Chile - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 369

VISAS
Citizens of the European Union,
the United States, Canada, South Africa,
Australia and New Zealand do not
require visas , though citizens of the
United States (US$160), Canada
(US$132) and Australia (US$95) are
subject to one-off arrival fees , valid for
the life of the passport. Tourists are
routinely granted ninety-day entry
permits and must surrender their tourist
cards upon departure. In theory, visitors
can be asked to produce an onward ticket
and proof of sufficient funds, though
that rarely happens. Ninety-day visa
extensions can be granted by the
Departamento de Extranjería, San
Antonio 580, Piso 2, Santiago Centro
(Mon-Fri 8.30am-2pm, calls taken
9am-4pm; T 600 6264222, W www
.extranjeria.gov.cl/ingles at a cost of
US$100, although it may be cheaper
and easier simply to cross the border
into a neighbouring country and back
again. If you lose your tourist card, you
can get a replacement from the Policía
Internacional, Morande 672, Santiago
( T 2 26901010).

6002828, W skyairline.cl) competes with
LAN price-wise, with daily flights between
Chile's major cities. Punta Arenas-based
Aerovías DAP ( T 61 2616100, W aerovias
dap.cl) flies to various destinations in
Chilean and Argentine Patagonia and
Tierra del Fuego; it's best to book tickets
directly at the airline offices as their
website is inefficient.

BY TRAIN
Travelling by train is a good option if
you plan to stop off in Middle Chile. A
reliable and comfortable service operated
by Terra Sur ( W terrasur.cl) usually runs
several times a day between Santiago
and Chillán, with stops at intermediate
stations including Rancagua, and Talca.
On the cheapest seats, the three-hour
trip from Santiago to Talca costs about
CH$5600, and from Santiago to
Rancagua (1hr) around CH$3600.

4

BY BUS
Bus travel is popular, affordable and
convenient. The level of comfort depends
on how much you are prepared to pay
for your ticket, with the cama buses
being the plushest, their seats reclining
almost horizontally. The cheapest seats
from Santiago to Arica cost around
CH$40,000, from Santiago to Puerto
Montt CH$24,000, and from Santiago
to Mendoza CH$17,000.
Bus tickets are valid only for specified
buses, and the major bus companies, such
as Tur Bus ( T 600 6606600, W turbus.cl)
and Pullman ( T 600 3203200, W pullman
.cl), require you to buy your ticket before
you board - though for the majority of
routes you'll have no trouble purchasing
tickets at a bus station kiosk shortly before
your departure. That said, south of Puerto
Montt, and especially during the peak
months, demand outstrips supply, so it
is advisable to book in advance if you are
on a tight schedule. Bus station kiosks
are the easiest option - online booking
services are available but cannot usually
process foreign credit cards. If crossing
international borders by bus, remember
that it's prohibited to transport animal and
plant matter to neighbouring countries,
and luggage searches are frequent.

GETTING AROUND
The majority of the population in Chile
travels by bus, and it's such a reliable and
inexpensive option that you'll probably
do the same. However, domestic flights
are handy for covering long distances in
a hurry.

BY PLANE
Several airlines offer frequent and
reasonably priced flights within Chile.
You'll often find better fares by booking
locally, rather than in advance from
home. The flight from Santiago to Arica
(2hr 30min) costs around CH$70,000,
and the Santiago to Puerto Montt flight
(1hr 30min) around CH$50,000. Return
tickets are often much cheaper than two
singles. LAN ( T 600 5262000 in Chile,
when abroad call T 56 26872400,
W

lan.com) is the most established airline
with efficient online booking, last-minute
discounts and a good-value “Visit South
America Air Pass”. Sky Airline ( T 600