Flights to Santiago, Chile are available from most major carriers in the U.S. and Europe. It is approximately a 10-hour flight from Dallas/Fort Worth. Most flights will arrive in Santiago early in the morning. From Santiago you will need a connecting flight to Puerto Montt, Chile. While there are a few airlines offering this flight, we highly recommend LAN Chile. They have excellent connections from Santiago and offer many flights per day. Most US carriers will issue tickets connecting to the Lan flights and you will arrive in Puerto Montt in the early afternoon. If arriving from overseas, we suggest spending a night at one of the many comfortable hotels in Puerto Montt.
From Puerto Montt, we will book and pay for your morning flight to Chaiten once we confirm your international travel schedule. This spectacular flight lasts under an hour and the planes take 8-10 passengers. We will meet you in Chaiten and from there drive 3 hours to our lodge. For larger groups or people wanting to get to Futaleufú the most directly,we can book a private airplane that will take you from Puerto Montt directly to Futaleufú.
The airlines that operate the connecting flight between Puerto Montt and Chaiten have a baggage allowance of 15 kilos(33 pounds) per person. While you can usually get away with more, there is no guarantee so it is best to pack carefully and travel lightly. We do not pay for any extra baggage charges that you may incur.
Another option if you have the time is to take the Trans Marchillay ferry from Puerto Montt to Chaiten. This 12 hour ferry ride through the fiords of Southern Chile is one of the most scenic that we know of. We'll meet you in Chaiten and take you to the lodge. If you arrive in Chaiten by ferry, we will deduct $200 from your trip cost.
It is also possible to reach the Valle Bonito through Argentina and if you can make the flights work this is the fastest way. From the U.S.you fly to Buenos Aires where you will need to get a cab to take you to the domestic airport. If you come this way, allow at least 3 hours between flights, as the cab ride is one hour if there are no major traffic delays. Once at the domestic airport, you will need to fly to Esquel. The airlines offering the most flights to Esquel and back is Aerolineas Argentinas. The trick is to find both the entry and return flights on the dates that you want because there are limited flights available per week. This 2-hour flight puts you within a 2-hour drive to the Valle Bonito. We will meet you in Esquel and drive you across the border to the Valle Bonito.
Regardless of how you decide to come to Chile it is very important to book your airfares as soon as possible as fare rates generally increase dramatically after September first. These flights also fill quickly, so it is to your benefit to book as early as possible.
You do not need a visa to visit Chile or Argentina. A ninety day tourist visa is issued when you enter the country with a current passport. It is very important to bring cash with you to Chile. ATM's can be hard to find especially ones compatible with your credit card. In Futaleufú, there is one ATM which will currently take master cards but not visa cards. You can also exchange Euros and Dollars at the local bank but only if your bills have no rips or tears. It can be difficult or impossible to exchange torn currency in Chile. There are more choices in Puerto Montt and Santiago where there are Banks and Casas de Cambia(money exchangers). Generally the rates are similar but the banks are often crowded and close early.
We highly recommend purchasing trip travel insurance through your local travel agent or insurance company.
