{"id":103695,"date":"2026-10-20T11:12:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T14:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chile.travel\/blog\/the-cold-war-submarine-you-can-visit-in-valdivia\/"},"modified":"2026-10-20T11:15:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T14:15:12","slug":"the-cold-war-submarine-you-can-visit-in-valdivia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chile.travel\/en\/blog\/the-cold-war-submarine-you-can-visit-in-valdivia\/","title":{"rendered":"The Cold War submarine you can visit in Valdivia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Amid the culinary and scenic charms of the Los R\u00edos Region, Valdivia safeguards a historic treasure on the Calle-Calle River: the O\u2019Brien Submarine<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

Cover photo: CCM Valdivia<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Imagine stepping into a real submarine, climbing down through a hatch, and walking through the spaces where its crew lived and worked. The O\u2019Brien Submarine Museum<\/strong>, located along the waterfront, is one of the most unusual visits you can add to a city tour, between Valdivia\u2019s rainforest and its rivers<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n

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Photo: Valdivia Municipal Cultural Corporation<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

The story of the O\u2019Brien Submarine <\/h2>\n\n

Built in Scotland starting in 1971, this vessel was commissioned by the Chilean Navy and launched in late 1972. It reached Chilean waters in August 1976, arriving in Punta Arenas to carry out strategic patrol and surveillance duties. <\/p>\n\n

Its name pays tribute to Jorge O\u2019Brien, an Irish sailor who joined the Chilean independence cause. It belongs to the legendary Oberon class<\/strong>, renowned during the Cold War<\/strong> for its ability to travel silently underwater\u2014key for surveillance and espionage missions. <\/p>\n\n

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Photo: Valdivia Municipal Cultural Corporation<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

After 25 years of service, it was decommissioned in late 2001. In 2008, the Municipality of Valdivia acquired it to convert it into a cultural space. Today, it is the second of its kind still afloat in the world<\/strong> and one of three museums of this kind in South America. <\/p>\n\n

What can you see inside the submarine?<\/h2>\n\n
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Photo: Museums Registry of Chile<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

After entering through a 90 cm hatch<\/strong>, you\u2019ll climb down a vertical ladder to begin a tour through narrow corridors and different levels, making it easy to imagine what life was like for crew members during their long days beneath the sea. <\/p>\n\n

The tour is guided and lasts about 40 minutes. You\u2019ll see the bunks where sailors rested, the engine room, weapons areas, and part of the equipment used for navigation. <\/p>\n\n

How much it costs and how to get tickets <\/h2>\n\n