Looking for a bus co for a trip from Santiago Chile to Mendoza
Nov 19th, 2011, 09:47 AM
#1
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Looking for a bus co for a trip from Santiago Chile to Mendoza
Hi Everyone,
I have found a few bus co. on the internet by most are in spanish only. Apprecite few names and links for the ones that are known for better safety records. How much would each route cost? Do we need reservation for the week of Dec 14-Dec 21 ?
We will be going from Santiago to Mendoza and few days later from Mendoza to Buenos Aires.
How was your experience for an overnight bus ride from Mendoza to Buenos Aires.
Thank you so much in advance
I have found a few bus co. on the internet by most are in spanish only. Apprecite few names and links for the ones that are known for better safety records. How much would each route cost? Do we need reservation for the week of Dec 14-Dec 21 ?
We will be going from Santiago to Mendoza and few days later from Mendoza to Buenos Aires.
How was your experience for an overnight bus ride from Mendoza to Buenos Aires.
Thank you so much in advance
Nov 19th, 2011, 12:58 PM
#2
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Grupo Ormeño - Gente que une a la gente
Telf./Fax: (54) 11-431-32259 Mendoza: ... Santiago: Av. Libertador O'Higgins N° 3800 ... Grupo Ormeno - Todos los ...
www.grupo-ormeno.com.pe/videos.html
Best bet for me...I reserve in country but
latinamericaforless.com if an agent is needed
Downstairs seats biggest best...
Upstairs lurchier smaller riskier for theft...
Have fun!
Telf./Fax: (54) 11-431-32259 Mendoza: ... Santiago: Av. Libertador O'Higgins N° 3800 ... Grupo Ormeno - Todos los ...
www.grupo-ormeno.com.pe/videos.html
Best bet for me...I reserve in country but
latinamericaforless.com if an agent is needed
Downstairs seats biggest best...
Upstairs lurchier smaller riskier for theft...
Have fun!
Nov 19th, 2011, 01:58 PM
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Ormeño is a company which does multi-country trips out of Perú. I am not sure they can even pick up passengers in Chile. The two companies I would recommend are Andesmar and Cata Internacional. Andesmar can be booked online. It is an Argentine company but will book cross border routes with Chile. You cannot book Chilean bus companies online from abroad. As for booking a couple of days in advance, it should be OK. There are no long weekends at that time and there are a lot of bus companies doing the route. Mid-week is always easier than a Friday. They are all pretty much the same re safety (very good) but there are a couple of companies which run vans on the route and I would avoid those because they tend to go too fast.
Nov 19th, 2011, 11:44 PM
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We did a lot of bus trips all around South America - some very long. Whichever company you use I would strongly suggest you book Ejecutivo or Full Cama seats. They are much more comfortable and spacious than the semi-cama seats and convert to a 180 flat bed for sleeping. We found them to be a very comfortable way of travelling, similar in comfort to 1st Class on a major airline - reasonable food on most buses.
Nov 20th, 2011, 02:48 AM
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You are unlikely to find the top sleeper service on buses to Mendoza from Santiago as it is a relatively short ride and you want to do it in daylight for the view anyway. You might find Salon Cama. These services get different names on different lines and in different countries, but that would be the second best service and not the full flat option.
Buses to Mendoza tend to leave in clusters, early a.m., around 10-11, 2-3. In summer there is a night bus but, as I say, you would miss the views and have to get out of the bus for customs anyway.
I forgot to mention that when buying an international bus ticket they require your passport number for the manifest to present to customs. You don't normally want to be carrying your passport around with you, especially in bus stations, but I think you have to show the actual document to buy the ticket. A full colour photocopy of the relevant pages might do. See if someone at your lodging can phone and ask before you go.
Buses to Mendoza tend to leave in clusters, early a.m., around 10-11, 2-3. In summer there is a night bus but, as I say, you would miss the views and have to get out of the bus for customs anyway.
I forgot to mention that when buying an international bus ticket they require your passport number for the manifest to present to customs. You don't normally want to be carrying your passport around with you, especially in bus stations, but I think you have to show the actual document to buy the ticket. A full colour photocopy of the relevant pages might do. See if someone at your lodging can phone and ask before you go.
Nov 20th, 2011, 05:06 AM
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The main companies are Cata and Andesmar and their services are very similar. A number of the other companies have small vans as opposed to big buses. The drawback of a small van is that it is cramped, you are crowded in for several hours, and there is no bathroom. On the larger buses, the more expensive service does have larger seats. Howeever, they tend to be on the first level, where the views are not good and the atmoshere is dark and cave-like. (I would only consider using these if you are traveling overnight.)
Up above you get excellent views of the Andes. And the seats are by no means small.
Because you will be traveling close to the holidays, I would reserve ahead. However, if you do not have an ID document for Argentina or maybe also for Chile, you probably cannot do so online. This means either going to the bus company office or travel agent as soon as you get to Chile or...if you are in another country, requesting that a travel agent do it for you.
Up above you get excellent views of the Andes. And the seats are by no means small.
Because you will be traveling close to the holidays, I would reserve ahead. However, if you do not have an ID document for Argentina or maybe also for Chile, you probably cannot do so online. This means either going to the bus company office or travel agent as soon as you get to Chile or...if you are in another country, requesting that a travel agent do it for you.
Nov 20th, 2011, 05:56 AM
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You can book on Andesmar.
http://www.andesmar.com/shop/default.asp
Choose ida (one way) or ida y vuelta (return)
Put your destination and date, number of seats needed.
Look at the left hand column. Andesmar runs other buses and you will see their names there (El Rapido, Coitram etc). Choose a bus which says Andesmar. You will get either cama or semi-cama choice. Choose.
A seat selection will pop up. If the bus has 2 floors they will be side by side. You want piso superior.
When you get to paying option there is a small drop down menu beside the document info which will show dni. Drop down to pass for passport. Put in your passport number. There is space for 2 passengers. Each should put their passport number.
If you have any problem, they are very good about getting back to you if you contact them.
http://www.andesmar.com/shop/default.asp
Choose ida (one way) or ida y vuelta (return)
Put your destination and date, number of seats needed.
Look at the left hand column. Andesmar runs other buses and you will see their names there (El Rapido, Coitram etc). Choose a bus which says Andesmar. You will get either cama or semi-cama choice. Choose.
A seat selection will pop up. If the bus has 2 floors they will be side by side. You want piso superior.
When you get to paying option there is a small drop down menu beside the document info which will show dni. Drop down to pass for passport. Put in your passport number. There is space for 2 passengers. Each should put their passport number.
If you have any problem, they are very good about getting back to you if you contact them.
Nov 20th, 2011, 11:58 AM
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Thank you everyone so much for your great help.
ONE MORE QUESTION PLEASE:
If we are arriving in Santaigo Chile by air, i understand as US citezens we have to pay the $130 each person for entery fees at the airport. When we travel by bus into Mendoza and the then again with bus to Buenos Aires, do we pay the entert tax in Argentina too because we didn't arrive by air through an airport?
what if once in Buenos Aires, if we the for the first time use a flight inside Argentina to fly to the Iguazu falls, would we have to pay the entry tax fee at the airport? or is it you only pay this entry tax fee when you first originally arrive by flight in Buenos AIres?
Please let me know. Thank you all again.
ONE MORE QUESTION PLEASE:
If we are arriving in Santaigo Chile by air, i understand as US citezens we have to pay the $130 each person for entery fees at the airport. When we travel by bus into Mendoza and the then again with bus to Buenos Aires, do we pay the entert tax in Argentina too because we didn't arrive by air through an airport?
what if once in Buenos Aires, if we the for the first time use a flight inside Argentina to fly to the Iguazu falls, would we have to pay the entry tax fee at the airport? or is it you only pay this entry tax fee when you first originally arrive by flight in Buenos AIres?
Please let me know. Thank you all again.
Nov 20th, 2011, 01:32 PM
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The fee is US$140 pp flying into Santiago or either BA airport. You do not pay flying into other airports in either country or at land borders or on domestic flights. So, you will pay flying into SCL but not after that. There is no collection on leaving either country, it is an entrance only tax.
Nov 20th, 2011, 02:43 PM
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Thank you again, sorry just want to be sure so if we:
fly into Santiago stay there for 3 days , we pay the entrance fee then if we ride a bus to Mendoza then Buenos Aires still don't have to pay even if we are in Argentina. And again if we continue our travel in Argentina by flying from Buenos Aires to Iguazu and return to Buenos Aires for our final flight to USA still we would have have only pay one time entery fee in Santiago Chile ? right?
How about if we also make a day trip by ferry to Colinia Uruguay? You don't know how much I appreciate your help. Thanks so much
fly into Santiago stay there for 3 days , we pay the entrance fee then if we ride a bus to Mendoza then Buenos Aires still don't have to pay even if we are in Argentina. And again if we continue our travel in Argentina by flying from Buenos Aires to Iguazu and return to Buenos Aires for our final flight to USA still we would have have only pay one time entery fee in Santiago Chile ? right?
How about if we also make a day trip by ferry to Colinia Uruguay? You don't know how much I appreciate your help. Thanks so much
Nov 21st, 2011, 04:43 AM
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That's right!
No fee coming into Argentina from Uruguay on the ferry. If you flew, then you would pay as you would be arriving in BA on an international flight. Just keep any copy of the tourist card you fill in on arrival in Argentina.
No fee coming into Argentina from Uruguay on the ferry. If you flew, then you would pay as you would be arriving in BA on an international flight. Just keep any copy of the tourist card you fill in on arrival in Argentina.
Dec 24th, 2011, 01:50 PM
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Huentetu,
Thanks for the detailed info on Andesmar. We're going to be taking them from Santiago to Mendoza and then from Mendoza to BA.
_____________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie
Thanks for the detailed info on Andesmar. We're going to be taking them from Santiago to Mendoza and then from Mendoza to BA.
_____________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie
Dec 25th, 2011, 01:27 AM
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One last tip. There is more than one bus station in Santiago. Andesmar should leave from Terminal Santiago. Turbus leaves from Terminal Alameda across the side street. Other companies can leave from other bus stations in the city, but most to Mendoza will go from T. Santiago.
Always be extra vigilant of your belongings in bus stations. Don't let go of your stuff and don't let anyone distract you. Carry any valuables with you on the bus, not stored beneath it.
Have a great trip!
Always be extra vigilant of your belongings in bus stations. Don't let go of your stuff and don't let anyone distract you. Carry any valuables with you on the bus, not stored beneath it.
Have a great trip!
Dec 25th, 2011, 10:26 AM
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Don't go yet, Huentetu,
I have one more question for you about Andesmar buses.
Which one of these destinations (one is Mendoza, the other one is Mendoza (San Martin)) would I select for a hotel (Huentala Hotel Boutique) near Plaza Independencia?
_____________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie
I have one more question for you about Andesmar buses.
Which one of these destinations (one is Mendoza, the other one is Mendoza (San Martin)) would I select for a hotel (Huentala Hotel Boutique) near Plaza Independencia?
_____________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie
Dec 25th, 2011, 11:05 AM
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On the booking? Someone asked this before. I would book Mendoza. The San Martin could be the town of San Martin in Mendoza province, or a stop on the San Martin highway outside Mendoza for people not wanting to enter the city but be picked up there. I really don't know. But if you buy the ticket to Mendoza you will go to the bus station in Mendoza. Then a quick taxi ride should take you to Plaza Independencia, which is the center area. You can always ask on the bus (and let me know!). They appear to be the same price so there isn't really a problem.
Prices on this wiki may well be out of date as Argentine inflation has been moving at about 20% per year.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Mendoza
Prices on this wiki may well be out of date as Argentine inflation has been moving at about 20% per year.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Mendoza
