Chile
On the road to the ski resorts upwards of Santiago. Follow the sign 'Campground Parque Las Varas‘.
"Las Varas" park entrance -33.370404, -70.466125
"Las Varas Campground" -33.37689, -70.46875
Whatsapp Gert: +56 9 9437 8703
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Camping in Santiago is slim pickings. We stayed here for two nights and enjoyed the peaceful, secure surroundings. The previous comments pretty much say it all, washrooms do get cleaned but not everyday, practical outdoor kitchen, views of the mountains, slow wifi. We packed up and headed into town for a drive and to hit up a Jumbo and IKEA, it took less than 45 minutes to get there. Gerd is a super nice and helpful guy, WhatsApp him before you arrive.
Report Check-InNice place to relax and bike or hike in the nature park. Clean bathrooms with hot showers. Wifi OK, but not too strong. There are various water and power connections, but practically no shade. From the marked place it is another 2km up an unpaved, sometimes steep road to the actual place. We planned to visit Santiago from here, but then drove closer to the city - from here it takes 1.5-2 hours, depending on traffic! Taxi costs 25-30k one way.
IG: compasschronicle
Report Check-InThere are many nice things about this place including the views and serenity. BUT there is NO shade. The road up is gnarly but very doable on a dirt road and would be difficult for 2 wheel drive in the rain. Gerd told us that the water is not potable. We too were the only ones there when we stayed.
Report Check-InStayed here for 5 nights while we handled lots of car errands in the city. We loved it here. 15,000 CLP is at the max of our budget for campgrounds, but we were really happy to have found this place in such a busy city. Very relaxing, hiking and biking all around, beautiful views, yet super close to the city. The hot shower is amazing, and the area is level for parking. The electricity is 220v and would cut out sometimes, but I was able to charge our batteries without too many issues. The water is potable and delicious and with LOTS of pressure (hose connections). Gerd met us on the second day, and he is an extremely friendly person full of great conversation. Flying with him must be a treat! He tows gliders into the air pretty regularly, so you may get lucky and get a chance to fly with him or share a coffee. Unfortunately, we had way too many errands to run to make this happen.
As of now, there is nobody at the campground full-time, but a cleaning crew still comes by to clean the bathrooms. Best to message Gerd ahead of time. Payment is done via PayPal in euros (because Chileans can’t use PayPal to accept payments in CLP for some reason). No extra fees are added.
There is a button before a gate that you press “call” and say you have a “casa rodante para el camping” and someone will open it remotely. It’s extremely slow and might not look like it’s opening, but just wait. On the way down before the last curve, there is a pole with a button on it to open the gate. Don’t miss it, as it’s a steep walk back up.
The road to the campground is dirt and steep in some sections. We are 4000kg with AWD and 6m long - no issues.
Report Check-InHaven’t stayed here yet, but I reached out to Gerd to see if he could help me receive a DHL shipment to Chile from the United States (while currently in Argentina), since it’s prohibited to import car parts in Argentina. He was super quick to help and willing to let me use all his information (RUT, address, name). Extremely nice guy - just wanted to add this here! Will plan to stay here once we reach Santiago. 🤘🏼
Report Check-InUn lugar único!!!
Muy recomendable, increíble que esté tan cerca de Santiago!
Tiene todo lo que necesita un viajero!!
As what others day, dont follow the google maps instructions. Follow the signs, and communicate with the owner via WhatsApp. Great place in the middle of nowhere, yet only about 20 minutes from a large Lider supermarket and the outskirts of Santiago. Owner very communicative. Clean facilities. Lots of hiking near and also a bike park etc. Great place to be near yet far away from Santiago.
Report Check-InI've been here for6 nights now. I haven't slept so well in years. It's so quiet here yet just a few minutes from the city.
Gerd even took my gliding on Sunday. To see the Andes from a glider at 3,000m was the most magical experience.
Report Check-InCame for a couple of days, ended up staying 8! Gert is great to communicate with. Mathias is the owner and both are so helpful. We discovered we had a broken engine mount and Mathias arranged for Felipe, a mechanic, to pick it up, take it to a master welder and have it delivered back to us. Great work. The campground has what you need, actual water at each site, nice shower, electric at sites is low voltage (supposed to be 220) but it ran our charger fine. Great hiking right out your door. When you communicate with Gert via WhatsApp he will send you a video with instructions on how to get to the place. Fine for our big truck, no clearance issues. We had a great stay and really recommend this spot. It's great for a break and to clean up your rig.
Report Check-Innice place with hot shower and good WiFi. The contact with Gert was very good. Before you arrive, be sure to register with Gert via WhatsApp. The road up is a bit adventurous but doable when it's dry. It's about 30km to the city, with a taxi costing $25 per ride. The sightseeing flight with Gert is highly recommended.
Report Check-InGreat place, $15k
Warm shower, kitchen area
Bit steep off-road
Guy is super kind and helpful!
Everything was ok at this campsite. It was a little bit hard to find but If you follow the signs you will find It easely. Press the button on the pole 10 meters left before the second gate and you will get acces. Nice hot shower in the morning and big shower/toilet rooms. Water and electricity on the pitch. We were there for 2 days and were even able to do a flight above the camping with a Cessna 1 prop aircraft. Our contact was Gert and hè is really the most nice person you can meet. We give this campsite a 10 out of 10.
Report Check-InGreat campsite, hot showers, fast internet. Maybe the best camping around Santiago. Matthias is a great host.
Report Check-InGreat campsite! Don’t follow Google maps, look for the signs from the road as other people have mentioned. Well worth finding, host is super helpful, hot showers, sinks, everything you need. Plus a beautiful view!
Report Check-InAs per previous posters - a great campsite just outside Santiago. The big update is that there is now Wi-Fi!!
Easy to find off the road to Farellones, then a few km up a dirt road.
Report Check-InOwner updates that despite good signal with all cell providers, wifi was implemented; the connection is signposted in the toilets. Also a project is on the way to stabilize the electricity's quality.
To access it is encouraged to contact the given cell.
Very quiet and safe place, we like to stay here. We stayed here for 2 nights, he charges $17.50 per night general rate for the car. there is no Wi-Fi and the electricity is very weak
Report Check-InA really nice place to stay: great views, a bit remote (quiet + we were almost alone there), a lot of space, clean bathrooms and hot showers. Communication via whatsapp worked very well, I never had to wait longer than a couple of minutes for the answear and Gerd was really helpful when we needed anything. Only wifi would be a plus.
Report Check-InGreat campsite. No flat camp spots , timeconsuming to find something somewhat straight. Tiny bit of shade. Toilet/shower facilities basic, It seemed it was not cleaned for months so we spent 2 hours cleaning ourselves. Nice area with kitchen counter and sinks for doing dishes. Unlimited HOT water. Safe, super quiet at night. Love this place for some downtime in the mountains. Amazing views and sunsets. Loads of privacy and barely anyone around. PERFECT Laundry service available by Esther.
Bit weird neighbourhood where people seem to be bothered if you take a walk on the public road or take photos. One time some guys came with a BB-gun because we were taking sunset pictures with our drone. Be careful.
Payment only in € through PayPal: price is €18 per night. Definitely worth it for what you get! Especially compared to the camping near the airport, don’t go there.
Report Check-InPlease be advised that the given coordinates are the entry of the valley Las Varas, where you leave the main road to the dirt road upwards. From there it's sort of 1,5 km to the electric gate plus 2 km more to the campground itself; it's now also marked in Google Maps:
-33.376594, -70.468794
Dumping is possible at the 12 sites with connections.
Please be advised that the given coordinates are the entry of the valley Las Varas, where you leave the main road to the dirt road upwards. From there it's sort of 1,5 km to the electric gate plus 2 km more to the campground itself; it's now also marked in Google Maps:
-33.376594, -70.468794
Best Camping in Santiago! Hot showers, electricity (also Camper Plug ins, if you need), water and even possibilities to get rid of your sewage.
There even is a Taxi service (for example to the city center) and a laundry service for your Laundry - Just ask for it (signs are in the making).
The owner ,Matthias‘ was an overlander himself and knows what we need 😌!
The camping still gets better and better, because they really are open for suggestions for improvement! So if something bothers you, just say it and they will try to improve it!
For example: Soon they will install wifi and plant more plants so that it will be more green.
And don‘t miss to ask for a riding session with a real Gaucho through the Andes! That was an absolutely great experience for us! (You don‘t need to have riding experience, but it is also fun, if you have some).
P.S.: Matthias also has two mechanics (Sebastian & Mauricio) who are working for him, so if you have any problems, or just need a service, just ask for them. The taller also is on iOverlander.
The price for the camping at the moment: 15.000 Pesos per vehicle per night
Report Check-InHopefully the coordinates and photos of the correct electric gate complement what was sent in the last comments, with the coordinates must be a conversion problem. The owner is working on better signalling; and please feel free to "cry for help" at the given cell +56 9 9 437 8703, can even give Whatsapp and/or Telegram Locations.
-33.375588, -70.470732
You get to a closed gate. Not an easy U-turn. Enter the coordinates and you get to the next closed gate. What a way to run your business…. I left for another place.
Report Check-InAs said before 15000 pesos per night, for 2 and a big rigs.
Electricity, water and sanitary block OK.
it was à little bot Tricky to fond the entrance of the "parque las varas", so here after are the coordonnées of the entrance, then follow the instructions given by Wendy and Graham.
-33.370404, -70.466125 park entrance on "Camino à Farrellones".
Report Check-InWe enjoyed 3 nights at this beautiful quiet location. You will probably be tempted to stay here longer. The bathroom has all facilities, it is clean, and there is water and electricity. Control of the shower temperature is tricky but it is hot. Many spaces for several campers. No wifi, but excellent MoviStar signal. Gerd is very helpful and you will get an instant response from him via WhatsApp. We paid 15,000 pesos per day for two people and a camper truck.
Directions: Following the route to the co-ordinates listed**, you will eventually arrive at the entrance to the Parque Las Varas and a gravel road. Keep going up the hill. After about 1.5km, you will arrive at a gate on the left where there is a sign for the Parque. You must announce your arrival at the control post (see photo) to have the gate opened. Gerd will inform you of the access code. A little further up the hill, you will see the camping area on the left.
**We had problems with the iOverlander mapping app. It is best to enter the co-ordinates directly into Google maps or your preferred mapping app.
To Visit Santiago: It’s easy to get to the city centre, although it will take about an hour each way. The taxi driver phone numbers are posted at the campsite ablutions block. We used Alexis and he was excellent. We recommend going by taxi to the nearest Metro station (Manquehue) for which we paid about 14,000 pesos, including a tip, each way. At the Metro station, you must buy a bip! card (only one needed for your group) and then charge it with the number of trips you need. We paid about 5000 pesos total for the card and 4 trips.
Camping Las varas is a great spot to stay, it might look a bit rough first but it offers everything you need and all that just a few kilometers outside of Santiago for a decent price. It's 15.000CLP per night (two persons +car) but if you stay longer you might be able to negotiate.
There's electricity and water (i guess not potable so bring enough drinking water) on sight, the showers are great (just stick to the instructions mentioned earlier: don't adjust the temperature inside the shower, leave it as hot as possible and use the gas heater outside to set the temperature), toilets are clean and there are facilities to do your dishes.
The only down side in our mind is that there is usually nobody on sight so you need to coordinate your visit a few days before by contacting Gerd (Spanish, English or German) and he will set everything up with Mathias (the actual owner).
Gerd, his lovely wife (btw they also rent campers) and Matthias are all very nice and make you feel welcome immediately.
They informed us that there had been some problems with neighbors playing loud music but they said they sorted it out and we had very calm nights up there.
And in a few years when the trees they planted have grown this place will even get better.
There are also some walking/hiking and biking possibilities or you can take a taxi to town enjoying Santiago (knowing your camper is parked safely).
Report Check-InAt first glance it seems a bit bare, as it’s like an open car park that’s 100% visible from the dirt road. But it has most of what campervans need- electricity, water and shower. For 15K peso per night (same price as a ensuite airbnb room in santiago), it’s more worth it for bigger campers who can’t stay in the city. Showers are hot but you need to turn it off and on to reset the hot water a few times. We were the only campers here for several nights. Nice hiking and a bit of bouldering around the area as well.
Weekdays are ok and peaceful but i would avoid the weekend like plague as the neighbours blast clubbing music 12 hours straight till 2-3 AM in the morning that you can hear in your camper despite having all the windows and doors shut. A bit unfortunate as we were booked in for a big hike in yerba loca on monday(this nonstop party happened on sunday) and during the pandemic you have to prebook some park entrances.
Full or close to full reception on WOM and im sure all other telcos.
Gert (contact point) is very helpful and guided us up from the city.
Update: we finally figured out the shower on the last day. Never mix cold water in - it shuts off the hot. To adjust the water temp, adjust the boiler temperature outside (a few notches towards cold for a good temp) and turn on the shower all the way left (FULL hot). Male shower working. female not as of Sept 2020
Report Check-InDespite only provisional opening for stranded RVs due to the corona pandemic, functioning was quite acceptable; therefore some infrastucture ítems updated in the description.
Access has to be coordinated via the appended cellphone with Whatsapp, Telegram and standard messaging; english, german and spanish spoken.
We stayed here for a month during the covid crisis. It's a beautifully quiet site up in the hills with good trekking options nearby, 7kms out of Santiago. The site has room for plenty of camper vehicles, some have electricity and running water, and more being set up all the time. Hot showers available, plus hot water for washing up and laundry. It gets cold in winter as it's on the way to the ski resorts but a good place to stop if you need somewhere secure near Santiago. Friendly locals nearby are able to help with food shopping, MTB rental, taxi rides to town.
Report Check-InOn the way to become an established campground, on the road to the ski resorts upwards of Santiago; already available for RV parking.
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