Bus Journey from Mendoza to Santiago

We took a 9am bus from Mendoza to Santiago, Chile.  It was one of those big coaches that sits up high, with the bottom use for luggage.  The bus was full.  From Mendoza to the Chilean border, it was just another bus ride.  But as we get closer to Chile, we start to see the Andes mountain.  These are pretty impressive rugged mountains.

The bus is fairly comfortable although I think it's fairly old because it doesn't have the USB ports like some modern buses do.  Also it does not have a tray table to rest your stuff or a pocket to put some of your belongings.  When we board the bus, we were each given a cup with a couple of cookies and a packet of instant coffee.  There is hot water on the bus, which you can make your own coffee.  There is also a bathroom.   They played a couple of American movies on the bus but I did not pay attention to it.  I just listened to my music with my noise-cancelling Bose headset.  I read, slept and enjoyed the scenery.

Our bus is the one on the right

Approaching the Andes on the Argentinian side

Our group at the border

Getting in line to go through Immigration

Going through Immigration

One of a few cafes at the border checkpoint

Driving down from the mountain, with many switchbacks

Some of the mountain scenery

It was a fairly complicated process going through the checkpoint.  First, we have to wait in line to go through Immigration.  After we get our passports stamped, we get on the bus and drove about 50 feet to go to the Customs side.  Then they take our luggage and put them through the scanner.  If you have something suspicious, they will call you and ask you to open your luggage.  If everything is good, they load your luggage back on the bus.  Then we have to put our personal carry-on bags through the scanner.  Then we get back on the bus if everything is clear.  We are not allowed to bring any fruits or vegetables.  I think Chile has a big agricultural industry so they don't want any diseases from other countries.  In the winter, we (in the US) get our blueberries mostly from Chile.

The scenery in this region are pretty amazing, just like the Rockies in Colorado.  As we drive down from the mountain, I could see ski lifts just above the road.  Chile also has a big ski industry.  The group that I ski with, Alpine Ski Club, makes a trip to Chile every July.  I imagine in the winter, the mountains here will be mostly covered with snow and the roads can get treacherous.

Ski lifts visible from the road

Arriving at the bus terminal in Santiago

We arrived in Santiago at about 4:30, a 7 1/2-hour bus trip, including time spent at the border checkpoint.  A van was supposed to pick us up but we couldn't find the van.  So we took the metro, went 5 stops and walked to the Hotel Libertado on Alameda Avenue.  We arrived at the hotel just before 6pm and got ready for dinner at 7pm.