Travel Route Descriptions:
Expediciones Chile Travel Information updated Oct 24, 2008.


For each trip, there are several routes that you can take to arrive at your destination. Look at the options detailed under the trips below and choose which will be ideal for your itinerary. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

FUTALEUFU VALLEY TRIPS

---Travel Through Argentina - Recommended!

-----I] Fast Track Bariloche Route - This is the route! Recommended!
----II] Elite Bus To Esquel Route - Cheapest Route (if you have the time!)
-- III] Fast Track Esquel Route – This is the route of the future. Available for the Nov 2009 to May 2010 season.

---Travel Through Chile

-----I] Pacific Coast Route

---Travel Through Both / Multinational

-----I] In Argentina Out Chile
----II] In Chile Out Argentina

ANDES TO OCEAN TRIP

----- I] Fast Track Bariloche Route - This is the route! Recommended!
-----II] In Argentina Out Chile
----III] Pacific Coast Route

INTERNATIONAL SAFARI TRIPS

-----I] International Safari Route

TORRES DEL PAINE TRIP

-----I] Direct To Torres Route

FUTALEUFU & TORRES DEL PAINE COMBO TRIPS

-----I] In Argentina Out Chile
----II] Pacific Coast To Torres Route

ARGENTINA WEEK OF RIVERS TRIP

-----I] Bariloche Direct




FUTALEUFU VALLEY TRIP ROUTE DESCRIPTIONS

----1. TRAVEL THROUGH ARGENTINA

----2. TRAVEL THROUGH CHILE

----3. MULTINATIONAL TRAVEL THROUGH CHILE AND ARGENTINA

TRAVEL THROUGH ARGENTINA

I] Fast Track Bariloche Route - This is the route! Recommended!
II] Elite Bus To Esquel Route - Cheapest Route (if you have the time!)
III] Fast Track Esquel Route – This is the route of the future. Available for the Nov 2009 to May 2010 season.

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I] FAST TRACK BARILOCHE ROUTE

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All things considered flight through Bariloche is the best choice. You can still make it to Futaleufú the same day with this non-stop route if you select your flights carefully!

QUICK LOOK:
1. Flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina
2. Shuttle (Bus ~$10 or Taxi ~$35 USD, 50 minutes) from International to National Airport
3. Jet Flight to Bariloche (~$200 USD one-way, 2:20-hrs)
4. Taxi from Bariloche to Futaleufú ($250 USD RT, pp, 6-hrs)

BRIEF ROUTE DESCRIPTION:
Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, Argentina, you will collect your luggage and then transfer to the national airport. Take a jet to the beautiful town of Bariloche, located on the western border of Argentina. Bariloche provides the closest jetport to Futaleufú that has daily flights. We will receive you in Bariloche. From there it is a scenic 6-hour drive to Futaleufu.

Important Arrival Information:
To correlate your travels with our trip in Futaleufú in the quickest and most efficient way we recommend departing your home country on Friday afternoon to arrive in Buenos Aires as early as possible on Saturday morning. You must arrive in Buenos Aires at least three hours before your scheduled departure from the national airport to Bariloche in order to adhere to laws regulating international and national air travel. It is recommended to schedule more than three hours between flights in case of unexpected travel complications. Upon arrival, take a quick bus or taxi transfer to the national airport for the direct flight to Bariloche.

Flights are available twelve times each day to Bariloche, Argentina (San Carlos de Bariloche). Flights to Bariloche last 2-hours and 20-minutes. We suggest you arrive into Bariloche by 1:00-2:40 p.m. Every Saturday ExChile arranges a ground shuttle for $125 USD per person each way (5.5-hours) directly from Bariloche to Futaleufú. We will meet all passengers at 2:30 p.m. in the lobby of the Bariloche airport. The ground shuttle departs the Bariloche airport at 2:45 p.m. We recommend arriving on the earliest flight possible so that you will be ready at the time of departure.

Important New Updates:
*** You may be asked to pay a new fee that is being studied by the Argentine government, a reciprocal visa fee that is proposed to be activated before Jan 1, 2009 upon arrival in Buenos Aires Inernational airport. The proposed rates are $131 for Americans $159 - Canadians; $60 - Australians and if approved will be good for the life of ones passport.

*** Buenos Aires Argentina is temporally one hour ahead of the Bariloche and Esquel Argentina and the entire country of Chile. This is not because they are in different time zones. This is because in October the provincial governments did not agree to Argentina's Central governments plan for daylight saving times for the entire country. We have never had different times within Argentina before this disagreement. This is scheduled to be effective Oct 22, 2008 to Mar 14, 2008. Check with our office or look at this page for the update shortly before you fly, the Argentina government could change directions and coordinate their country times before your trip.

Important Departure Information:
Plan to fly out of Bariloche 3:30 or later on Saturday afternoon. To be in Bariloche in time for your flight, you will need to cross the border as soon as it opens at 8:00 a.m. Chilean time. The Argentine border is 20 minutes from our lodge. Expect 45 minutes to clear customs. Expect to clear customs by 8:45 a.m. Argentine time and take an arranged shuttle (5.5-hours) to Bariloche from the border. To connect back to Buenos Aires the same day, you will need to connect with a flight departing Bariloche after 3:30 p.m. You will need three hours between flights in Buenos Aires to make a legal international connection and to transfer airports. Scheduling the latest departure from Bariloche possible that still gives you the three hours for the international connection is recommended. Amereican Airliines has a departure at 12:30 am sunday morning that is ideal for a overnight flight back to the states.

OUR PARTNER TRAVEL AGENT GILDA HAS THE IDEAL FLIGHT CONNECTIONS WORKED taking all these factors into account. +1.866.498.0530

Advantages to Fast Track Bariloche
- All flights can be purchased easily from our agent. She can usually find something cheaper than online.
- The baggage allowance is higher for the jets to Bariloche, as opposed to the small charter planes from Puerto Montt.
- If you miss a connection, you have better chances of getting on a new flight, as there are 12 flights each day to Bariloche from Buenos Aires on two different airlines.

Special Considerations of the Fast Track Bariloche
- The Chile-Argentina border closes at 8 p.m. (Argentine time, Dec,Jan, March), so missed flights, delays or reroutes may require a night in Trevelin just on the Argentine side of the border. Read Important Transit Information regarding what to do in case delays prevent you from crossing the border before closure on your day of arrival.
- Three hours are required between an international and national flight for it to be a legal connection in Argentina.
- You are required to transfer airports in Buenos Aires.
- Shared Taxi ground transport from Bariloche to the trip pickup point is 125 usd. It can be prepaid to our office.

Bariloche Culture:
If you have an extra day, arrive a day earlier and consider spending a night in Bariloche before you travel to Futaleufu on Saturday. If you are looking for something unique a night stay in Bariloche will do it. Bariloche is known for its steak, fondue, gourmet chocolate and a local wine. The following day will be a leisurely trip to Futaleufu. Spending a night in Bariloche allows for a relaxing and enjoyable Friday evening in Bariloche. It also gives you the advantage of being able to have a no stress connection from your international flight to your Bariloche flight. It frees you to arrive arrive in Bariloche on Friday afternoon or evening. In case of the rare incidence of lost baggage, it gives your bag a chance to catch up before you travel to the remote Futaleufu Valley. Every Saturday ExChile organizes arriving clients into shared taxis for $125 USD per person each way (5.5-hours) directly from Bariloche airport to Futaleufú. The Shared taxi's meet in the Lobby at 2:30 and depart the Bariloche airport at 2:45 pm. Prepaid arrangements must be made with our office ahead of time. It also gives you the option of taking a economical bus to Esquel or Saturday afternoon and being picked up in Esquel

Bus travel from Bariloche to Futaleufu:
You can save money if you travel on a fairly comfortable bus. There are up to 8 buses each day between Bariloche and Esquel ($37 USD; 4.5-hours). IF you arrive in Bariloche on or before 12:30 pm, (Plan on 1 hour 10 minutes from flight arrival time to the bus departure time, with a pre-paid bus eticket) You can make the 1:43 bus departing to Esquel arriving in Esquel at 6:01 pm) IF you enter your arrival time in your online Client Database https://secure.exchile.com/customers/ on our web page we will pick you up free and bring you Futaleufu before the border closes. IF you can not plan on making it to Esquel before 6:01 pm this route still works by picking up a cab at the Esquel bus station and take the 20 minute trip to Trevelin and spend a night at a recommended hotel. By entering this information in your online client data base at https://secure.exchile.com/customers/ on our web site we will pick you up in the morning with out missing any days of activities.

PURCHASING A BUS E-TICKET IN ADVANCE FROM OUR PARTNER AGENT
View the bus schedule see if your air tickets get you in time to Bariloche to take a bus. Then fill out the form to get a quote and itinerary. You can choose to purchase the ticket online.

See Purchasing a Bus Ticket Online E-Ticket You will need your credit card and passport number.
See Purchasing Airfare
See Important Transit Information

--I] Fast Track Bariloche Route - This is the route! Recommended!
II] Elite Bus To Esquel Route - Cheapest Route (if you have the time!)
III] Fast Track Esquel Route – This is the route of the future. Available for the Nov 2009 to May 2010 season.

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II] ELITE BUS TO ESQUEL

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Buenos Aires – Bariloche – Esquel – Futaleufu
Watch the beautiful Argentine countryside pass through your window on this economical and relaxing route. Argentina’s national buses offer an extremely comfortable, first-class service for an exceptionally affordable price!

QUICK LOOK:
1. Flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina
2. Public Bus to Bus Terminal (~$10 USD, 45-mins); Taxi to Bus Terminal (~$30, 45-mins)
3. Bus to Bariloche (~$90-$150 USD depending on class; 20-hrs)
4. Bus to Esquel (~$37, 4.5-hrs)
5. Ground Transport (taxi) Remis to Futaleufu (2-hrs)

BRIEF ROUTE DESCRIPTION:
From the Buenos Aires airport, you will transfer to the main bus terminal Retiro in downtown Buenos Aires. From the bus terminal, you will depart on an overnight, 20-hour bus trip to Bariloche, Argentina. Bariloche is on the western border of the country. You will then transfer onto a 4.5-hour bus trip to Esquel, Argentina. IF you are a client of ours we will receive you at the Esquel bus station and bring you Futaleufu. Be sure to enter your arrival time into the customer data base https://secure.exchile.com/customers/

Important Arrival Information:
It is advised that your flight arrive into Buenos Aires before 12:00 p.m. to allow enough time to arrive in time for your bus’s departure. You may be asked to pay a new fee that is being studied by the Argentine government, a reciprocal visa fee that that will not be activated before Jan 1, 2009 are ($131 for Americans $159 – Canadians; $60 – Australians). Overnight buses to Esquel and Bariloche depart in the afternoon (1:00-5:00 p.m.). You will depart the airport on the Manuel Tienda Leon bus to the main bus station, from the the Estación Terminal de Omnibus, Av. Ramos Mejía 1680. This is the bus station the Argentines call Retiro. When you exit baggage claim, go to the information stand to get a map of Buenos Aires. You will have to walk several blocks from the city bus stop to get to the terminal. An easier option is to get a taxi from the airport to the bus terminal.

The first class bus have “Super Cama” (Tutto Leto) seats. They recline into a flat bed and are better than most business class seats on major airlines. This class of service now has free WiFi onboard so you could bring your laptop. It is the best option for a 20-hour trip and only marginally more expensive. At this time there are several “Super Cama” (Tutto Leto) services departing around 3:00 p.m. and arriving in Bariloche in time to connect to Esquel before 6 pm. Via Bariloche also offers “Semi Cama” or “Cama Ejecutivo,” reclining seats, which are still very comfortable.When asking for a seat online, we suggest asking the upper deck and in front if possible. The views are better and the busy bathroom and steward’s station is on the lower deck. Movies will be shown and broadcast over the loudspeakers. Bring earplugs or music if you do not wish to watch or listen to the movie. The air conditioning is strong, so a sweater helps. You will be served several snacks and a late hot dinner. You will be served coffee, tea, wine, whiskey and water. Around 11:00 p.m. the speakers and lights will be turned off.

We recommend purchasing your tickets online and in advance.
Tickets can be purchased starting a month prior to your travel date. If you are an English speaker and have a visa card please visit this link: Purchasing online electronic tickets for English speakers. We suggest doing so in order to get the best seats and departure times for your trip, and having the security you will make it all the way to Esquel in one day. You will also have your ticket before you arrive at the bus station.

If you are planning to buy your ticket at the bus station, we recommend the bus company Via Bariloche or Crucero del Norte. Via Bariloche can be found at counter #121 in the bus terminal. We also suggest that you purchase the best seat available.

If you arrive to Bariloche early enough., you can then be on the mid-day departure to Esquel, arriving in Esquel around 6:01 p.m. This is in time for a pre-reserved 2-hour transfer to Futaleufu. If you arriving too late in Esquel to make the border crossing into Futaleufu Chile we recommend pushing forward connecting on a local bus or cab to the village of Trevelin and the Casa Verde hostel. This town is near the border with Futaleufu only a $35 usd remis (taxi) ride to the border. If you have more time you may also wish to enjoy a day or more in Bariloche, El Bolson or Esquel en route to Futaleufu.

Important Return Information:
Departing Futaleufu you will need to be at the border 8:00 a.m. to connect with an 11:30 a.m. departure from Esquel (Argentine time), arriving in Bariloche at 3:45 p.m. You will then connect to a “Super Cama” (Tutto Leto) Via Bariloche bus departing Bariloche at 4:30 p.m. and arriving in Buenos Aires at 12:00 p.m. the following day. Should you miss this bus, there are later departures available. Once in Buenos Aires, make your way back to the International airport EZE via city bus or taxi.

Advantages to the Elite Bus Route:
This route is our most economical option.
- The bus ticket from Buenos Aires to Bariloche can be purchased in advance online or at the bus station.
- The buses are extremely clean and comfortable and are a wonderful way to see the beautiful Argentine countryside.
- You have the option to layover in several recommended towns in Argentina.
- It is easier to travel with excess baggage.
- This route is nearly hassle-free. There is no need to worry about costly missed connections.
- You can relax!

Special Considerations the Elite Bus Route:
-This route is not recommended to those on a tight schedule.

Special Considerations for Employees of Exchile-If you are an arriving employee of If you are an arriving employee of exchile.com you can change buses in the Esquel bus station for a local bus to Trevelin 30 minutes closer to Futaleufu. From Trevelin there are two remis (taxi) companies with racks on their cars that can drive you to the border of Futaleufu. The cost is reasonable for our employees, under 35 usd. Ask their office to call our office and we can pick you up at the border. Pronto Remises is on the right side of the road as you enter Trevelin. You can ask the bus to stop there. Pronto Remis, Av Patagonia 54, Trevelin. +54.2945.48.0449. If you are arriving to late in Trevelin to make it to the border before it closes, ask the cab company to take you to Casa Verde hostel, great people great price. You can pay a taxi to take you to the border in the morning.

See Purchasing a Bus Ticket Online E-Ticket You will need your credit card and passport number.
See Purchasing Airfare
See Important Transit Information

I] Fast Track Bariloche Route - This is the route! Recommended!
III] Elite Bus To Esquel Route - Cheapest Route (if you have the time!)
IV] Fast Track Esquel Route – This is the route of the future. Available for the Nov 2009 to May 2010 season.

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III] FAST TRACK ESQUEL ROUTE
This is the route of the future. Available for the Nov 2009 to May 2010 season.

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QUICK LOOK:
1. Flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina
2. Shuttle (Bus ~$10 or Taxi ~$35 USD, 50 minutes) from International to National Airport
3. Jet Flight to Esquel, Argentina (~$750 USD RT, 3-hours)
4. Taxi Transport from Esquel to Futaleufú (2-hours, Fast, Safe, Free No and no other transport charges.)


BRIEF ROUTE DESCRIPTION:
Upon arrival in Buenos Aires Argentina you may be asked to pay a reciprocal visa fee after Jan 1, 2008. You will collect your luggage and then transfer to the national airport. Take a jet to the mountain town of Esquel, located on the western border of Argentina. Esquel provides the closest jetport to Futaleufú. From there it is a scenic two-hour drive to Futaleufu, provided by ExChile.

Important Arrival Information:
The Fast Track Esquel Route is the swiftest route to Futaleufú. To correlate your travels with our trip in Futaleufú, we recommend departing your home country on Friday afternoon to arrive in Buenos Aires as early as possible on Saturday morning. You must arrive in Buenos Aires at least three hours before your scheduled departure to Esquel in order to adhere to laws regulating international and national air travel. You may be asked to pay a new fee that is pending, a reciprocal visa fee that is being studied upon entry at the international airport in Argentina and will not be activated before Jan 1, 2009 are ($131 for Americans $159 – Canadians; $60 – Australians). It is recommended to schedule more than three hours between flights in case of unexpected travel complications. Upon arrival, take a quick bus or taxi transfer to the national airport for the direct flight to Esquel.

Flights are available three times a week to Esquel (M-W-Sa). The Esquel flight is usually scheduled between 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. You will arrive into Esquel mid-afternoon on Saturday. We will receive you in Esquel and after a free, two-hour ground transfer to Futaleufú, you will likely arrive in time for a short hike before dinner.

Important Departure Information:
Plan to fly out of Esquel on Saturday afternoon. After a leisurely breakfast, we will drive you to the Argentine border, 20 minutes from our lodge. The crossing opens at 8:00 a.m. Chilean time (9:00 a.m. Argentine time, Jan.-March). Expect 45 minutes to clear customs. Take a free, arranged two-hour shuttle from the border to Esquel, Argentina. The flight departs Esquel at 2:05 p.m. on Saturday afternoon and will arrive in Buenos Aires at 5:45 p.m. Arrange your international flight to make the connection back home that same evening. You will need three hours between flights in Buenos Aires to make a legal international connection and to transfer airports.

Advantages to the Esquel Fast Track Route:
- This is the quickest and most direct route to Futaleufu.
- All flights can be purchased online: http://www.aerolineas.com.ar/
There will also be no ground transfer fees ($125 pp) or additional travel expenses, e.g. overnight stay, meals.
- The baggage allowance is higher for the jets to Esquel, as opposed to the small charter planes from Puerto Montt to Futaleufu Chile.
- Ground transport is provided free of charge.

Special Considerations of the Esquel Fast Track Route:
There are very limited seats available to Esquel for the 2008/2009 season. It is imperative to purchase tickets in advance. Most flights are booked by November for January, February and March flights.

- If you miss your flight, Aerolineas Argentina will reroute you to Bariloche (4-hours north of Esquel) for a small charge. Such a diversion may require either a privately chartered vehicle ($125 each way, per 3-person vehicle) or a comfortable bus trip (4-hour bus: $20 each way, per person) from Bariloche to Esquel to get you back on schedule.
- Travel insurance is recommended to protect against delays or cancellations.
- Flights to Esquel are relatively more expensive, between $550 and $750 USD. (If flying internationally on Aerolineas Argentina, the price can drop as low as $390 USD).
- The Chile-Argentina border closes at 9 p.m. (Argentine time, Jan.-March), so missed flights, delays or reroutes may require a night on the Argentine side of the border. Read Important Transit Information regarding what to do in case delays prevent you from crossing the border before closure on your day of arrival.
- Three hours are required between an international and national flight for it to be a legal connection in Argentina.
- You are required to transfer airports in Buenos Aires.

See Purchasing Airfare
See Important Transit Information

I] Fast Track Bariloche Route