Finding useful Bus information for Chile online...is it possible???

[MadPatSki]

I'm getting frustrated searching on the web and looking at the different companies websites. I'd like to make a final decision on certains places soon.

I know that buses are very practical in Chile, however trying to plan a trip and seeing if point A to B then C is possible at a certain times seems impossible from a computer.

I know the basis info on buses in Chile, I'm simply trying to find times/destinations tables. The one that I have found are generally incomplete.

Looking for buses from ...Santiago-Chillan, Chillan-Termas/Las Trancas for Linea Azur (and especially return). Example, can I get a full day of skiing, get back to Chillan then Santiago or should I wait in the morning?

Is there buses up from Santiago to Farrellones in the evening? Buses to Portillo (and return) other than the Ski Total/KL Wed, Sat or Sun morning?

PS. Okay, I was able to find some info for Tur-Bus (Santiago-Chillan).

[teamdirt]

hahahahaha-good luck with that. best advice is to go. once your there the bus runs your life, not you. Termas-chillina-santiago=6 hours each direction if you are able to link up the bus-not likely. Be aware-chillian to termas is a twice a day bus-once in the morning once at night. be aware that this is totally not like north america, more of developing country once you leave the major centres like Santiago. good luck!

[MadPatSki]

hahahahaha-good luck with that. best advice is to go. once your there the bus runs your life, not you. Termas-chillina-santiago=6 hours each direction if you are able to link up the bus-not likely. Be aware-chillian to termas is a twice a day bus-once in the morning once at night. be aware that this is totally not like north america, more of developing country once you leave the major centres like Santiago. good luck!

Thanks for the encouragement.

I know this...

It's not the Santiago-Chillan part that I'm worried about. Anyway, I've left a free day after to travel if I can't make in Santiago for the evening or Chillan for that mater.

In another discussion regarding Termas...

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=91069

If I remember right the bus comes once an hour.

I'm trying to confirm this... But what you saying teamdirt seems to confirm what I've been finding.

That's why I was really frustrated earlier...geeez, how many things do we take for granted nowadays, especially that so much than be found on internet. Fortunately I remember the pre-internet days were the only way to get the information was to call or go in person (look like I've taken things for granted ).

[RANT]The worst part is the confirmation of the return bus from Termas or Las Trancas...I didn't find anything. Even Termas de Chillan's website is crap, Hotel/Spa/hotel/spa...price for ski lessons...WTF (sorry, I've been spending to much time on the internet recently - this confirms that all this time in front of a computer isn't good for you)[/RANT]

Okay, so this is the best I was able to find...
one bus leaving for Termas in the AM
and two buses leaving for Las Trancas in the PM

How WTF is it with Lunes...Monday Monday Monday, that cannot be right, so the information is incomplete.

http://www.sernatur.cl/scripts/sitio...p?servicio=984

BUSES LINEA AZUL

Origen Destino Tarifa Salida Llegada Destino
CHILLAN TERMAS DE CHILLAN 1800 $ Lunes 08:00 Lunes 09:30
CHILLAN LAS TRANCAS 1800 $ Lunes 15:50
CHILLAN LAS TRANCAS 1800 $ Lunes 19:40

[MadPatSki]

Now we're talking...found this on Chil'in Hostel's website.

http://www.chil-in.com/index.php?p=bus&lg=gb

Seems to be a few options. COOL...

Santiago-Las Trancas : Bus NILAHUE
(2 bus/day (06h50, 14h45), Phone 02)7785222
Terminal Alameda, metro universidad de Santiago

Santiago-Chillán : Bus TUR-BUS, PULLMAN, LINEA AZUL, etc... (5h)
Terminal Alameda, metro universidad de Santiago

Chillán-Las Trancas :
REM bus (42 260625), Terminal rural La Merced de Chillán
Monday to saturday : 7:50, 11:15, 12:35, 13:20, 15:40, 17:45
Sunday : 7:50 et à 13:20
Bus Nilahue : 12:30, 19:30
Terminal Rodoviario Maria Teresa de Chillán


EDIT: Now I need to find out is there is any evening buses from Portillo and Farellones leaving Santiago. (not to worried, worst case scenary is that I take the morning buses or taxi in Farellones case).

[hoarhey]

For Santiago-Farellones, you could take a taxi to the YPF station (Las Condes) at the top of Avenida Kennedy. I think a cab ride all of the way to Farellones would be pricey. Never done it.

A lot of people hitch from the YPF in the morning (ir al dedo). So there's a fair bit of competition to get a space in a vehicle, but I think it would be worth it.

You may have already found a good map of santiago, but I'll include this link anyway.

http://www.planos.cl/streetguide/streetguide/

Getting to Portillo is tougher. I've always had a car, so I don't know of alternative ways to go. A friend went by bus, but you need to confirm that the bus driver will actually make the stop at Portillo.

Since you have already been searching for bus info, I'll add another link:

http://www.chipsites.com/ww/transpor...ago-chile.html

Good luck, sounds like a great trip.
I'm jealous since I won't be going there this year.

[Mach Looney]

In another discussion regarding Termas...

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=91069


Quote:
Originally Posted by Mach Looney View Post
If I remember right the bus comes once an hour.


I'm trying to confirm this... But what you saying teamdirt seems to confirm what I've been finding.

For the record, and as you found out, I was wrong on the once an hour. It is only one in the morning and one at night. Don't believe everything...

I'm impressed by all your planning. I just showed up and went where the wind blew me. It should pay off in maximum skiing time for you.

[shamrockpow]

hahahahaha-good luck with that. best advice is to go. once your there the bus runs your life, not you. Termas-chillina-santiago=6 hours each direction if you are able to link up the bus-not likely. Be aware-chillian to termas is a twice a day bus-once in the morning once at night. be aware that this is totally not like north america, more of developing country once you leave the major centres like Santiago. good luck!

This is good advice! I went to Termas during the offseason a few years ago and the bus driver promised he would come up the mountain to pick us up at 4 pm and take us back to Chillan (we had to be back in Santiago the next morning). The rough timeline:
4:30 pm - a bit nervous that we can't get off the mountain and all resort facilities are closed. Bus has not shown up
5:45 - starting to get annoyed that no one will pick us up hitchiking as we walk down the road
6:30 - find a gate and block the road forcing anyone with extra space in their car to let us in
6:35 - chat with American diplomat and audubon enthusiast searching for the chestnut throated wet wet (hope said driver is not actually a serial killer)
7:00 - dropped off at Las Trancas and -- finding no cabs -- continue hitchhiking
8:15 - after no luck advancing, get a ride from the Chilean police in their paddywagon another 15 minutes to their comisaria
9:30 - start knocking on farm doors asking for a ride to Chillan
10 pm - finally get farmer with van to take us to Chillan (cost ~40.000 Chilean pesos)
10:02 - in the van. Take in smell of freshly slaughtered cow that the farmer had sold in town the day before (still grateful for the ride)
11 pm - arrive bus station in Chillan -- bus leaving within the hour back to Santiago

The lessons:
1. Never trust bus or taxi drivers in Latin America
2. Hitchhiking is not that easy unless you're going to Farellones
3. Chilean police are actual pretty cool (and the least corrupt in Latin America)
4. Travel anywhere in Chile North-South on the Panamericana is a piece of cake
5. Travel anywhere off the Panamericana is difficult without a car. A normally scheduled 2 hour bus trip can easily become a 7 hour voyage. Just remember: comedy = tragedy + time

Hope that helps!

[shamrockpow]

Speaking of Chillan, has anyone seen DudeLeSkibum lately? He used to post some sweet Chillan stoke back in the day:
http://forum.powdermag.com/forum/sho...0&fpart=1&vc=1

[MadPatSki]

For the record, and as you found out, I was wrong on the once an hour. It is only one in the morning and one at night. Don't believe everything...

Actual you seemed to be right. Check what I wrote above.

Now we're talking...found this on Chil'in Hostel's website.

http://www.chil-in.com/index.php?p=bus&lg=gb

Seems to be a few options. COOL...

Santiago-Las Trancas : Bus NILAHUE
(2 bus/day (06h50, 14h45), Phone 02)7785222
Terminal Alameda, metro universidad de Santiago

Santiago-Chillán : Bus TUR-BUS, PULLMAN, LINEA AZUL, etc... (5h)
Terminal Alameda, metro universidad de Santiago

Chillán-Las Trancas :
REM bus (42 260625), Terminal rural La Merced de Chillán
Monday to saturday : 7:50, 11:15, 12:35, 13:20, 15:40, 17:45
Sunday : 7:50 et à 13:20
Bus Nilahue : 12:30, 19:30
Terminal Rodoviario Maria Teresa de Chillán

I'm impressed by all your planning. I just showed up and went where the wind blew me. It should pay off in maximum skiing time for you.

Thanks. Sometimes you need more planning, especially when you go somewhere new with limited local language style. At my age, I found out of a few things about what can go wrong.

It's many because of stories like these that I don't want to rely uniquely on luck or good timing. Also considering that I'll stay at the Chil'in with their shuttle if only they can reply to my email.

bus driver promised he would come up the mountain to pick us up at 4 pm and take us back to Chillan (we had to be back in Santiago the next morning). The rough timeline:
4:30 pm - a bit nervous that we can't get off the mountain and all resort facilities are closed. Bus has not shown up
5:45 - starting to get annoyed that no one will pick us up hitchiking as we walk down the road
6:30 - find a gate and block the road forcing anyone with extra space in their car to let us in
6:35 - chat with American diplomat and audubon enthusiast searching for the chestnut throated wet wet (hope said driver is not actually a serial killer)
7:00 - dropped off at Las Trancas and -- finding no cabs -- continue hitchhiking
8:15 - after no luck advancing, get a ride from the Chilean police in their paddywagon another 15 minutes to their comisaria
9:30 - start knocking on farm doors asking for a ride to Chillan
10 pm - finally get farmer with van to take us to Chillan (cost ~40.000 Chilean pesos)
10:02 - in the van. Take in smell of freshly slaughtered cow that the farmer had sold in town the day before (still grateful for the ride)
11 pm - arrive bus station in Chillan -- bus leaving within the hour back to Santiago

The lessons:
1. Never trust bus or taxi drivers in Latin America
2. Hitchhiking is not that easy unless you're going to Farellones
3. Chilean police are actual pretty cool (and the least corrupt in Latin America)
4. Travel anywhere in Chile North-South on the Panamericana is a piece of cake
5. Travel anywhere off the Panamericana is difficult without a car. A normally scheduled 2 hour bus trip can easily become a 7 hour voyage. Just remember: comedy = tragedy + time