Kyle's Crazy Chilean Carpool Trivia Quiz

Answer: Peru

Although Chile makes up the majority of South America's Pacific coast it only borders three countries (and surprisingly Brazil is not one of them). Peru is found to the direct north and Arica is only a short ride down the highway from the border.

As the four llamas (yes-- they're all llamas) head into Arica they're greeted by beautiful Pacific shores, an equatorial climate, and Morro de Arica, a national monument peering out over the sea. Arica also connects to the city of La Paz, Bolivia to the east, but to get there one would need to drive up into the Andes. Arica, in the Arica y Parinacota Region, contains both deserts and mountains further east. It was once owned by Peru.

It's beautiful in Arica, but the journey has only just begun-- there are hundreds and hundreds of miles still stretching down Chile.

Answer: Atacama Desert

Driving past the town of San Pedro de Atacama entirely (in an effort to preserve the Chilean trip by avoiding the temptation to just head through Bolivia for a couple weeks), the foursome travels south through the arid Atacama Desert, considered to be the driest part of the world. Driving straight through on Ruta 5, they get a flash of the coastal humidity and the almost other-worldly terrain further inland. It truly is a harsh, unforgiving landscape.

Along the way, Kyle feels horrible-- he hates this heat. Ethan and Anne seem fine, having come all the way from Australia for the ride; Salami is boiling. Luckily they brought their own water though; the groundwater in Atacama is high in arsenic and considered too unsafe for non-locals to drink. When night finally falls (and the heat dies down a bit), they're treated to one of the clearest night skies on the planet.

Answer: Quintero

Salami couldn't have picked a better spot to drop off the La Ruta-- Quintero, sitting on the ocean, is a luxurious travel spot. North of Concón, another majestic oceanfront destination, Quintero is home to resorts and greens far enough south of the Atacama that you don't need to worry about dust storms. Castillo San Fuentes is a small castle in the town from its early days, back when it was the first and only port city in Chile.

So while one person leaves the car, another is granted a ride onward. Will they make it to the south of Chile?

Answer: Valparaíso

Ethan knew the risks! Valparaíso is a beautiful, hilly city known for its culture and position on the Pacific Coast. Before the opening of the Panama Canal, the city was an important location for sailors for both trade and rest. Since, however, it's become both a political and artistic hub and its old Quarter has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Because of the many house-covered hills throughout the city, there is also an extensive series of funiculars-- it's quite easy to get lost.

And that's what happened with Ethan. The four made a pact to return to the car by 5pm or else miss the ride. He missed it. And then there were three, heading south, back toward Ruta 5.

Answer: Santiago

Driving southeast back toward Ruta 5, the three in the car are surprised to find PDAZ wandering around outside Santiago, about two hours away from Valparaiso; she needs to get to another city, but still has time to do some sightseeing. Without asking any questions they continue on to the Chilean capital nestled in the Andes.

This city, a Mecca for culture and entertainment, is home to several buildings and streets constructed hundreds of years ago but, due to a growing population, is also fused together with modern innovation; Santiago is a world leader for several industries.

While the city is surrounded by lush vineyards, one doesn't need to go far to find beauty-- a trip to the top of Cerro San Cristobal gives a majestic view from the Statue of the Virgin Mary while several other hills throughout the city are home to verdant parks and plazas.

But the carpool can't stay too long!

Answer: Rancagua

See...this is what happens when you start poking Kyle with a sharp, pointy stick. Just because we didn't stop off at the vineyards on the way out of Santiago. Well you know what Flopsy? Too bad. She's asked to leave in the main plaza of Rancagua, a city remembered for its famous battle during the days where it strove for independence from Spain. Rancagua is the capital of Cachapoal, a province directly south from Santiago; Ruta 5 cuts right through the city. El Teniente, the world's largest underground copper mine, is a short distance away. Two centuries old, the name of the mine translates to 'The Lieutenant'.

But mines are not on the itinerary, and the carpool has to get to its next location off the beaten path quite quickly; PDAZ has an appointment.

Answer: West

Now more than four hundred miles south of Santiago, the carpool, now containing three people, veers west from Ruta 5 (in the city of Chillán) towards the Pacific Coast. Two hours later they arrive in Concepción, one of Chile's largest cities. This city, although perhaps better known for its earthquakes, is a major spot for scholars-- it features some of Chile's oldest and most prestigious private universities; it's no surprise Mike "2k" is all the way out here-- probably for a trivia tournament of some sort. Smack-dab in the geographic center of the country (there's still a long way to go southward to end the trip!), it's also close to Talcahuano, a Chilean naval base, and several small towns populated by students. And so Kyle and Anne were the only ones left to drive back to Ruta 5.

Answer: Los Lagos

Los Lagos, comprising many of the Chilean foothills, is a beautifully scenic location nearly twelve hours south of Santiago, the capital city, on Ruta 5. Anne, waiting in Osorno for a bus ride to San Carlos de Bariloche (mmm...Patagonian chocolate), must've compiled enough information for her quiz about Chile-- Kyle's willing to do a bit more research by finishing the trip. ;) The Los Lagos region is home to volcanoes, black sand beaches in Petrohué, waterfalls, and, of course, lakes and lakes. Aside from famous resorts, you could also visit the verdant towns of Osorno and Río Negro or just sit back and take in the majesty of the mountains.

Answer: Ferry

Puerto Montt is virtually the end of the line and the southern terminus of Ruta 5, marking what seems to be the end of the Chilean carpool (though one could argue that it's even a carpool at this point...unless Kyle drives it into the water...which he won't).

The capital of the Los Lagos region, Puerto Montt is within reach of Petrohué, Osorno, Volcan Osorno, and several national parks. Even though it's more than one thousand miles from Santiago, it contains a large population, partly because of the salmon fishing industry. While Kyle could probably fly onward, the car can still make it over to Chiloé Island, the unofficial continuation of Ruta 5 beginning in Ancud, and continue heading through Chile's second largest island all the way down to Quillón. So he will.

Answer: Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas is the largest city in Chile's southernmost region, Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena, and after hiring a charter flight and a new vehicle, Kyle is able to drive through part of Southern Chile AND Southern Argentina to get to it. Although it's not the southernmost city in South America (that goes to Ushuaia, Argentina on Tierra del Fuego), it is Chile's last stand. Once named after Ferdinand Magellan, it's located on the Strait of Magellan and is set amongst several glacier parks. Chile does go further south in terms of territory, but there are no more cities and no more roads on which to carpool. Although there are a small handful of settlements further south, they are quite isolated.

Now how does Kyle get home?