We all need good news in our life. Optimism is a wonderful medicine for the body and the mind as well as resolution; all are parts of the cure.

We are based as you probably know, at Punta Arenas, one of the world’s most southerly cities, in the Magallanes region. Chile’s health authorities are now determined to make a major breakthrough by the end of this week, aiming to have 80% of the local population (in Magallanes) completely inoculated against covid-19. This is one of the few larger communities in Chile with those positive numbers, in hopes to reach an acceptable level of herd immunity, and consequently and progressively we can carry on with our lives, our plans, our dreams.

But Chile as most of South America is passing through a second wave. The sanitary situation in the rest of the country is still complex and delicate, particularly in the Metropolitan area of Santiago, where most of active cases are reported. This is Chile’s most heavily populated region, and has recently been declared back to lockdown. This is a true paradox as Chile stands out as one of the leading nations in South America with a swift and promising vaccination program, which has reached this week over 11.5 million people; 80% of this figure (app. 9 million individuals) have already completed their vaccination scheme; this is a staggering 60% of the target population! Most of the Chilean people have been inoculated using the Chinese Sinovac vaccine and an important part of younger segments of the population have been inoculated using the Pfizer. Other two solutions have recently started to be part of the vaccination program, such as AstraZeneca and CanSino whereas the Johnson & Johnson formula has also been accepted by health authorities for its emergency use.

Our country has been closed for travel since the beginning of April 2021 and the restrictions will officially continue until the 30th of June. In our opinion, it is likely that the authorities will still maintain some travel restrictions during the whole of July. We strongly believe that by early August, those restrictions for foreigners and visitors to Chile will be more relaxed, however a proof of full vaccination will be the ultimate key for access.

At Far South Expeditions, we have been preparing ourselves for this transition and have been really looking forward for this re-opening. We are determined to re-start our full Chile trip program from the 1st of October 2021. At this stage, however, we can not commit to re-establish our trips to either Argentine Patagonia and the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), not until perhaps the beginning of 2022.

By September, we expect that over 80% of Chile’s population will be fully inoculated. At the time of your visit, the majority (if not all!) of local guides and drivers, hotel and restaurant staff, everybody involved in the industry will enjoy of the protection provided by the different vaccines. During all our trips and expeditions, covid-19 protocols will take place and the use of masks, social distancing, plus other related and already familiar measurements, will be part of the daily routine of our trips.

What a lesson for humanity this invisible adversary has been! And still, optimism and resolution are paramount to face the new travel scenarios.

Looking forward to receive you in Chile once again and on behalf of everybody at Far South Expeditions.

Claudio F. Vidal & Enrique Couve
Founders
Far South Expeditions

Sources: [1],[2]