Getting Around

Getting Around Chile

The main airport in Chile is the Santiago International Airport and Chile’s main airline is LAN which deals with international flights. Chile has a good domestic airport infrastructure with the main hub for flights being the Arturo Merino Benitez Airport in Santiago. The four Chilean airlines that serve even the remotest corners of the country are LAN, Sky Airline, Aerolineas del Sur and Principal Airlines. It is recommended to reserve your tickets when travelling within Chile before entering the country. Due to the shape of the country many routes are subject to several time consuming layovers so take this into account when booking your flights.

Chile has a sophisticated bus system providing cheap and comfortable travel. Companies that cover almost the entire country are Turbus and Pullman and prices vary daily and are more expensive on weekends and holidays. Larger towns have cross-town bus routes at reasonable prices however there are no maps with all the routes so ask around and you should be able to guide your way around quite effectively. There is also a metropolitan railway system operating in Santiago, Valparaiso and Concepcion which is a reliable method to move around the city. You only have to pay once (when you enter the system) and you can ride around as much as you wish.

Chile’s roads are generally good with traffic driving on the right and all traffic signs are in Spanish only. Some of the more remote areas in the country require four-wheel drives and when visiting these remote areas it is advised to carry plenty of water, spare petrol and a spare tyre. Car rentals are widely available in the larger cities and a credit card, driver’s license and a passport are required. Parking spaces and street lanes are narrow so it is recommended to rent a small vehicle. Drivers must be over 21 and seat belts are mandatory. Smoking, using a mobile phone or a personal music player with head phones is prohibited for the driver. Taxis all should have meters however it is recommended to find out the fare beforehand and tipping is not expected.

Hitchhiking in Chile is very common and is not difficult except on large highways where it is nearly impossible. In more remote areas you could be waiting for a lift for many hours however the rides should get you a fair distance. Generally the locals love to chat with foreign travellers.