How to get to Chile: airports, flights and border crossings

Book into Santiago (SCL) unless your only goal is Patagonia from the Argentine side. SCL is the country's long-haul airport and the hub for domestic flights to San Pedro de Atacama, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas and Easter Island.

From the US, nonstops run from Miami, Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles and New York; from the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand you connect once, usually in Madrid, São Paulo, Sydney or Auckland. Land entry from Argentina and Peru is straightforward at the main crossings, and cruise ships call at Punta Arenas, Valparaíso and San Antonio.

Santiago is the only realistic long-haul gateway. Almost every itinerary starts there, then continues by domestic flight because the country is 4,300 km long. If your trip is Patagonia only, compare flying into Punta Arenas (PUQ) via Santiago against entering overland from El Calafate in Argentina — the overland route can save a long domestic leg but adds a border day.

Other airports with limited international service: Iquique (IQQ) and Antofagasta (ANF) in the north, Concepción (CCP) and Puerto Montt (PMC) in the south, and Punta Arenas (PUQ) for Patagonia. Easter Island (IPC) is served from Santiago only, with a handful of weekly flights.

SCL sits about 20 km northwest of central Santiago. Metro Line 2 connects the airport area to the network, then Line 1 into Providencia and Las Condes; total journey is roughly 40–50 minutes with a change and a short bus or walk to the station.

Official taxis and pre-booked transfers take 25–40 minutes to Providencia or Las Condes outside rush hour; allow an hour in the morning peak. Ride-hailing apps work but pick-up points at the terminal can be confusing. If you land late, staying near the airport for one night is rarely worth it — central Santiago is close enough.

The busiest crossing is Los Libertadores between Santiago and Mendoza, a mountain pass that closes in heavy snow and can queue for hours in summer. Buses run daily in both directions; the crossing itself takes 1–3 hours on top of the drive. Cardenal Samoré links Puerto Varas and Bariloche, and Integración Austral links Punta Arenas and Río Gallegos across Patagonia. Paso Pehuenche is a summer-only alternative south of Santiago.

From Peru, cross at Arica–Tacna, an easy day crossing with frequent colectivos and buses. From Bolivia, Tambo Quemado connects the altiplano to Arica, and the San Pedro de Atacama–Uyuni route crosses at Hito Cajón with 4x4 tours. Bring your passport, expect agricultural inspections, and do not carry fresh fruit or meat across.

Chile has no regular international passenger ferry. Cruise ships call at Punta Arenas, Valparaíso and San Antonio on repositioning and Antarctic itineraries, mostly between November and March. Some travellers arrive on expedition ships from Ushuaia, and a few cargo-passenger berths exist on the long Pacific run — both need booking months ahead (check).

If you are arriving by cruise, note that Valparaíso and San Antonio are separate ports about 100 km apart; check which one your ship uses before booking onward transport.

Most Western passports get 90 days on arrival as a tourist, and Chile no longer charges the reciprocity fee that once applied to US, Canadian and Australian passports — confirm with your embassy before you fly, since rules change. Check your passport has six months of validity and at least two blank pages.

Chile is in the southern hemisphere, so peak season is December to March. Book long-haul flights 2–4 months ahead for that window, and domestic flights early too: Easter Island seats and Patagonia routes sell out. Shoulder months (October–November, March–April) are cheaper and quieter.

Santiago is a long way from anywhere, so jet lag is real: westbound arrivals from Europe and the US often lose the first day. Build a light first day in Santiago before flying on to altitude at San Pedro de Atacama, where 2,400 m can compound tiredness.

Buy travel insurance before you fly — Chilean medical care is good but private clinics are expensive, and Patagonia activities such as trekking and glacier trips need cover. Get an eSIM or local SIM at SCL if you want data on arrival, and carry some Chilean pesos for the airport-to-city leg in case card machines are down.