{"id":199872,"date":"2021-07-07T13:30:20","date_gmt":"2021-07-07T12:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swoop-patagonia.com\/blog\/?p=199872"},"modified":"2022-10-05T13:38:11","modified_gmt":"2022-10-05T12:38:11","slug":"everything-you-need-to-know-about-using-buses-in-patagonia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swoop-patagonia.com\/blog\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-using-buses-in-patagonia\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything you need to know about using buses in Patagonia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Having travelled extensively on buses throughout South America, I\u2019ve seen it all. Buses with livestock in the bottom compartments, sheep tied to the top, live chickens sitting in people\u2019s laps and the fear of being pickpocketed if I fell asleep. All this couldn\u2019t be further from the truth when it comes to public bus transport in Patagonia, which feels like a five-star experience by comparison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having lived in Chile for over ten years now, I\u2019ve travelled on more public buses than I can count. I still remember being totally wowed on my first trip. The bus was way bigger than I expected, there was a toilet on board and the seats were clean. Since then, buses have been my chosen mode of transport around Patagonia, particularly as they are more environmentally friendly than other options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re considering using public buses in Patagonia, but you are worried about the experience, read on. I\u2019ve put together this guide on what it\u2019s really like to travel on a bus in Patagonia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What are the buses like?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nA look inside, comfort and sweeping views<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As much of Patagonia is very remote, I envisioned small and rugged buses being in operation across the region. This misconception was quickly dispelled when I began to travel. Most buses in Patagonia are very big and spacious \u2013 think Greyhound buses in the US or National Express coaches in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The seats are always spacious and clean, and there is plenty of legroom if you\u2019re of average size. All the seats come with a seatbelt and each window has a pull-down blind if you wish to block out the sun. From my experience, many of the buses come with armrests and flip-down trays on the back of each seat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All long-haul Patagonian buses come with onboard toilets, which are cleaned before and after each trip. Like any bus, it can sometimes get a little smelly if you\u2019re sitting right next to the toilet, but in general, the toilets are clean and well-maintained. Only once have I taken a bus ride in Patagonia in which the toilet wasn\u2019t working properly, and, to be fair, I\u2019ve had this issue when I have been back home in the US a few times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How does the ticket system work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nEl Calafate bus station in Argentina<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Like the US or the UK, buses in Patagonia run on fixed schedules so you can plan ahead. I can\u2019t even remember how many times I\u2019ve had to sit at bus stations all day in other parts of South America just hoping that a single bus would appear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tickets can be purchased through your accommodation, online, or at the bus station. Unlike many other bus systems in South America, you\u2019ll always be assigned a specific seat on Patagonian buses. This helps to avoid that awful \u2018free for all\u2019 you sometimes get when a bus arrives as people rush for the best seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once onboard and settled down, the driver will walk through the bus and check each person\u2019s ticket and make sure everyone is sitting in the correct seat. You will also be given a separate ticket stub for your luggage underneath the bus. Don\u2019t lose this as you\u2019ll need it to collect your luggage upon arrival. Whilst this may seem a little odd, it takes away that nagging fear at each stop that some unscrupulous passenger may just zip off with your luggage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although petty crime happens in every part of the world, Patagonia is an exceptionally safe place to travel and people here are very trusting. Locals here leave their front doors wide open and no one would think twice about leaving a purse on a public table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Should you book your bus ticket ahead of time?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBuses at the border crossing between Argentina and Chile<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Booking your bus ahead of time is generally a good idea in Patagonia, especially on the longer routes that don\u2019t have as many services scheduled. It\u2019s not uncommon for a long route to only have one or two services running per week. This means that the buses get booked up well in advance, so make sure you plan ahead if you want to get a seat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Buses](\"https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_auto,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1066,h_600\/https:\/\/blog.swoop-adventures.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/IMAG0917-1066x600.jpg\")
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