GETTING THERE-CHILE

There are daily overnight commercial flights from major U.S. international gateway airports (New York, Atlanta, Miami, Dallas and Los Angeles) to Santiago, Chile. Morning flight arrivals permit easy connections to Puerto Montt or Balmaceda for anglers and to most other cities and major towns for other travelers. As Chile lies east of most U.S. cities jet-lag from 1-3 hour time differences is seldom a problem. Airport assistance with an English-speaking guide can be arranged. Lodge representatives will meet you at your final destination airport for the overland transfer to your selected lodge.

Travel Tips

1. In travel planning allow 90 minutes for customs and immigrations clearance for connections with outbound domestic flights. The usual 2-3 hours for check-in should be allowed for departing international flights.
2. For U.S. citizens traveling with a U.S. passport there is a $100 reciprocal entry tax for passengers arriving by plane or ship. The tax payment is good for the duration of the validity of the passport for multiple entries into Chile.
3. Consider using Santiago as the gateway to destinations in Argentina (Cordoba, Mendoza, and Bariloche) to avoid the 3-hour transfer between Buenos Aires’ international and domestic airports.
4. ATMs are by far the best way to get local funds (all ATMs provide the option for English language transaction prompts). Be sure to check with your bank prior to departing what the daily limit is on your credit/debit card. We suggest at least $1,000, but you may want a higher limit. The daily maximum withdrawal amount is for your protection should the cards fall into the hands of others. Small regional or local banks in Argentina may limit your daily withdrawals to considerably less than what the large national banks or your own bank’s limit. As credit card user fees are high in Chile, shop owners, particularly, may offer discounts for paying in cash rather than using a credit card. While safe, travelers checks usually have an exchange rate penalty. U.S. dollars are eagerly accepted for most goods and services.
5. For the first-time traveler to Santiago this is a city with roots back to the mid-1500s. Colonial architecture is mixed with modern in an incredibly user-friendly city. The mixed commercial-residential neighborhood of Providencia has charm, good restaurants and fine hotels. A short drive from the city the wine producing regions of the Maipo and Colchagua valleys offer the opportunity to taste some of Chile most famous vintages. Similarly the coastal resorts of Vina del Mar or Zapallar provide the chance to enjoy tasty seafood and sensational Pacific sunsets. Patagonia Sporting Resources in conjunction with Valles del Sur has uses the best guides available for all of its tours. Consider 2-3 nights in this upbeat, tourist-friendly city.
6. Travel protection insurance is strongly recommended to protect your significant investment in land arrangements, including lodge stays and tours, and the cost of non-refundable airline tickets. As we get older and many of us have aging parents, health issues play a larger role in our decisions to travel far from home. For anyone with a pre-existing medical condition or direct family member with a medical condition waivers usually apply if the travel protection is purchased within a 15-day grace period of the first payment on the trip. The first payment maybe the purchase airline tickets or lodge deposits. Trip protection can be purchased after the 15-day grace period, but you will not be able to cover pre-existing medical conditions as a reason for having to cancel a trip to receive insurance re-imbursement. Medical evacuation coverage should be considered if you do not wish to insure the cost of your trip. Like the American Express card, we never leave home without travel protection coverage.

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