In Santiago, the main public transit options are bus or Metro. Both use a payment card called a Tarjeta Bip!, which can be purchased in Metro stations or businesses known as Punto Bip. You can add money to the card at Metro stations, Servipag (a bill payment business) and shops displaying the TarjetaBip! logo. For the Metro, it is also possible to purchase single tickets, but you need a TarjetaBip! for the buses.

The bus system is known as the Transantiago. The city is divided into different zones by letter, A, B, C, etc. Buses whose routes start with a letter D02, for example normally circulate in that zone. Buses with routes comprised of 3 numbers have longer routes between the different zones. For information on what route to take, use the website http://www.transantiago.cl. Service quality is variable. Sometimes the buses arrive quickly, other times you can find yourself waiting half an hour. Some routes tend to be more reliable than others. Buses cost CLP590 and with that you get two transfers within 2 hours, one of which can be the Metro. To transfer to the Metro, you will sometimes be charged 30 pesos extra; it depends on the time of day. Students can obtain a special TarjetaBip!, which gives them a reduced fare.

The Metro currently has 5 lines, with two more under construction. It is a faster option than the bus, but can get really crowded, especially during rush hour. Route information can be found at http://www.metrosantiago.cl. Fares range from CLP590 to 700 depending on the time of day. As with the bus system, students with a student card pay a reduced fare. There are also discounts available for senior citizens. There have been several service cuts lately due to electrical problems, including the recent closure of 3 lines during morning rush hour, which caused chaos for commuters.

Another form of transportation in Santiago and many other cities are ”colectivos”, or collective taxis. These are taxis that follow a set route. The route is shown on a sign on the roof. Costs vary depending on how far you are going but rates of CLP500 to 1,000 pesos are typical. Since they only carry 4 passengers, they are quicker than buses.

Most cities other than Santiago have buses as their main form of public transit. Routes are posted in a sign in the bus window, so you generally have to have some idea of the layout of the city, although bus drivers or people waiting for the bus may help you out if you speak some Spanish. The Viña/Vaplaraíso area also has a one-line Metro, http://metro-valparaiso.cl.

For getting around the country, there is a wide variety of comfortable buses that leave from several bus stations in Central and Western Santiago. There are several service levels, cama (bed) is the most comfortable, especially for overnight trips as the seats recline a lot and there are footrests. It is advisable to compare bus prices with plane tickets. LAN Chile sometimes has online promotions with prices that are similar to taking the bus, and you will arrive at your destination much more quickly. To get these fares, you must purchase your ticket from within Chile.

Inter-city train travel is not common. There is a line that goes from Santiago to some cities in the Central Valley. You can get more information here: http://www.tmsa.cl.

In the Chiloé Archipelago, ferries are the main type of transportation between the islands.

 

Cars and gasoline are expensive in Chile and most people don't own cars. The bus system is very extensive even in the country. Buses are reliable, safe, cheap, and easy to use.
Around town the fare may be 500 pesos, between neighboring cities around 2,000 pesos, and from Osorno to Santiago is 25,000 for the 12 hour ride. Very reasonable considering that the tolls alone for a car are around 40,000. The road system here is good and well maintained. The major highway is Ruta 5 which runs the whole length of the country aka the Pan American Hwy. But it does have lots of tolls! Minor roads are also well maintained even the dirt/gravel ones.