Transportation To and From Santiago Chile
Learn about Chilean transportation systems for getting around inside of Chile's capital city of Santiago:
Arriving at the Airport
The first person you meet in the Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport will probably be an immigration agent. If you did not arrange for a visa before entering the country, you will be issued a tourist card. Australians, Mexicans, Canadians and Americans are the only nationalities that pay for the tourist card. See the Visas and Immigrations section for more information on the tourist card.
You will not be allowed to bring plants, vegetables, meats or fruits into the country. Customs (aduana) will confiscate these items.
Addresses
- Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport
(2) 690-1900
Leaving Chile
If you are in Chile on a visa other than the tourist card, you must present your Chilean Identification Card when you leave and re-enter the country. The International Police say that they will not let you leave if you do not have your card with you.
You will have to pay US$26 departure tax when you leave Santiago.
Addresses
- Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport
(2) 690-1900
Getting to and from the Airport
When you arrive at the airport, you can reserve a taxi at the reservation desk or hail a taxi outside the airport. A taxi to most hotels in Santiago will cost about 10,000 pesos.
Minibuses are cheaper than taxis, but it will take you longer to get where you are going. Minibuses have to drop off all of the passengers in the bus.
Airport buses are the cheapest way to get to Santiago from the airport. Two bus companies, Centro Puerto and Tour Express, make trips from the airport to the Los Heroes Metro Station in downtown Santiago. Both companies charge
1,000 pesos. Centro Puerto leaves the airport every 15 minutes. Tour express departs every 30 minutes.
To get to the airport, it is cheaper to take a radio taxi than to hail a taxi on the street. See the radio taxi section for a list of companies.
Minibuses are more inexpensive than taxis, but you should not expect punctuality. The driver may have to pick up a number of customers before he picks you up. There is a list of minibus companies below.
To take the airport buses, it is best to wait at the airport bus stop the corner of Alameda with Calle Tucapel Jimenez, a block west of Metro Station Los Heroes. This way you can take the first airport bus that passes. You can also catch the Tour Express bus on the corner of Moneda and San Martin.
Addresses
- Centro Puerto
Airport Bus
Alameda w/ Tucapel Jimenez Street
Santiago Centro
(2) 601-9883
- Tour Express
Moneda 1529
Santiago Centro
(2) 601-7380
Metro Station La Moneda
- Aero Express
Manuel Rodríguez 846
Saniago Centro
(2) 696-9609, (2) 695-8056
Fax: 696-3428
Metro Station Santa Ana
- Tour Express
Manuel Rodríguez 846
Saniago Centro
(2) 601-9573, (2) 695-8056
Metro Station Santa Ana
- Navett
Sazie 2635
Santiago Centro
(2) 227-2996, (2) 695-6868
Fax: (2) 689-0697
Metro Station Unión Latinoamericana
- Transfer
(2) 777-7707
- Delfos
Primo De Rivera 180
Maipu
(2) 226-6020, (2) 766-2290
Fax: (2) 766-2303
