The Castro to Chaiten ferry disaster!<\/p>\n
I arrived at the extremely uninviting passenger terminal of Castro at 7pm. I wanted to drop off my bags and grab some food. My ferry was due to depart at midnight and I was so very excited. I would get to travel to Chaiten in style. My destination was across on the mainland and considerably further South than my current position. When I arrived at the entrance gate I was stopped by the security guard who fired a heavy barrage of Spanish at me. Not understanding a word, I joyfully waved my ticket at him. Nonchalantly he pulled out his mobile phone and quickly tapped the keys. Turning the phone to me, a message read: “but it has gone.” He tapped a few more keys. “Come back next week.” He was obviously using a translator app but the message was clear, I had missed my ferry. I have no idea how their 24-hour clock works but it is clearly different to the one I use. It transpired that my ferry had left on the 18th not the 19th.<\/p>\n
I wearily trudged back to the bus station with a heavy heart. Luckily I managed to catch the last bus back to Ancud – I really did not want to stay a minute longer in Castro. I returned to my previous hostel. Tail between my legs, but with the best smile I could muster, I explained my predicament. Thankfully they had a bed available and thankfully there were a few familiar faces with whom I could drown my sorrows over a beer.<\/p>\n
This error will cost me time and money – I have a little more of one than I do the other.<\/p>\n
1. \u00a325.00 on a wasted ferry ticket.
\n2. I will have to travel 12-hours, by bus, to Bariloche in Argentina.
\n3. The only sensible option left, to get me to El Calafeta and Glacier Perito Moreno, will be to fly from Bariloche.
\n4. The flight will cost \u00a3175.00 one way.
\n5. I will waste 5-days waiting for busses and a flight – it’s peak season here at the moment.<\/p>\n
Scale of error: Imagine you are in Shrewsbury and in order to get to Bedford you have to travel via Penrith. A round trip of nearly 400 miles. At least this way I do save The 48-hour bus journey from Chaiten to El Calafate. Every cloud has a ……… .<\/p>\n
Next stage: Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt to Bariloche (Argentina).<\/p>\n
The Castro to Chaiten ferry disaster! I arrived at the extremely uninviting passenger terminal of Castro at 7pm. I wanted to drop off my bags and grab some food. My ferry was due to depart at midnight and I was … Continue reading ![\"20140123-114241.jpg\"](\"http:\/\/worldoftravelling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/20140123-114241.jpg\")
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