Santiago Transport

Getting there & away

Contents

Land

Bus

Good-value bus services are constantly coming in and out of Santiago, and they range from basic to luxurious. Prices vary according to the type of bus and when you travel.

Terminal San Borja

This terminal (02-776-0645; www.terminalsanborja.cl in Spanish; Alameda 3250, Barrio Brasil; Estación Central) is at the end of the shopping mall alongside the main railway station. The ticket booths are divided by region, with destinations prominently displayed. Destinations are from Arica down to the Cordillera around Santiago. Buses also go to the Región V coast.

Terminal de buses Alameda

This terminal (270-7424, 270-7500; Alameda 3750; Universidad de Santiago) is home to Tur Bus (600-660-6600) and Pullman Bus (778-1185), both going to a wide variety of destinations north, south and on the coast. They are both similarly priced and equally reliable and comfortable.

Terminal de buses Santiago

This terminal (376-1750; Alameda 3850; Universidad de Santiago) is often referred to as Terminal de Buses Sur. It serves mainly the southern destinations, central coast, the Lakes District and Chiloé, plus a few international destinations.

Terminal los Héroes

Also known as Terrapuerto, this terminal near the Alameda in the Centro, is a much more convenient and less chaotic terminal. Buses mainly head north along the Panamericana Highway, but a few go to Argentina and south to Temuco.

Terminal Metro Pajaritos

This terminal (250-3464; General Bonilla 5600; Pajaritos) is ideal for bypassing downtown traffic if you are going to the airport or the coast. It's on metro Línea 1.

Torres de Tajamar

A business center, Torres de Tajamar (Av Providencia 1100; 9am-6pm Mon-Fri) has ticket offices for many bus companies, including Pullman and Tur Bus.

Train

Trains only go south from Santiago and now reach down to Temuco. The system has recently been revamped and is now faster and more efficient than it used to be. The trains also call into Talca (US$10, 2½ hours) and Chillán (US$15, five hours). Slower automotor services go to Talcahuano on the coast near Concepción and to Talco, stopping at smaller towns such as Curicó and Parral.

The Empresa de Ferrocarriles del Estado (EFE; 376-8500; www.efe.cl in Spanish; Alameda 3170; Esta- ción Central) has trains to Temuco leaving at 10:30pm (US$16.50, nine hours). Discounts of 10% are available if you book online. There are two types of ticket: salón (the cheaper ticket) and preferente. Prices are higher on the weekend and during holidays. Ten trains head south from the station daily.

There is also a local metrotren service that goes as far as San Fernando to the south.

All trains from Santiago depart from the Estación Central. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office (600-585-5000; Alameda 3170, Centro; 7am-9:45pm) and at Metro Universidad de Chile (688-3297; 9am-8pm Mon-Fri, 9am-2pm Sat).

Air

Aeropuerto Internacional Arturo Merino Benítez (601-1752, lost property 690-1707; www.aeropuertosantiago.cl), also known as Pudahuel, is the airport for most domestic and international flights from Santiago. It is 26km west of Santiago Centro, well beyond the end of the metro.

Many major international airlines have offices or representatives in Santiago.