It is much easier to arrange boat travel within Chile than it is to travel by boat into Chile, but it is possible.

• A few cruise liners depart from San Diego, Fort Lauderdale or Rio de Janeiro with Valparaiso as a final destination. These are usually expensive multi-week affairs, but last-minute deals do occasionally pop up.
  
• A faster and more economical option is the short but scenic boat journey from Ushuaia, Argentina to the Chilean town of Puerto Williams. The journey, which is much easier in the summer than in the winter, passes through some of Tierra del Fuego’s most beautiful landscapes. It is easy enough to arrange a charter or passage on a yacht or commercial boat between the two towns, and Victory Cruises has daily departures that $120 one-way.
  

Travelers will usually be responsible for paying a $10 port tax when they enter Chile. Cheaper, more regular ferry service to Chile might begin soon.