Days 71-75 24th-28th (Antifagasto-Caldera-La Serena-Ranagua-Orsorno) Chile

3000 Km,s in Five Day's

It's my eleventh country and one to go. The top half of Chile is all desert, namely the Atacama that has no rain at all and it looks like it. As soon as I crossed the border I noticed the difference with living standards compared to Peru. I didn't relies how expensive Chile was and my first night accommodation proved that. I have had a bad run lately with choosing nice affordable hotels. I must have ridden around for two hours before I found a hotel that was 100 US a night. Little did I relies that Antofagasta is a rich mining town so all the prices in town are extra high. Guess I was used to paying $10-$20 for accommodation in Peru.

Made a speedy exit form Antofagasta as Santiago was still a long way off. The next few towns were a bit more affordable but I decided put in some big KM's and shoot for Argentina. Just outside of La Sarena I noticed my chain was flapping around. I stopped and soon noticed that one the links had broken in half. Lucky I had spare liks and a chain breaker and I was soon back on the road again.

Santiago turned out to be a nightmare, must have ridden around for three hours in the rain and cold (five degrees) and did not find one hotel. Decided to blow this town off and head further south. Lucky the highways are in good order as riding at night in the rain was a bit dicey.

Must have spent $30 on tolls on my second last day but it was worth it as I could ride all the way south without any towns or traffic lights, must have covered 800Km's that day.

The bottom half of Chile is a lot nicer, snow capped Andes, Volcanoes and forests.

Next Argentina...


Cheers
Greg