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Arriving into Santiago
de Chile
How to Arrive - Onward Travel - Flight Advice
Santiago de Chile
Chile's international airport is in the capital, Santiago de Chile. Flight times are about 13 hours from Europe and 11 hours from the United States.
Most international flights arrive into Santiago in the morning and with the domestic and international airports located next door to each other it makes for an easy connection to a domestic flight. However, a stay in this remarkable city is definitely worthwhile. It has beautiful parks, historic buildings and museums, great shopping, colourful markets and world class hotels and restaurants.
If you would like advice on what to do or where to stay in Santiago please email us. We can book city tours, beach breaks, wine or cycling tours, reserve hotels and even design a fully inclusive two or three night stay with all the arrangements made for you in advance.
After your stay or connection in Santiago you can continue on with a domestic flight to Punta Arenas (for Patagonia), Puerto Montt or Temuco (for the Lake District), Calama (for the Atacama) or wherever you intend to spend your holiday.
Clients Arriving in Patagonia
The majority of our Patagonia tours start and finish in Puerto Natales, with one or two exceptions.
With most trips setting off early on Day 1 it is necessary to arrive into Puerto Natales the day prior to departure. Depending on the time your trip ends (refer to the detailed itinerary for information) we recommend an additional overnight after the trip.
This provides some relaxation time before and after your flights in addition to giving an element of insurance against cancelled or delayed flights and tight connections.
We can pre-book accommodation in Puerto Natales and/or Punta Arenas for extra nights before or after the trip. Click on the City Guides to the top left of this page for both Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas together with our list of recommended hotels in both cities. Any of these hotels can be booked on your behalf with the cost added to your final invoice.
When arriving into Punta Arenas you should take a taxi from the airport to your hotel. The journey takes around 15 minutes and should cost no more than $20. Most taxi drivers will accept US dollars. Alternatively, BlueGreen can arrange an airport transfer at $35 per person. This should be pre-booked with us.
For arrival into Puerto Natales which is a small city you should take a taxi from the bus station to your hotel. The BlueGreen office is located in the centre of town if you would like to check in on arrival otherwise you should refer to your pre-departure information for collection/meeting information.
Depending on your flight and travel schedule, you can arrive into Puerto Natales to start your trip in a number of ways:
1. Fly from Santiago de Chile to the city of Punta Arenas, located at a distance of approximately 150 miles to the south of Puerto Natales and continue by road with a journey time of just under 3 hours.
Flights into Punta Arenas are available with either LanChile (www.lan.com) or Sky Airlines (www.skyairline.cl). Some flights are direct and some stop in Puerto Montt. Flight time from Santiago is 3-4 hours depending on stops or about 2 hours from Puerto Montt.
Take bus to Puerto Natales
From Punta Arenas you can take the regular, reliable bus either from the airport or from the city depending on whether you would like to spend time there or just go straight to Puerto Natales.
We can pre-book bus tickets for you at a cost of US$15 per person. Buses are offered by Buses Sur, Buses Fernandez and Buses Pacheco and all of these go via the airport. The bus timetable is given below.
NOTES:
i) The buses arrive at the airport about 15 minutes after their departure from Punta Arenas. When planning your route, note you should allow about an hour to collect your luggage before joining the bus in case of delays.
ii) If you are planning to join the bus at the airport, most of the buses will be full on leaving Punta Arenas so you should definitely pre-book tickets. If you are leaving the city of Punta Arenas, you should be fine booking the bus yourself - either have your hotel do it for you or call/visit the respective office in Punta Arenas.
iii) For return journeys from Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas, if you are continuing on an onward flight, make sure you book a bus that gets you to the airport at least two hours prior to your flight departure in case of delays. Again, we can either pre-book tickets for you or you can arrange this yourself in Puerto Natales.
Bus Timetable (as at 1 June 2013)
Buses Pacheco (www.busespacheco.com)
Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales 07.30; 14.00; 1800
Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas 07.30; 10.00; 1800
Buses Fernandez (www.busesfernandez.com)
Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales 08.00; 09.00; 13.00; 14.30; 17.00; 18.30; 19.00.
Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas 07.15; 09.00; 10.00; 13.00; 14.30; 17.00; 18.30.
Bus Sur (www.bus-sur.cl)
Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales 07.00; 10.00; 12.30; 15.00; 17.15: 19.00, 20.15
Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas 07.00; 10.00; 12.30;
15.00; 17.15; 19.00
Take private transfer to Puerto Natales
Alternatively, we can arrange private transfers from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales (and vice versa) on request. As a guide, one way prices for two clients would cost in the region of US$275 for the vehicle, with larger vehicles costing between US$325 and US$385.
Contact us for a confirmed price and to book this as part of your trip.
2. Fly from Buenos Aires into the city of el Calafate on the Argentine side of Patagonia and take a bus across the border to Puerto Natales.
Flights into el Calafate are available with either LanArgentina (www.lan.com) or Aerolineas Argentinas (www.aerolinas.com.ar). Flight time from Buenos Aires is about 3-4 hours depending on stops or 2 hours from Ushuaia.
To get from el Calafate to Puerto Natales to start your trip, you can take the regular bus service from the bus station in el Calafate to either Cerro Castillo or Puerto Natales. During the high season, buses depart at either 0700 or 0800 depending on the day of the week and the bus company. Arrival time is around lunch time depending on border formalities.
We can pre-book tickets for you at a cost of US$30 per person each way. To do this, we need your full name, passport information, date of birth and nationality.
We can also arrange a private transfer from/to el Calafate but this is fairly expensive with a vehicle for 2 people costing in the region of US$600.
3. Arrive into Puerto Natales on the Navimag boat from Puerto Montt.
Some of our clients take the ferry from Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales through the southern fjords of Patagonia. We are able to pre-book the Navimag ferry for you if you would like us to take care of all your ground arrangements in Chile.
Contact us for prices and departures.
4. Combine your hike in Patagonia with a once-in-a-lifetime visit to the ice continent itself
Combine your tour to southern Patagonia with a fabulous cruise to Antarctica. We know and deal with all the Antarctic operators and can help you sift through the options and find a trip that suits you both in terms of the route taken, the on-board facilities and activities, and of course your price budget and available dates.
Contact us for suggestions and prices.
Lost luggage
Despite what you might be told on check-in at your departure airport, it is better to check your own luggage off the international flight and onto your domestic flight. This will take a few extra minutes during transit but it will minimize the risk of luggage going astray. Missed connections
Please ensure you have a minimum of two to two and a half hours in Santiago to transfer to your domestic flight. Although the international and domestic terminals are next to each other there may be immigration queues and check-in delays, which can cause a missed connection. It seems that with some e-tickets, airlines are allowing bookings with connecting times of much less than this, which has resulted in clients' delays.
If you are flying into Buenos Aires in Argentina, you will need longer as the domestic airport is about an hour from the international terminal. Transfers and taxis are available but in rush hour, you should allow plenty of time.
Please note that BlueGreen cannot be held responsible for clients who do not arrive at the meeting point in time to start their trip. In the event that we have to arrange expensive emergency transfers and extra accommodation, we will request payment for these on booking. You would then be advised to make a claim on your travel insurance when you return home.
While we will of course do our best to ensure anyone arriving late is able to continue with their itinerary with minimal disruption and delay we regret that we cannot give refunds for missed hotel nights or activities. Flights
Schedules and online bookings are offered by LanChile at www.lan.com. Alternatively Sky Airlines fly the route from Santiago to Punta Arenas www.skyairline.cl. *Note last season, Sky introduced direct flights from Santiago to Puerto Natales during the peak season months between November and March. Please contact Sky for more information. For Argentina, flights are offered by Lan (see above) or Aerolineas Argentinas (www.aerolineas.com.ar).
Should I fly into Chile or Argentina?
With open jaw flights readily available, it is very possible to fly into Santiago and out of Buenos Aires or vice versa. Depending on the best availability of flights from your home country, you can choose which option suits you best. Many travellers visiting Chile will tag on some time in Argentina and vice versa. Both countries require an investment of time and money so why go all that way and not see them both?
There are many ways to connect the two countries depending on your travel priorities and requirements. Here are some ideas based on our knowledge and experience:
1. Fly into Santiago. Spend a couple of nights in the City before flying down to Punta Arenas for a trip in Torres del Paine. At the end of the trip, take the public bus to el Calafate in southern Argentina and visit the Moreno Glacier and Los Glaciares NP. Fly up to Bariloche and take the boat/bus combo across to Puerto Montt in Chile. Spend some time in Puerto Montt and fly back to Santiago and home.
2. Fly into Buenos Aires. Spend a couple of nights in the City before flying to el Calafate in the south. Visit the Moreno Glacier and then take the bus to Puerto Natales in Chile. Spend a week in Torres del Paine and then take the Navimag boat north to Puerto Montt. Fly north to Santiago and spend 3 days exploring the vineyards and beach areas close to the City. Fly out of Santiago.
3. Fly into Santiago. Fly up to San Pedro de Atacama for a 3 day stay in a beautiful desert lodge with pool, spa treatments and activities. Fly back to Santiago and on to Punta Arenas. Join a hiking trip in Torres del Paine. Return to Punta Arenas and then join an exciting Antartic air/boat cruise which finishes in Ushuaia in southern Argentina. Spend 2 nights in Ushuaia and then on to Buenos Aires. Spend a couple of nights in BA before joining a 3 day fully inclusive trip to the Iguassu Falls in a fall view room. Return to BA and fly home.
Please contact us for many more options depending on your available time and budget.
Chile's international airport is in the capital, Santiago de Chile. Flight times are about 13 hours from Europe and 11 hours from the United States.
Most international flights arrive into Santiago in the morning and with the domestic and international airports located next door to each other it makes for an easy connection to a domestic flight. However, a stay in this remarkable city is definitely worthwhile. It has beautiful parks, historic buildings and museums, great shopping, colourful markets and world class hotels and restaurants.
If you would like advice on what to do or where to stay in Santiago please email us. We can book city tours, beach breaks, wine or cycling tours, reserve hotels and even design a fully inclusive two or three night stay with all the arrangements made for you in advance.
After your stay or connection in Santiago you can continue on with a domestic flight to Punta Arenas (for Patagonia), Puerto Montt or Temuco (for the Lake District), Calama (for the Atacama) or wherever you intend to spend your holiday.
Clients Arriving in Patagonia
The majority of our Patagonia tours start and finish in Puerto Natales, with one or two exceptions.
With most trips setting off early on Day 1 it is necessary to arrive into Puerto Natales the day prior to departure. Depending on the time your trip ends (refer to the detailed itinerary for information) we recommend an additional overnight after the trip.
This provides some relaxation time before and after your flights in addition to giving an element of insurance against cancelled or delayed flights and tight connections.
We can pre-book accommodation in Puerto Natales and/or Punta Arenas for extra nights before or after the trip. Click on the City Guides to the top left of this page for both Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas together with our list of recommended hotels in both cities. Any of these hotels can be booked on your behalf with the cost added to your final invoice.
When arriving into Punta Arenas you should take a taxi from the airport to your hotel. The journey takes around 15 minutes and should cost no more than $20. Most taxi drivers will accept US dollars. Alternatively, BlueGreen can arrange an airport transfer at $35 per person. This should be pre-booked with us.
For arrival into Puerto Natales which is a small city you should take a taxi from the bus station to your hotel. The BlueGreen office is located in the centre of town if you would like to check in on arrival otherwise you should refer to your pre-departure information for collection/meeting information.
Depending on your flight and travel schedule, you can arrive into Puerto Natales to start your trip in a number of ways:
1. Fly from Santiago de Chile to the city of Punta Arenas, located at a distance of approximately 150 miles to the south of Puerto Natales and continue by road with a journey time of just under 3 hours.
Flights into Punta Arenas are available with either LanChile (www.lan.com) or Sky Airlines (www.skyairline.cl). Some flights are direct and some stop in Puerto Montt. Flight time from Santiago is 3-4 hours depending on stops or about 2 hours from Puerto Montt.
Take bus to Puerto Natales
From Punta Arenas you can take the regular, reliable bus either from the airport or from the city depending on whether you would like to spend time there or just go straight to Puerto Natales.
We can pre-book bus tickets for you at a cost of US$15 per person. Buses are offered by Buses Sur, Buses Fernandez and Buses Pacheco and all of these go via the airport. The bus timetable is given below.
NOTES:
i) The buses arrive at the airport about 15 minutes after their departure from Punta Arenas. When planning your route, note you should allow about an hour to collect your luggage before joining the bus in case of delays.
ii) If you are planning to join the bus at the airport, most of the buses will be full on leaving Punta Arenas so you should definitely pre-book tickets. If you are leaving the city of Punta Arenas, you should be fine booking the bus yourself - either have your hotel do it for you or call/visit the respective office in Punta Arenas.
iii) For return journeys from Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas, if you are continuing on an onward flight, make sure you book a bus that gets you to the airport at least two hours prior to your flight departure in case of delays. Again, we can either pre-book tickets for you or you can arrange this yourself in Puerto Natales.
Bus Timetable (as at 1 June 2013)
Buses Pacheco (www.busespacheco.com)
Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales 07.30; 14.00; 1800
Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas 07.30; 10.00; 1800
Buses Fernandez (www.busesfernandez.com)
Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales 08.00; 09.00; 13.00; 14.30; 17.00; 18.30; 19.00.
Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas 07.15; 09.00; 10.00; 13.00; 14.30; 17.00; 18.30.
Bus Sur (www.bus-sur.cl)
Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales 07.00; 10.00; 12.30; 15.00; 17.15: 19.00, 20.15
Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas 07.00; 10.00; 12.30;
15.00; 17.15; 19.00
Take private transfer to Puerto Natales
Alternatively, we can arrange private transfers from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales (and vice versa) on request. As a guide, one way prices for two clients would cost in the region of US$275 for the vehicle, with larger vehicles costing between US$325 and US$385.
Contact us for a confirmed price and to book this as part of your trip.
2. Fly from Buenos Aires into the city of el Calafate on the Argentine side of Patagonia and take a bus across the border to Puerto Natales.
Flights into el Calafate are available with either LanArgentina (www.lan.com) or Aerolineas Argentinas (www.aerolinas.com.ar). Flight time from Buenos Aires is about 3-4 hours depending on stops or 2 hours from Ushuaia.
To get from el Calafate to Puerto Natales to start your trip, you can take the regular bus service from the bus station in el Calafate to either Cerro Castillo or Puerto Natales. During the high season, buses depart at either 0700 or 0800 depending on the day of the week and the bus company. Arrival time is around lunch time depending on border formalities.
We can pre-book tickets for you at a cost of US$30 per person each way. To do this, we need your full name, passport information, date of birth and nationality.
We can also arrange a private transfer from/to el Calafate but this is fairly expensive with a vehicle for 2 people costing in the region of US$600.
3. Arrive into Puerto Natales on the Navimag boat from Puerto Montt.
Some of our clients take the ferry from Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales through the southern fjords of Patagonia. We are able to pre-book the Navimag ferry for you if you would like us to take care of all your ground arrangements in Chile.
Contact us for prices and departures.
4. Combine your hike in Patagonia with a once-in-a-lifetime visit to the ice continent itself
Combine your tour to southern Patagonia with a fabulous cruise to Antarctica. We know and deal with all the Antarctic operators and can help you sift through the options and find a trip that suits you both in terms of the route taken, the on-board facilities and activities, and of course your price budget and available dates.
Contact us for suggestions and prices.
Lost luggage
Despite what you might be told on check-in at your departure airport, it is better to check your own luggage off the international flight and onto your domestic flight. This will take a few extra minutes during transit but it will minimize the risk of luggage going astray. Missed connections
Please ensure you have a minimum of two to two and a half hours in Santiago to transfer to your domestic flight. Although the international and domestic terminals are next to each other there may be immigration queues and check-in delays, which can cause a missed connection. It seems that with some e-tickets, airlines are allowing bookings with connecting times of much less than this, which has resulted in clients' delays.
If you are flying into Buenos Aires in Argentina, you will need longer as the domestic airport is about an hour from the international terminal. Transfers and taxis are available but in rush hour, you should allow plenty of time.
Please note that BlueGreen cannot be held responsible for clients who do not arrive at the meeting point in time to start their trip. In the event that we have to arrange expensive emergency transfers and extra accommodation, we will request payment for these on booking. You would then be advised to make a claim on your travel insurance when you return home.
While we will of course do our best to ensure anyone arriving late is able to continue with their itinerary with minimal disruption and delay we regret that we cannot give refunds for missed hotel nights or activities. Flights
Schedules and online bookings are offered by LanChile at www.lan.com. Alternatively Sky Airlines fly the route from Santiago to Punta Arenas www.skyairline.cl. *Note last season, Sky introduced direct flights from Santiago to Puerto Natales during the peak season months between November and March. Please contact Sky for more information. For Argentina, flights are offered by Lan (see above) or Aerolineas Argentinas (www.aerolineas.com.ar).
Should I fly into Chile or Argentina?
With open jaw flights readily available, it is very possible to fly into Santiago and out of Buenos Aires or vice versa. Depending on the best availability of flights from your home country, you can choose which option suits you best. Many travellers visiting Chile will tag on some time in Argentina and vice versa. Both countries require an investment of time and money so why go all that way and not see them both?
There are many ways to connect the two countries depending on your travel priorities and requirements. Here are some ideas based on our knowledge and experience:
1. Fly into Santiago. Spend a couple of nights in the City before flying down to Punta Arenas for a trip in Torres del Paine. At the end of the trip, take the public bus to el Calafate in southern Argentina and visit the Moreno Glacier and Los Glaciares NP. Fly up to Bariloche and take the boat/bus combo across to Puerto Montt in Chile. Spend some time in Puerto Montt and fly back to Santiago and home.
2. Fly into Buenos Aires. Spend a couple of nights in the City before flying to el Calafate in the south. Visit the Moreno Glacier and then take the bus to Puerto Natales in Chile. Spend a week in Torres del Paine and then take the Navimag boat north to Puerto Montt. Fly north to Santiago and spend 3 days exploring the vineyards and beach areas close to the City. Fly out of Santiago.
3. Fly into Santiago. Fly up to San Pedro de Atacama for a 3 day stay in a beautiful desert lodge with pool, spa treatments and activities. Fly back to Santiago and on to Punta Arenas. Join a hiking trip in Torres del Paine. Return to Punta Arenas and then join an exciting Antartic air/boat cruise which finishes in Ushuaia in southern Argentina. Spend 2 nights in Ushuaia and then on to Buenos Aires. Spend a couple of nights in BA before joining a 3 day fully inclusive trip to the Iguassu Falls in a fall view room. Return to BA and fly home.
Please contact us for many more options depending on your available time and budget.
Santiago's famous market
Browsing the city streets
