Santiago Chile Tourism & Travel Information Hotels Tours Airport Transfers

Santiago					Chile

Santiago Travel Information

Santiago de Chile

Santiago is Chile´s capital and has a population of over 6 million people. In geographic terms the city is located between the Andes and Cordillera de la Costa, parallel to the Pacific Ocean (see maps).

Santiago is a modern city, with one the highest standards of living in Latin America. Its location close to beaches and ski resorts make Santiago one of the best alternatives for living or visiting.

Santiago Hotels and malls concentrate on the east side of the city. Upscale neighborhoods and top restaurants are also located on the east side. They include Paris-Londres, Calle Dieciocho, Providencia and Las Condes (see customer reviews). Cerro San Cristobal offers a panoramic view of greater Santiago Chile (see photos).

The city is safe for walking, even at night. Just keep the normal precautions you will have in your home country. Pollution is one of Santiago´s main problems since mountain ranges block incoming winds and air flow. Many tourist suffer eye and nose irritation upon arrival in Santiago Chile, especially in the downtown area.

Santiago de Chile Hotels, Hostels & Apart Hotels

Santiago Chile hotels are mainly located downtown and in the east side. Most international chains have hotels in Santiago Chile, due to its intense business activity. Main business districts are downtown, Las Condes and Providencia.

Prices are at international levels for 4 and 5-star hotels. However, there are good values on 3-star and below.

Santiago offers a wide array of budget hotels and hostels. Often they are family-owned, basic accommodations with clean facilities and excellent food (see customer reviews).

Santiago de Chile Tours & Attractions

Santiago Chile tours can be grouped into metro area and surrounding attractions. Santiago city tour lasts about 4 hs and visits the downtown area and the east side. Around Santiago there are several attractions: wineries in Valle del Maipo, ski resorts in the Andes and beaches in Vina del Mar and its shores (see travel packages).

Airport Transfer & Car Rental in Santiago de Chile

Car rental in Santiago Chile is only necessary if you plan to stay for several days and drive around. All main car rental companies have offices at Santiago airport and downtown. Several local rentals offer compact cars at lower rates.

Airport transfer in Santiago Chile is simple and cheap. The airport is located 25 km form downtown and the ride lasts 30 minutes. There are public buses and private cars available at the exit gate.

Santiago Chile public transportation include buses and the metro (subway). Taxis are also a popular way to get around.

Tourist Information on Santiago de Chile

Santiago has several Tourist Information offices with information about hotels, tours, restaurants and events. They are located in Merced 860 (Casa Colorada) and in Cerro Santa Lucía, on Terraza Neptuno.

The best season to visit Santiago Chile is between March and November. Summers are very hot.

One of Santiago´s most popular walking areas in between Av. Libertador O'Higgins - la Alameda -, Providencia and Apoquindo avenues (see maps). Santiago is a safe city if you take normal precautions. Police is reliable and there are several programs in place to protect tourists and residents.