Chile's main gateway is Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) in Santiago, about 17 km northwest of the city centre. It is one of the busiest airports in South America, served by LATAM, Sky Airline, JetSMART, American Airlines, British Airways, Air France, KLM, Iberia, Turkish Airlines, and several others. A modern international terminal opened in 2022.
From Europe or North America, most flights route through Miami, Madrid, or São Paulo. Flying time from Miami is around eight hours; from Madrid about thirteen.
To get from the airport into Santiago, the cheapest option is the Centropuerto or Turbus express bus (around $2 USD), which runs 24 hours and takes 35–45 minutes to the city centre. Taxis are readily available but substantially more expensive—negotiate or use a pre-paid taxi counter inside the terminal.
Domestic connections
Chile is an extremely long country — about 4,300 km from north to south — and flying between regions is often the practical choice. Domestic airlines LATAM, Sky Airline, and JetSMART connect Santiago with major cities including Calama (for the Atacama Desert), Iquique, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, and Easter Island. Calama is roughly two hours by air from Santiago; Punta Arenas about three.
By bus from neighbouring countries
Long-distance buses cross into Chile from Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru. The main border crossings are at Los Andes (from Mendoza, Argentina), San Pedro de Atacama (from Bolivia and northwest Argentina), and Arica (from Peru). Most international bus services are comfortable and well-organised.
By sea
Cruise ships call at Valparaíso, Puerto Montt, and Punta Arenas. There are also cargo ferry connections along the southern channels.