Travel to Chile:
General Information:
Most cruise participants will enter
Chile via Santiago and connect to Punta Arenas (PA) via
a domestic (LAN Chile) flight. The flight to PA will stop in Puerto Montt.
Visa:
U. S. and Canadian citizens do not need a visa to visit Chile for periods of up
to 90 days.
Taxes:
U.S. Citizens who are first-time visitors to Chile will be required to
pay an international arrival tax of US$100 upon arrival in Santiago. This must be paid in cash; U.S. dollars are accepted.
This arrival tax payment is
good for the life of your passport and should be secured in your
passport. Please bring a minimum of US$100 in cash with you for payment
of this tax. Candian citiizens are subject to a similar (so-called reciprocity) tax.
Santiago:
Santiago is a modern airport with all the usual conveniences
(currency exchange, ATM machines, restaurants and shops). In an
emergency, the ship's agent (AGUNSA) does have offices in Santiago, contact information below. The
U.S. Embassy in Santiago may be phoned at 330-3321 or 330-3700 (from
the U.S.: 562-330-3321 or 562-330-3700).
Punta Arenas:
The flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas takes approximately 3-1/2 hours. Cruise participants are allowed
to move onto the ship the night before we sail. Prior to that, you will stay in a hotel or hostel.
Raytheon Polar Services Company operates the U. S. Antarctic icebreakers out of Punta Arenas and
will arrange your accomodation, but the costs for hotel rooms, incidentals, and meals will be paid by you.
See their web link for a short list of possible accomodations and
contact information in PA.
Map of downtown Punta Arenas (including the port
area and the AGUNSA warehouses).
Ship's Agent
AGUNSA
Agencies Universales, S.A.
Santiago:
Agencies Universales, S.A.
Andres Bello 2687 Telephone: 56-62-203-9000
Piso 15 Fax: 56-62-203-9009
Las Condes E-mail: ebraniff@agunsa.cl
Santiago, Chile Contact: Sra. Emma Braniff
Departure Port: Punta Arenas
Agencies Universales, S.A.
Av. Independencia 772
P.O. Box 60-D
Punta Arenas
CHILE
Contact: Ricardo Doberti
tel. 56-61-242483
fax: 56-61-228239
cell: 56-9-8853891
email: rdoberti@agunsa.cl, agunsapta@agunsa.cl