Transport

Transport Options

Bus from Santiago airport to downtown bus station

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.

Take a bus from the Santiago Airport using a company called Tur-Bus. The busses leave frequently, so no worry about missing a bus - there wil be another along promptly. Get off the bus at the last stop: at the Estacion Cenral Metro Staion. Do not take a taxi unless you book through on of the agents inside the Airport - Do not take an offer of a taxi from any of the individuals who offer such outside of baggage claim. If you insist on taking a cab, book (and pay) for one at the Kiosks outside baggage claim.

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. Please note that it is not necessary to take a taxi (you will be charged about 2000 pesos for a five-minute walk). The safety and logistics meeting is at 7:00 pm at the Hotel Tatio, and is a taxi ride from the Costa Marfil.

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).