The complete guide to reaching Mendoza from Santiago de Chile.
The city of Mendoza lies far west from Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital. Its location on the eastern side of the Andes provides stunning backdrops to most every vineyard. Beyond the wine fame lies a charming city full of parks and squares, great food and of course excellent music. While one may opt to fly there from many cities of Argentina or even Chile, the bus connections offered are frequent and comfortable, providing you with a more economical experience.
I recently completed the trip from Santiago to Mendoza, a painless and easy journey of 8 hours. While I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, this guide focuses on the bus options and prices in between the two cities, what to expect for the journey and how to prepare. Having spent a week in Mendoza I met many people heading to Santiago so I have also assembled some short notes on how to do this journey in reverse.
The bustling city of Santiago offers a metropolitan experience like no other. Chile’s capital boasts busy streets and cute cafes around the historic center. Further afield are chaotic markets and lush green spaces.Smack dab in the middle of the country, Santiago is connected to many other regions by an excellent bus system. Likewise it is well connected to Mendoza, the jewel of Argentine wine country. Situated about 350 km away from each other, a winding Andean pass connects the cities. When you are ready to head into a smaller city and traverse the Andes this guide is for you.
Leaving Santiago:
A tale of two stations
Plenty of companies offer this route, however there are two different stations in Santiago and checking which one you want to leave from will decide which company to go with.
The main terminal is the largest one in the city. Terminal Sur is notoriously busy as it connects the capital to almost everywhere. From here there are plenty of companies that depart for Mendoza.
- Cata international offers service starting at 7:30, running pretty regularly throughout the day, with the last departure at 21:45. (more on night buses later) This is one of the most reputable companies, has reported comfortable service and offers a semi-cama( or half-bed) option
- Andesmar offers service 6 times a day starting at 8:30 and with the final departure at 21:45. Their internal buses throughout Argentina are very comfortable but I cannot speak to their international standards. They too offer semi-cama and premium-camas( half and ⅔ reclining chair options)
The above two companies offer the journey at around 40,000 ARS (37,000CLP) (at the time of writing) Buying online can give you a discount if you find a promotion but the bus station in Santiago may offer better rates for day of travel. Cata and Andesmar both offer double decker bus transport, which may be more comfortable but may also take a marginal amount more time.
Of course there are other options from Terminal Sur but these two companies have a good track-record and are very accessible to book online.
- Turbus and Pullman also run this route
* Like all bus stations, Terminal Sur attracts a bit of an opportunistic crowd. Be mindful but not deeply entrenched in fear… it is only a bus station.
This terminal is much quieter and is a bit more central in the city. However it is limited to one bus company that offers the route. This is the option I opted for. As I was able to walk to purchase my ticket the day before, and take a quick taxi the morning of.
- Ahumada offers two daily services from this terminal- although they also make a stop before at Terminal Sur. The departures from Los Heroes are at 9:00 and 21:00. This is a single deck bus- with comfortable semi-reclinable seats. The tickets at the time of writing were 40000 CLP(42000 ARS).
Day or Night?
Timing your journey
Taking a night bus is a right of passage for any backpacker. It saves time as you don’t lose a day of exploring. It also saves you on accommodation, the semi-cama option is now a great idea. It means trading in a hotel or hostel bed for convenience and savings.
The night bus options from Santiago come with a few caveats. The first is the journey is only 8-9 hrs meaning you arrive early in the morning to Mendoza. This is great if you can find an accommodation to let you in earlier. The other is the border crossing at night tends to be either very easy or very finicky. The chance is yours to take and in retrospect it would be the route that I would take.
The day bus comes with its share of fun as well. The journey is wickedly scenic as you slice through the iconic Andes. If you are prone to motion sickness this may be easier to do at night. The second is the potential for long border waiting times. You will also have lost a full day of exploring in exchange for scenic driving.
I went with the daytime journey and while I enjoyed the drive, I arrived tired after a long sunny day of winding roads. It is an incredibly scenic route but if you aren’t fussed by mountains or are planning a tour to Aconagua or the Andes you may opt for the night bus.
The Border Crossing
A waiting game
The border crossing from Chile to Argentina is a smooth if long process. There is a terminal on the Argentine side of the border that acts as a gateway into the country. Arriving by bus there is a lane which you que in and this can take a while as the procedure is as follows:
The bus arrives and waits on the road up to the terminal.Once inside the terminal the passengers all offload and wait in line to be processed. This is done in a fairly efficient manner. Be sure to have a booking or address of stay in Argentina. The bags are all scanned and then replaced on the bus by porters. A tip will be collected at some point for the porters. The bus will wait on the other side of the terminal for the passengers. Here there are some vendors and bathrooms. The bus reloads and departs… smelling a bit of churrasco and empanadas.
It is an altogether streamlined if occasionally long process. However with patience and expectation it is neither chaotic nor unpleasant.
Arriving in Mendoza,
Bienvenidos a Argentina
The Mendoza bus terminal is a busy but reasonably organized place. It has a sectioned off area for arrivals and has many amenities. It is walking distance from the city, although taxis, ubers and cabify are commonly used there.
Arriving in Argentina without Argentine pesos? There is a Western Union branch across the street from the terminal. Alternatively you can exchange Chilean Pesos at the bus offices upstairs in the Mendoza Terminal. Finally you can buy sim cards in the terminal to use rideshares or access the internet when you are on the go for the rest of your travels in Argentina.
Looking for a place to stay in Mendoza?
Hostels:
Hostel Lagares is a quieter option a bit farther afield. The staff are excellent and I ended up staying a week here. The beds are not the most comfortable but the company makes up for it.
Gorilla Hostel is in a more central location and offers a big social scene. They also have a pool and lots of group activities.
Transferring the other way?
Buying tickets from the Mendoza bus terminal is pretty easy in person…. Otherwise using the sites listed above the purchases can be made. Consider buying a day in advance to secure your seat and check for current schedules.
Final Notes:
Santiago de Chile and Mendoza are both excellent cities to stop into during your South American adventures. Choosing how to get between them either by bus or flight is of course dependent on your time and budget. However if saving money is on your agenda this could not be an easier border to cross via bus. Either way enjoy the Andes, the wine and of course the cultures of two great nations.
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