The route to the reunion with family or friends, after more than two years Due to the restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, this Sunday was a constant in the reopening of the Cardenal Samoré Pass, which unites Argentina and Chile, as part of the day in which Links with that country by land for individuals and passenger transport were resumed.
A large number of vehicles transited Cardenal Samoré this Sunday, located in the province of Neuquén.
From an early hour, a large number of private vehicles waited on the route that leads to the border crossing, near the towns of Villa la Angostura and Bariloche, for the start of the activities, coordinated by the National Gendarmerie and carried out by the Immigration and Customs.
The Cardenal Samoré was reopened at 8 a.m. this Sunday for private citizens and passenger transport vehicless, while the flow of freight transport was not interrupted during the pandemic.
In the queue of vehicles, Alex, a resident of Bariloche, told Télam: “I come to look for my mothermy relatives will take her to the border on the Chilean side and I will take her back to Bariloche”.
Inés, Alex’s mother, had traveled to her native Osorno for a few days to carry out different procedureswhen they closed the border, and he remained in Chile without being able to return to Argentina, where he lives with his son.
Leo lives in Rancahue Machalin, Chile, where he returned this Sunday from a trip to different locations in Argentina “It is a great benefit that this border is open, I wish they would open it later“, Held.
The border crossing opens from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Argentina to Chile and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the opposite direction, due to the time difference with the trans-Andean country.
Juan Carlos, who he hasn’t seen his family for two years, brothers, uncles, cousins, is Chilean and lives in Villa la Angostura. He was moved to learn that in a few hours he would be with them, as well as Nancy, who went to visit her aunt in Puerto Saavedra, whom he has not seen for two years.
There were even neighbors who this Sunday approached the border from nearby towns by taxi, to pass on foot and then be picked up by relatives waiting for them on the Chilean side.
In the opposite direction, from Chile to Argentina, the transit was also fluid and the life stories revolve around the reunion.
Patricio and Elvira have their grandchildren in Bariloche: “We have two Argentine grandchildren, we haven’t been able to see them for two years, one of them we do not know because he was born during the pandemic” and showed Télam the box of his truck: “all these are the gifts that have been accumulating, birthdays, Christmas, three wise men; now we take all the gifts to the grandchildren together”.
Currently, in Chile there is no restriction for travelers entering or leaving the country and the homologation of vaccines before the Ministry of Health of that country is voluntary.
Testing prior to the trip is only recommended, that is, it is no longer required to have a negative PCR. However, the Chilean authorities announced that they will carry out random tests at border crossings.
All travelers must carry their Sanitary Passport or C19, documentation that is processed through the official website of the Chilean Ministry of Health and involves completing a sworn statement.
For their part, foreigners or Chileans not residing in the country must also have health insurance that covers Covid-19.
