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INTERNAL FLIGHTS
The airline Lan Chile operates almost all domestic flights. The inexistence of competing companies means that flight prices remain considerably high. Thanks to the lack of competition, it will be difficult to find a domestic flight in Chile for less than €100, even for the shortest routes.
Lan also regularly flies to Easter Island, the furthest Chilean territory in South America and the most isolated island in the world. The normal price is around €400 but you can find flights for less during the low season and in certain promotional periods.
the companies ATA e Lassa they also fly to the Juan Fernandez archipelago, a group of fascinating islands – including Robinson Crusoe – 600 km from Valparaíso, on the Chilean coast. The return flight costs around €500.
CAR RENTAL
It is possible to rent a car at airports and other service desks. rent a car of the main Chilean cities. Rented vehicles will have a minimum cost of €45 to €55 per day for small economy cars, sometimes with only 150 or 200 km a day included, to which €0,50 – €0,60 per liter of gasoline must be added , a little less for diesel.
Chilean main roads are of a very acceptable quality. If you plan to leave these roads and go through secondary lanes, rent a jeep or, at the very least, a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Chile's famous gravel roads can become very slippery after a long rain or snowfall, not to mention possible ice in the south of the country during the colder months.
Chile's two main roads, the Carretera Austral and the Panamericana run through a large part of the country. The last one has undergone improvements but is equipped with tolls that charge €1 to €2 for a given segment or a fixed amount for the exit to a particular city.
Chile guarantees acceptable safety conditions for those who drive cars, motorbikes and even bicycles. Traffic in cities is substantially more organized and smoother than in Argentina and Brazil. Driving on the Panamericana and Carretera Austral is also relatively quieter. across the country.
TRUCK
Chile is covered by a considerable fleet of long-haul buses. You can find buses to virtually every region, except the most remote ones like the Patagonian fjords, the southern tip of Tierra del Fuego and the ice field area. More information and reservations at Omnilines. Almost all companies offer regular seating and what they call salon bed, where passengers can sleep during the trip for a price around 30% higher. Bus fares range from €4 from Santiago de Chile to Valparaíso (2 hours) to almost €100 from Santiago to far away Punta Arenas (60 hours).
SHIP
There are several shipping companies that provide ferry trips, mainly in the section of Chile that is more broken up by fjords and canals, south of Puerto Montt.
By way of example, the NAVIMAG started to admit foreign travelers aboard its cruise ships that travel the Patagonian fjords between Puerto Natales (near the Torres del Paine), Puerto Montt and vice versa. These routes cost approximately €290 per passenger/bed, for 3 nights of sailing.
It has also operated the Puerto Montt-Puerto Cachabuco route for some time. Be aware that if you travel through Chile in a two- or four-wheel vehicle, ferries from NAVIMAG and some other companies can also transport you on different routes.
Other possible routes are: Puerto Montt – Chaitén; La Arena – Puelche; Hornopirén – Caleta Gonzalo; Pargua – Chiloé Island; Chiloé – Chaiten; Chiloé – Puerto Cachabuco; Puerto Ibañez – Chile Chico; Punta Arenas – Tierra del Fuego; Puerto Williams – Ushuaia.
are operated by Transmarchlay; Catamarans del Sur; Naviera Sotramin; South Sea and Austral Broom Transhiper
TRAIN
Chile's rail network has recently been remodeled and expanded but continues to prove uncompetitive compared to buses. It's slower, more expensive and, in most cases, just as or less comfortable. There are international rail connections with Bolivia (Arica – La Paz) and Peru (Arica – Tacna). More information at EFE.