Valparaíso Getting There & Away

Getting There & Away

By plane Valparaiso does not have an airport; nearby Viña del Mar does, but it no longer has commercial service. Thus, the closest functioning airport is Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (SCL) in Santiago, which offers extensive domestic and international service. To arrive to the airport from Valparaiso, take a bus headed to Santiago. You will get off at a station called "Pajaritos," from where you will catch a Tur-Bus airport shuttle. Pajaritos is also a stop on the Santiago subway system. By train There is a metro/train that runs from Valparaiso to Viña del Mar and other surrounding communities. It is new, clean, and fast. By car Taxis (called "colectivos") run on fixed routes, and are a very common mode of transport between (and inside of) Valparaiso, Viña del Mar, and other surrounding areas. The cost of the trip, while more expensive than the bus or metro, depends upon the distance being travelled. By bus You can easily get to Valparaiso by bus from Santiago. The trip takes less than two hours and you have a wide choice of bus companies and departure times. From Valparaiso, you can reach Viña del Mar in about thirty minutes with the local busses, which are numerous and inexpensive. By boat Many cruise ships dock in Valparaiso, which is home to a very active port.