Run for the border

Altiplano on the drive down from Puno, Peru.

It was already the 26th of November, I had been in Peru way too long, time to get out of Peru, into Chile, time to run for the border. Headed out of Puno early, climbed a bit above town, and Titicaca, quick look back, then back onto the altiplano, and eventually down from the high plains, toward Tacna, Peru, only 30 km from the border. Was a nice drive, do enjoy the altiplano, and just amazed that people live there, with their llamas, sheep, and even a few cattle. Was another long day, but with little traffic, and downhill pretty much the whole way, it was a relatively easy day. Struggled again finding a hotel with secure parking for my van, offstreet parking that I could enter, van so high. But found a place, ok, right in town, a bit pricy, do what I could at that point. 

Up early, and off for the border, hoping to pass without issue, still worried about getting out of Peru, so difficult getting my van and equipment into the country, just was not sure what they might do when I was leaving. And of course, Peruvians a pain until the end, they hassle you until you finally leave, bounce you from immigration to customs, and back, and then almost another inspection before I was finally able to drop off my TIC (Peruvian permit for my van), and almost a hour later, drive off into Chile.

On the Chilean side, nothing but people willing to help, point you in the right direction. They understand, I am a tourist, and all tourist do one thing, we spend money, so why not do everything you can to make it as easy as possible to enter? And they did. I still had to visit immigration, get a brief inspection, allow some food to be confiscated, but all so easy. It took me weeks and cost me thousands of dollars to enter Peru, it took me less than two hours and cost me nothing, other the cost of some food, to enter Chile. I was very happy to leave Peru, and hope that I never return. Peru is full of criminals, especially in Callao. I was very happy to be in Chile. Now, time to head south, need to get to Patagonia by Christmas. Time to travel.

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