Help!! Trying to transfer from Santiago to San Antonio Chile, with a stopover in Valparaiso……..

[Guinazu2254]

Traveling on Sapphire Princess Feb/2025……..

will fly into Santiago and spend 2 days playing tourist and then transferring…….would like to spend an

overnight in Valparaiso to see sights………

 

best way to transfer from Valparaiso to San Antonio?…….saw it’s about an hour……

 

recommendations on hotels in Valparaiso?
 

is it better to transfer directly from Santiago and blow off Valparaiso stop…..?
 

a little nervous about going from Santiago to San Antonio on cruise embarkation day (asking for trouble)

 

thanks in advance

 

 

[Torquer]

On 5/27/2024 at 12:50 PM, Guinazu2254 said:

a little nervous about going from Santiago to San Antonio on cruise embarkation day (asking for trouble)

I can't answer your questions about Valparaiso, but I will comment on staying overnight in San Antonio the eve before embarkation.  We actually did that on a cruise this year.  First, there is only one hotel in San Antonio, and it sells out far in advance, but you should be able to make reservations for a cruise in 2025.  The hotel Enjoy Casino Hotel is nice enough...about like a 3-start European hotel.  The rooms are modern and have a spectacular view overlooking the harbor; you can even get up real early and watch your ship sail into port from your room, then go back to bed for some more sleep.  Breakfast is included and the hotel rates are amazingly cheap.  That's the good part.

 

Now the bad part.  There is nothing to do or see in San Antonio other than taking a stroll along the harbor (there are seals and sea lions on the rocks to watch which is pretty neat).  There are also no restaurants you would want to go to in the entire town.  Your only choices for dinner are the casino restaurant and the food court in the shopping mall that adjoins the hotel.

 

So there are a lot more hotel options available in Santiago or Valparaiso.  But we thought staying in San Antonio was fine for one night, and we are going to do it again for our cruise in 2025.  It certainly eliminates all worries about your transportation in getting to the port on embarkation day.

[CraigPotton]

We toke our ship in San Antonio.

 

Took a guided transfer from Santiago, with a nice stop in a winery on the way, later a Valparaiso and Viña del Mar city tour, ending in San Antonio 

 

Company was pretty good, ask to Claudio or Miguel 

 

wwe.chileshoretours.com

 

They also sell tours in several ports around SA

[Guinazu2254]

Craig, I’m guessing you left Santiago, bright and early before 8am

 

our ship leaves at 6pm, so I’m guessing last check in is 330 pm………which would make one way tour no more than 7 hours……

 

did ChileTours guarantee your arrival……

[CraigPotton]

On 5/29/2024 at 1:20 PM, Guinazu2254 said:

Craig, I’m guessing you left Santiago, bright and early before 8am

 

our ship leaves at 6pm, so I’m guessing last check in is 330 pm………which would make one way tour no more than 7 hours……

 

did ChileTours guarantee your arrival……

Yes they did...and are a very flexible according to your times. Maybe a shorter transfer/tour

 

Also a pretty reliable company, good reviews on tripadvisor, look for then as Chile shore tours.

 

Good Luck!!