{"id":3706,"date":"2025-06-29T07:18:43","date_gmt":"2025-06-29T10:18:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/invernaliarentacar.com\/traveling-to-chapelco-in-winter-is-it-worth-renting-a-car\/"},"modified":"2025-10-14T07:54:27","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T10:54:27","slug":"traveling-to-chapelco-in-winter-is-it-worth-renting-a-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/invernaliarentacar.com\/en\/traveling-to-chapelco-in-winter-is-it-worth-renting-a-car\/","title":{"rendered":"Traveling to Chapelco in winter: is it worth renting a car?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Traveling to Chapelco in Winter: Is It Worth Renting a Car?<\/h2>\n<p>Picture this: you land at <strong>Aviador Carlos Campos Airport<\/strong>, you get off the plane excited for your first snow trip, and instead of waiting for a crowded shuttle, your car is waiting for you. What if I told you that renting a car in Chapelco can completely change your experience?<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m telling you because it happened to me. On the first trip I took with my family to San Mart\u00edn de los Andes, we went with a pre-arranged package\u2026 and we missed out on amazing places. The second time, we rented a car from <strong>Invernalia Rent a Car<\/strong> and everything was different. Much freer, much more authentic.<\/p>\n<h2>Why rent a car in Chapelco in winter?<\/h2>\n<p>Most people come to Chapelco for the snow, that\u2019s clear. But what many don\u2019t know is that the best experiences aren\u2019t only on the mountain. If you rent a car, you can explore magical places at your own pace like <strong>Lolog Lake<\/strong>, <strong>Villa Quila Quina<\/strong>, or wander along the <strong>Route of the Seven Lakes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>And listen, this isn\u2019t just for adventurers. Even if you\u2019re coming with kids or you don\u2019t have much experience in the snow, having your own vehicle gives you peace of mind. You leave when you want, stop wherever you like, and if the weather changes\u2026 you change plans without stress.<\/p>\n<h2>Where to rent a car in Chapelco near the airport?<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re arriving by plane, you\u2019ll most likely land at Chapelco Airport (SMA), which is about 22 km from San Mart\u00edn de los Andes and 24 km from the mountain. The best option, hands down, is <strong>Invernalia Rent a Car<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>They deliver directly at the airport with no delays. Plus, they know the area better than anyone. When we went, they recommended a place to eat grilled trout in Jun\u00edn de los Andes\u2026 and it was one of the best moments of the trip.<\/p>\n<h3>Advantages of picking up your car at the airport:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>You avoid expensive transfers.<\/li>\n<li>You\u2019re not dependent on shuttle schedules.<\/li>\n<li>You start exploring from minute one.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What do I need to rent a car in San Mart\u00edn de los Andes?<\/h2>\n<p>The requirements are simple, but it\u2019s best to be clear on them before you travel. At <strong>Invernalia Rent a Car<\/strong> they explain everything easily, but here they are anyway:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Valid driver\u2019s license<\/strong> (national or international, with at least 1 year of validity).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Identity document<\/strong> or passport.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Credit card<\/strong> in the driver\u2019s name for the deposit.<\/li>\n<li>Be at least <strong>21 years old<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Anything else? Yes: good vibes. Seriously. When we went, they helped us with snow chains, explained how to use them, and even recommended a quiet place to stay away from the noise.<\/p>\n<h2>Best time to rent a car in Chapelco<\/h2>\n<p>This depends on the kind of trip you want. If your plan is to ski, the best time is from <strong>June to September<\/strong>. But keep in mind it\u2019s high season: if you don\u2019t book in advance, it gets complicated. Especially if you want a 4&#215;4 or all-wheel drive vehicle.<\/p>\n<p>Now, if you want to enjoy nature without the intense cold, <strong>October to April<\/strong> is amazing. The lakes, the trails, the colors\u2026 everything is calmer and you can find better rates.<\/p>\n<h2>What is it like to drive in Chapelco in winter?<\/h2>\n<p>I won\u2019t lie: there are days when it snows heavily and the roads get tricky. But if you rent from a serious company like <strong>Invernalia Rent a Car<\/strong>, they give you everything you need: <strong>winter tires<\/strong>, <strong>chains<\/strong>, roadside assistance, and instructions on how to drive safely.<\/p>\n<p>Also, the main roads (like Route 40 and RP 62) are usually well maintained. If you drive carefully, you won\u2019t have issues. Still, it\u2019s always a good idea to check the weather forecast and avoid driving at night during a storm.<\/p>\n<h2>Local tips no one tells you<\/h2>\n<p>Here are some tips that saved us more than once:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Fill up your tank in San Mart\u00edn before heading up the mountain<\/strong>. There are no gas stations at the top.<\/li>\n<li>If you offer a ride to other skiers in your car, you\u2019ll make friends right away. And who knows, maybe they&#8217;ll treat you to hot chocolate!<\/li>\n<li><strong>Have dinner at La Tasca del Monta\u00f1\u00e9s<\/strong> one night. It\u2019s not in the guides, but it\u2019s a local favorite.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Is it worth renting a car in Chapelco?<\/h2>\n<p>From my experience, absolutely. Even more so if you\u2019re traveling with family or a group. The freedom it gives you is unbeatable. You make the most of every day, avoid waiting around, and reach those hidden spots that only people with a rental car can enjoy.<\/p>\n<p>And if you do it with <strong>Invernalia Rent a Car<\/strong>, the difference shows. They\u2019re with you before, during, and after the trip. They recommend routes, let you know about closures or icy roads, and even tell you where to buy the best homemade alfajor (yes, it\u2019s real\u2014and it\u2019s downtown San Mart\u00edn).<\/p>\n<h2>Need help planning your trip?<\/h2>\n<p>At <strong>Invernalia Rent a Car<\/strong> we don\u2019t just rent you the car. We can help you with <strong>where to stay, what areas to visit<\/strong>, and even where to have dinner if you want to surprise someone special. Our mission is to help you experience Chapelco as if you were a local.<\/p>\n<p>Book in advance, travel with peace of mind, and discover Chapelco like never before.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Renting a car in Chapelco during winter gives you the freedom to explore the area at your own pace. Invernalia Rent a Car offers airport service, personalised assistance, and local tips to help you make the most of your trip to San Mart\u00edn de los Andes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3761,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3706","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/invernaliarentacar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3706","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/invernaliarentacar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/invernaliarentacar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/invernaliarentacar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/invernaliarentacar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3706"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/invernaliarentacar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3706\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4268,"href":"https:\/\/invernaliarentacar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3706\/revisions\/4268"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/invernaliarentacar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3761"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/invernaliarentacar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3706"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/invernaliarentacar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3706"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/invernaliarentacar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3706"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}