Chile is long and narrow — 4,300 kilometers from the Peruvian border to Cape Horn, but rarely more than 180 kilometers wide. Getting between regions usually means flying or taking an overnight bus. Within each region, local buses and rental cars cover the ground.
Domestic Flights
LATAM is the main carrier, with JetSmart and SKY offering budget alternatives on popular routes. Key connections from Santiago:
| Route | Flight Time | For |
|---|---|---|
| Santiago → Calama (CJC) | 2 hours | Atacama Desert |
| Santiago → Temuco (ZCO) | 1.5 hours | Lake District (Pucon) |
| Santiago → Puerto Montt (PMC) | 1.5 hours | Lake District (Puerto Varas) |
| Santiago → Punta Arenas (PUQ) | 3.5 hours | Patagonia |
| Santiago → Mataveri (IPC) | 5 hours | Easter Island |
Book JetSmart and SKY for the lowest fares — sometimes under $30 one-way if you catch a sale. Carry-on only to keep costs down; checked bags add $15-30 per flight.
Long-Distance Buses
Chilean bus companies are excellent. Turbus and Pullman Bus are the two largest operators, with departures from Terminal Alameda and Terminal San Borja in Santiago.
Classes matter:
- Semi-cama: Seats recline about 45 degrees. Perfectly comfortable for daytime trips and bearable overnight. The cheapest option.
- Salon cama: Seats recline to nearly flat. Blankets, pillows, and sometimes a meal included. Worth the extra cost for overnight trips.
- Premium / Suite: Individual pods, fully flat. Available on major routes. A fraction of the cost of flying.
Santiago to Valparaiso takes 90 minutes and costs $5-8. Santiago to Pucon is about 10 hours overnight. Santiago to Puerto Natales (Patagonia) is roughly 30 hours — fly unless you have time and enjoy bus travel.
Car Rental
Useful in the Lake District, wine regions, and for the Carretera Austral in northern Patagonia. Roads are generally good on major highways. The Pan-American Highway (Ruta 5) runs the length of the country and is mostly dual carriageway.
Rent from international agencies (Europcar, Hertz, Budget) at airports for the best rates. An international driving permit is technically required but rarely checked. Fuel is more expensive than the US, comparable to Europe.
Tip: Toll Roads
Major highways around Santiago use electronic tolling (TAG). Rental cars usually include a TAG device — confirm this when picking up or you will receive toll invoices later. Manual toll booths exist on some highways outside the capital.
City Transport
Santiago's Metro is clean and efficient — a bip! card works on the metro and city buses. Top up at any station or convenience store. Uber and DiDi operate throughout Santiago and are cheaper than official taxis.
In other cities, local buses (micros) are cheap but confusing for visitors. Uber works in most cities over 100,000 people. In smaller towns, colectivos (shared taxis on fixed routes) are the local transport.