Rent a Car in Patagonia

Rent a Car in Patagonia


Patagonia is a wild place to travel. Some roads are in really bad conditions. As a matter of fact, we have had 2 rental cars flipped over in the past!

Drop off charges are quite expensive. We are talking about USD 1290 if rental starts in Santiago and ends in Punta Arenas. These high drop-off charges have made many persons change their plans. Unless you will be renting at least one month, if you want to travel in the north and south, I recommend rent one car in Calama and returning it the same place, then fly to Santiago or Puerto Montt in order to get to know the Lake District and Patagonia. Start a rental in Santiago and return it in Puerto Montt means a drop off of only USD 390, and start in Puerto Montt and end it in Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales, means an drop off fee of USD 790.

I would like to advise you that Insurance companies only cover damages when a rented vehicle is adequate for the roads on which it is driving. This is why we recommend renting in Patagonia SUVs or pickup trucks. Car rental companies won't ask you where you are headed during your trip, and they will rent anything you ask for, but you must know that insurance companies will not cover damages because you got into bad roads without the proper vehicle (Argentina Ruta 40, for example). For the area between Santiago and Puerto Montt, any car will do ... but Patagonia is a different story!!!

For Patagonia driving, even though SUVs will do the job, a 4x4 double is the best alternative, because of its bigger wheels and higher clearance from the ground. We recommend taking an air compressor and a spray for emergency flat tires, because distances between cities are quite big, and also because some roads are in very bad conditions.

Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales are two locations that allow renters to return their rental car in Argentina. Could be Calafate or Ushuaia.

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