Chile

[jpvm]

Your pictures are great, the country looks amazing,

I've started looking at a trip down there and am trying to figure out whether to rent a vehicle or to fly in and buy one, then sell when I leave. If I am there, buying might be more economical...

Do you know of a good online classified for Santiago? I haven't been able to find one yet...

Yes, on cars, you might find some here :

http://www.chileautos.cl/chileautos.asp
http://www.semi-nuevos.cl/index.php/usados.html
http://automoviles.elmercurio.com/Clasificados/Venden/index.asp
http://www.twistedandes.com/foro/forumdisplay.php?f=39

NOTE : 475 Chilean Pesos = 1 US$

I am not sure if you can buy a car being a foreigner since once bought you might put the papers in your name and therefore you'll need a RUT (our social security number). There are some car sales places that can sell you a car or better a 4x4 truck and once you'r gone they buy it back ... try http://www.automotrizlascondes.cl/ventas.html , contact Mr Pablo Bononato (owner).

Renting a car in Chile is way more expensive than in the US since its a matter of excess (or lack) of offerings here, so its quite expensive. You'll fine no matter this Hertz, Alamo, National, etc.
Noiwadays you'll also find people renting pickups, vans, campers, even better bikes (www.motoaventura.cl), but its not cheap.

 

[jpvm]

Thanks for sharing the awesome photos. I would love to spend some time traveling through Chile. It's definitely on the list of places to see before I die.

Bro , there is no need to die so young :wings: , we'll wait for ya down here

 

[jmccandless]

Thanks!

Thank you so much for the links and info!

Some additional searching led me to believe that non-residents can obtain a RUT in Chile. That would allow one to buy a car and obtain insurance for it...
Still, there are more questions than answers, but it's a start!

I guess I won't know if this really makes sense financially and time-wise until I get more details... :smiley_drive:

I'll post up what I am able to find out...

Jason

 

[jpvm]

Thank you so much for the links and info!

Some additional searching led me to believe that non-residents can obtain a RUT in Chile. That would allow one to buy a car and obtain insurance for it...
Still, there are more questions than answers, but it's a start!

I guess I won't know if this really makes sense financially and time-wise until I get more details... :smiley_drive:

I'll post up what I am able to find out...

Jason

Not a problem Jason, you might contact these guys that actually offer this service : http://www.automotrizlascondes.cl/ventas.html , contact Mr Pablo Bononato (owner). To circulate you must buy a 3rd party accident liabilty/insurance that costs like 30 bucks a year , you are not forced to buy any other insurance like you must in the US.

And yes you can get the RUT number , there are Foreign ID (RUT), have no details however if this requieres some time as resident in Chile...

Anything lemme know.

 

[SChandler]

Bro , there is no need to die so young :wings: , we'll wait for ya down here

Ha ha, I guess I should have finished my thought. I've been warming my wife up to the idea of doing some extended, vehicular based traveling in a couple of years. She's starting to warm up to the idea, but has said "We're going to Europe first, if we go.":ylsmoke: So, I'm still trying to sell her on South America. Until then, I'm really digging all of the photos and first hand info you're sharing.

 

[jpvm]

Ha ha, I guess I should have finished my thought. I've been warming my wife up to the idea of doing some extended, vehicular based traveling in a couple of years. She's starting to warm up to the idea, but has said "We're going to Europe first, if we go.":ylsmoke: So, I'm still trying to sell her on South America. Until then, I'm really digging all of the photos and first hand info you're sharing.

:ylsmoke: , Europe is immensly expensive and is freezing , hell a coke costs Eur 5 , and all has been seen and done there, these is no wilderness :snorkel: , you have to pay to do off roading in parks ... this land (CHILE) has parts that are (civilizedly) the last untouched land to find (without being eaten by a lion or shot by a gunman)

Check this :

http://www.parquepumalin.cl
http://www.torresdelpaine.com/ingles/index.asp

PS : Show your "Mrs" all my pictures ... she'll change her mind ... ahahahahah

 

[jpvm]

A little more ....

 

[jpvm]

moa ...

 

[jmccandless]

Good lord, I'm coming down there for sure.

JP, thanks for the info on the National park and Pumalin Park look great. I'm a little familiar with Doug Tompkin's efforts down there, but hadn't heard of Pumalin.

Beautiful country and outstanding fly fishing to top it off. Who cares that I don't speak Spanish...sign me up.

 

[jpvm]

Good lord, I'm coming down there for sure.

JP, thanks for the info on the National park and Pumalin Park look great. I'm a little familiar with Doug Tompkin's efforts down there, but hadn't heard of Pumalin.

Beautiful country and outstanding fly fishing to top it off. Who cares that I don't speak Spanish...sign me up.

4 nothin' , yes Douglas Tompkins is a well known personality having bought this huge land and creating natural sanctuaries (also has done similar in southern Argentina) for preservation purposes, Pumalin is his pride and joy , it took a lot of goverment hurdles to be created. I've been twice down there camping and overlandin and the efforts are huge, the park is really a jewel to see and you can notice the respect for our mother nature in every detail.

PS : Fly fishing is world class down there and is world reknown. Remember that Chile fights the rank N°1 in the world with Norway in salmon bussiness, with the world's best freshwater (O2 and food) to breed salmon.

 

[jpvm]

Continuing my photo journey through Chile , for those interested , here it resumes ....

 

[mikec1701]

I enjoyed your photos. Nice to see your whole family enjoying adventure in your beautiful country. Que lindo!

P.S. This is my first post, and I'm gathering ideas for my first off-road vehicle. I think it would be amazing to drive it all the way through central to south america someday, including Venezuela where I was born. Of course while I'm in the neighborhood I would have to stop by Chile as well!

 

[jpvm]

I enjoyed your photos. Nice to see your whole family enjoying adventure in your beautiful country. Que lindo!

P.S. This is my first post, and I'm gathering ideas for my first off-road vehicle. I think it would be amazing to drive it all the way through central to south america someday, including Venezuela where I was born. Of course while I'm in the neighborhood I would have to stop by Chile as well!

Hola y gracias !! Gladly invited... I've been Windsurfing in Margarita (El Yaque) many times and enjoyed the Venezuelan hospitality, great spot , great people !

And also yes, all what I do outdoors is along with my kids (11 and 9) and wife, that is the clue to a great life.

 

[jpvm]

Good lord, I'm coming down there for sure.

JP, thanks for the info on the National park and Pumalin Park look great. I'm a little familiar with Doug Tompkin's efforts down there, but hadn't heard of Pumalin.

Beautiful country and outstanding fly fishing to top it off. Who cares that I don't speak Spanish...sign me up.

Here's a great contact for fly fishing here (well one of many), but this guy is a world eminence in the sport... http://www.anglingtours.com/news5.html

 

[jmccandless]

Thanks JP! Looks like a great recommendation,