By Bus, Santiago – Transportation

Transportation in Santiago: By Bus

Santiago is not just the largest city in Chile, but it is also the capital. This city is located in a valley that is surrounded by the Chilean Coast Range and the Andes, which are snow-capped. Many tourists all over the world go to Santiago, Chile to enjoy the gorgeous views and get a taste of the rich culture. If you’re planning on going to Santiago, here are a few tips that will help gain access to inexpensive and dependable transportation.

Buses To Other Cities

If you want to take a bus to a city near Santiago, you should go to Terminal Alameda, which is the main bus terminal for all buses that travel outside of the city. Terminal Alameda is located at the “Universidad de Santiago” metro station. There is also another sub-terminal at the Pajaritos station. However, not every inter-city bus will stop at this sub-terminal.

You should book with Pullman and Tur-Bus if you plan on doing some long distance travel. If there are still seats on the bus, you can buy a ticket from the offices of these companies a few minutes before the bus will leave. You will find the offices of these companies in Terminal Alameda. Look at the Tur-Bus website for information about routes, reservations, and prices. You will need to pick a class for travel. If you will be on the bus overnight, you should consider booking Salon Cama or Premium for large seats that are able to lie flat.

If you want to get to Valparasio, for example, you will find it fairly cheap and easy to do so. Buses to Valparasio leave about four times an hour. You will need to take a bus from the Terminal San Borja, which is located around the Central Station. The trip will take about one hour and a half and will only cost you about $7. The buses will be clean and the seats will be allocated. There will be reclining seats so that you can relax and be comfortable. The buses are also on-time for the vast majority of trips.

No More Reciprocity Fee

Chances are, you’ve heard of the reciprocity fee that Americans are required to pay in Chile. The reciprocity fee was a whopping $160. However, in February 2014, Chile decided to stop collecting this fee from Americans. Therefore, if you’ve gone to Chile before February 2014, you can expect to save money on transportation the next time you go.

Use Mini Buses to Go to the Hotel

If you need transportation to go to your hotel from the Santiago airport, you should consider using a mini bus. One of the best and most dependable mini bus companies in Santiago is Transvip. You can expect to pay about $10 for the ride if your hotel is about 30 minutes away from the airport. Therefore, taking a mini bus is definitely one of the cheaper modes of transportation for getting to your hotel in Santiago.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about transportation in Santiago.