World City Guide

Getting Around

Public Transport
The easiest way to travel around Santiago is on its clean, efficient and modern Metro system, Metro de Santiago (tel: (2) 250 3000; website: www.metrosantiago.cl). The system’s three lines run 0630-2300 Monday-Saturday and 0800-2200 Sunday and holidays. There continues to be a lot of investment in the underground system. A southern extension on Line 2 was opened at the end of 2004 and a northern extension on Line 2, plus a new fourth Metro line, are imminent. Regular travellers can buy a Valor or a Multiviaje pass. Special buses, known as MetroBuses, start from Metro stations and act as an extension to the Metro system, and MetroBus combination tickets are available.

Santiago’s city buses (micros) are run by competing private companies, although all vehicles are painted a uniform yellow, with drivers reliant on a commission from the fares they collect. The result is a chaotic and dangerous system where rival carriers race each other along the major thoroughfares. Route numbers and a list of destinations are displayed in the front windscreen. Attempts at utilising electronic ticket machines have largely failed and drivers still collect fares on most buses. They usually only have change for small notes.

Taxis
There is no shortage of taxis, which are black with yellow roofs, in Santiago and visitors will never have to wait long to flag one down, day or night. Travellers should note that Santiago taxi drivers have a reputation for taking foreigners to their destinations via very indirect routes, as a means of bumping up the fare. Despite this, foreign visitors can assume that they are not in any physical danger while using the city’s taxis. Women are advised to exercise caution when travelling alone at night, however, as there are occasional horror stories. There are also a number of minicab or radiotaxi firms providing a door-to-door service. Among the best known are Centro (tel: (2) 695 4148), Andes-Pacifico (tel: (2) 225 3064; website: www.andespacifico.cl) and Apoquindo (tel: (2) 211 6073).

Driving in the City
Driving in Santiago is a headache, with congestion to rival any European or North American metropolis. The boom in car ownership has brought problems; the most noticeable of which is the permanent pall of smog that hangs over the city, often obscuring the Andes from view. Attempts to combat this include the introduction of executive bus services between the affluent eastern suburbs and the central financial district, and limits on the use of cars that run on leaded petrol. Some areas impose traffic restrictions by barring entry to cars with certain registration numbers on certain days of the week. Nevertheless, foreign visitors will find Chilean drivers to be significantly more courteous than their London or New York counterparts. Visitors wishing to drive should avoid the morning and afternoon rush hours, when traffic can sometimes reach a standstill on city streets.

Parking in the downtown area is difficult but there are two car parks close to Avenida Bernardo O’Higgins (Alameda). These are at Calle San Francisco 75 (tel: (2) 632 4024) and outside Calle Santa Rosa 76 (tel: (2) 460 8555). There are also underground estacionamientos along Avenida Providencia, situated beside Metro stations. Alternatively, many urban streets offer metered parking.

Car Hire
Most car hire companies require the driver to be 25 years or over. Drivers must hold a current driver’s licence in their country of origin (International Driving Permit is not usually essential but can be helpful), must show a passport and must leave an imprint of a credit card as a deposit. Insurance is usually additional to the car rate and is recommended.

Providers include Automovil Club de Chile (tel: (2) 431 1000 or toll free in Chile only 600 464 4040; website: www.automovilclub.cl), Chilean Rent A Car (tel: (2) 737 9650; website: www.chileanrentacar.cl), Avis (tel: (2) 601 9747 or 690 1382; website: www.avischile.cl) and Dollar (tel: (2) 490 4000; website: www.dollar.cl).

Bicycle Hire
Cycling is not recommended in central Santiago. In addition to the danger posed by racing bus drivers, the pollution makes it a less-than-pleasant experience. Having said that, many parks have cycle lanes, there is a nice riverside ride and there is good mountain biking along the winding lanes of Cerro San Cristobal. Mountain bikes can be hired from LYS Rent-a-Car, Calle Miraflores 537 (tel: (2) 633 7600; website: www.lys.cl). The company also offers bike transportation from hotel to cycling destination.