Arriving in Santiago
The Santiago International Airport is located approximately 20 kms west of downtown. There are different options for getting from the airport to the city: airport buses, airport vans, and taxis.
Airport Buses: There are two lines of buses that go from the airport to the city (Tur Bus and Centropuerto). The ticket for Tur Bus is 1200 CLP (CLP stands for "Chilean Peso $") and the ticket for Centropuerto is 1000 CLP (1 US$ is approximately CLP 700). You can catch the buses immediately upon exiting the main airport terminal. During the day they run frequently. You pay the driver directly. Once you arrive to Santiago you can use the subway (METRO). Most people get off the airport bus at the METRO station "Ecuador" (line 1) and take the METRO to their final destination.
Airport vans: There are many vans that serve the airport. One of them is Transvip. You can get information on their services and fares ("tarifas") from their webpage: http://www.transvip.cl. You will find the Transvip booth in the main airport terminal (about ten meters towards your right when you exit customs).
Taxis: Inside the main terminal (about ten meters towards your right when you exit customs) you will find an official taxi booth. There you can arrange for a taxi to take you to your destination. The cost of a taxi depends on your final destination (for example a ride to downtown Santiago is 9,500 CLP, and a ride to Escuela Militar, in the neighborhood of the Room Apart Hotel is 12,000 CLP). It is not common to tip the driver. (Immediately upon exiting customs you will likely be approached by people asking if you need a taxi. We recommend that you proceed to the official taxi booth to ensure getting the standard fare.)
Further tourist information about Santiago