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Getting Around by Air
There are frequent services between main towns. The southern part of the country relies heavily on air links. Reservations are essential. Flights are operated by the domestic subsidary of LAN – LANexpress (LU) (website: www.lan.com), and Sky Airline (H2) (website: www.skyairline.cl), as well as by a number of air taxi companies.
There are regular flights with LAN from Santiago to Easter Island (journey time - 5 hours). Flights fill up quickly so it is essential to book in advance throughout the year. Discounted flights to Easter Island can only be purchased in conjunction with LAN long-haul flights; some round-the-world tickets include Easter Island. An air taxi runs a daily service during the summer months to the Juan Fernández Islands from Valparaíso and Santiago.
Air Passes
There are regular flights with LAN from Santiago to Easter Island (journey time - 5 hours). Flights fill up quickly so it is essential to book in advance throughout the year. Discounted flights to Easter Island can only be purchased in conjunction with LAN long-haul flights; some round-the-world tickets include Easter Island. An air taxi runs a daily service during the summer months to the Juan Fernández Islands from Valparaíso and Santiago.
Visit Chile: sold in conjunction with LAN transatlantic flights, covering
the north and the south of the country. Passes must be obtained outside
South America and it is advisable to make reservations well in advance.
Once purchased, reservations can be changed at no additional cost; but
for re-routing, a charge is made for each change. Valid for one month.
Departure Tax
Flights less than 270km (168 miles): CH$3,509; flights more than 270km (168 miles): CH$4,607.
Getting Around by Water
A network of ferries, including Navimag (tel: (65) 432 300; website: www.navimag.com), operates through the archipelago of the far south. The most popular routes are from Puerto Montt to Chacabuco and the San Raphael glacier, and between Puerto Montt and Puerto Natales. Boat services run from Valparaíso to Easter Island and Robinson Crusoe Island (part of the Juan Fernández Islands) once a month. Contact local travel agents on arrival for details.
Getting Around by Rail
Empresa de Los Ferrocarriles del Estado (state railway company) (website: www.efe.cl) runs between Santiago and Temuco in the south. Services are limited by the geography of the country, but there is one daily train each way at 2000, with sleeping and restaurant cars, and some air conditioned accommodation. Principal trains also carry vehicles. Children under 1.2m (4ft) in height travel free.
Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the right. Chile generally has good roads. The Pan American Highway crosses the country from north to south (a total of 3,455km/2,147 miles) from the Peruvian border to Puerto Montt. It is advisable in remoter areas to carry plenty of water, spare petrol and an additional spare tyre; tyres should be hard-wearing. In some areas with dirt roads it is neccessary to use a jeep or pick-up truck.
Bus: Intercity buses are excellent, comfortable and reliable. There is a luxury north–south service running most of the length of the country. Most long-distance coaches have toilets and serve food and drink. For further details, contact SERNATUR (see Contact Addresses).
Taxi: Should have meters and the fares displayed, but for long journeys, fares should be agreed beforehand. A surcharge of 50% applies on Sundays after 2100. Taxis are black with a yellow roof. Tipping is not expected.
Car hire: Drivers must be over 21 years old. Self-drive cars are available at the airport and in major city centres. A 20% tax is added and a credit card is required as guarantee. The Automóvil Club de Chile in Santiago can supply road maps (tel: (2) 431 1000; website: www.automovilclub.cl).
Regulations: Seat belts are mandatory for the driver and passenger. Smoking, using a mobile phone or a personal music player with headphones is prohibited for the driver. The maximum legal speed limit, unless otherwise stated, is 120kph (75mph) on highways and 70kph (45mph) in urban areas.
Documentation: A valid driving licence.
Bus: Intercity buses are excellent, comfortable and reliable. There is a luxury north–south service running most of the length of the country. Most long-distance coaches have toilets and serve food and drink. For further details, contact SERNATUR (see Contact Addresses).
Taxi: Should have meters and the fares displayed, but for long journeys, fares should be agreed beforehand. A surcharge of 50% applies on Sundays after 2100. Taxis are black with a yellow roof. Tipping is not expected.
Car hire: Drivers must be over 21 years old. Self-drive cars are available at the airport and in major city centres. A 20% tax is added and a credit card is required as guarantee. The Automóvil Club de Chile in Santiago can supply road maps (tel: (2) 431 1000; website: www.automovilclub.cl).
Regulations: Seat belts are mandatory for the driver and passenger. Smoking, using a mobile phone or a personal music player with headphones is prohibited for the driver. The maximum legal speed limit, unless otherwise stated, is 120kph (75mph) on highways and 70kph (45mph) in urban areas.
Documentation: A valid driving licence.
Getting Around Towns and Cities
Santiago has an excellent Metro (website: www.metrosantiago.cl), as well as bus, minibus and shared taxibus services. Metro fares increase at peak travelling times; 10-journey tickets (carnets) are available. Taxis are plentiful, and can be flagged down in the streets. The buses and minibuses have flat fares. Shared taxibuses can work out cheaper.
Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times from Santiago (in hours and minutes) to other major cities/towns in Chile.
| Air | Road | Rail | |
| Arica | 3.30 | 28.00 | - |
| Concepción | 1.00 | 9.00 | 7.00 |
| Punta Arenas | 4.20 | 120.00 | - |
| Easter Island | 5.00 | - | - |