Infinity Review - South America Trip - 12/17/06

[C 2 C]

Puerto Madryn: We took a private tour out to see the penguins at Punto Tombo. The Magellan penguins are amazing little creatures. There are literally thousands of them nesting on the beach. They aren’t afraid of humans, which is kind of sad. I’m so embarrassed about how people acted around the little guys. I saw people trying to pet them, they laid down and had their pictures taken right next to the nests, I even saw kids chasing them. The weather was beautiful; I wore a tank top and got sunburned. The 2 hour bus trip was a long one (each way) but our guide was wonderful and very knowledgeable about the area & the wildlife. Would I do this excursion again??? Yes!

This sounds like the trip we wish to go on.

One of our friends is limited in walking ability.

Is this excursion possible for people with bad knees or even in a wheel chair?

[cabo de hornos]

I was there four years ago, so I'll defer to the folks who were there recently. My recollection is that the immediate vicinity of the arrival area is walkable. There is a pedstrian bridge (so as not to interfere with our littel friends as they go about their constitutionals) with a few (two or three) steps, and there are pathways I believe with pea-sized gravel, maybe sand. Out near the cliffs of course it gets a bit rocky.

 

Cabo

[C 2 C]

I was there four years ago,

 

Cabo

 

Thanks Cabo. I'll quote you on our Feb cruise site.

 

Arno

[cruzin4us]

This sounds like the trip we wish to go on.

One of our friends is limited in walking ability.

Is this excursion possible for people with bad knees or even in a wheel chair?

 

Even if your friend can't walk far, there are penguins along the road before you even get to the "area". If your friend can walk about 100', he/she will be able to see quite a few penquins. Believe me, they are all over the place. You don't necessarily have to walk the trail/path to see them. This was a great experience, and probably a once in a lifetime chance for me.

[cabo de hornos]

That's why we're going back next February on Infinity!!!

 

Cabo

[Diva Onboard]

Can you tell us the dress code for the different days - which days were the formal days, which were the informal and which were the casual?

 

Can you give us an idea of the weather temps in the various ports? What about cruising the Horn and the Straits as far as temps go.

 

Did anyone every use the pool onboard?

[Diva Onboard]

Can you tell us the dress code for the different days - which days were the formal days, which were the informal and which were the casual?

 

Can you give us an idea of the weather temps in the various ports? What about cruising the Horn and the Straits as far as temps go.

 

Did anyone every use the pool onboard?

[C 2 C]

Someone on the Feb 25th cruise wants an experienced cruiser to tell him whether a person has to pay the $100 fee when flying out of Santiago.

I've read that the entrance fee is $100 after landing. I have not read anywhere you have to pay to leave the country...

like paying a tunnel fee to get into NY but leaving for free...

[cabo de hornos]

In January 2002 after the Around the Horn on Mercury, my FIL thought that the TA had covered the expense, but this was not the case, and they hit us up for something like $50 (per person??) payable by credit card before getting a boarding pass on LAN Chile.

 

In March 2004 upon arrival, we had to fork over a crisp $100 per person in cash at customs. I believe now that they accept credit cards, but if so, I don't know which ones.

 

Anyone more recent than that, please jump in.

 

Cabo

[C 2 C]

In March 2004 upon arrival, we had to fork over a crisp $100 per person in cash at customs. I believe now that they accept credit cards, but if so, I don't know which ones.

 

Cabo:

Do you mean that you have to pay the customs guy when you get off the ship?

If you merely want to go for a tour around the city do they ding you at the pier?:eek:

 

Arno

[cabo de hornos]

No Arno, nothing at the pier, just at the airport both ways. The pier experience embarking at Valpo was most efficient. We enjoyed our 2-day pre-cruise at the Four Points near the business district in La Providencia, and the X-City Tour. The disembarkation and trip to Santiago for the day room at the Sheraton Conference Center further back was fine as well.

 

I must say though, the airport staff was extremely courteous and helpful in both instances as far as getting us through the lines expeditiously (DW uses WC for long distances, like MIA domestic to int'l).

 

Cabo

[TravelerThom]

No Arno, nothing at the pier, just at the airport both ways. The pier experience embarking at Valpo was most efficient. We enjoyed our 2-day pre-cruise at the Four Points near the business district in La Providencia, and the X-City Tour. The disembarkation and trip to Santiago for the day room at the Sheraton Conference Center further back was fine as well.

 

I must say though, the airport staff was extremely courteous and helpful in both instances as far as getting us through the lines expeditiously (DW uses WC for long distances, like MIA domestic to int'l).

 

Cabo

I disembarked in Valpo in Dec [2006] and flew out of SCL. If you arrive in Chile by SHIP [or anything that is not airborne (bus, train, etc)] you do NOT have a fee to enter Chile. [if you are a US Citizen and arrive by AIR there is a US$100 recepocity fee (Chilieans have to pay $100 for a US visa) payable upon disembarking the plane - this payment is noted in your passport and is supposed to be good for the life of the passport (ie up to 10 years if you time it right). The air entry fee may be different (or not exist) for other nationalities, I just don't know.]

 

I departed SCL on DL arranged thru X Air; NO fee was collected at the airport (there probably is some sort of fee that was already included in the ticket price, so possibily this may vary by the type of ticket you have).

[cabo de hornos]

That's pretty much they way I remember it Traveler Thom. I had pointed out that because our T/A did not make the arrangments for fee payment for our flight out of SCL, we had some "catching up" to do with the authorities. If it's taken care of by the T/A or by X, you won't have to pay it separately.

 

And yes, on the way in by air to SCL it's good for the life of the passport.

 

Cabo

[Tess111]

Does this fee also apply when you have a connecting flight through Santiago to Buenos Aires to start your cruise?

[croftonbill]

good question tess.when we cruised valparaiso to fll.we had to pay the fee-we [were not at par then,it was 132canadian dollars.].but if flying on to b.a.?good god i hope not for your sakes!

[Tony UK]

Thanks for posting your informative review. Such a pity you were so sick. It happened to me once in Egypt - both at once - not pleasant. It was an airborne virus, nothing to do with food or water. I guess you can just be unlucky - maybe you ran out of your fantastic luck in the casino!

We are on this trip in February, and have fixed up our 3 days in BA before we sail. Coming home from Valparaiso we fly ay 17:30 from Santiago. Can you give more information about who you used to transport your luggage to the airport, and for your journey to the airport, especially how long it takes, and is it interesting scenery?

 

Grateful for any information.

Yony UK