Many of you are arriving this week to Santiago, Chile to partake in what we all know will be an epic weekend at Lollapalooza! We thought we’d help you out with some of the little details of getting into town and getting settled.
If you are arriving to the airport, here’s some details that might help you out:
- If it’s your first time in Chile and your country is on this list, when you get off the plane and head down to passport control, you’re going to want to take a sharp left when you get off the escalator to the “reciprocity fee” area. You can pay your fee in cash or with credit card.
- Do not, and I repeat, do not try to bring any fruits, vegetables, spices, honey, milk products, wooden handicrafts or meats in to Chile. If you have these items in your purse, backpack, or suitcase and don’t declare them on your customs sheet, you will be fined. They scan everything at the SCL airport. (this includes the banana they give you for breakfast on the plane!)
- Once your out of the customs area you’ll have a few different options for getting into town.
Most Expensive: Take a TaxiOficial, which you book before departing the customs area. These will run you anywhere from $15,000 CLP to $19,000 CLP ($30-38 US) to get out to Providencia. They are really nice cars and definitely safe.
Efficiency Option: Take a TransVIP shuttle. This will run you $6000 CLP ($12 US) to the Providencia area (less to downtown). This is a shared ride, but it is definitely the cheapest option unless you have more than 2 people.
Cheapest Option: Take the TurBus Aeropuerto that you can catch outside baggage claim on the curb for around $2000 CLP ($4 US) to either Pajaritos west of downtown or Alameda station downtown. From either one you can catch the Metro Line 1 (RED) or a cab from there to your destination.
Bargain Friendly: If you go outside the baggage claim there will be plenty of people trying to sell you a cab ride. If you are good at bargaining this is just as safe an option, and feel free to vet a few of the drivers against each other. Probably best if someone can speak Spanish and you have more than a couple of people.
Once you’re settled into your hotel, make sure to get out and explore the city! And on Friday night, to keep you entertained all weekend, we’re throwing a fiesta with Pathway*Chile to celebrate your arrival! See the facebook invite here or the poster in this blog for more information.There will be great prizes, drink specials and free entry until 1 am!
We’re giving away an iPad and to celebrate the launch of our new website for Travel Sharing! Now you can share all of your moments with friends, family and other travelers while you’re on the road. Easy. To qualify for the iPad and other raffle items, make sure you go online and sign up for an account on our new site and make one update before Friday at 6 pm as well as like the Pathway*Chile facebook page. You must be present at 2:30 am to claim the prize!
We look forward to seeing you this weekend and hope you all enjoy the beautiful city of Santiago, Chile. Drink some fabulous wine, enjoy the scenery and the music of course!
Cheers!
The Tripeezy Team
We are two Americans who just arrived in Santiago, Chile–our first times in Chile–and we are interested in both investing and participarting in a Chilean-American travel startup. Please send us an email, and perhaps we could meet.
Thank you.
–Phil Nelson, MBA
–Ron Barry, JD, MPHIL, MA