In the semi-beginning stages of planning a surf trip + to Chile in mid October. Anybody been and have great wisdom to share? Mid October should be getting into their spring with a little warmer temps. I'm looking at surfing spots in or between Tocopilla and Iquique due to that area being kinda close to other activities we want get in....Atacama desert, the red lagoon, etc... I was also thinking about crossing the border into Argentina for a day or two to visit Jujuy. Anybody done that before (cross the border) and was it a hassle? Any tips, stories, spots or info would be warmly welcomed! The main dilemmas I've been running into is where to call home base since everything is soo spread out and the easiest way to get to Iquique, our hopeful starting point.
Been there twice amazing place I won’t tell you where to go and surf but I will tell you rent a car a 4 wheel drive and get a road map. Chileans are awesome if you speak Spanish they will tell you where to go.
I have traveled to Argentina from Chile, but flew over the Andes. I recall no difficulties with borderlines at airports. Chile is a very nice country. Up in the hills, citizens are amazed to see an American. Was there with a Youth Philarmonic Orchestra as chaperone--our young musicians (my daughter was and is a violinist) were treated as rock stars, all their peers mobbed them for autographs. Chileans are very nice. Having said that, as per usual, in large metro areas pick-pockets are plentiful, but really harmless. Military police are everywhere with automatic weapons. Don't bother them--they will tell you to move on, respectfully, and assertively. They are not tour guides.
Well that's not neighborly, especially if you've surfed the areas I referred to. We're definitely going to rent a 4 wheel drive and if we decide to do the Argentina side trip we're going to drive there. We usually never have any issues flying into a country but for some reason driving through a border always seems much more difficult. On a side note I've found Chile to be much more expensive than I would have thought.
Exactly why I haven't gone yet. For the price, I can do centro america for twice the length of stay. But I will get there one day. Hope you score down there!
Chile seems more Euro than Hispano but a unique blend of the cultures. I wouldn't worry about not scoring there that's for sure. I think that place might have more waves than Peru, if that's possible.
Argentina is very Euro--they will tell you flat out "do not confuse us" with the rest of South America. Chile is very Inca, it is very prominent in their facial bone structure. One must exercise care in making disparaging remarks about them. The higher "classes", if you will, are very hispanic (Spain), not Latin American hispanic. Be totally "non-political" when traveling there. Totally. Zero opinion on politics.
Over half of Argentinians are of Italian or German descent. Buenos Aires looks like a European City. Chileans, and Peruvians look Inca. High cheek bones, extended rib cages (for the high altitude), red skin. Also, No rental car company is gunna let you take a car out of the country. This ain’t San Diego to TJ.
