Coyhaique Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Land

Bus

Buses operate from the bus terminal (258-203; cnr Lautaro & Magallanes) is home to some bus companies, but most operate out of offices elsewhere in town. and separate offices. Schedules change continuously; check with Sernatur (tel: 233-949; Bulnes 35) for the latest information. Busing in and out of Coyhaique is just about as confusing as getting around the plaza. Service along the Carretera Austral is improving in frequency and quality, but it still has a long way to go. Companies and departures vary on demand, and unless noted leave from the terminal.

Companies serving destinations north:

Bus Transaustral (tel: 232-067; bus terminal) Osorno and south to Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina, for connections to Punta Arenas.

Buses Becker Eirle (tel: 335-050; Ibañez 358) Pullman service twice weekly to Puyuhuapi, La Junta, Villa Santa Lucía and Chaitén.

Buses Daniela (tel: 231-701, 099-512-3500; Baquedano 1122) Four times a week to Puyuhuapi, La Junta, Villa Santa Lucía and Chaitén.

Buses Don Carlos (tel: 231-981; Cruz 63) Hourly to Puerto Chacabuco.

Buses M&C Tours (tel: 242-626; General Parra 329) Three times a week to Puyuhuapi, La Junta, Villa Santa Lucía and Chaitén.

Buses Suray (tel: 238-387; Arturo Prat 265) Hourly to Puerto Chacabuco.

Queilen Bus (tel: 240-760; bus terminal) Osorno, Puerto Montt and Chiloé via Argentina.

Companies serving destinations south:

Acuario 13 (tel: 240-990) Cochrane.

Buses Don Carlos (tel: 231-981; Cruz 63) Villa Cerro Castillo, Puerto Murta, Puerto Río Tranquilo, Puerto Bertrand and Cochrane.

Buses Interlagos (tel: 240-840; www.turismointerlagos.cl, in Spanish; bus terminal) Cochrane and Chile Chico.

Colectivos Puerto Ibáñez (cnr Arturo Prat & Errázuríz) Door-to-door shuttle to Puerto Ingeniero Ibáñez (CH$3500, 1.5hr).

Transporte Bellavista (tel: 244-855) Puerto Río Tranquilo (CH$7500, 5hr) with connections to Chile Chico (CH$6000). Picks up passengers from lodgings.

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Boat

Ferries to Chiloé, Chaitén and Puerto Montt leave from Puerto Chacabuco, two hours west of Coyhaique by bus, but ferry com- panies have their offices in Coyhaique. Schedules are subject to change.

Transmarchilay (231-971; www.transmarchilay.cl in Spanish; General Parra 86) runs the ferry El Colono from Puerto Chacabuco to Puerto Montt (24 hours) a few times per a week, leaving in the evening. Reclining chairs start at US$40, bunk beds at US$85 (based on double occupancy); meals are not included and must be reserved in advance. Navimag (223-306; www.navimag.com; Presidente Ibáñez 347) also sails from Puerto Chacabuco to Puerto Montt, on Sunday and Friday in summer, and three or four times monthly the rest of the year. Cruceros Skorpios (213-755; www.skorpios.cl; General Parra 21) runs luxury trips to Parque Nacional Laguna San Rafael.

Ferries that cross Lago General Carrera to and from Puerto Ingeniero Ibáñez and Chile Chico have offices in town: Naviera Sotramin (233-515, 234-240; Simón Bolívar 254) runs the Pilchero; and Mar del Sur (231-255; Baquedano 146-A) runs the Chelenco. If you're driving, make reservations early.

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Air

Lan (231-188; General Parra 402) has three daily flights (most leaving in the morning) to Puerto Montt (US$100) and Santiago (US$250) from the Balmaceda airport.

Sky Airlines (www.internationalms.com/skyairline/) has a stopover on the way to Punta Arenas at Balmaceda.

Transporte Aéreo Don Carlos (231-981; Cruz 63) flies small craft to Chile Chico (US$40) on weekdays except Thursday, Caleta Tortel (US$35) on Wednesday, and Cochrane (US$70) and Villa O'Higgins (US$100) on Monday and Thursday.

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