Bug spray for Cape Horn (Santiago to Buenos Aires) cruise?

[cbny]

We will be heading down to Chile for a cruise around Cape Horn very soon, and I am wondering if we need to pack bug spray. If you happen to know, please post a quick reply. Thanks in advance for your help.

[maryann ns]

I was in Buenos Aires last Feb. It was hot but I noticed no mosquitoes. We walked in the parks so they had their chance. Ushuaia and Punta Arenas were cool and there were no mosquitoes. In Patagonia there were none. We were in Santiago and Valparaiso in mid March and there were none there either.

 

It may be a bit warmer when you go so I would ask on the Trip Advisor boards to be sure.

[scvgirl]

We are doing the same cruise in January. We ARE bringing bug spray with us just in case. Afterall, there is a Zika Warning from the CDC in effect. In my opinion you might as well bring it.

[tammyjw305]

We are bring some too; mosquitoes love me. We want it for sure for Valparaiso and BA where it is warmer with the zika virus threat.

 

Tammy

[cbny]

It sounds like it makes sense to bring repellent. Thanks for your help, everyone.

 

Carrie

[J-D]

Our experience in B.A. was in February 2010 and 2013, so the situation may differ now, with the recent addition of Zika (and perhaps Chikungunya?) to the list of concerns. In 2010, we noticed signs warning about mosquito-borne dengue fever posted in the downtown area. I do not remember encountering biting insects in the city. However, one afternoon we walked a few hundred metres east from downtown into the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve (marshland) and found that mosquitoes were abundant and voracious there. We had repellent with DEET, but as I recall, it was only partly effective in the marsh.

 

John

[Keith1010]

Bugs love me. If one person gets stung it is me.

 

Normally I would say not to take repellent with you.

 

However, I would take it because of Zika. If you don't need it then that's great but I would take it just in case.

 

Keith

[floridatravelersforlife]

As part of our travel kit we carry a 1 oz liquid DEET (100%) spray. It's tiny and we dilute it with water or sun screen when we apply. I goes a long way - we had the same bottle for 5 years while cruising. Amazon carries it as "Repel 100", but similar product can be found at Big Box sports store like Dicks.