of time (online if possible)? I know this is a busy time to visit, and I'm anticipating the tickets will sell out. Unfortunately, we won't be in El Calafate to go to the bus station in person until Dec 26. Would appreciate any insight from those who have done it before!

mlgb

I don't know if it is possible to buy them in advance from overseas.

But you can contact these guys, they are one of the operators (if not the main one).

http://www.turismozaahj.co.cl/turism.../new-page.html

FigTree

Thank you @mlgb for the tip on Turismo Zaahj. However, it looks like they don't run from El Calafate on Sundays. I found another company called Cootra that does and will try contacting them. Cheers!

Huentetu

People often contact their lodging in El Calafate and ask them to purchase the tickets. There is usually a small surcharge, but worth it for peace of mind. For an international bus trip they probably need your full names and passport numbers.

FigTree

Thanks, @Huentetu. I was able to contact Cootra at [email protected] and find out that they are running daily buses to Puerto Natales leaving at 8:30am and 8:30pm. They asked me to send my info including full names, DOBs and passport numbers, and they are supposed to be holding the reservation. We have to turn up at the bus station by 2pm the day before departure to pay for the fare. Tickets are 300 each (one-way).

mlgb

Good info FigTree. I found the same thing as you booking bus tickets from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales, the hotels and travel agents can hold a reservation for you, but you have to go in person the prior day to pay and finalize your hold on the seat.

If you are going to TdP from PN without a car, I would recommend looking in "seat in van" tour/transfer. It was easier to see some of the south side of the park, and eg the Mirador for Glacier Grey which is reached by a tombolo from the road, if the weather is okay!

I stayed at Las Torres to hike to the towers and then moved over to Paine Grande for two nights to go to the French Valley and back in a day. It was too windy for me to complete the northern most leg of the W, though.

Are going to see the Perito Moreno glacier? Others told me they would skip Grey in that case.

FigTree

Yes, we are planning on going to Perito Moreno glacier while in El Calafate. When we get to Puerto Natales, we're picking up a rental car, so we'll use that for visiting TdP. We're staying at an estancia called Hosteria Tercera Barranca that is (hopefully) not too far from the park. Thanks so much for the info!

Tdata

I'd like to add some information on another travel company that has Sunday bus schedules between El Calafate and Puerto Natales as well as El Calafate and TDP. We are also travelling this December and first assumed there are plenty of buses daily as this is a major tourist attraction, but after looking into several bus companies' websites it seems there are only limited Sunday buses/schedules. I have not had any luck with Cootra LTDA (I have an e-mail in but no response for a few weeks now) so I tried to contact our hotel in El Calate and they gave us all the buses that serve the route we needed.

The other company that has Sunday bus service is called SouthRoad www.southroad.com.ar you can see their complete services and contact info at that site. Responds within 24 hours. I am guessing that they sub contract the bus, they seem to be more of a travel outfitter but the rates are not too bad.

The one-way ticket from TDP to El Calafate is $75. I also saw similar rates with other companies that offer a one day excursion to TDP from El Calafate which is $150. I guess it does not matter if you are taking the 'tour' itself or not. You are buying a bus seat basically, you do the trekking yourself anyway

Cheers!

vienna1010

Hello Tdata,

we have a similar problem, we have to get from El Calafate to Puerto Natales on monday january 26 in the morning. TurismoZahhj only offers a service in the afternoon (mondays), but we need to pick up our car in Peurto Natales at 3 pm. It seems Cootra is running a morning service, but they also did not answer my email. I sent a mail to southroad (it seems the information on their website is outdated, at least the pricelist is from 2010) We arrive from BA on the 25 at 2:45, so we cannot be at the ticket booth at 2 pm. I also tried our Hotel (ACA) but did not get any response. Could you maybe tell me which other companies offer rides from El Calafate to Puerto Nateales? Thx a lot, greetings from Vienna

cindyjo

We have the same problem in that we are leaving El Calafate on a Sunday. I emailed Southroad yesterday and feceived this email today.


The regular transfer from El Calafate to Puerto Natales departs daily at 8:30am from El Calafate Bus terminal. Presentation time: 30 minutes earlier. Trip takes about 5 hours.
The cost is Usd 45 per person (transfers between bus terminals/hotels are not included).

The availability of the services is subject to the time of booking. Rates subject to changes.

In order to book the service, we will need full names, passports, dates of birth and nationalities of all passengers.
Also we will need the name of your hotel in Calafate the previous night, just in case we have to make some announcement.

To confirm reservations, we will ask for the payment of contracted services. Once confirmed, we will send vouchers and payment receipt.
Payment method: credit card by paypal.

For any question please let me know

Best regards,
Ticiana Asvanian | SouthRoad
Patagonia Extrema Viajes EVT 12383
www.southroad.com.ar
Pasajeros con destino a Chile deben consultar condiciones de cruce de frontera en http://chileabroad.gov.cl/tramites/p...tencion-visas/
Citizens of USA, Canada and Australia should check border crossing conditions at http://www.migraciones.gov.ar/accesibleingles/


Hope this helps you some.

vienna1010

Hello just an addendum to my posting on December 9, (problems getting bus tickets from El Calafate to Puerto Natales) I also contacted Ticiana from Southroad
www.southroad.com.ar
[email protected]
and from that moment on the problem was solved. Ticiana booked the bus tickets for us and sent us vouchers. (USD 45,- each, paid via paypal) 30 Min before bus departure we can pick up the tickets at the bus terminal in El Calafate.

Thank you Ticiana and Feliz Navidad!