Is it possible to travel from La Paz to Arica, Chile by
passenger train, or has that line been closed? Also want
to know if you can still travel by train from Antofagasta
to Calama.
Has anyone ever hired a car (4wd?) in Calama or San Pedro
de Atacama and done a do-it-yourself tour of the region?
Would this be expensive?
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Hi,
I was in Chile last year and spent some time in the
Atacama. We didn't hire a 4WD but a Toyota which cost
about ú50 for a week. As long as you stay on the main
roads this should be fine as they're all in pretty good
condition. Car hire can be arranged from the airport in
Calama.
I don't think there is a train between Antofagasta and
Calama. A DIY tour shouldn't work out to expensive. We
were based in Calama and just sort of explored different
places every day. Food and petrol isn't expensive and I
think that there is a good youth hostel in Calama (the
address is in LP book) so it shouldn't be that expensive at
all.
If you get the chance go and visit Chiu Chiu - amazing
village with one of the oldest churches in Chile. San
Pedro is also worth a visit but very touristy!
Hope this is some help and have fun!
All I know is that there is a once-a-week train between Uyuni and Calama. We started in Calama and got off in Uyuni, after that the train went on but I'm not sure to where. Could be La Paz. About US$10 for a trip of 300 kilometers (bought ticket in Chile, perhaps less expensive other way round).
... of course there are also buses connecting all kinds of destinations on a more frequent basis and at lower fares. Try Orme±o for international bus connections; to be found in most South American cities (they drive all over the continent).
last year me & some friends rented a 4x4 Nissan pickup
truck in Antofagasta (these are more expensive than a 4x2)
We had planned to drive all the way till Socompa (border
chack point) but since it was in June the upper road was
snowed, it seems to be very beautiful.
The lower part of the road to Socompa is in extremely well
condition since the La Escondida mining is located there,
in this road you can visit some abandoned nitrate Factiries
which are really impressive: nobody goes there (compared to
the more touristic ruins near Iquique) you can even find a
bathroom with tiles !! .. then we continued to La Escondida
a managed to have a tour there (very friendly people & an
impressive mine: very interesting).. that night we stayed
at Salar Imilac (very cold) and then continued northwards
towards San Pedro
Around San Pedro there are several places to visit that are
just fantastic: little aymara villages, mountain laggons,
wind eroded rocks, flamingos, the Laguna Verde at Bolivia
(you can go there by the day .. just pay the "custom fee"
to the Bolivian soldiers in the border), volcanoes,
geysers, inca ruins, etc ... BTW I have always wandered if
it really is interesting to visit San Pedro "barefeet" by
bus, as most gingos do.
well, I hope this info helps you (any need for further info
just write me down)
stay well
Tomßs