Chile and Argentina share a really long border but this border is strongly defined by the Andes Mountains. This mountain range physically separates these two countries and, because of this natural wall, these two countries have incredibly different cultures. (For example, people typically eat dinner at 10 PM in Argentina but cross that border and people eat dinner at 7 PM). And the reason that these cultures are so different is because this physical barrier is truly a challenge to cross over. The Cruce Andino is an experience that helps make that challenge more accessible.
As we travel from the southern tip of the continent up, we have been traveling by bus because we wanted to experience the Patagonian landscape to the fullest. We had crossed a border previously from Ushuaia in Argentina to Puerto Natales in Chile and later from Puerto Natales in Chile to El Calafate in Argentina. (You can read more about these experiences here.) These border crossings are typically organized by a transportation company where the drivers help you through the whole process.
About the Cruce Andino
Further north in the Patagonia area, we were looking to discover the Lake Districts of both countries. We found that the best place to cross over was from Bariloche in Argentina to Puerto Varas in Chile. Cruce Andino, through Turisur, is the company that organizes the crossing which includes 3 ferries and 4 buses. They are the only company that performs the crossing in this way.
The cost of the transfer was a tough pill to swallow but when we realized that this was more than just transportation and we were able to secure a discount with an Easter promotion, we were on board. From a comfort and efficiency standpoint, the company provided porters to transfer our bags from one form of transportation to the next. In addition, we had guides throughout the whole day to talk about the history and landscape around us.
The route over the mountain is the same one that Che Guevara took when he traveled through South America. (You can read or watch Motorcycle Diaries to learn more about this.) There is an exposition at one of the stops that includes a replica of his motorcycle and a little information about the route he took.
While we did the whole trip in one day, there are people who opt to make it a longer experience, staying at hotels at some of the different spots and taking in the overall nature. Cruce Andino can help organize all of this with hotel reservations and luggage transfer. You can learn more about all the tours that Cruce Andino provides here.
Cruce Andino can also be done more economically by biking the portions of the trip that are done by bus. The distance that you will have to hike/bike is 121 kilometers (75 miles) and you will have to provide your own bicycle. The route over the border is the same one that Che Guevara rode over when he toured through South America. You can learn more about the bike and ride here.
The most economical option is to take a bus between Bariloche and Puerto Varas and make the whole journey by land, which takes about 7 hours.
The Unique Landscapes We Saw
Cruce Andino by Ferry
The three ferries carried us through different lakes, each of which was different, unique and beautiful.
The first lake, Lago Nahuel Huapi felt like a riding through Switzerland with beautiful mountains all around us.
The second lake, Lago Frias was filled with a beautiful emerald green water, colored like that due to the minerals in the water that change the color it emits.
Finally, the third lake, Lago Todos Los Santos, runs adjacent to two enormous volcanos. This region of Chile has a number of volcanoes, some of which are still active, creating a truly unique landscape. This particular portion of the voyage was what we were most excited to see and it absolutely exceeded our expectations.
Cruce Andino by Land
To cross from Argentina to Chile, we had to take a bus, provided to us by Cruce Andino, to go from customs in Argentina to customs in Chile. (This is the portion that you can do by hiking or biking if you want.) Our guide, Nico, showed us the exact location of the border change between Chile and Argentina. He showed us the highest peak in the area and pointed out different unique flora and fauna to this Patagonia region.
After our final ferry, we took another bus to get to Puerto Varas, our final stop for this portion of our trip. The route took us between two volcanoes, Volcan Calbuco and Volcan Osorno, which stands over the town of Puerto Varas and is truly an icon for this region of Chile. I had never seen something like it and it was truly majestic.
While we used the Cruce Andino as a means to get from one country to another, we can truly see the desire to slow down and do the traverse as an entire trip, stopping and staying at some of the mid-points of the journey. The landscapes are wonderful and we heard from a few people that waking up with these landscapes around them was a unique experience.