In article , philipj
writes
> Greetings,
>I suggest Chilhotel in Providencia, e-mail www.chilhotel.cl . If you book
>beforehand you can get free transport from airport to hotel.
>Peocedure is as follows :
>After you have completed all airport formalities, (including paying your
>US$30 reciprocal fee just before immigration) you will see a kiosk to your
>left just before the public area. It is the kiosk of TRANSVIP, a bus
>company who takes you you your hotel. If you have a booking it is free, if
>not it will cost you US$6.
>TAKE IT !
>
Indeed, there is a minibus that takes you around the hotels. It's wasy
to find. You have to wait until it fills up with about 6 or so
customers.
>The hotel has its own taxi to take you back to airport at whatever time you
>wish, US$15 or diez mil pesos.
>
>As for driving in Chile, why bother when there is such an excellent bus
>service to wherever you wish to go. Methinks the train also still goes to
>Temuco.
>Very much like the Orient Express coaches as they were built in same era..
>
I can't see why you have to drive to the Lake District if you are not
going to stop on the way. Public transport is cheap, safe and efficient
is Chile - they even queue to get in. (That was a shock after coming
from Peru.) Rent a car there.
>Chiloe is great. We stayed in Castro at the Don Camillo. What a pity you
>have only a short time. It would be easy to spend 30 days in Chiloe alone.
>There is a wonderful Artisans market at the wharf and the woolen goods there
>are the colurs and hues you will not see elsewhere.
>Chiloe is the only place in South America that we know of where the
>accordian is a dominant instrument in a band. They also speak espaņol with
>a Welsh lilt.
>
>We were in Chiloe only 3 yrs ago for 9 daysand will probably go again. I
>have other info if you want it. Contact either direct or thro' NG.
I think 10 days is very little time for what you want to see especially
if driving. I wouldn't even go to Valparaiso; go straight to the Lake
District and, as we never tire of saying in this ng, stay in Perto
Varas, not Puerto Montt. You can see some pix of the area - including
those stilted houses on Chiloe - on my site below.
And while you're in Chile, try the congrio frito, fried conger eel with
a bottle of Undurraga Rhin. I still dream about it.
--
JohnM
Author of Brazil: Life, Blood, Soul
http://www.scroll.demon.co.uk/spaver.htm
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