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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 LAN Express, a subsidiary of LAN (www.lan.com), and Sky Airline (H2) (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
Visit South America: replaces the old Visit Chile pass. It is available with LAN transatlantic flights, and covers Chile as well as Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. 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.
Getting Around by Water
From Puerto Montt there are various ferry operators - with the main one being Navimag (tel: (65) 432 300; www.navimag.com) - that travel south. The most popular routes are from Puerto Montt to Chacabuco, running inland to the spectacular San Raphael glacier, and between Puerto Montt and Puerto Natales. Cargo boat services running from Valparaíso to Robinson Crusoe Island (part of the Juan Fernández Islands) occasionally have cabins available. Enquire in Valparaíso.
Getting Around by Rail
Empresa de Los Ferrocarriles del Estado (state railway company) (www.efe.cl) runs between south from Santiago. Services used to go all the way to Temuco but now just run to Chillán. Principal trains also carry vehicles. Children under 1m (3ft) in height travel free.
Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the right. Chile generally has good roads. The Pan American Highway threads right down most of 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. Four-wheel drives are necessary In some of the more remote areas with dirt roads.
Bus: Intercity buses are generally comfortable and reliable, running along the very well maintained Pan American highway. There are more luxurious semi-cama (literally half-bed) services running most of the length of the country. Most long-distance coaches have toilets. For further details, contact SERNATUR (see Contact Addresses). Taxi: Taxis are black with a yellow roof. Most should have meters, but, If you can, find out roughly what the fare should be beforehand. Fares for long journeys should be agreed beforehand. 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; 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 (www.metrosantiago.cl), as well as bus, and shared colectivo services, although the modernisation of the city's transport infrastructure has had various teething problems. Metro fares increase at peak travelling times; you can buy single tickets or a pre-paid 'Bip!' card, which is more convenient for longer term stays. The city's bus network is now automated and you need to have the Bip! card to travel. Taxis are plentiful, and can be flagged down in the streets.
Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times from Santiago (in hours and minutes) to other major cities/towns in Chile.
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