From San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, crossing the border to Jama, and then moving to Tilcara, Argentina.
I traveled from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, across the Jama border to Tilcara, Argentina.
This section had nothing, and because it involved crossing a 4800m pass, it was quite cold.
The Jama border used to be a terrifying place where you had to complete Chilean exit procedures 160km away in the town of San Pedro de Atacama, or risk having to turn back 160km. However, now it's possible to complete Chilean exit procedures at the border. I was sometimes unsure if the information was correct, but I was glad I was able to enter Argentina smoothly.
I was worried, so I tried to inquire at the border office (which still seems to handle Bolivia entry and exit) on the outskirts of San Pedro de Atacama early in the morning around 7:30, but it wasn't open yet. The office opens at 8, but when I knocked, an unfriendly employee came out, and after I somehow explained what I wanted to know, they said "Everything can be done at the Jama border," so I left town. Once outside the town, there were almost no cars, no towns, almost no buildings, and no gas stations.
At the border, when entering Argentina, I was asked about "motorcycle insurance." At that time, I didn't have Argentine motorcycle insurance, but when I showed them a Colombian insurance policy called "SOAT," they let me through. I'm not sure if that was enough, but they might have overlooked it. I later obtained insurance in the town of Salta (which I will describe later).
There was a gas station on the Argentine side of the border, but you have to cross the border to reach it. If you don't have insurance, you might not be able to enter Argentina and would have to turn back 160km. I read some scary stories about that online, so I was nervous, but I was saved because they accepted my Colombian insurance.
The procedures were relatively simple, or rather, there weren't many people, and I imitated the process of a family of two who were ahead of me.
■Flow of entry and exit at the Jama border
1. When you stop at the gate at the entrance of the entry and exit area, a security guard will write down your license plate number on a piece of paper and give it to you. Take that paper and go to the building on the right that the security guard points to. There is a gate in front of that building, so park so that you don't block the passage on either side.
2. Enter the building on the left side of the gate.
3. There are several counters, so ask the staff. I think it was the same process as other places.
4. Chilean exit
5. At the next counter, complete the Chilean customs procedures (it seems to be called "Aduana"), hand over the temporary entry documents for your motorcycle, and have the procedures done.
6. At the next counter, complete the Argentine entry procedures.
7. At the next counter, complete the Argentine customs procedures ("Aduana") for the temporary entry of your motorcycle.
At this point, they will check for motorcycle insurance. I found my Colombian insurance policy "SOAT" among my documents, and when I showed it to them, they said "That's it," and I had the procedures done.
The procedures inside the building are complete.
You will be given two pieces of paper.
One is a document for the temporary import of the motorcycle, so keep it carefully.
The other is the paper you received from the security guard at the beginning, which is an administrative document indicating that all procedures have been completed.
8. Go outside, get on your motorcycle, and head towards the gate in front of the building.
Show the security guard the "paper that was given to the security guard at the beginning and has several stamps" mentioned above.
I was asked about my luggage, so I unloaded it for a quick check.
Once you get the OK, reload your luggage and the gate will open, and you can proceed on your motorcycle.
9. At the end of the entry and exit area, there is another gate, so show the security guard the same "paper that was given to the security guard at the beginning and has several stamps." The security guard will keep that paper, and the gate will open.
During the journey, we passed through an area that looked like a salt lake. However, the dry areas were brown, and the white areas appeared to be where machines were extracting salt or doing something related to it, so it didn't really look like a salt lake. Perhaps if we had taken a slight detour, it might have looked different.
Here is the accommodation I stayed at. It is comfortable considering the price.
Club Hostel Tilcara
Dormitory, 1 night: 100 Peso (approximately 1,250 yen in the standard exchange rate), includes breakfast.
This section had nothing, and because it involved crossing a 4800m pass, it was quite cold.
The Jama border used to be a terrifying place where you had to complete Chilean exit procedures 160km away in the town of San Pedro de Atacama, or risk having to turn back 160km. However, now it's possible to complete Chilean exit procedures at the border. I was sometimes unsure if the information was correct, but I was glad I was able to enter Argentina smoothly.
I was worried, so I tried to inquire at the border office (which still seems to handle Bolivia entry and exit) on the outskirts of San Pedro de Atacama early in the morning around 7:30, but it wasn't open yet. The office opens at 8, but when I knocked, an unfriendly employee came out, and after I somehow explained what I wanted to know, they said "Everything can be done at the Jama border," so I left town. Once outside the town, there were almost no cars, no towns, almost no buildings, and no gas stations.
At the border, when entering Argentina, I was asked about "motorcycle insurance." At that time, I didn't have Argentine motorcycle insurance, but when I showed them a Colombian insurance policy called "SOAT," they let me through. I'm not sure if that was enough, but they might have overlooked it. I later obtained insurance in the town of Salta (which I will describe later).
There was a gas station on the Argentine side of the border, but you have to cross the border to reach it. If you don't have insurance, you might not be able to enter Argentina and would have to turn back 160km. I read some scary stories about that online, so I was nervous, but I was saved because they accepted my Colombian insurance.
The procedures were relatively simple, or rather, there weren't many people, and I imitated the process of a family of two who were ahead of me.
■Flow of entry and exit at the Jama border
1. When you stop at the gate at the entrance of the entry and exit area, a security guard will write down your license plate number on a piece of paper and give it to you. Take that paper and go to the building on the right that the security guard points to. There is a gate in front of that building, so park so that you don't block the passage on either side.
2. Enter the building on the left side of the gate.
3. There are several counters, so ask the staff. I think it was the same process as other places.
4. Chilean exit
5. At the next counter, complete the Chilean customs procedures (it seems to be called "Aduana"), hand over the temporary entry documents for your motorcycle, and have the procedures done.
6. At the next counter, complete the Argentine entry procedures.
7. At the next counter, complete the Argentine customs procedures ("Aduana") for the temporary entry of your motorcycle.
At this point, they will check for motorcycle insurance. I found my Colombian insurance policy "SOAT" among my documents, and when I showed it to them, they said "That's it," and I had the procedures done.
The procedures inside the building are complete.
You will be given two pieces of paper.
One is a document for the temporary import of the motorcycle, so keep it carefully.
The other is the paper you received from the security guard at the beginning, which is an administrative document indicating that all procedures have been completed.
8. Go outside, get on your motorcycle, and head towards the gate in front of the building.
Show the security guard the "paper that was given to the security guard at the beginning and has several stamps" mentioned above.
I was asked about my luggage, so I unloaded it for a quick check.
Once you get the OK, reload your luggage and the gate will open, and you can proceed on your motorcycle.
9. At the end of the entry and exit area, there is another gate, so show the security guard the same "paper that was given to the security guard at the beginning and has several stamps." The security guard will keep that paper, and the gate will open.
During the journey, we passed through an area that looked like a salt lake. However, the dry areas were brown, and the white areas appeared to be where machines were extracting salt or doing something related to it, so it didn't really look like a salt lake. Perhaps if we had taken a slight detour, it might have looked different.
Here is the accommodation I stayed at. It is comfortable considering the price.Club Hostel Tilcara
Dormitory, 1 night: 100 Peso (approximately 1,250 yen in the standard exchange rate), includes breakfast.
Cuesta de Lipán
On highway 52, just before reaching Tilcara, I passed through a place called Cuesta de Lipán.
This is a place where layers of geological strata from different periods overlap, and it seems to be registered as a World Heritage Site.
Indeed, although I don't fully understand it, the various colors layered together are interesting.
This is a place where layers of geological strata from different periods overlap, and it seems to be registered as a World Heritage Site.
Indeed, although I don't fully understand it, the various colors layered together are interesting.
Immediately south of Tirakala, there is a road blockade organized by residents.
I am just a short distance from the town of Tilcara, but there was a road blockade (banda) by residents just south of the town.
Fortunately, it was lifted in about 30 minutes, so that was good.
I don't quite understand, but there is a paper that mentions something about the hospital, so I guess that's what it's about?
Fortunately, it was lifted in about 30 minutes, so that was good.
I don't quite understand, but there is a paper that mentions something about the hospital, so I guess that's what it's about?
