Puerto Chacabuco Cruise Port
Puerto Chacabuco, Chile · South America
Cruise ships anchor offshore in Puerto Chacabuco — tenders ferry passengers to the port.
Plan my port daysTender port in a tiny fishing village. Walk to a beached shipwreck, or head inland: Puerto Aysén is 20 minutes away, the Simpson River waterfalls about 50 minutes and Coyhaique 80 minutes.
At a glance
Port summary
Puerto Chacabuco is the deep-water port of the Aysén region, at the head of the Aysén Fjord about 15 km from the town of Puerto Aysén. It's a working port with fish farms in the bay and a village of about 1,200 people, so there's little to see right at the landing. Most cruise ships anchor in the bay and tender passengers to the Empresa Portuaria Chacabuco (Emporcha) pier, where a port building has seating, toilets and WiFi; smaller ships may berth alongside. A short walk along the shore takes you to the rusting hull of the Viña del Mar, a passenger ship that ran aground in a storm in 1963. The best of the day lies inland along Route 240: the suspension bridge and riverside of Puerto Aysén (20 minutes), the private Aikén del Sur park on Lake Riesco (15 minutes), the roadside waterfalls of the Río Simpson National Reserve (about 50 minutes) and Coyhaique, the lively regional capital with a pentagonal plaza, craft market and regional museum (about 80 minutes each way). Van tours and taxis wait outside the port gate, and minibuses run from the village to Puerto Aysén. Expect rain at any time of year, carry Chilean pesos and allow plenty of time for the drive back.
Cruise dock
Empresa Portuaria Chacabuco (Emporcha) pier — tender landing
Most cruise ships anchor in Chacabuco Bay and tender to the floating pontoon at the Emporcha pier; smaller ships can berth alongside. The port building and car park are by the landing, and the village is a 5–10 minute walk.
Latitude: -45.467198, Longitude: -72.820398
See dock on port map →Getting to Puerto Chacabuco
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Bring Chilean pesos in small notes for stalls, minibuses and taxis. Use cards in restaurants and supermarkets in Puerto Aysén or Coyhaique.
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Inside the South America collection
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Typical weather
Emergency & contacts
Ready-made port days
6 plansAysén Fjord catamaran to the Ensenada Pérez hot springs
The fjord is the real sight here: a catamaran up the Aysén Fjord to open-air volcanic pools you can only reach by boat.
Aikén del Sur rainforest walk & lamb asado
Fifteen minutes from the pier: a guided walk through dripping Patagonian rainforest to a waterfall, then lamb roasted on the spit.
Coyhaique & the Simpson valley by private driver
The classic day out: waterfalls in the Simpson canyon, then the plaza, craft market and a long lunch in Patagonia's liveliest town.
Free shore walk to the Viña del Mar wreck
No transport, no tickets: a short walk along the bay to a rusting 1960s passenger ship, with fjord views and the fish farms at work.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Puerto Chacabuco?
- Puerto Chacabuco is a tender port: your ship anchors offshore and passengers transfer to shore by small boat.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Puerto Chacabuco?
- Yes. Puerto Chacabuco is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Puerto Chacabuco centre?
- Typical options include On foot, Taxi, Other transport, Local bus. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Puerto Chacabuco?
- Plan for at least 4 hours ashore to see Puerto Chacabuco independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Puerto Chacabuco and are cards accepted?
- Puerto Chacabuco uses the Chilean peso. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Free Wi-Fi is available at the Puerto Chacabuco cruise terminal.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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