Last update: 08/11/2019

Travel & Tourism

Travel & Tourism

 

Introduction

There are three ways to get to Valdivia, by air, bus, or self-drive. The city is the also the perfect starting point for adventures to nearby highlights such as national parks, pristine lakes, and charming towns. The following guide is designed to help you from your arrival to Santiago right through to your post-Workshop travel plans.

 

 

Arrival to santiago

With Santiago’s brand new international terminal set to open in June 2020, the airport is in a period of transition. The arrival process at Santiago’s international airport is as follows:

  • Incoming passengers who hold an Australian, Mexican, or Albanian passport must pay a Reciprocity Tax (the same amount those nations charge Chilens to enter their country) before going through the International Police security checkpoint, and then continue to Immigration Control.
  • People of all other nationalities will head directly to Immigration. Travelers will hand over their passport, which will be duly stamped and the Tourist Card (normally provided during the flight). Please be sure to keep hold of your copy of this document as it will be requested when you leave the country.
  • From Immigration you will then pass through a small Duty Free area to the luggage carousels.
  • Once you have picked up your luggage you must then pass through Agricultural Control, where your bags will be scanned and you will hand over the S.A.G. document, declaring any items in your luggage.
  • From here you will then exit out into the terminal. The arrival to Santiago airport can be quite overwhelming, as there is often a large crowd waiting for arriving travelers.
  • If you choose to have a stopover in Santiago, there are two ways to get into the city. As you pass through the S.A.G. (Agricultural Department) area, you will find two companies who offer a transfer service from the airport to the hotel of your choice; TransVip and Delfos.  These transfers can be private or shared. The tickets are purchased at the booth, and instructions will be given regarding where to find your vehicle upon leaving the terminal building. A private transfer will cost around $20.000 (US$ 30) per vehicle, while a shared will cost $7.000 (US$ 10) per person.
  • The cheapest way to get to downtown is by taking a Centropuerto bus that leaves every 10 minutes between 6.00am and 11.30pm. This service, which takes about 30-40 minutes and costs 1,800 pesos one-way (3,200 return) drops you off at Los Heroes metro station in the heart of Santiago. You will need cash in Chilean pesos to pay for this service. For further info, please visit their website at: https://www.centropuerto.cl/
  • Do not under any circumstances arrange a transfer with the unofficial taxi companies, many of whom will be waiting outside the Arrivals Hall, holding signs. These drivers charge way over the official prices. If you do find yourself without a transfer after exiting the Arrivals Hall, please bear in mind that no transfer from the airport into town should cost more than $20.000 (US$ 30) per vehicle.

 

 

Air links to Valdivia

The nearest airport is Valdivia’s ‘Pichoy’ (ZAL), some 19 miles (32 km.) from the city center. At present, three airlines offer daily services from Santiago to Puerto Montt: LATAM Airlines (www.latam.com), SKY Airline (www.skyairline.com), and the low-cost airline JetSMART (www.jetsmart.com). Flights are daily, but with a far more limited frequency than other regional airports in Chile. These airlines also have daily flights to the far south of the country, which would open up post-Workshop options to Patagonia. Other alternatives include Osorno (OSO) and Temuco (ZCO), which both have a far greater frequency of flights, being major commercial destinations. These airports are quite some distance from Valdivia and involve a 90-minute and 2-hour drive respectively. In order to avoid these long transfers, book your flights to Valdivia as early as possible.

 

 

Getting from the airport to the venue

Transfers between Valdivia airport and the Workshop venue will be available for anyone requiring this service, both for your arrival and departure. In order to make these arrangements, we would require the following details.

 

  • Full name and number of passengers
  • Arrival flight details to Valdivia (Airline and flight number and arrival time)
  • Departure flight details from Valdivia (Airline and flight number and arrival time)

 

Observations:

  • Transfers are provided on a shared basis in order to keep the costs down for you, and prices will depend on the number of passengers sharing the transfer.
  • Upon arrival, a member of staff will be waiting and holding a ‘Land Translog IV’ sign as you depart the arrivals hall.
  • Transfers will be dispatched according to flight arrival times.
  • Private transfers are also available for 1-2 passengers.
  • It is important to point out that all shared transfers will end at the Workshop venue (Dreams Valdivia Hotel), from where you will receive assistance to get you to your final destination.
  • Payment for the transfers will be made at the Hospitality Desk, located near the conference rooms at the Workshop venue.

 

In order to request your transfers, please contact Gary James at contact@sensechile.com.

 

 

Travelling by bus

Valdivia is well-served by daily bus services from Santiago, operated by companies such as TurBus, Pullman, and Cruz del Sur. You can take an overnight bus to Valdivia from Terminal Sur in the capital. This is a 12-hour journey, so we would certainly recommend booking the “Salon Cama” or “Premium 180” options. To make reservations, visit https://www.recorrido.cl/en. One-way tickets cost around 15,000 Chilean Pesos (22 USD) for Salon Cama and 20,000 (28 USD) for the Premium 180 option. The bus station in Valdivia is just a few blocks from the Workshop venue.

 

 

Self-drive

This area of Chile is very easy to navigate if you choose to hire a car for the duration of their stay. There are several rent-a-car companies located at Valdivia airport. Reservations can be made in advance with companies such as Avis, Budget, SixT, and Europcar.

 

 

Official excursion

An excursion will be arranged during the Workshop for all delegates who have signed up for this service. The tour will focus on the key highlights of the area and will be exclusively for Land Translog IV attendees and their travel companions. Details of this tour will be revealed closer to the date.

 

 

Additional tours

Several tours will be arranged prior to the Workshop and afterwards, giving you a good excuse to arrive early and stay later. During the Workshop we will also arrange a private night visit to a local craft brewery, Valdivia is home to Chile’s best craft beers, so this tour will be a must for beer lovers. Precise details of these tours will be announced in the coming months.

 

 

Travelling further afield

For those wishing to explore further afield either prior to or after the Workshop, recommended journeys include Chile’s Lakes region, Chiloé Island, and the 600-mile Carretera Austral, which winds its way south into the heart of Patagonia. It is important to point out that here are many unpaved sections along the way, and several ferry crossings to negotiate. The journey, however, is simply sublime. Another option is to venture into Argentina to visit the beautiful towns of San Carlos de Bariloche and Villa La Angostura, among others, and there are three crossing points less than two hours from Puerto Varas. Important: Anyone wishing to selfdrive in Argentina must request an official document from the car hire company, giving them permission to cross the border. This document takes 72 hours to obtain, which means this service should be requested at the time of booking.  

 

 

Hospitality desk

A Hospitality Desk will operate throughout the Workshop. Staff will be on-hand to assist with your travel plans, arrange private tours, organize your departure transfers, and offer general assistance.

 

Enquiries

Assistance is available to all those attending Land Translog IV who wish to learn more about travel options before, during, or after the Workshop by using the contact details below.

 

FOR TRANSPORT & TRAVEL ENQUIRIES

Gary James

contact@sensechile.com

+569 63427089

 

Download here Travel & Tourism Guide Full-colour version

Download here Travel & Tourism Guide print-only version

 

Land Translog 2019