Ferry Transbordadora Austral | Vehicle Shipping

We were told to be ready to drive on at 6:30pm Wednesday. We drove on at 7:15pm. Went into town and back onboard at 9 pm. Left the dock at 11:50pm headed to yungay.

Cost for the Land Cruiser was $165 and we each paid $150 per passenger.

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departure 5am but Ferry started at around 2.30 am very clean toilets had showers , we re lucky no wind no rain very beautiful blue sky, for sleeping comfortable pullman you receive blankets at bord, if you are vegetarien say it to the crews, this people they are amazing serving you always with smiles.
prices am not local, I paid 150 $ and motorcycle 32.

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TABSA ferry - from Puerto Natales to Puerto Yungay (the whole experience)

We took this ferry on 05.01.2023 with our van. Had no prior booking because all was sold out.

We came two times to their TABSA office in Puerto Natales and asked about availability, but they told us both times that we're unlikely to get a spot on the date of departure (aka if someone didn't show up). Well, we still tried our luck, got in line and then also the ferry officer kinda told us we're wasting our time. However, one hour later he came to our window and say "get your documents and hurry up to the office" :D

So somebody didn't show up and at a certain time they just release all of those spots. I think there was another guy behind us without reservation, but he didn't get the spot :(

In Puerto Natales you CAN pay with card. At Puerto Yungay however they said you cannot pay with card due to absence of phone reception so I guess it's cash only over there.

Embarkation took place one day before in the evening and it lasted like 2 hours, everyone had to get on the boat backwards with our vehicles. It was mostly Chileans (also Chilean campers), only one German van besides us and maybe a dozen foreign tourists. We set sail around 1 am (supposed at 5 am) and journey lasted around 41 hours.

You get a specific seat in the saloon (like on a semi-sleep bus) where the views are nice (a bit foggy due to window condensation) and it's very warm, but you can also stay in your camper without problems. One guy also had electric plug from his van plugged in the boat.

MEALS: You get 3 meals a day at 9.00, 13.00 and 19.00. People take shifts in eating because dining room is rather small. We had no expectations so found the food pretty ok, considering it's a public ferry in one of the most remote places on earth. Breakfast was toast and muffin, lunch chicken with rice or some lentile stew and for dinner pasta (check pictures). All the time you had available juice, water, hot water and instant coffee.

Crew was really nice and friendly.

UTILITIES:
Bathrooms were quite ok - normal toilets with hot water. 24/7 showers, also hot water, pretty cool for a ferry, we didn't really find them dirty. But maybe bring flip flops for that anyway.

JOURNEY
It was raining for most of the time so views weren't spectacular - the whole thing was rather mystical - fiords and mountains with so many waterfalls popping out of nowhere. We saw plenty of birds, some dolphins and sea lions.

We stopped in Puerto Eden for 1 hour and could get off the boat for a bit, tho just around the port.

The coolest thing was this huge shipwreck in the middle of nowhere. About 70m long and only partially submerged, it was home for thousands of birds! And it was very green, with grass and bush blooming all over it. Pretty crazy, have never seen anything similar. And captian also announced it so everyone got out to enjoy the views, and they did like 2 circles around the wreck so we could all really soak it all in. That will be remembered :)

FINAL THOUGHTS
For us it was something special, as cruising in these remote places is really hard to come accross inexpensively (I mean it's still not cheap the whole thing - around 130k per person and then 24k per meter of your vehicle - they do measure you precisely), but still the road journey between those two places would take some time and cost some bucks.

* We heard that you can get a local rate if you have a Chilean RUT, so that would make the trip significantly cheaper (3 times I think).

So bottom line - even without a reservation, it's still worth to get in that line and give it a try :)

Safe travels!

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well first the good thing's:

-you save money in gasoline and time off drive
- breakfast +lunch and dinner included not a lot of food but ok, you can carry cookies or sandwiches to complement.
- hot water and juices free all day
- they had a mini kiosk inside not very expensive
- very comfortable seats, you can sleep without problem
- you can sleep and stay in your camper if you want
-they even have electricity for the camper
- clean bathrooms 24 hrs
- clean and hot showers
- nice views of the traveling

bad things
- if you have bad luck , maybe a crying baby make your travel very bad.

well if you're Chilean off course do the trip, if your not Chilean, do the maths if worth it.

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Ferry service is closed until 13. April 2017 - its off season. Chile license plate vehicle costs 12'000 per meter. Foreign passanger: 120'000. If you have a RUT as a foreigner it only costs 40'000 as passenger.

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I totally disagree about the ripoff. Such a voyage has a cost. Chilean gov. Subsidizes his people not foreigners. I will take the ferry next Thursday.

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Nice break from driving and a nice two day/night sail. 43 h comfortable sailing . Paid 120k Pp and 24k per running meter of car. 225k for me and 4.4m truck.
Makes sense money wise when calculating driving back to Cochrane to cross south. Food is ok but not much, if you can cook in your car, bring food. There are good reclining seats but I slept great in my car/bed. 12 + travelers to share stories with . Amazing nature with whales and dolphins.
Sailed through small icebergs at one point.
Recommend !!))

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Office for the ferry between Natales and Yungay. Foreigners pay 120000 pesos per person plus 24000 per meter for length of vehicle. You can sleep in your vehicle on the ferry.

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FERRY FROM PUERTO YUNGAY - PUERTO NATALES (CHILE)

NOT RECOMMENDED - FOR FOREIGNERS OVERPRICED
SOUTHERN CHILE IS A FANTASTIC PLACE WITH COUNTLESS TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES . PLEASE DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY WITH TRANSPORDADORA AUSTRAL

I had the chance to take as one of the fist tourists the ferry from Puerto Yungay (almost the end of Carretera Austral) to Puerto Natales. The first time in history the most austral part of Chile is connected to its main land - a promise the current Chilean President Michelle Bachelet gave during her election campaign to its people.

The trip took 41 hours hours trough a spectacular scenery of montains covered with glaciars that were mirrored in the flat sea. We saw a unbelivable variaty of wild animals from delphins, seals, pinguins to cormoranes. Even though the weather was mostly foggy and cloudy the landscape can only be described as breathtaking.

The ferry is well equiped, can host 100 passenges and 70 cars. There are two passenger decks where we were seated in comfortable seats that could be lowered to sleep. There were hot showers, a cafeteria bar and a TV. Via intranet one could connect his mobile phone to watch movies, listen music or play games. Food was served twice a day (breakfast, lunch) and was alright. However the the first night we only got two "empanadas" which was definity not enough if you have not eaten the whole day. The personal was always friendly, attentive and ready to serve.

The trip is subsidised by the Chilean governement for local residents. I totally agree that Chilean pay less than tourists. However, I paid 230'000 Pesos (320 USD) which was more than all 8 Chilean passengers together including one Chilean car! This leaves the bitter taste of a company that had to make concesions to the governement and now is ripping off tourists.

Southern Chile is a fantastic place countless better opportunities to spent your money. Please don't waste it with Transpordadora Austral!

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