1) At all times be extremely polite, courteous, and friendly. Always say ¨Buenos dias¨ or “Buenas tardes“ when you step up to a ticket counter or window. Always say ¨Por favor¨ when you ask for something, and never forget to say Muchas gracias.¨That is extremely important in Latin American countries. It’s going to seem awkward at first but you’ll get the hang of it. If you are an American that looks confused everyone will help you if you are polite. Chileans are super friendly.

2) Do whatever you can to get an exit row seat with extra leg room. When you get to MIA or LAX, ask the Lan Chile ticket agent if she can switch your seat at the last minute to insure that you have an exit row. Do not forget a book. The flight is long.

3) Don’t exchange more money than you need to in MIA or LAX . You’ll need $100US cash for immigration, and about 50,000 Chilean pesos. I would exchange about $100 in MIA or LAX . The exchange rate is about 550 pesos per dollar. Airports only give about 500 per dollar. Keep your money in a rubber band in your front pocket. Have at least $200 American dollars in cash and use traveler’s checks for the rest.

4) Arrange some way to get emergency cash from home if you need it, i.e., tell someone that in case of emergency you will call them and ask them to send money through Western Union.

5) Give a photocopy of your passport info page to somebody. Bring a photocopy of it with you and keep it separate from your real passport. Do not under any circumstances let yourself become separated from your passport.

6) Write out an itinerary for yourself and keep it with you so you can keep track of where you are and where you have to be next. Include all the times flight numbers and other applicable information like phone numbers. Our phone number in Coyhaique is 056- 67-231-257. To dial from Santiago omit the 056 code. To dial locally from Coyhaique or Balmaceda just use 231-257.

7) Bring a large bag for your clothes and a carry-on bag with waders and fishing gear. Use a fanny pack or travelers vest for your wallet, passport, and tickets. Do not check your rod tube from USA to Santiago. Carry it with you if you can.

8) The flight from US to Santiago is easy. Most of the stewardesses speak decent English. Take a break from looking at the intense scenery as you are landing and make sure you find the layout diagram of the Santiago airport in the on-flight magazine. Study it so you know how the airport is set up before you get there.

9) The flight attendant will give you an immigration document to fill out about an hour or two before you land. They just give it to you on the plane so you don’t have to do it while you’re waiting in line. When the plane lands, have your things ready and get off the plane as soon as you can.

10) When you leave the plane you’ll walk down the gate and follow the instructions and walk downstairs to immigration. You can’t miss it. Find the shortest line, have your passport, immigration paper, and $100 in your hand. You’ll hand it to the man in the booth, he’ll look at you suspiciously, and then he’ll stamp your immigration document, return it to you, and staple a receipt to your passport. You must save the stamped immigration document to leave the country. Go left to the baggage claim.

11) Get your bags and go to customs. If you are arriving at 7:00 in the morning and the flight to Balmaceda leaves at 7:45 or so, you are going to have minutes to spare by the time you get everything done. When you walk through customs a man will ask you if you have any fruit, ¨¿Fruits? ¨ Make eye contact, just say ¨no, ¨ be polite, and proceed. He won’t give you a hard time because they are polite and well trained

12) The domestic terminal is on the second floor to the left. If you flight into Chile by LAN CHILE, AMERICAN or any airline associated to ONE WORLD, then you may want to check your luggage directly to Balmaceda, if not, you need to pick up your luggage and take it with you at the second floor. However the LAN Chile agents all speak good English and will take care of everything for you. You have to check all of your bags for the domestic flight, including your rod tube.
At the domestic gate you’ll find a bunch of people milling around trying to find the right line to be in. Look for your flight number (número de vuelo) and gate number and follow instructions. You’ll feel like you just stepped back in any modern airport.

13) The flight from Santiago to Balmaceda lands once in Puerto Mont. The flight lasts about two and a half hours. Do not get off until Balmaceda. We’ll be at the airport waiting for you.

I really hope these directions will take you to Balmaceda sane and safe. We know that most of our clients are experienced travelers and they easily handle any hard situation. Our main concern is the connection in time for the flight to Balmaceda for those who arrive at 6.45 or 07.25 by LAN CHILE or other airline. Required presentation time is one a half hour in advance. If the flight arrives just a few minutes late they barely make it as the first flight to Coyhaique depart at 8.55. Flight number is LA 073 and arrive Balmaceda at 12.05

LA 0.71 (LAN SECOND FLIGHT) Depart at 11.15 Arrive 14.25 to Balmaceda so we recommend to make double reservation as your ticket is endorsable and if you are not able to take the first flight your escort will put you in the following departing plane with no charge for you and we’ll be waiting for you at Balmaceda Airport.

LA 079LAN THIRDTH FLIGHT) Daily depart at 8.25 PM and arrive Balmaceda at 10.40

As for return flight, recommendation is you book for
LA 270 Depart Balmaceda 14.05 Arrive Santiago 17.10 with time enough for outbound flight to US.