Valparaiso cruise transfers with BlaakLane.com are fixed-fare chauffeur drives between the port's passenger terminal and Santiago's Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (SCL), about 110 to 120 km inland, as well as Santiago hotels and Vina del Mar. The fare covers the whole route, and a stop in the Casablanca wine valley can be added when you book.
How to book a Valparaiso transfer
Enter your SCL flight number or Santiago hotel, choose the Valparaiso cruise terminal and select a vehicle; the fare appears before you confirm. Return trips from the ship are booked as a second leg for your disembarkation morning. Chile trips are driven by a vetted local affiliate from the LimousineWorldwide.Directory network under the BlaakLane.com written standard, and your confirmation names the operator and chauffeur.
Check your port: Valparaiso or San Antonio?
Cruise lines describe both Valparaiso and San Antonio as "Santiago" on their itineraries. San Antonio is about 100 km south of Valparaiso and has taken many turnaround calls in recent seasons, so read the port name on your cruise documents before booking. The drive times below apply to Valparaiso; if your ship uses San Antonio, choose that address and the booker prices the correct route.
The passenger terminal
The Port of Valparaiso handles cruise passengers through its passenger terminal on the waterfront, separate from the container quays. Shuttle buses connect the terminal with the ship's berth, and check-in, baggage drop and Chilean border formalities all happen in the terminal building. The season runs from about October to April, with voyages round Cape Horn to Buenos Aires and along the Pacific coast.
Drive times from the terminal
| To | Distance | Usual drive |
|---|---|---|
| Santiago International (SCL) | 110-120 km | 75-110 minutes |
| Santiago, Las Condes and Vitacura hotels | 120-130 km | 90-130 minutes |
| Vina del Mar | 10 km | 15-30 minutes |
| Casablanca wine valley | 40-45 km | 35-50 minutes |
| Isla Negra | 80 km | 75-100 minutes |
The main route is Ruta 68, a tolled highway through two tunnels and the Casablanca valley. Friday evenings towards the coast and Sunday evenings towards Santiago are the slowest times, especially in summer.
Arriving at Santiago International
Flights from North America and Europe land early in the morning. Add the flight number and the chauffeur tracks the arrival, with 60 minutes of waiting on international flights and 30 on domestic ones from the actual landing. Chile's agricultural service, SAG, inspects all bags on arrival and is strict about fruit, meat, honey and seeds, so declare food or leave it behind. Pickup is at the airport's designated area for pre-arranged cars; a name-board meet in the arrivals hall is an add-on only in selected locations. Our Santiago airport page covers the terminals.
Embarkation day
Plan to leave Santiago at least three hours before the end of your check-in window, which allows for traffic on Ruta 68 and the terminal queue. Porters tag checked bags at the terminal and they are delivered to the ship. Keep passports and the tourist card you received on arrival with you.
Disembarkation and the drive to SCL
Ships arrive in the early morning and release passengers in groups. Collect your bags in the terminal and exit to the area set aside for pre-arranged vehicles. Book for your group's release time; 15 minutes of waiting from the booked time are included, then 15-minute blocks. With 75 to 110 minutes of driving and three hours needed at the airport, an international flight after about 15:00 gives a safe margin. Most long-haul flights leave Santiago in the evening.
Wine valley and coastal stops
The Casablanca valley, known for its cool-climate white wines, lies directly on Ruta 68. An hourly booking, minimum 3 hours, lets you visit a winery with the luggage in the vehicle before continuing to the airport or the ship. Other options are a morning in Vina del Mar, Pablo Neruda's house at Isla Negra, or a full intercity transfer with stops.
Valparaiso on a port day
The historic quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage site, climbs the hills above the port. Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepcion are full of murals, cafes and old funicular lifts, the ascensores. Neruda's La Sebastiana house overlooks the bay. The streets are steep, narrow and one-way, so a chauffeur who knows the hills saves time. Plan to be back an hour before all-aboard.
Which class for Chile
| Travellers | Booker class |
|---|---|
| 2 people, 2 large cases | Standard Sedan or Luxury Executive Sedan |
| 2 people, top comfort for the long drive | Executive First Class Sedan (Maybach) |
| Up to 6 with 6 cases | Standard Black SUV or Executive Black SUV |
| A group of up to 12 with small bags | Sprinter Van |
| 7 with carry-ons | Sprinter Luxury Jet Van |
| Celebrations of 8 or 14 | Luxury Stretch Limo or Party Bus, light bags |
Luggage for a Patagonia voyage is bulky, so size up if in doubt. Child seats are free on request. See the fleet.
Weather and packing for a Chilean sailing
Central Chile's summer is dry and warm inland, while the coast at Valparaiso is often cool and foggy in the mornings. Voyages heading south towards the fjords and Cape Horn need rain gear and warm layers. That means more luggage than a Caribbean cruise, and it is the main reason families move up from a sedan to a Standard Black SUV or a Sprinter Van for the drive to the port.
Where to stay
Many passengers spend a night or two in Santiago before sailing, in Las Condes, Vitacura or near Plaza de Armas. Others choose Vina del Mar's beach hotels or a boutique hotel on Cerro Alegre. See the Valparaiso chauffeur page and the Santiago chauffeur page, and Chile Travel for visitor information.
Groups and cancellation terms
Groups, crew changes and coaches are planned by a coordinator and confirmed in writing; see cruise lines and ports and our services. The fixed fare covers vehicle, chauffeur and included waiting. Cancel more than 72 hours before pickup and nothing is charged; from 72 hours it is 10%, from 48 hours 50%, and from 24 hours or for a no-show 100%. Fares are explained on rates.
