If you are in Santiago (Chile), a great day trip for you to consider is to cross the border to Argentina and visit the Aconcagua National Park, home to the tallest mountain in the Andes range.
There are different locations to cross the border but to experience the beauty of the Andes, the most popular crossing is Paso Los Libertadores, a well maintained road that passes centrally between Mendoza, Argentina and Santiago, Chile. Reaching more than 10,000 feet in elevation, you really get to experience some breathtaking views.
To break up the journey, there are many great places on this route that you can pass through that are very interesting.
Here are 5 things you can see whilst on this route:
1) Mountains and winding roads:
The landscapes around this region are beautiful…. with blue skies… and huge towering mountains, you are treated to great views along the way. The roads are steep, narrow and hairpin for miles. Seemingly, the roads are in great condition and most drivers abide to the speed limit which makes it quite an enjoyable experience.
2) Old Transandine Railway
Built in 1910 and 154 miles long, this railway crossed the Andes and provided important transport from Chile to Argentina. The track is no longer in use due to tensions between Chile and Argentina but there are talks about reopening the line in the future. Tunnels were dug through mountains and creeks which would allow rivers to flow nearby the railway track. Next to the gorge, you can see the small tunnel of the railway below (in the middle towards the right side.) There are train stations and railway tracks that still exist since their closure, the photo below is of their oldest station. If the railway did reopen it would make a great tourist attraction!
3)Puente Del Inca
Located in Argentina, the Puente Del Inca (An old Inca Bridge) is truly a unique and astonishing sight. Charles Darwin had visited this bridge and was astonished at its beauty and even made sketches of it. When I laid eyes on it, I was really surprised at what I could see. It was not like anything I have ever seen before or like anything else that existed elsewhere.
The bridge is a natural formation made from a yellow and brown combination of rock. It is a natural bridge formed by minerals and microbiological organisms such as algae. The bridge was used by the Incas thousands of years ago before they colonized America. It is believed that thousands of years ago a bridge of ice was formed and that with the following avalanches, the hot springs and time solidified the “bridge”.
Under the bridge, you can see the intricate staircases and building structure which was used as a spa where the Incas would use the natural hot springs by the river. The hot springs were thought to have had special healing properties due to their high content of natural minerals. There is also an old church in the far background that I would have loved to have explored further.
Sadly, since 2005, visitors are no longer allowed to cross the bridge and there is a restriction barrier around the entire place. It will become a world heritage site and is visited by people from all over the world (since there is nothing like it anywhere else.) The river running under this monument is the Vacas River, rich in colour in a matching yellow, brownish tint. One particular souvenir for sale nearby was very strange. They dipped items such as boots, clocks and wooden figures into the river and the deposits would harden around them in a bright yellow sandy finish.
4) Visit the market stalls
There are several stalls near the Puente de Inca and on various other road sides to buy unique souvenirs and wine from the nearby Mendoza region.
5) Portillo Ski Resort
Outside of the ski season, the Portillo Ski Resort located in Chile near the border, can still be a great place to visit. This ski resort was opened in 1949 and held the world champion alpine ski competition in 1966. Since we visited out of season, it was like a ghost town with ski lifts standing still and patches of snow on the mountains. The runs looked very steep, probably the reason why the world ski speed record was set here. The highlight of the resort is the beautiful lake in the middle that adds to the magic of the panoramic views.
The process of crossing the borders was very smooth and quick going from Chile to Argentina. On the way back to Chile from Argentina, the bag and vehicle searches took longer and were more in-depth. Putting this aside, there are some really great photo opportunities at the borders to help you kill some time.
It you have completed this route, it would be great to hear about anything else that is interesting to see along the way……
