Santiago de Chile

Table of Contents: Districts / Travel to Santiago de Chile, visa requirements Flights to Santiago de Chile, airtickets By car Buses to Santiago de Chile / Get around / Santiago de Chile attractions and sightseeing / City tours / Learn / Work / Shopping, Santiago de Chile souvenirs / Good restaurants and cheap meals / Nightlife / Hotels, youth hostels, lodging / Contact / Stay safe / Get out More from Central (Chile): Maitencillo, Portillo, Rancagua, Santiago de Chile, Talca, Valparaiso, Vina del Mar More from Chile: Central (Chile), Chiloe Island, Extreme South (Chile), La Serena, North (Chile), Pucon, Robinson Crusoe Island, South (Chile) More from South America: Amazonia, Andes, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Falkland Islands, Guyana, Los Roques, Pantanal, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Tierra del Fuego, Uruguay, Venezuela

Santiago de Chile is the capital of Chile, a country on the west coast of South America.

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Districts

• Barrio Brasil
• Barrio Suecia
• Barrio París Londres
• Barrio Bellavista - The neighbourhood where most of the nightlife is concentrated.
• Plaza Nuñoa - a square with quiet and relaxed nightlife.

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Travel to Santiago de Chile, visa requirements

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Flights to Santiago de Chile, airtickets

Santiago Airport (IATA: SCL) (ICAO: SCEL) is the main gateway for travellers around the world, and is served by many airlines from all three major airline alliances. The travel time from the international airport in Santiago to the city centre has been drastically reduced recently, with the construction of a new tollway, the Costanera Norte. Private taxis will charge about $10,000 (less than USD$20)for a trip to downtown or Providencia. Tur-bus is a nice alternative, you´ll find them in a kiosk in the center of the baggage claim in the airport, they charge $7 USD for door-to-door shuttle service, or $3 USD, for a bus to the Tur-Bus station, which connects directly to the Metro. Another alternative are the Centropuerto buses, which connect you with the Metro Line 1 (red line) and charge about $2 USD.

From the US, American Airlines and LAN operate flights from Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Washington (D.C.) and Dallas. Some flights have layovers in Guayaquil or Lima. Delta Air Lines operates direct flights from Atlanta. Many of these flights are overnight, and most use widebody aircraft such as the Boeing 767.

Air Canada operates a daily flight from Toronto.

From Europe, Air France, Iberia, LAN and Lufthansa (code-sharing with SWISS) operate daily flights into Santiago from their hubs. Some flights stop in Sao Paulo or Buenos Aires. Please note that flight times from Europe vary between 18 hours from Frankfurt (due to stop-over in Sao Paulo) to 12 hours from Madrid and is considerably tiring! Most routes to Europe are operated with Airbus A340s.

From Oceania, Qantas and LAN operate a weekly code-sharing flight from Sydney to Santiago via Auckland, New Zealand. It's at least 12 hours each way. LAN also operates an Auckland-Tahiti-Easter Island-Santiago route.

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By car

Entering Santiago by car, you'll probably find yourself on the Autopista Central. To use this freeway you need a "TAG", which you can buy from service stations. One day passes are Ch$3500. With a bit of planning and consulting your map before you head into the capital, you can avoid using the freeway altogether. This is best done by not entering from Ruta 5.

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Buses to Santiago de Chile

There are bus connections to all major destinations on the continent.

From Mendoza in Argentina it's a beautiful eight hour bus ride crossing the Andes. The border crossing is at about 4000m. Be aware that it is not allowed to bring fruit, vegetables or animal products into Chile, and all luggage will get checked at the border.

The Principals Bus Terminals are located at:

• Terminal Alameda: Avda. B. O'Higgins 3750 (U. Santiago subway station, Line 1). Private station for Turbus and Pullman buses. National and international departures. Phone: 7762424
• Terminal Santiago: Av. B. O'Higgins 3848 (Pila del Ganso subway station, Line 1). Phone: 3761755
• Terminal Los Héroes: Tucapel Jiménez 21 (Los Heroes subway station, Line 1). Phone: 4200099

Bus travel times to/from Santiago de Chile:

• 54 hours: Sao Paulo (Bus company: Pluma)
• 7 hours: Mendoza

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Get around

• Metro - Santiago has one of the best metro systems in the world, from 6.30 to 22.30 hrs. It is safe, clean and quiet. There are ticket counters staffed during open hours everyday. Tickets are good for a single ride with unlimited transfers, no time limit. $340 CLP. Tickets are slightly more expensive during peak hours.
• Bus Santiago has recently (February 2007) implemented its new public transport system, Transantiago, which was supposed tu integrate bus and metro services and generally imrpove the quality of transport. In the new system, a bip! card is needed to board the buses, and these can be bought in all Metro stations as well as some other points throughout the city, with a cost of 1100 pesos.

• Plane Chile has a very good airport infrastructure. The main hub for flights in Chile is the Arturo Merino Benitez Airport in Santiago from where several airlines serve even the remotest corners of the country. These airlines are LAN, Sky Airline and Aerolineas del Sur. When travelling within Chile please consider reserving your tickets before entering the country. It is recommended use flight coupons which can be bought at LAN when you also purchased your flight to Chile with them. These can also be processed online. Unfortunately the other to airlines do not have any internet service available yet and you should consider comparing fares by asking your local travel agency or by phone.
  Because of the shape of the country, many routes are served with several, time-consuming layovers in between. You might take this into account as you can have up to 4 stops until you reach your destination! (e.g. for a flight from Punta Arenas to Arica: Punta Arenas (PUQ)-Puerto Montt(PMC)-Santiago(SCL)-Antofagasta(ANF)-Iquique(IQQ)-Arica(ARI)) Domestic routes are served by Airbus 319, Airbus 320 and Boeing 737-200's when flying with LAN express and Boeing 737-200's when flying Sky Airline and Aerolineas del Sur. (B737-200s are remarkably older and noisier!)

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Santiago de Chile attractions and sightseeing

• Parque Metropolitano - This vast park is home to Cerro San Cristóbal. From the top there is a beautiful view over the city and, on a clear day, the Andes. The summit can be reached by funicular, cable car, or a long hike. In the park there is also a botanical garden, zoo and two swimming pools. Pope John Paul II visited its summit in 1987.
• Plaza De Armas - The capital's main plaza, also the sight of the national cathedral and main post office. Not very clean but otherwise interesting area of major historical importance.
• Santiago Centro - The Centro (Downtown) area is a nice place for a stroll down some of its major Paseos (streets turned pedestrian walkways), watch out for pickpockets.
• Cerro Santa Lucia - A park with fountains and stairs leading up to the top. The summit has a great view of all but the skyscraper-obscured city center. Charles Darwin visited this peak at one point in his travels.
• La Chascona - One of three homes of the famous poet Pablo Neruda, La Chascona (meaning tangle-haired woman, after his third wife) is located in the artistic Bellavista neighborhood. The house is filled with lots of quirky artifacts collected by Neruda throughout his life, as well as artwork by some of his famous friends. Tours are given in English and Spanish.
• La Moneda Palace - Presidential Palace, guided one-hour tours are free, unfortunately with a reservation of at least 15 days in advance. [1]

• Parque Forestal - A long park that runs parallel to the Mapocho River, also site of the National Museum of Fine Arts and Modern Art Museum.
• Theatre & Dance - Santiago offers much in the performing arts, most takes place Friday & Saturday, check listings in El Mercurio. $500-5000 CLP, most offer discounts with student ID, even to foreigners, just ask.
• Centro Cultural Matucana 100 - Inaugurated in 2002, Matucana 100 is an excellent exhibition venue for a variety of arts. From Metro Quinta Normal, walk south on Matucana (towards Alameda), M100 is on the left hand side. [2]
• Teatro Municipal - Historical performance venue, including international dance and opera, worth a visit even if just from its outside. [3]
• Jazz Clubs - Santiago is home to an impressive jazz scene, with several intimate clubs scattered throughout the city. The Club de Jazz de Santiago is arguably the best. Located in the northern part of the Nunoa neighborhood, this small club routinely brings in some of the best local, national, and international artists specializing in everything from latin jazz to blues to bossa nova. Check music listings in El Mercurio.
• Hidalgo Castle
• Pirque
• San Jose de Maipo

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City tours

Go wine tasting, right in the city. Concha y Toro (http://www.conchaytoro.com), is one of Chile's largest producers, and they have a modern, Napa Valley-style tasting room and gift shop set up. Tours are given regularly in both Spanish and English, and they can be booked via email. It is probably one of the few wineries in the world that is easily accessed by public transportation from a major city. From the center of town, it should take around an hour to access by subway and bus. Many mountains are found in and all around chile great for climbing. Be careful around these mountains because risk of hazard. Be sure to use oxygen tanks.

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Learn

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Work

In order to work in Chile a working permit needs to be obtained, which can be accomplished with the sponsorship of an employer. However, numerous people work illegaly, but it is obviously best to obtain a permit.

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Shopping, Santiago de Chile souvenirs

Santiago has a lot of Malls the principal are:

• Mall Plaza Vespucio
• Mall Plaza Oeste
• Mall Parque Arauco
• Mall Alto Las Condes
• Mall Florida Center
• Mall Plaza Norte

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Good restaurants and cheap meals

Liguria- outstanding food and a super staff, some speak English. Providencia 1373, Santiago. Very easy from downtown by subway. Food is cheap and good. Excellent tunes.

Where

• The Downtown area is dotted with restaurants. One worth a visit is the Bar Nacional, which offers hearty meals and a range of local and imported drinks.

What

• Mote con Huesillo: A delicous summertime drink made of wheat seeds (mote) and dried peaches (huesillos), boiled, sweetened, and served cold. Typically sold on sidewalk or park stands.[4]

• Sopaipillas: A Chilean-style tortilla made of wheat and pumpkin, also sold in streetside stands.

• Terremoto ("Earthquake"): a typical Chilean drink that consists in a mix of pineapple ice cream with pipeño (like white wine).

Drink Chilean wine is very good and cheap and is available at all restaurants. The typical Chilean drink is Pisco (chilean version of the peruvian pisco, although 35 proof) and is usually ordered as cocktail called a Pisco Sour, which masks the strenght of Pisco somewhat and also tastes good. Most Chilean and in many menus, you will see Pisco offered with sodas, such as Coca-Cola (called a Piscola). Drinking rum is also in vogue. A beer is often refered to as a "Chela". Most Chilean beer is not very good and the most advertised one called "Cristal" is at best mediocre. The best choice is "Kunstmann" (made in Valdivia, located in the south of Chile), or if you want to be like a Chilean order a "Escudo" which is easy to drink and cheap.

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Nightlife

Santiago lacks a true center for nightlife and as a result there are several places where you can go, and although none are bigger than a few blocks long (except for Bellavista, which is not that big either) there are a variety of places where you can have fun and a drink. Choices vary widely and their location usually reflects their price and style. For instance, Suecia, Vitacura, and Isidora Goyenechea is closer to the east (the Andes), meaning that is more expensive and upscale since it is closer to a wealthier part of the city, while Bellavista, Plaza Nunoa, and Brasil are more popular. Manuel Montt is somewhere in between and though small has a very unique atmosphere.

• Isidora Goyenechea - Take the Metro out to El Golf (Line 1) at night and walk to street Isidora Goyenechea. The neighborhood is very nice and safe, and there are plenty of restaurants within walking distance. However, most places will be an expensive choice for budget travelers.
• Barrio Brasil
• Plaza Nunoa
• Barrio Bellavista - Take the metro and get off at Baquedano (Line 1 and 5). Walk towards over the bridge towards the hill where the virgin is and you will walk into it.
  • Bellavista is a typical bohemian neighborhood and its nightlife atests to it. There is a wide arrange of choices from popular places that are frequented by all types of Chileans to upscale choices such as a jazz bar. In between there are are numerous bars that are tapas bars in all but their names. In addition, there are discos with all kinds of music, from contemporary eletro-pop to salsa and merengue. This is probably the only barrio where you can find a disco that has a predominately homosexual audience, which although can look a bit sketch to outsiders due to the precautions that they take, it is a fun atmosphere and features drag-queen shows during Saturday nights. Moreover, Bellavista is probably the area that lasts the longest during Friday and Saturday nights, with most places closing at 4am, and some up to 6am or even 7am (usually discos).
• Barrio Manuel Montt - Metro Manuel Montt (line 1)
• Suecia - Roughly located at Providencia with Suecia, in between metro Tobalaba and Los Leones (Line 1). It is a boleavard of bars and discos about 3 blocks long. It caters to a foreign audience and upscale audience.
• Vitacura - This area is located pretty far up (east, towards the Andes) in Vitacura. Although you can get there by bus, it will be hard to leave on anything but a taxi since buses don't run late.
  • It is composed of bars and some places where you can dance. The places are nice and altough they certainly lack cohesiveness as nightlife (since only recently bars started establishing there) it can be fun to go. It should be noted that it is more expensive that other places and frequented by people that live in the eastern (wealthier) side of the city.

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Hotels, youth hostels, lodging

On the edge of the Barrio Paris Londres, the Hotel Fundador is conveniently located for sightseeing. It also has a good quality restaurant. Another place is Providencia, a quiet nightboardhood you can go to SuitesChile (www.suiteschile.com) apparts with gym, pool, internet, tv, near restaurants, shooping and bar.

The Ritz-Carlton is, as expected, very nice. It is across the street from a small park and a stone's throw from El Golf metro station. There are restaurants and bars nearby and the neighborhood is modern and organized.

Hostel Bellavista (http://www.bellavistahostel.com) is located in a great area for dining out and nightlife. The staff is helpful and friendly, and the atmosphere is very warm. There are several computers from which you can access the Internet for free, and there's a large common room equipped with a TV, DVD player, plenty of seating and even a guitar.

The Plaza de Armas Hostel is a lovely, extremely clean hostel which is located right in the central square with a great view out over the plaza. Small but very friendly and lively place with really good staff who take you out to the clubs.

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Contact

SERNATUR (Tourism National Service). Main office: Av. Providencia 1550. Phone: 7318336 – 7318337.

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Stay safe

By South American standards, Santiago is a safe city, but visitors should be aware of pickpocketing and other petty crimes. But if you compare Santiago with other cities in South America, it is by far pretty secure. Avoid the city parks at night and don't wear expensive looking jewlery or watches even in the middle of the day. Avoid large crowds of people.

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Get out

• Easter Island - LanChile has daily flights to Easter Island.
• Torres del Paine National Park

More from Central (Chile): Maitencillo, Portillo, Rancagua, Santiago de Chile, Talca, Valparaiso, Vina del Mar More from Chile: Central (Chile), Chiloe Island, Extreme South (Chile), La Serena, North (Chile), Pucon, Robinson Crusoe Island, South (Chile) More from South America: Amazonia, Andes, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Falkland Islands, Guyana, Los Roques, Pantanal, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Tierra del Fuego, Uruguay, Venezuela

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