Chile

Bus

The bus system is pretty sophisticated providing a great way to get from town to town. Take in mind that for the most part going from one city to the next will take longer than expected because they stop at many bus stations along the way. Some companies that travel all the country are Turbus and Pullman (websites in Spanish only). In Santiago, you can find both terminals and more companies on Universidad de Santiago subway station.

La Micro

Micro = transit/local buses. The word is the contraction of Microbus. Larger cities have bus routes to get around for a very affordable price. There are no maps with all the routes so a little bit of Spanish and the audacity to ask around can get you places effectively. Recently changed to a new more modern system in Santiago only. http://www.transantiago.cl

Colectivo

A mix between a micro and a taxi. These small cars have routes and get around quicker and more comfortably. Slightly more expensive or cheaper than the micros depending of the hour.

Metro

A metropolitan railway system operating in Santiago, Valparaiso and Concepcion. A reliable way to move around in the city. You must pay the fee only once (when you enter the system) and you can ride in it as much as you want. Now in Santiago there are more stations because of the recent construction of two new lines. http://www.metrosantiago.cl

By Thumb

Hitchhiking in Chile is easy enough given enough time and patience. It is seen as a common form of travel for tourists or young, adventurous, Chileans. On large highways such as the Panamerican Highway, hitching becomes nearly impossible. Smaller, more scenic roads such as the Carretera Austral in the south, can leave you waiting for half a dozen hours in the more remote sections but the rides will generally get you a long way and are worth waiting for. If you are a tourist be sure to show it with your backpack, flags attached to your backpack, etc. The locals love chatting with foreign travelers.