Rental company category:Standard
Two Chilean departures, Santiago and Punta Arenas, between the central Andes and the Strait of Magellan
An Argentine specialist in 4x4 campers, Ruta Sur has two departure cities in Chile, at opposite ends of the country: Santiago, the capital, and Punta Arenas, on the Strait of Magellan. CoolDrive does not know a depot address in either: the handover place, whether a branch, a delivery or a meeting point, is specified when booking.
The two departures suit very different trips. From Santiago, within half a day you can reach Valparaíso and the coast, the wine valleys of Colchagua or Casablanca, or the Los Libertadores pass, which crosses the Andes towards Mendoza. Punta Arenas, for its part, is the gateway to southern Patagonia: Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine National Park to the north, and Tierra del Fuego on the other side of the strait, which you cross by ferry to head down to Ushuaia.
On the Chilean side, our records do not yet contain any Ruta Sur price: by running a search for your dates, you will see which 4x4 is available, at what price, with what excess and what mileage rules.
Our view: Punta Arenas is a first-rate departure point for a 4x4 camper, as close as possible to the tracks of Patagonia, and Santiago lets you combine central Chile with the Argentine Andes. In the absence of recorded data, the conditions for crossing into Argentina and the exact handover place still need checking.
The key facts to decide whether Ruta Sur suits your trip.
Ruta Sur has no physical branch in these cities: the company delivers the vehicle there, at a time and place agreed with you after booking. They are available as pick-up locations in the search form, which shows availability and the price, delivery included.
The capital's urban motorways operate without barriers, using an electronic tag called TAG. At handover, ask whether the vehicle is fitted with one and how the charges will be passed on to you; if not, find out about the day pass before using these roads.
Around Punta Arenas, gusts are strong, especially in summer: keep a firm grip on the wheel and open doors facing the wind with care. Beyond Puerto Natales or in Tierra del Fuego, petrol stations are few and far between: always set off again with a full tank.
Between Punta Arenas and Ushuaia, the border is crossed at San Sebastián, in Tierra del Fuego, with Chilean and then Argentine formalities. In high season, the wait can be long at this post as well as at the Los Libertadores pass: set off early and keep the vehicle papers to hand.
It all depends on the region you are aiming for. Punta Arenas is the obvious choice for southern Patagonia, Torres del Paine and Tierra del Fuego. Santiago suits central Chile, the wine valleys and a foray into Argentina via Mendoza. The two cities are too far apart to be linked in a single short trip.
The road exists: a ferry crosses the Strait of Magellan, then Tierra del Fuego is crossed on tracks and paved roads as far as the Argentine border. This trip requires the company's agreement to leave Chile; check it in the offer and, for a one-way trip to Ushuaia, enter this city as your destination in the search.
CoolDrive has not yet recorded any prices for Ruta Sur in Chile. The price varies with the season, the length of hire and the model available in Santiago or Punta Arenas: the search gives it to you for your dates, mandatory fees included.
They have always responded quickly to all my requests and their website is very functional!
Fast service
The booking process is very smooth. I had very good communication with the Cooldrive team. As for the follow-up, it will be seen on site during the vehicle pickup.
As no address is known, the handover place and time are given to you when booking, in Santiago as in Punta Arenas. Once the hire is confirmed, our experts liaise with the company to set the appointment, for example on your arrival by plane.
The company generally has to provide a written authorisation to leave the country, prepared in advance and sometimes charged for. Keep it with the vehicle registration document and the insurance certificate valid in Argentina, your passport and your driving licence. Mention your plans as soon as you book so that everything is ready on the day of departure.
From November to March, the days are very long and the Patagonian tracks are passable; January and February are the most popular months. In the southern winter, snow and short days make driving harder, and some services in Torres del Paine run at a reduced level. In Santiago, spring and autumn are the most pleasant.
In Chile, Ruta Sur sets off from Santiago for the central Andes and the road to Mendoza, and from Punta Arenas for Torres del Paine, Tierra del Fuego and Ushuaia. The handover is arranged when booking, and CoolDrive shows the price for your dates alongside the offers of Camper Travel, Holiday Rent RV or Andes Campers. Our experts then help you prepare the handover and the authorisation to cross into Argentina. The company's 4x4 range and conditions are presented on its main page, devoted to Argentina.
Alpacas adventure
Rental company category:Standard
Andes Campers
Rental company category:Standard
Camper Travel
Rental company category:Standard
Public rating of the rental company:
4.1/5
(30 reviews)
Holiday Rent RV
Rental company category:Premium
Kawascars Camper Rentals
Rental company category:Economy
