Moving from Argentina to Puerto Montt, Chile.
Today, I will move to Chile, crossing the border.
■Border Crossing: Argentina (San Carlos de Bariloche) → Chile (Puente Piedra), Paso Cardenal Antonio Samoré
The distance between the Argentine exit building and the Chilean entry building is about 40km.
First, complete the Argentine exit procedures, then drive 40km and proceed to the Chilean entry procedures.
■Argentina Exit
At the gate before the exit area, you will be stopped, and an officer will write down the license plate number on a piece of paper. Receive the paper and then enter the exit area.
Then, park the motorcycle somewhere. Some people are lining up their cars, but it's meaningless because you can't move until you finish the procedures.
Enter the building for document procedures.
First, receive the exit stamp. This is quick. After finishing, you will receive a stamp on the paper given by the officer.
Next, the customs procedure, but this was a long line, stretching all the way outside the building, so I waited about 30-40 minutes.
The customs procedure does not require filling out any documents; you only need to return the Argentine permiso and show your passport and proof of motorcycle ownership.
After finishing, you will receive another stamp on the paper given by the officer.
This completes the Argentine exit procedures.
Go outside, get on the motorcycle, and exit the exit area.
When exiting the exit area, show the paper given by the officer to the gate officer for confirmation.
Give the paper directly to the officer. You will receive a different paper for the Chilean entry procedures, so there is no problem.
■Chile Entry
At the gate before the entry area, you will be stopped, and an officer will write down the license plate number on a piece of paper. Receive the paper and then enter the entry area.
Then, park the motorcycle somewhere and proceed to the procedures inside the building.
First, the entry procedures. Receive the entry stamp. The officer will ask you something in Spanish, but I couldn't understand it. The officer seemed to say, "It's okay," and easily gave me the stamp. Maybe because I am Japanese. Or maybe because it is my second time entering Chile.
Next, the customs procedure.
Here, you need to fill out a form. Fill out the form on the documents provided on the desk. This is the same customs declaration form as when entering and exiting by plane.
If the motorcycle is not registered in Argentina, you need to fill out another form.
Tell the officer, and you will receive the form to fill out.
The customs declaration form had English alongside Spanish, so it was easy to understand, but the form for registering the motorcycle was only in Spanish, so it was difficult. However, I somehow filled it out based on my intuition. After all, if you have done it many times, you will recognize some of the words, and since the registration certificate for my motorcycle in Colombia is also in Spanish, I filled in the words that appeared repeatedly.
Then, proceed with the documents and receive a copy of the permiso (temporary motorcycle import permit).
The customs declaration form is given to an officer outside the window, so I still have it.
Go outside and bring the motorcycle to the officer in charge of baggage checks.
Give the customs declaration form to the officer.
It seems that some officers just let people pass without checking, but in my case, I was asked some simple questions.
"Do you have any animals?" → No
"Do you have any plants or fruits?" → No
Then, I was told to get off the motorcycle so they could check the luggage, so I got off, and they quickly checked and finished.
After that, drive the motorcycle to the exit of the entry area, and when you give the paper you received from the officer at the gate, the gate will open, and you will successfully complete the entry.
■Border Crossing: Argentina (San Carlos de Bariloche) → Chile (Puente Piedra), Paso Cardenal Antonio Samoré
The distance between the Argentine exit building and the Chilean entry building is about 40km.
First, complete the Argentine exit procedures, then drive 40km and proceed to the Chilean entry procedures.
■Argentina Exit
At the gate before the exit area, you will be stopped, and an officer will write down the license plate number on a piece of paper. Receive the paper and then enter the exit area.
Then, park the motorcycle somewhere. Some people are lining up their cars, but it's meaningless because you can't move until you finish the procedures.
Enter the building for document procedures.
First, receive the exit stamp. This is quick. After finishing, you will receive a stamp on the paper given by the officer.
Next, the customs procedure, but this was a long line, stretching all the way outside the building, so I waited about 30-40 minutes.
The customs procedure does not require filling out any documents; you only need to return the Argentine permiso and show your passport and proof of motorcycle ownership.
After finishing, you will receive another stamp on the paper given by the officer.
This completes the Argentine exit procedures.
Go outside, get on the motorcycle, and exit the exit area.
When exiting the exit area, show the paper given by the officer to the gate officer for confirmation.
Give the paper directly to the officer. You will receive a different paper for the Chilean entry procedures, so there is no problem.
■Chile Entry
At the gate before the entry area, you will be stopped, and an officer will write down the license plate number on a piece of paper. Receive the paper and then enter the entry area.
Then, park the motorcycle somewhere and proceed to the procedures inside the building.
First, the entry procedures. Receive the entry stamp. The officer will ask you something in Spanish, but I couldn't understand it. The officer seemed to say, "It's okay," and easily gave me the stamp. Maybe because I am Japanese. Or maybe because it is my second time entering Chile.
Next, the customs procedure.
Here, you need to fill out a form. Fill out the form on the documents provided on the desk. This is the same customs declaration form as when entering and exiting by plane.
If the motorcycle is not registered in Argentina, you need to fill out another form.
Tell the officer, and you will receive the form to fill out.
The customs declaration form had English alongside Spanish, so it was easy to understand, but the form for registering the motorcycle was only in Spanish, so it was difficult. However, I somehow filled it out based on my intuition. After all, if you have done it many times, you will recognize some of the words, and since the registration certificate for my motorcycle in Colombia is also in Spanish, I filled in the words that appeared repeatedly.
Then, proceed with the documents and receive a copy of the permiso (temporary motorcycle import permit).
The customs declaration form is given to an officer outside the window, so I still have it.
Go outside and bring the motorcycle to the officer in charge of baggage checks.
Give the customs declaration form to the officer.
It seems that some officers just let people pass without checking, but in my case, I was asked some simple questions.
"Do you have any animals?" → No
"Do you have any plants or fruits?" → No
Then, I was told to get off the motorcycle so they could check the luggage, so I got off, and they quickly checked and finished.
After that, drive the motorcycle to the exit of the entry area, and when you give the paper you received from the officer at the gate, the gate will open, and you will successfully complete the entry.
Chain replacement in Puerto Montt.
In Puerto Montt, I asked at the tourist information center about the location of a motorcycle shop and had the oil changed.
I had only intended to have the oil changed, but the staff member suggested, "You should change this chain," and "How about this?" Since it was cheap, I decided to have it replaced. However, this would later cause problems.
At that time, I thought, "This will be safe for traveling around Patagonia."
I had only intended to have the oil changed, but the staff member suggested, "You should change this chain," and "How about this?" Since it was cheap, I decided to have it replaced. However, this would later cause problems.
At that time, I thought, "This will be safe for traveling around Patagonia."
