Chile Forum

patagoniax wrote:Tours from Stgo to Sewell = http://www.vts.cl/

Must plan way ahead in high season. But it's refreshing in summer since it's up high and cooler. Strenuous walking, though. Read up on it before visiting to get maximum benefit.

If you plan to go inside the mine as part of the tour, they have restrictions: can't be under 14 or more than 75 years old. Also must have long trousers (no shorts) and socks since they were requiring safety boots in the mine. For just seeing the outside at Sewell they remind people to bring bottled water and take into account the altitude (about 2300 metres) and consider sun protection.

Since the mine was run by Braden Copper there was a lot written in English on the subject, some of it worthwhile before your visit. Be warned that some will try to make social and political statements out of the conditions surrounding Sewell.

Short intro here (includes map, historical fotos, and inevitable controversies) http://aggleton.name/0015Chile/chile09.htm

1967 image of Sewell and the "American housing" section. This was just before the Chilean government nationalised the operation, which took place during the Frei administration which involved compensation for the nationalisation. Then the later Allende administration subsequently decided that they would pay no compensation and would simply expropriate the property, which lead to economic sanctions against the Allende administration. After the expropriation under the Allende government, the Chilean communists tried to destroy the buildings in what had been the "American housing" section of Sewell. See how quickly we get into the controversies?

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sewell1976.jpg

momof3 wrote:

patagoniax wrote:Tours from Stgo to Sewell = http://www.vts.cl/


If you plan to go inside the mine as part of the tour, they have restrictions: can't be under 14 or more than 75 years old.

Wow. I will most likely go in February when my parents are in town (neither they nor 2/3 my kids qualify) so they can keep each other company. I am still wrapping my head around the whole concept.

Great list of suggestions folks! It was also helpful when age and fitness levels appropriate for each location were mentioned. My family ranges in age from 3-89 and well you can imagine the fitness levels

momof3 wrote:So by American standards that would mean...

La_Tini wrote:Cerro Pintor, on the other hand I´d recommend for people who ideally have done some mountain activity before. The summit is slightly above 4000 meters, so be prepared to experience some level of altitude sickness (of course that really depends on the person, most people I know don´t feel affected, but for me it´s an issue). Again, if you haven´t done any mountaineering so far, I would not recommend doing this trip on your own. In the higher mountains there can always arise complications such as bad weather even in summer, altitude intolerance, etc.