South American buses

South America probably has the best buses in the world. Really.

They have more-or-less perfected the art of long-distance bus travel down here. When I rode the bus from Santiago to Temuco (on Turbus), I took a class of bus called "semi-cama". Imagine for a moment a first-class airline seat -- wide, reclines way back. Add pillows and blankets a la night flights. Add bad, cold, airline food. (I didn't say it was perfect, did I?) In Peru, where theft on the night buses has been a problem in the past, add a variety of security measures, including videoing bag searches and seated passengers prior to departure.

Now, consider instead the traditional cattle-car bus operated by Greyhound or Trailways in the US. These don´t even exist down here. All the longer-haul buses have reclining seats, a foot rest that folds from the seat in front to the base of yours, an attendant who serves snacks every once in a while (he's actually the backup driver), and a bathroom (chemical toilet, not for the faint of stomach, but it´s there).

Oh, and price. That nice bus ride from Santiago to Temuco? About $35 for an 8 hour bus ride. The cattle-car bus I took from Valdivia to Bariloche, Argentina today (a daytime trip that should have taken 6 hours) was about $20.

Tomorrow (Sunday) I go hiking in the parks near here. Next update will be Monday.

Hasta luego!