Chirak
- About
- Popular Routes
- Stations
- Schedule and Timetable
About Chirak
The two principal things which make travelling by van so attractive are a wide choice of destinations and affordable prices. Not all vans offer top comfort, enough legroom, or luggage space, but these two points compensate. Besides, it is always vans that launch new routes to emerging destinations paving the road to big bus operators if necessary or remaining the only means of transport to bring you there. Very often, vans offer faster service than big buses, more flexible timetable, and more readily adapt to travellers’ needs in the sense of schedule – if there is a temporary growth in demand due to long weekends or national holidays, vans add more vehicles to their daily fleet easier than other operators. Note though that sometimes vans operate from their own van stations or terminals or have a dedicated section in bigger bus terminals. Always check your van's departure and arrival point as it is not necessarily located at the main bus station.
Chirak is one of the operators to check if you are going to travel by van. They provide reliable van service and offer tickets with easy and secure online booking.
Chirak Popular Stations
Here is the list of the main terminals from where Chirak’s vans operate:
- Renaca Beach Transfer
- Valparaiso Transfer
- Puerto Natales Transfer
- Puerto Montt Airport
- Vina del Mar Transfer
- Puerto Montt Transfer
- Punta Arenas Airport
- Valparaiso Port
- Santiago Transfer
- Puerto Montt Bus Station
- Calama Airport
- Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport
- San Pedro de Atacama Transfer
- Puerto Varas Transfer
Chirak Top Destinations
Some of the most popular routes on Chirak’s route map include but are not limited to:
Chirak Ticket Prices & Van Classes
Opposite to trains or bigger buses, vans rarely offer you a choice of ticket class. All the seats are the same – call it standard, VIP, or whatever. What can differ, though, is the type of the van itself. Some vans seat only 9-10 passengers. For travellers this means wider seats, more space, and a more comfortable trip. Vans which accommodate up to 15 passengers are also ok but be ready to sacrifice on space for your legs and elbows and very often – for your luggage, too. Sometimes it can be a good idea to buy two seats instead of one to ensure a more comfortable ride – yet it pays to check with the operator if they allow this on your route. Before you book your van ticket, read reviews on Chirak van service to see what to expect.
Travel by Van: Pros & Cons
Pros of VanTravel
- Vans can be the only way to reach some of the most remote destinations, smaller towns or villages which are connected neither by big buses nor trains.
- Vans can also take you to some islands connected with the mainland by large car ferries which do not take big buses but take vans on board, too.
- Due to a smaller size compared to big buses, vans are more maneuverable on the road. It sometimes results in shorter travel time, especially if your destination is not far away.
- While vans do have an official stop enroute, they can also get you off at a more convenient point – no need to go to the terminal, just ask your driver. Note that it is not always possible, but in many cases, they will cooperate. It can save you both time and money you would have otherwise spent getting off the terminal on foot or by taxi.
Cons of Van Travel
- Vans accommodating more passengers may feel quite cramped. Expect limited space for your legs and elbows. Some vans limit the luggage for one ticket to one piece. If you have more bags, suitcases, or backpacks, you may be asked to buy a separate ticket for your luggage, which makes the trip twice as expensive.
- Not all vans run on schedule. On certain routes, vans leave only when full. Do check it with your operator before buying your ticket, otherwise, you may end up waiting much longer than expected until the van fills up.
- If there are more reckless drivers on any other means of transport than on vans, we are unaware of it. Some companies install speed control units on their vehicles, but it is not a rare case to hear this unit beeping the whole trip through with the driver not paying attention to it. Always remember to buckle your seatbelt while travelling by van. Though sometimes you will need to make an investigation to find out where your seatbelt is.
- For those prone to motion sickness there is a good piece of advice: take your medicine half an hour before your van trip, especially if your route includes winding stretches. You are more likely to feel motion sick travelling by van than by bus.