https://hitchwiki.org/en/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=Crassinacar&feedformat=atomHitchwiki - User contributions [en]2024-03-28T08:21:45ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.32.3https://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Ethiopia&diff=82354Ethiopia2016-03-04T12:58:27Z<p>Crassinacar: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Ethiopia<br />
|map= <map lat='9.622414142924805' lng='38.60595703125' zoom='5' view='0' float='right' /><br />
|language = Amharic<br />
|capital = [[Addis Ababa]]<br />
|pop = 78,254,090<br />
|currency = Birr (ETB)<br />
|hitch = <rating country='et' /><br />
| avp = Ethiopia<br />
}}<br />
<br />
[[File:Ethopia alex.jpg|thumb|240px|right|Waiting for the right lift, South of [[Addis Ababa]], Ethiopia.]] <br />
'''Ethiopia''' is listed as one of the world poorest countries, and very few people have cars there. Hitchhiking is really easy in Ethiopia. Any type of arm motion are use of the thumb will get you a ride. Make sure you know that the ride is free. In Amharic, the most widespread language used by most people to some degree "Birr nuhtzuh" means free, in Afan Oromo the word is something like "Gahtee-malee". English use is pretty uncommon outside of the cities, and the truckers who provide so many of the rides or not often English speakers. The roads are pretty good in Ethiopia and combined with the ease of hitching almost everywhere in the country is accessible. Hitching within the city of Addis Ababa is very easy and a great way to meet people. The train around Addis is also very cheap.<br />
<br />
Ethiopia is a fairly safe country, however the ''faranji'' frenzy will definitely quickly become an annoyance as you travel throughout the country. Theft is pretty unheard of even in the cities. The children in much of Ethiopia are totally insane and will just start screaming upon seeing a foreigner. Children in the rural areas on West Amhara being the worst and will often just start throwing rocks at people and/or following in a large crowd.<br />
<br />
One of the hardest parts about traveling Ethiopia is finding a place to sleep. Much of the country is densely populated. In Amhara and Tigray people are extremely suspicious of people walking on to their land or forests toward night time and may call the village to intervene. Hotels are about 50-60 birr (2.50$-3.00) for a single person and 70-80 for two people. The prices are higher in Addis Ababa and the eastern cities. Maybe fifty percent of the hotel rooms have bedbugs so I'd learn the signs and check before buying a room. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church traditionally keeps forested space near their churches and these can sometimes be slept in.<br />
<br />
The police don't have much of a corruption problem and only seem to intrude heavily on the traveler's life in much of Benishangul-Gumuz.<br />
<br />
Ethiopian culture in many of the regions can be quite abrasive. People yell often and catcall at women. In the Amhara region litigation is the "national sport" and people love to argue. Make sure you know a price firmly before handing someone money. House-ups are relatively uncommon but it is less uncommon for a rich person to buy you a hotel. Food is cheap and most people who like it really like it. Eating vegan is really easy. Water quality is low.<br />
<br />
[[File:Ethopia2 alex.jpg|thumb|240px|right|Having a free lift (in this case with people from an NGO).]] <br />
<br />
The country's car license plate system is very specific: the colour states the status of the ownership (''Blue'' for Private Ownership/ ''Black'' for Government / ''Orange'' for Businesses or NGOs / ''Red'' for Taxis). The NGOs plate always starts with a number ''(generally 35, other numbers simply specify the origins of the local organisation)'' while ''' ''CD ''' (in White/Yellow/Black)'' represents embassies and diplomatic cars with the first number specifying the country of origin. The 2 letters of the region of registration also appears on the license plate, both in Latin alphabet and local Amharic; As example, ''AA'' stands for Addis Ababa.<br />
<br />
== Experiences ==<br />
<br />
In the summer of 2010, [[User:gerbennap|Gerben]] hitchhiked through [[Ethiopia]], from the [[Sudan|Sudanese]] border crossing near [[Gonder]] to the [[Kenya|Kenyan]] border at [[Moyale]]. His experience was very positive, and even though little children and also adults were very curious whenever he passed through a village, he experienced none of the rock throwing mentioned in other reports. Waiting time was generally short.<br />
<br />
In February 2012, KiwiAoraki hitchhiked in some areas of Ethiopia. Locals, especially away from tourist areas can either be very curious or a real annoyance. It can be difficult to get a lift if you have a mob of 8 children following you. When he hitched from Harar to Addis Ababa he was picked up by an NGO vehicle and given a lift for 70 km without charge. A ute then picked him up going all the way to Addis, but the driver got angry upon dropping him off due to not having any birr. Drivers usually expect payment from hitchhikers, especially foreigners.<br />
<br />
== Borders ==<br />
<br />
According to the Lonely Planet, the border with [[Djibouti]] through [[Galafi]] is accessible only by hitching for its last length with the load of truckers doing the road between [[Djibouti City|Djibouti]] Harbour and [[Awash]] where a payment of about 150-200Birr (from [[Logiya]]) can be expected.<br />
<br />
Note that hitching along that road could reveal extremely harsh and dangerous due to local banditry and more especially due to the harshness of this desertic environment (along the Awash-Djibouti Road).<br />
<br />
There are borders with:<br />
* [[Eritrea]]: Border crossing is currently closed since the 1998 war<br />
* [[Djibouti]]: via [[Logiya]] and [[Galafi]] <br />
'''or''' via [[Dire Dawa]] and [[Gelille]]<br />
* [[Somalia]]/[[Somaliland]]: via [[Jijiga]] ''(to [[Somaliland]])''<br />
* [[Kenya]]: via [[Moyale]]<br />
* [[Sudan]]: via [[Metemat]], note that visa is required in advance which takes up to one month to obtain.<br />
* [[South Sudan]]<br />
<br />
== Cities ==<br />
* [[Addis Ababa]]<br />
* [[Bahir Dar]]<br />
* [[Dire Dawa]]<br />
* [[Awassa]]<br />
* [[Jijiga]]<br />
<br />
== Caution ==<br />
<br />
* Beware of Landmines at the border regions to Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea and Kenya! <br />
* Some Regions are simply closed for Foreigner, either due to the risk of attack, local tension or banditry. These usually includes the Ethiopian Somali Region ''(Werder)'' and the border with [[Eritrea]]. Other region such as the southwestern border with Sudan and Kenya as well as the Afar region can be volatile, so inquire before you go.<br />
* Refrain from giving to beggars or children, be it small changes, pencils or any goods whatsoever as these raises their dependency and expectation on tourist.<br />
<br />
== Links ==<br />
* [[:digi:article763.html|My time in Ethiopia]], August 19, 2005 by Hologram<br />
* [http://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Ethiopia''Ethiopia'' at Wikivoyage]<br />
* [http://www.digihitch.com/world/Africa/Ethiopia|''Ethiopia'' on digihitch]<br />
* [http://abgefahren.hitchbase.com/DE/categorie/bloginhalt/aethiopien Articles on abgefahren-ev.de/blogs about Ethiopia (de)]<br />
<br />
{{IsIn|Eastern Africa}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Africa]]<br />
[[Category:Eastern Africa]]<br />
[[Category:Ethiopia]]<br />
[[Category:East Route from North Cape to Cape of Good Hope]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Äthiopien]]</div>Crassinacarhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Ethiopia&diff=82353Ethiopia2016-03-04T12:54:37Z<p>Crassinacar: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Ethiopia<br />
|map= <map lat='9.622414142924805' lng='38.60595703125' zoom='5' view='0' float='right' /><br />
|language = Amharic<br />
|capital = [[Addis Ababa]]<br />
|pop = 78,254,090<br />
|currency = Birr (ETB)<br />
|hitch = <rating country='et' /><br />
| avp = Ethiopia<br />
}}<br />
<br />
[[File:Ethopia alex.jpg|thumb|240px|right|Waiting for the right lift, South of [[Addis Ababa]], Ethiopia.]] <br />
'''Ethiopia''' is listed as one of the world poorest countries, and very few people have cars there. Hitchhiking is really easy in Ethiopia. Any type of arm motion are use of the thumb will get you a ride. Make sure you know that the ride is free. In Amharic, the most widespread language used by most people to some degree "Birr nuhtzuh" means free, in Afan Oromo the word is something like "Gahtee-malee". English use is pretty uncommon outside of the cities, and the truckers who provide so many of the rides or not often English speakers. The roads are pretty good in Ethiopia and combined with the ease of hitching almost everywhere in the country is accessible. Hitching within the city of Addis Ababa is very easy and a great way to meet people. The train around Addis is also very cheap.<br />
<br />
Ethiopia is a fairly safe country, however the ''faranji'' frenzy will definitely quickly become an annoyance as you travel throughout the country. Theft is pretty unheard of even in the cities. The children in much of Ethiopia are totally insane and will just start screaming upon seeing a foreigner. Children in the rural areas on West Amhara being the worst and will often just start throwing rocks at people and/or following in a large crowd.<br />
<br />
One of the hardest parts about traveling Ethiopia is finding a place to sleep. Much of the country is densely populated. In Amhara and Tigray people are extremely suspicious of people walking on to their land of forests toward night time and may call the village to intervene. Hotels are about 50-60 birr (2.50$-3.00) for a single person and 70-80 for two people. The prices are higher in Addis Ababa and the eastern cities. Maybe fifty percent of the hotel rooms have bedbugs so I'd learn the signs and check before buying a room. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church traditionally keeps forested space near their churches and these can sometimes be slept in.<br />
<br />
The police don't have much of a corruption problem and only seem to intrude heavily on the traveler's life in much of Benishangul-Gumuz.<br />
<br />
Ethiopian culture in many of the regions can be quite abrasive. People yell often and catcall at women. In the Amhara region litigation is the "national sport" and people love to argue. Make sure you know a price firmly before handing someone money. House-ups are relatively uncommon but it is less uncommon for a rich person to buy you a hotel. Food is cheap and most people who like it really like it. Eating vegan is really easy. Water quality is low.<br />
<br />
[[File:Ethopia2 alex.jpg|thumb|240px|right|Having a free lift (in this case with people from an NGO).]] <br />
<br />
The country's car license plate system is very specific: the colour states the status of the ownership (''Blue'' for Private Ownership/ ''Black'' for Government / ''Orange'' for Businesses or NGOs / ''Red'' for Taxis). The NGOs plate always starts with a number ''(generally 35, other numbers simply specify the origins of the local organisation)'' while ''' ''CD ''' (in White/Yellow/Black)'' represents embassies and diplomatic cars with the first number specifying the country of origin. The 2 letters of the region of registration also appears on the license plate, both in Latin alphabet and local Amharic; As example, ''AA'' stands for Addis Ababa.<br />
<br />
== Experiences ==<br />
<br />
In the summer of 2010, [[User:gerbennap|Gerben]] hitchhiked through [[Ethiopia]], from the [[Sudan|Sudanese]] border crossing near [[Gonder]] to the [[Kenya|Kenyan]] border at [[Moyale]]. His experience was very positive, and even though little children and also adults were very curious whenever he passed through a village, he experienced none of the rock throwing mentioned in other reports. Waiting time was generally short.<br />
<br />
In February 2012, KiwiAoraki hitchhiked in some areas of Ethiopia. Locals, especially away from tourist areas can either be very curious or a real annoyance. It can be difficult to get a lift if you have a mob of 8 children following you. When he hitched from Harar to Addis Ababa he was picked up by an NGO vehicle and given a lift for 70 km without charge. A ute then picked him up going all the way to Addis, but the driver got angry upon dropping him off due to not having any birr. Drivers usually expect payment from hitchhikers, especially foreigners.<br />
<br />
== Borders ==<br />
<br />
According to the Lonely Planet, the border with [[Djibouti]] through [[Galafi]] is accessible only by hitching for its last length with the load of truckers doing the road between [[Djibouti City|Djibouti]] Harbour and [[Awash]] where a payment of about 150-200Birr (from [[Logiya]]) can be expected.<br />
<br />
Note that hitching along that road could reveal extremely harsh and dangerous due to local banditry and more especially due to the harshness of this desertic environment (along the Awash-Djibouti Road).<br />
<br />
There are borders with:<br />
* [[Eritrea]]: Border crossing is currently closed since the 1998 war<br />
* [[Djibouti]]: via [[Logiya]] and [[Galafi]] <br />
'''or''' via [[Dire Dawa]] and [[Gelille]]<br />
* [[Somalia]]/[[Somaliland]]: via [[Jijiga]] ''(to [[Somaliland]])''<br />
* [[Kenya]]: via [[Moyale]]<br />
* [[Sudan]]: via [[Metemat]], note that visa is required in advance which takes up to one month to obtain.<br />
* [[South Sudan]]<br />
<br />
== Cities ==<br />
* [[Addis Ababa]]<br />
* [[Bahir Dar]]<br />
* [[Dire Dawa]]<br />
* [[Awassa]]<br />
* [[Jijiga]]<br />
<br />
== Caution ==<br />
<br />
* Beware of Landmines at the border regions to Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea and Kenya! <br />
* Some Regions are simply closed for Foreigner, either due to the risk of attack, local tension or banditry. These usually includes the Ethiopian Somali Region ''(Werder)'' and the border with [[Eritrea]]. Other region such as the southwestern border with Sudan and Kenya as well as the Afar region can be volatile, so inquire before you go.<br />
* Refrain from giving to beggars or children, be it small changes, pencils or any goods whatsoever as these raises their dependency and expectation on tourist.<br />
<br />
== Links ==<br />
* [[:digi:article763.html|My time in Ethiopia]], August 19, 2005 by Hologram<br />
* [http://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Ethiopia''Ethiopia'' at Wikivoyage]<br />
* [http://www.digihitch.com/world/Africa/Ethiopia|''Ethiopia'' on digihitch]<br />
* [http://abgefahren.hitchbase.com/DE/categorie/bloginhalt/aethiopien Articles on abgefahren-ev.de/blogs about Ethiopia (de)]<br />
<br />
{{IsIn|Eastern Africa}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Africa]]<br />
[[Category:Eastern Africa]]<br />
[[Category:Ethiopia]]<br />
[[Category:East Route from North Cape to Cape of Good Hope]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Äthiopien]]</div>Crassinacarhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Madagascar&diff=82037Madagascar2016-01-28T07:40:34Z<p>Crassinacar: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{stub}}<br />
{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Madagascar<br />
|map= <map height='350' lat='-18.9' lng='47.3' zoom='5' view='0' float='right' /><br />
|language = Malagasy, French, English<br />
|capital = [[Antananarivo]]<br />
|pop = 20,700,000<br />
|currency = Ariary<br />
|paved = 5,781 km (12%)<br />
|hitch = <rating country='mg' /><br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Madagascar''' is a big island nation that is part of [[Eastern Africa]].<br />
Hitching in Madagascar is extremely easy in those parts of the country that cars are. The road system is terrible, even the main north-south highway through the country is largely potholed or dirt. Many roads are impassable during wet season. Some roads, such as the RN-11 and RN-11A on the east coast appear on most maps as major throughways but are actually impassible by cars. Many roads go to points where there is a river or a lake in the way and you'll have to pay for a pirogue across, usually for less than a dollar unless it is a very far distance. When getting in a car you need to make sure that it's free, many drivers will expect money but take you anyway when you make it clear that you are hitchhiking. Most people who can afford cars can speak basic French. In Malagasy the way to say "no money" is "tsia vola" pronounced "tseesh voolah". People are very friendly but are also reserved and quiet. Spontaneous house-ups are quite uncommon as people normally help when asked for help but don't go out of their way of their own initiative. Hotels are about 2-3 US Dollars and tend to be much higher quality than hotels of that cost in other African countries. Prices can be told to you in either Ariary or a fictional unit called a "Franc" which is 1/5th of the value, so a dollar equalling roughly 3,000 ariary is 15,000 francs. In market places Francs are used almost exclusively and fancier places will more often use Ariary. If the price is told to you in French it is more often referring to the price in Francs, if it is told to you in Malagasy it is almost always in ariary.<br />
[[File:Mada03-0032.jpg|thumb|left|Rice fields on Madagascar]]<br />
<br />
{{IsIn|Eastern Africa}}<br />
[[Category:Eastern Africa]]<br />
[[de:Madagaskar]]</div>Crassinacarhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Chile&diff=61401Chile2012-05-22T00:45:22Z<p>Crassinacar: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = Chile<br />
|in = South America<br />
|map = <map lat='-39' lng='-71' zoom='4' view='0' country='Chile' height='600' width='200'/><br />
|language = Spanish<br />
|capital = [[Santiago de Chile|Santiago]]<br />
|pop = 16.7 mio<br />
|currency = Chilean Peso (CLP, $)<br />
|hitch = <rating country='cl' /><br />
|BW = CL<br />
}}<br />
<br />
[[File:intheback.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Hitchhiking the Ruta 5]]<br />
<br />
'''Chile''' is a great country to hitchhike. Especially compared to the South of [[Argentina]], it's really good. Chile borders in the north to [[Peru]], [[Bolivia]] to the north-east and [[Argentina]] in the east. The country is divided into 15 regions, which can be pooled in four main zones.<br />
<br />
If you tell people you're a foreigner when you ask for a ride, they might ask to see your passport. Just swallow your pride and take the ride. <br />
<br />
If you travel longer distances, you probably want to hitch the ''panamericana'', called ''Ruta 5'' here, which goes from north all the way to the south. Around larger cities, it's developed as a motorway. It's very common to walk or cycle on the emergency lane, so you can also stand there and put your thumb out. Cops won't bother either (I was standing right next to them holding my thumb out (to try out the hard way if it is legal) and they didn't care). Maximum Speed is 120 km/h, so if you are in a visible place, everyone can stop fast enough. Using a sign can prevent taxis, micros and buses to stop for you. They won't take you for free.<br />
<br />
The traffic is not very dense in general. In rural areas, there might be one car in 5 or 10 minutes, so prepare for longer waiting times if you can't stay on the main roads (e.g. check some [[games]] you can play). To get to towns and out of there take a Micro or a collectivo, it is not worth it hitchhiking within a city (although sometimes possible).<br />
<br />
If you are a tourist be sure to show it with your backpack, flags attached to your backpack, etc. The locals love chatting with foreign travellers. However, many people don't like U.S. Americans.<br />
<br />
The best places in Chile for hitchhiking are easily in the extreme south, in the Region of Magallanes. From [[Punta Arenas]], one can easily find a semi truck all the way to Santiago; while in Punta Arenas,[[User:Themodernnomad|themodernnomad]] was offered a ride all the way to Arica (on the border of Peru), but, sadly, had to turn it down due to the fact that he was trying to lose himself in Isla Riesco.<br />
<br />
== Sleeping ==<br />
<br />
Chile is a very safe and easy country to camp or squat. Hostals are rather expensive, so camping is a better method. The local gas stations (usually COPEC) are almost always hitchhiker friendly, and will be happy to let you crash behind the place for the night. The cities to exert special caution in when crashing out are Valparaíso (known for a somewhat dodgy center) and the capital Santiago -- those two make for the lion's share of crime in Chile.<br />
<br />
== Healthcare ==<br />
Posta rurales :<br />
"In Chile, the posta rurales operate on a no-pay basis, which is very different form the way proper hospitals do things in this country. In the postas, anyone, from anywhere, in entitled to free medical treatment and any medicines that are available, similar to the way they do things in Bolivia. The sacrifice is that the postas are not equipped with proper doctors (only paramedics), or operating facilities. " - from http://hitchtheworld.com<br />
<br />
== Toll Booths ==<br />
<br />
These are only on the Ruta 5 (or Panamericana Sur), but, as usual, are a very good place to hitch rides.<br />
<br />
== Rural Routes ==<br />
[[File:12326_10150150686580517_883880516_11613816_3268024_n.jpg|250px|thumb|right|[[User:Themodernnomad|themodernnomad]] on Reten Y-368, northern Chile, after being rescued by a rogue Dutch cyclist with water. ]]<br />
<br />
Be aware that many roads in Chile are very remote and made of dirt; any road that starts with a 'Y' classifies as a rural route, (known locally as a ''reten''). Some of these roads do not recieve ''any'' traffic for days, sometimes weeks at a time. Use caution when hitchhiking on one of these. You may think you can hike it for fifteen or twenty kilometres and then hitch a ride, but sometimes the cars won't pass until it's too late. [[User:Themodernnomad|themodernnomad]] once nearly died of thirst in the Altiplano near the northern border of Argentina and Bolivia because he started walking towards [[Salta]] from a Chilean iron mine and went almost three days without seeing a car.<br />
<br />
== Cities ==<br />
* [[Concepción|Concepcion]]<br />
* [[Castro]]<br />
* [[Chillan]]<br />
* [[Iquique]]<br />
* [[La Serena]]<br />
* [[Puerto Montt]]<br />
* [[Puerto Varas]]<br />
* [[Punta Arenas]]<br />
* [[Santiago de Chile|Santiago]]<br />
* [[Temuco]]<br />
* [[Valdivia]]<br />
* [[Valparaíso]]<br />
* [[Viña del Mar]]<br />
<br />
== Towns ==<br />
* [[Los Andes]]<br />
* [[Victoria (Chile)|Victoria]]<br />
* [[Puerto Saavedra]]<br />
<br />
== Zones ==<br />
* [[:Category:North (Chile)|North]]<br />
* [[:Category:Central (Chile)|Central]]<br />
* [[:Category:South (Chile)|South]]<br />
* [[:Category:Extreme South (Chile)|Extreme South]]<br />
<br />
== Personal Experiences ==<br />
<br />
''Chile is a wonderful hitch. I made my way for three months from Arica to Puerto Montt and onward down the Carretera Austral all the way to Cochrane (in summer months). After the jaunt in Argentina, I reentered Chile near Puerto Natales and the hitching was superb there as well.'' - [[User:Chael777|Chael]]<br />
<br />
''"I hitched around Chile for about two and a half months and found it to be very easy. The only problems you might run into is in the summer it seems like everyone is hitching and you might have competition with thirty other people in some obscure desert stop off. I've found the farther you are from Santiago the easier it is, the northern and southern third being great." - Jason G''<br />
[[Category:Chile| ]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Chile]]<br />
[[es:Chile]]<br />
[[fr:Chili]]<br />
[[pt:Chile]]</div>Crassinacarhttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Chile&diff=61400Chile2012-05-22T00:43:05Z<p>Crassinacar: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = Chile<br />
|in = South America<br />
|map = <map lat='-39' lng='-71' zoom='4' view='0' country='Chile' height='600' width='200'/><br />
|language = Spanish<br />
|capital = [[Santiago de Chile|Santiago]]<br />
|pop = 16.7 mio<br />
|currency = Chilean Peso (CLP, $)<br />
|hitch = <rating country='cl' /><br />
|BW = CL<br />
}}<br />
<br />
[[File:intheback.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Hitchhiking the Ruta 5]]<br />
<br />
'''Chile''' is a great country to hitchhike. Especially compared to the South of [[Argentina]], it's really good. Chile borders in the north to [[Peru]], [[Bolivia]] to the north-east and [[Argentina]] in the east. The country is divided into 15 regions, which can be pooled in four main zones.<br />
<br />
If you tell people you're a foreigner when you ask for a ride, they might ask to see your passport. Just swallow your pride and take the ride. <br />
<br />
If you travel longer distances, you probably want to hitch the ''panamericana'', called ''Ruta 5'' here, which goes from north all the way to the south. Around larger cities, it's developed as a motorway. It's very common to walk or cycle on the emergency lane, so you can also stand there and put your thumb out. Cops won't bother either (I was standing right next to them holding my thumb out (to try out the hard way if it is legal) and they didn't care). Maximum Speed is 120 km/h, so if you are in a visible place, everyone can stop fast enough. Using a sign can prevent taxis, micros and buses to stop for you. They won't take you for free.<br />
<br />
The traffic is not very dense in general. In rural areas, there might be one car in 5 or 10 minutes, so prepare for longer waiting times if you can't stay on the main roads (e.g. check some [[games]] you can play). To get to towns and out of there take a Micro or a collectivo, it is not worth it hitchhiking within a city (although sometimes possible).<br />
<br />
If you are a tourist be sure to show it with your backpack, flags attached to your backpack, etc. The locals love chatting with foreign travellers. However, many people don't like U.S. Americans.<br />
<br />
The best places in Chile for hitchhiking are easily in the extreme south, in the Region of Magallanes. From [[Punta Arenas]], one can easily find a semi truck all the way to Santiago; while in Punta Arenas,[[User:Themodernnomad|themodernnomad]] was offered a ride all the way to Arica (on the border of Peru), but, sadly, had to turn it down due to the fact that he was trying to lose himself in Isla Riesco.<br />
<br />
== Sleeping ==<br />
<br />
Chile is a very safe and easy country to camp or squat. Hostals are rather expensive, so camping is a better method. The local gas stations (usually COPEC) are almost always hitchhiker friendly, and will be happy to let you crash behind the place for the night. The cities to exert special caution in when crashing out are Valparaíso (known for a somewhat dodgy center) and the capital Santiago -- those two make for the lion's share of crime in Chile.<br />
<br />
== Healthcare ==<br />
Posta rurales :<br />
"In Chile, the posta rurales operate on a no-pay basis, which is very different form the way proper hospitals do things in this country. In the postas, anyone, from anywhere, in entitled to free medical treatment and any medicines that are available, similar to the way they do things in Bolivia. The sacrifice is that the postas are not equipped with proper doctors (only paramedics), or operating facilities. " - from http://hitchtheworld.com<br />
<br />
== Toll Booths ==<br />
<br />
These are only on the Ruta 5 (or Panamericana Sur), but, as usual, are a very good place to hitch rides.<br />
<br />
== Rural Routes ==<br />
[[File:12326_10150150686580517_883880516_11613816_3268024_n.jpg|250px|thumb|right|[[User:Themodernnomad|themodernnomad]] on Reten Y-368, northern Chile, after being rescued by a rogue Dutch cyclist with water. ]]<br />
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Be aware that many roads in Chile are very remote and made of dirt; any road that starts with a 'Y' classifies as a rural route, (known locally as a ''reten''). Some of these roads do not recieve ''any'' traffic for days, sometimes weeks at a time. Use caution when hitchhiking on one of these. You may think you can hike it for fifteen or twenty kilometres and then hitch a ride, but sometimes the cars won't pass until it's too late. [[User:Themodernnomad|themodernnomad]] once nearly died of thirst in the Altiplano near the northern border of Argentina and Bolivia because he started walking towards [[Salta]] from a Chilean iron mine and went almost three days without seeing a car.<br />
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== Cities ==<br />
* [[Concepción|Concepcion]]<br />
* [[Castro]]<br />
* [[Chillan]]<br />
* [[Iquique]]<br />
* [[La Serena]]<br />
* [[Puerto Montt]]<br />
* [[Puerto Varas]]<br />
* [[Punta Arenas]]<br />
* [[Santiago de Chile|Santiago]]<br />
* [[Temuco]]<br />
* [[Valdivia]]<br />
* [[Valparaíso]]<br />
* [[Viña del Mar]]<br />
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== Towns ==<br />
* [[Los Andes]]<br />
* [[Victoria (Chile)|Victoria]]<br />
* [[Puerto Saavedra]]<br />
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== Zones ==<br />
* [[:Category:North (Chile)|North]]<br />
* [[:Category:Central (Chile)|Central]]<br />
* [[:Category:South (Chile)|South]]<br />
* [[:Category:Extreme South (Chile)|Extreme South]]<br />
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== Personal Experiences ==<br />
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''Chile is a wonderful hitch. I made my way for three months from Arica to Puerto Montt and onward down the Carretera Austral all the way to Cochrane (in summer months). After the jaunt in Argentina, I reentered Chile near Puerto Natales and the hitching was superb there as well.'' - [[User:Chael777|Chael]]<br />
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"I hitched around Chile for about two and a half months and found it to be very easy. The only problems you might run into is in the summer it seems like everyone is hitching and you might have competition with thirty other people in some obscure desert stop off. I've found the farther you are from Santiago the easier it is, the northern and southern third being great." - Jason G<br />
[[Category:Chile| ]]<br />
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