What to do and see in Magallanes Region, Magallanes Region: The Best Bus Transportation

BUS-SUR is a family owned business, founded by Sr. Aquilino Silva Obando (1932-2005), a man who came to Magallanes from Loncoche (IX Region of Chile) to finish his obligated military service. Enchanted by these lands, their people and his friends, he decided to stay in the region, work with great persistence to save up the capital needed in order to initiate in the transport business; first purchasing trailers and then buses. Sr Aquilino was a farmer, till it was no longer a strong income at the south of Chile. Due to his effort, he got a hold of more than 1,000 cow heads, also working the lands – just like when he was child and how he was taught by his parents -. Entrepreneur, with a great conviction, he was able to force an outstanding development thanks to his great wisdom, in the most important categories: Transport and Cattle Raising. During his beginnings, he started his activities transporting personal of cattle raising and mining for many years, doing trips between Puerto Natales and Rio Turbio (Argentina). Due to his frequent trips, he was able to offer more services in the routes between Chilean-Argentine Patagonia. From an early age, his son Carlos – Best known for transport in the region – worked together with his father in this important transport company. Thanks to a joined effort, consistency and the friendliness of the Magellan people, have been able to stay through time, a transport service that helps thousands of people and become a preferred service. bus2Currently, the company is being run by the new generation of the family: Mariano Silva – Engineer and Carla Silva – Lawyer (both children of Carlos) who want to start alongside their father a new era of the company, supported by around 100 collaborators who participate in the wonderful task of connecting Chilean-Argentinean Patagonia. This was, the new generation of the company, yearns to complete a century transporting people in these Patagonian lands at the end of the world, securing their seal of quality in each one of their services. BUS-SUR is a company from Puerto Natales that has been active since 1956, year in which it opened its first office in that city. The year 1978 founded their first office in the city of Punta Arenas, initiating with this milestone the service of daily trips from this city to Puerto Natales. This route is what currently transports the highest number of passengers, in low season as well as high season. This service is a part of the region, due to its high demand and the services that are exchanged between the two cities. This way, the company was pioneer in offering regular trips between Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine, initiating in 1976. These maintain till today transporting thousands of national and foreign tourists, now with a quicker and more comfortable service, permitting the people interested in getting to know one of the most majestic places in the world. Throughout the years, we implemented a new service, solicited by much of our clients, mailing and cargo service between Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas, it is called BUS-SUR CARGO. Beside the routes mentioned before, BUS-SUR also provides international routes of Argentine cities like El Calafate – Rio Gallegos – Rio Grande and Ushuaia. Plus we offer TOURISM and SPECIAL TRIP PROGRAMS for organized groups inside and outside of the region. In our offices you can also find sales of other services for distinct and attractive destinations, like Otway Sound Penguins, City Tours, Airport Transfers, Fort Bulnes, Torres del Paine and much more. Plus you’re also able to access frequent international trips not operated by BUS-SUR like Bariloche, Puerto Madryn, Buenos Aires and others. Our Services: With the importance of accommodating the necessities of our clients, BUS-SUR initiates a new era of its services (1998), expanding the regular international routes, like the Argentinean sister cities of El Calafate, Rio Gallegos, Rio Grande and Ushuaia, taking on this way all of the Chilean-Argentinean Patagonia. Some of these routes are operated personally and others are in conjunction with other companies. Strategic Alliance: In the year 2006, BUS-SUR realized a strategic alliance with the company PULLMANN BUS, one of the largest transport companies in the country, permitting an expansion of its service in the region of Magallanes and the cities of Osorno, Puerto Montt and Castro. This alliance went on during many years, dissolving in the year 2012. Aperture of Cargo and Mailing Service: Likewise, the company decided to add to its transport service and offer a cargo and mailing service, due to the necessities of the locals to send mail to their families and vice versa. Also due to the expansion of Punta Arenas, the families from Puerto Natales preferred purchasing goods in this city and needed a method to transport their goods. Plus other companies also asked for this service so they could transport their products as well, now we offer trust and punctuality for cargo and mail. Frequent Passenger Club: In the year 2008, understanding the vital importance to maintain our clients, the company has implemented the Frequent Passenger Club, so we can identify and provide benefits to our frequent clients, discounts on their tickets and also giving away prizes and have periodic contests, this way recognizing their preference, which is an input to help us in the permanent development of our company. This way it is possible to reinsert the best comfort of the implemented services. Currently, we have around 3000 members who are part of this club. Day to day we incorporate new clients, that indicates that we are advancing in the right direction. Renovation and Security Policies: BUS-SUR currently has a service policy, a constant renovation of the bus fleet, those that don’t remain more than 4 years operating with us. With this, we guarantee a minimal risk in the daily operations, realizing specific maintenance and incorporating new technologies that permit an updated trace of the services. The company, worried about its clients, has invested in security material, installation of GPS systems in all the buses, plus video cameras and other tools. Soon, the company will install an exclusive and new system of entertainment aboard, free for the passengers, which reaffirms the compromise of giving the best quality service available for our clients. Bus Designs: The paint and exterior design of the buses is an important aspect to highlight; the colors call attention to them and provide adhesive designs of animals and fauna of the region. We are the first and only company to innovate with exclusive designs, incorporating symbols that make the magellanics feel a part of our region and culture. This is the reason with some buses exhibit our beautiful regional flag of our Independent Republic. Also, each bus has a female name, with a hidden story that is a secret of the family. New office in Punta Arenas: The year 2015, Bus-Sur transferred to a new terminal of their own in the city of Punta Arenas, located on Avenida Colon 842, now offering a much larger space, accessibility, security and comfort for the users and collaborators, located in a strategic point to the city. This way, it solved the problem of parking the buses which was present, due to the fact that the old terminal didn’t offer this. With this new home, the company continues its objective to insure a comfortable experience and security to each of its invaluable users.