Bus from Santiago airport to downtown bus station

Take a shuttle from the Santiago Airport using a company called Tur-Bus to the Los Heroes metro stop in downtown Santiago - the Bus Station is across the street.

To get from the airport to downtown Santiago, simply collect your luggage, go through the aduana (they will ask you to pass your luggage through large X-ray machines), collect your luggage again, and walk out the enclosed area through glass doors to your right; head striaght out these doors - this puts you into the main walkway within the lower floor of the airport.

Keep walking straight (you will be walking west, parallel to the main axis of the walking area) and proceed along the main walking area about 50 meters or so - you will see a battery of kiosks against the outer glass wall of the airport building, with a number of "shuttle/taxi" services - the one you want is "Tur-Bus" - they can sell you a roundtrip ticket (a bit cheaper than two one-way tickets) to their bus (nice, large, comfortable). The busses leave frequently, so no worry about missing a bus - there wil be another along promptly.

Take the Tur-Bus into Santiago - the last stop is at the Los Heroes metro station. Once there, you may ask the driver or attendant (they are nice, and probably have a bit of English) to direct you towards the Bus Station. A good idea here is to have a Tour Book, like one from Small Planet, Fodor's, etc. with you - these books have maps, and wil almost certainly have enough detail to get you to the Bus Station; these book shave general bus schedules, too. In any case, go to the bus station immediately, and purchase your ticket - roundtrip is best - to Antofagasta.

Bus from Santiago to Antofagasta

The best companies are Tur-Bus and Pullman. The best buses have "salon-cama" or "semi-cama" service, meaning that the seats fold back into pretty comfortable seat-beds, so that one can sleep on the trip. We suggest an aisle seat for bathroom access.

The cost for the bus is about US$70-$80 one-way, a bit cheaper if the RT is purchased. Usually, the buses leave in the early evening and arrive in Antofagasta in mid-morning or so. The Antofagasta bus station is only a few blocks from the hotel where you will be staying.

From Antofagasta airport to downtown Antofagasta

Upon exiting the ariport building you will see a row a minivans eager to take you to Antofagasta. There will be a standard cost equivalent to about $10. When the minivan fills up, it will depart- tell the driver your destination (Costa Marfil on Avenida Pratt).

International / National Terminal

Upon arriving in Chile from an international location proceed to customs. Counters where the reciprocity tax should be paid are located on the left side of the walkway, just before customs. At customs you will recieve a stamp on your entry form. Do not lose this form as it will be needed to leave the country. Collect you luggage. Upon exiting your luggage will be x-rayed and you will trun in the customs declaration form (No fruits, etc). Take the elevator to the top level (third floor) and proceed to check in at LAN (East end of terminal). Go through security and proceed to the domestic departure gate.

If you take a domestic flight in Chile and transfer to an international flight, you must pick up your luggage (or not if checked through) and exit the domistic gates (DO NOT follow the signs for 'in transit passengers'). Check in with your international airline (if you need a seat assignment) or proceed directly to security in the international wing. Your passport will be stamped.