What models are rented in Argentina, how much it costs and travelers who tell their experiences

A trip in which the destination is the journey itself, the route, experiences on the side of the road. Watch the sunset on the shores of a lake between mountains next to a campfire, in complete silence; have breakfast while enjoying the sun rising over the sea on a secluded beach; spend the night in a town square, in a campsite with other travelers or in total solitude, in the Patagonian steppe or in the heights of the Puna.

Traveling in a motorhome is the closest thing to freedomat least for those who are encouraged to do so, and there are more and more: the pandemic marked a break in trend, a before and after for this type of trip that offers the freedom to travel without fixed schedules or prior reservations and that allows, as time like no other modality -let’s leave camping aside-, a very close relationship with nature.

The one with the motorhome is a travel style whose core values ​​have been strengthened in the world since the pandemic imposed social isolation: an ideal model for that situation, with the entire house plus mobility only for the traveling group – a couple, a family, friends -, without the need to share facilities. And, with the pandemic in the past, the trend of traveling by motorhome, or trying it once in a lifetime, continued to rise.

This style of travel is quite developed in some countries, especially in the United States, Spain or New Zealand, among others, but in Argentina it is a still incipient market, which has not yet grown enough to generate the infrastructure and services. specific services required, for example, in campsites or other places for these travelers to spend the night.

It is that in Europe or the United States have campsites and parking lots for large supermarkets already prepared to receive motorhomes or mobile homes, and provide drinking water and black and gray water drainage; In Argentina that is just beginning, and there are few places that allow it.

One case is, for example, the special beach built in El Chalten, Santa Cruzprepared for water discharge, in addition to offering electricity outlets and drinking water charging completely free.

But there are still very few examples like this, and in the country there are very few – almost no – regulations for this type of vehicle.

This point – that of the lack of infrastructure and regulationswhich could be considered a deficiency – is at the same time a great advantage, especially for foreigners. Like Ignacio Alvarez, who arrived from Barcelona with his partner, Patricia Ruiz, to tour a large part of the country in a rented motorhome.

“We had never traveled this way and it seemed idealbecause Argentina allows you to stop to sleep anywhere; You find a nice place, you say ‘I want to stop here’, and you stop. Unlike Europe, where it is much more restricted,” he says.

In 30 days, Nacho and Patricia They did more than 12,000 kmfrom Buenos Aires to Ushuaia along Route 3, from there north along Route 40 – including almost 800 km along the Chilean Carretera Austral -, passing through Cuyo and the NOA until reaching Humahuaca, with several of the detours that the road worthy – like to Salinas Grandes, in Jujuy -, and back to Buenos Aires.

As negative aspects, Spanish travelers find “very few”, beyond the lack of services to, for example, empty sewage, since there are no authorized places, people are forced to do it in places that are not appropriate.

“And maybe a little bit of the cold,” adds Patricia. I am very cold; Some nights I suffered from it and we turned on the heating from time to time. We had a gas stove but we didn’t want to leave it on all night, so we had to dress warmly.”

But they consider them “details” in a trip that they define as “absolutely recommended”.

“The places are spectacular; “those vast expanses of land where there is nothing, like in the Patagonian steppe, the Andes Mountains and the contrasts, vineyards next to cacti, or the possibility of going from a salt desert to a jungle national park in two hours.” , Ignacio says enthusiastically.

“And the wild animals, they are so easy to see“, adds Patricia, and lists the whales on El Doradillo beach in Puerto Madryn, the penguins in Punta Tombo, the guanacos on the roadsides. And the people, whom he defines as “fantastic, super friendly and close, especially in the towns.”

The Spanish couple chose a motorhome from Andean Roads: a Sprinter 515 which, as in all cases, comes fully equipped, with dishes, bedding and everything you need to travel comfortably.

It is one of the models that are rented in Argentina, which could be organized in five categories: compact, medium, large, campers and “luxury”.

The first ones have the main advantages of economy (in rent and fuel consumption) and versatility (like a car, they can travel on all roads). Are mounted on Renault Kangoo chassis or similarand they are for two people.

The rental of these vehicles starts at US$ 100 per day plus US$ 15 per day for insurance (US$ 115 in total) if rented for 22 days or more. If the rental is for between 15 and 21 days, the rate amounts to US$ 125 per day; and up to 15 days, US$ 135 per day.

These models have a basic deployable equipment which includes a stove, a conservator and, in some cases, a small sink and folding table. With everything stored, a double bed sits on top of that furniture. The downside is that they do not include a bathroom, although those who rent this model usually use camping services.

They are followed by medium vehiclesideal for up to two adults and two minors or three adults. Armed on Fiat Ducato, Citroen Jumper, Renault Master or Mercedes Benz Sprinter chassishave all the equipment, including bathroom with shower, sink, stove, refrigerator and air conditioning.

They are the specialty of Motorhome Mis Angelitos (@motorhomemisangelitos), a pioneer in the country, whose rate starts at US$ 205 per day, with 200 km free plus US$ 0.25 per extra km, details Juan Melo, founder of the company.

Growing in size and amenities, then come the large vehicles, with all the comforts for up to six peoplealthough ideal for four adults and two children or five adults.

Although not all of them have it, they are usually identified by the “crop” on the cabin, where the double bed goes. It is the most comfortable vehicle because it has more space and full equipment, such as a refrigerator with a freezer.

“Our large vehicles, 0 km or with few years of running, are the ones in greatest demand; In fact, at this point we already have little availability until April 2025,” says Cristian Torlasco, from Andean Roads (@andean_roads), where the rate starts at US$ 205 per day (insurance included) for a rental of 22 days or more. ; for between 15 and 21 days; US$ 225 per day, and US$ 235 per day if rented for up to 14 days.

Another model is that of campers or overlands.which are assembled structures about 4×4 trucks and whose main benefit is to travel on any road, so they provide more mobility and independence. Some are also removable: they are detached from the vehicle and stand on their own legs, leaving the truck free to travel.

Rental costs US$190 per day at Motorhome Time Club (@motorhometime), a company that, in addition to renting, allows you to purchase a unit to use it at no cost and, when it is not used, offer it for rent, in order to recover the costs maintenance and generate an income that allows you to renew the vehicle.

These campers are mounted on Toyota Hilux 4×4 and prepared for 4 people, with two double beds, kitchen, bathroom and dining room, explains Gabriel Mirón, from the company.

Finally, there are the large buses or truck trailers, converted into real houses on wheels for up to 6 adults, which are rented with a driver and are generally used for events, such as races, recitals, presentations or similar, although they can also be rented for trips. family without having to worry about driving, the driver takes care of that.

Oscar Cáceres, from Motorhome Uno (@MotorhomeUno), says that the rate is $1,500 per kilometer traveled plus $150,000 per day, which includes the driver and diesel, leaving from the northern area of ​​the GBA and returning to the same place.

Important: a motorhome trip is not a trip that is decided by cost, because it is not necessarily cheaper – nor more expensive – than a traditional trip, by car or plane plus hotel. The decision is made based on experience: “With children and preteens, it doesn’t fail,” defines Jorge Curcio, who toured Australia and then tried in Argentina with his children Lorenzo, Valentino and Belén: “An exceptional team.”

Jorge has six of these trips around the country to his credit; from San Martín de los Andes to Mendoza, El Calafate or El Chaltén. The last one was in February 2024: 20 days along Chile’s Carretera Austral.

Among the issues to take into account for first-timers, it stands out that “you have to like driving, cooking like at home” and also “take into account the extras”, in relation to the rates (for example, each extra km to those included in the rate, mechanical service, etc.).

Over time, memories emerge, like that night at Lake Verde, in Los Alerces National Park. “After eating we went down to the coast of the lake and saw an impressive sky, so starry that it shocked us.” On his next trip, he says, he would like to visit the North.

Marcos Perren, a 71-year-old publicist, says that he got into the world of motorhomes a little thanks to his mother, who wanted to visit Patagonia to see firsthand the landscapes that Marcos showed her in photos and videos.

“When I found out, I saw that it wasn’t as expensive as I thought,” he says, so he decided and left – 8 years ago – to the south with his mother, who was 92 years old at the time. How was the experience? Fantastic. So much so that with three days left to return, already in Tandil, his mother asked him to rent for another week. “I was fascinated, I wanted to continue traveling,” she says.

He warns that to make this type of trip it is important to “have a spirit of adventure and be very organized.” His recommendation for those who have never traveled like this is to go first to see the vehicle, sit down and think if they will be able to live several days in that space, because the experience is not for everyone.

A memory in particular? “An evening in Cholila with my mother, when we made a bonfire with a beer and a snack, watching the sun go down behind the mountain, on the shores of the lake and in the middle of a silence that forces you to speak in a low voice.” ”.

A complete synthesis of the spirit of the motorhome, which step by step is gaining ground among Argentine travelers.