To get to Chile most tourists arrive by international commercial flights. There are plenty of airports in Chile where various flights from different arrive. The main airport, Aeropuerto Internacional Comodoro Arturo Merino BenÃtez, is located at the city of Santiago though there are other international airports in other cities. For flight schedules and ticket prices kindly check with your local tour office since this of course varies depending on your location. Getting from the airports to your hotel is no problem since you can arrange for transfer services beforehand or use the taxi queued outside the airport.
To get around Chile you have five options to you namely the: metro (underground railway), buses, taxis, collectivos (shared taxis), and hired cars.
The metro has three lines: the Red Line or East-West, passing through the Centre, the Yellow Line going from the Centre to the South West, and the Green Line which goes from the Centre to the South East. The metro is open from 6:30am to 10pm Mondays to Fridays and from 8:30am to 10:30pm on Sundays and Holidays. Ticket prices vary depending on the type of ticket you get and on the time of the day. Tickets are more expensive from 7:15am till 9am and 6pm till 7pm since these are peak hours. For the ticket price list please visit their website at: http://www.metrosantiago.cl/tarifas.php. Please note that student fares do not apply during Sundays and holidays.
City buses, also known as micros, are plentiful in all cities in Chile. The city buses offer good service and are generally on time. It is also relatively cheaper than the metro though you might want to use the metro if you want a faster transportation since, on time as they are, city buses are known for their slowness. There are several bus companies operating in each city so that you can expect to find several terminals in whichever city you go to. Like in metros student fares do not apply on Sundays and holidays.
Taxis are available 24/7 in Santiago and the rest of Chile. This is a more expensive alternative though most tourists of course opt for the convenience of taxis. Taxis are all equipped with meters to give you the right amount of fare so do not agree to a fixed fare from the driver. Tip if you must but do not get on a taxi if the driver does not want to go by the meter.
Colectivos are taxis that operate like buses having a fixed route within a city. Colectivos fares are midway between what buses and taxis charge. It is a faster alternative to buses though you should make sure you get on the right colectivo or end up in one where your destination is not on its route.
Hiring a car is very easy in Chile since there are a lot of companies that offer the service. Note though that the cheapest car rentals can be found in Santiago. To rent a car you should make sure that you: have a driving license, from 25 to 75 years old, have a credit card or a checking account, and understand all the fees and policy of the rental company you deal with.
Related Link: Limo services