On Thursday a spokesman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Chile announced that it will take about 2 to 3 weeks until the airport of Santiago will be 100% operational again. It currently works with 65% of its capacity; more than 130 planes arrived or left the airport on Thursday. The check in for the flights is still handled in the large tent next to the main terminal and in the former terminal of national flights, but the repair work is running to its fullest extent.

LAN Airlines informed on Thursday that their flight operations could already be increased to 40% of their normal capacity. Additionally, LAN mentioned that all programmed flights are updated regularly on their website, and that the check in can be done again via Internet on www.lan.com. travelArt keeps working hard in order to reconfirm the corresponding flights for all our passengers on-site.

Although there are no problems in crossing the border from Argentina to Chile in the North of Chile or Patagonia, there are some restrictions at the borders in the Lake region. In general, tourist vehicles are denied to enter Chile in this region at the moment. This is based on the fact that the state of emergency has been imposed on the 7th and 8th region of Chile; food and fuel are short or not available at all, and the supply can be re-established only slowly.

travelArt is in contact with the corresponding authorities at the borders in order to guarantee the entry to Chile for all our passengers. Any necessary changes in the itinerary will be organized and communicated immediately.

The borders in the North of Chile, in Patagonia, as well as the border “Paso Los Libertadores” near Santiago (to Mendoza) are not affected.

Important information for the Hotel Grand Hyatt Santiago. Due to some repairs, the hotel remains closed during the time from 5 to 22 March 2010.

Although the Hotel Peulla in the Lake District was not directly affected by the earthquake, there have been canceled so many reservations that the hotel needs to temporarily close. Remaining reservations will be transferred to the Hotel Natura (up-grade).

An important information about the Hotel The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago. Although the hotel building has suffered no serious damage, on the top floor in the boutique Spa  several mirrors were broken. This area is expected to be closed until 5th April 2010. Massages and other spa treatments can still be ordered to carry out in the hotel room. All other hotel areas are working normally.

The Hotel Regal Pacific in Santiago informs us, that the infrastructure of the hotel has no damages from the earthquake. The hotel is running with no restrictions.

Chilis Lake Region wasn’t hit at all or only with minor damages by the earthquake. At this moment no hotel sent us informations about problems or damages. The pictures were taken during the day of 3rd March.

Puerto Varas (03.03.2010)

Puerto Varas (03.03.2010)

Puerto Varas (03.03.2010)

Patagonia was not affected by the earthquake of the 27th of February. The Hotel Remota – as well as all the other hotels in the area – are running in the normal way.

Since yesterday, March 2nd, 2010, the air traffic at the airport of Santiago de Chile has been re-established step by step. Our staff was able to book most of our passengers on their respective flights so far. Nevertheless, long delays and some irregularities have to be expected as the check in for domestic flights takes place in a 4.000 square meters large tent next to the main terminal, and the check in of international flights is done in the former terminal of national flights. Therefore, the quantity of flights that can be handled is strongly limited. Only after all repair work at the airport building is done, the flight operations will return to normal. We will keep you informed on this. Important information regarding the emergency flight schedule of LAN Airlines can also be found on their web page www.lan.com, which is updated regularly.

In Santiago de Chile the power supply was restored to about 90%, and the subway system is working normally without any restrictions since yesterday, March 2nd, 2010.

Most hotels in Santiago de Chile report only minor damages, which limit the hotel business in a small extent or not at all. The hotels in northern Chile, Patagonia, the southern Lake region, and Easter Island are not affected at all.

Regarding the vineyards in the valleys situated south of Santiago, several reported serious damages. Some wineries have to close and are not able to receive visitors until all repair work is done. We will get in touch with all clients, who have certain vineyards included in their programs, and are about to arrive in Chile in the near future.

Most of the museums in Santiago can already be visited again. Some of them will open at the end of this week. Nevertheless, the museum in Isla Negra (House of Pablo Neruda) and the Museum Colchagua in Santa Cruz remain closed for the moment.

The Hotel Palafito 1326 in Castro on the island of Chiloé was not affected by the earthquake and is operating in a normal way. They also say that the infrastructure of the whole island is working without any restrictions