Following our announcement that Chile Maritime borders finally opened mid-October after over 18 months of closure (based on reports from Pacific Chile), we have now received confirmation that while Chile is in the process of opening its borders, the sea (and land) borders remain officially closed to entry at this time.

Published 2 years ago

Following our announcement that Chile Maritime borders finally opened mid-October after over 18 months of closure (based on reports from contacts in Pacific Chile), we have now received confirmation that while Chile is in the process of opening its borders, the sea (and land) borders remain officially closed to entry at this time.

One Pacific Port of Entry Receiving Yachts:

One exception to the rule is the Pacific clearance port of Valdivia, where the cruiser-friendly marina there has organised entry for foreign yachts despite no sea or land entry points being officially opened by The Ministry of the Interior and Public Safety.

Atlantic Ports of Entry Closed:

SV Zephyros are currently in Puerto Williams – the major port of entry from the Atlantic – and confirm that multiple embassies in Santiago have confirmed with their government and military contacts that the sea borders remain closed, and this agrees with what the Armada is telling them in Puerto Williams.

SV Zephyros told Noonsite, “The local southern border is different than the Pacific border entry point in Valdivia. It is 30nm from Ushuaia, Argentina – people can arrive from another country with a day sail. Additionally there has been a restrictive local health safe travel corridor throughout the pandemic in place for this small island of less than 3,000 people with limited health care. This has not been the case for the rest of the Chile, but it means that arriving in Puerto Williams has been challenging even for Chileans traveling from within Chile.”

“There are Chileans in Ushuaia, Argentina that still cannot cross the channel and enter Chile with their boat to Puerto Williams – they may leave their boat in Argentina and return to Chile by air, but they have not been allowed to bring themselves or their Chilean boat back across the maritime border. And both local Argentinian and Chilean authorities have been trying to make it work continuously.”

Are you planning to sail to Chile?

Yachts planning to head to Chile should exercise caution. While the border could very well open up soon it may just as easily be further constrained if the health situation further deteriorates. The Santiago region is experiencing another COVID outbreak and has moved back to phase 3 controls complicating movements for anyone who flies into the three currently authorized entry airports.

Those seeking entry prior to an official announcement on the re-opening of the maritime borders should expect to follow the sanitary protocols and should contact the Port Captain of the port they wish to enter prior to departing on passage for additional information. Arrivals may quite possibly be granted entry (and Valdivia is a promising option) however yachts should only expect to be allowed to re-provision, re-fuel, and to then continue a transit without entry at this time.

SV Zephyros continue; “Should the port of Puerto Williams remain closed, we have every expectation that the Port Captain will allow boats to sit at anchor to re-provision and re-fuel without going ashore. The Chileans are amazingly kind and welcoming. There are provisions in place for boats to transit the canals between the Atlantic and Pacific without being granted entry to Chile and the Puerto Williams Port Captain has exercised them. However, that is very different than being allowed entry as one cannot step ashore in any populated areas, and immigration and customs are not involved in clearing these passages.”

More details at Chile Biosecurity.

Our thanks to Megan & Jon of SV Zephyros for sharing details of the current situation in Puerto Williams.