We're planning a family trip to Peru, Chile, Bolivia and Argentina this summer. At some point my wife will stay in Peru, and I will travel with the kids (14 and 15) to Chile (Easter Island). My daughter will then fly back to Peru, while me and my son will make our way to San Pedro de Atacama, and then overland to Uyuni Bolivia, and on to Salta, Argetina and eventually Buenos Aires.

My wife will fly with our daughter direct from Lima to Buenos Aires (the girls can't be bothered with all this hard overland travelling )

However, I think many south american countries have restrictions on minors travelling on their own, or with just one parent. Trying to decipher the Chilean consulate website it seems you need to get passports stamped at two ministeries in Santiago, that only open a couple of hours a day, presenting translated and authorized originals of all manner of documents.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Do you really need to jump through all these hoops? And what about if both parents are present? I would appreciate any advice.

Thanks
BBA