About Air Travel in Chile

It is possible to travel by car, bus or even train between many of Chile's major cities, but the country's surface transportation infrastructure is hobbled to some degree by the forbidding terrain that separates many of Chile's points of interest. Train service is limited to points---including Chile's capital city of Santiago---that lie within the narrow strip of lowlands along the Pacific coast. You can take a bus or drive yourself elsewhere in the country, but you should know in advance that some of the mountainous stretches of road make for very harrowing travel.

Given the many impediments to surface travel, it is clear that the easiest and fastest way to get from point to point within Chile is by air. The country's main air carrier, offering both domestic and international service, is LAN Airlines, which was originally established in Chile but has since expanded to supply service throughout much of South America. Other carriers that offer only domestic flights include Aerovias DAP, Principal Airlines and Sky Airline.

This world-class airline connects Chile to Australia, Europe, North America and the rest of Latin America, while also providing extensive service between the major cities of the country. The airline's domestic service links the cities of Antofagasta, Arica, Balmaceda, Calama, Chillan, Concepcion, Copiapo, El Salvador, Iquique, La Serena, Osorno, Pucon, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, Santiago, Temuco and Valdivia.

Sky Airline provides the most extensive domestic service after LAN, serving the cities of Antofagasta, Arica, Balmaceda, Calama, Concepcion, Copiapo, El Salvador, Iquique, Puerto Montt, Puerto Natales, Punta Arenas, Santiago and Temuco. Principal Airlines (PAL) flies only between the cities of Santiago, Iquique and Antofagasta, while Aerovias DAP provides service only between the Patagonian cities of Punta Arenas and Porvenir.

As is the case when flying almost anywhere, plan ahead and make reservations well in advance to avoid being stuck in an airport somewhere waiting for an open seat on an outgoing flight. Depending on the time of year, fares for domestic flights in Chile can vary dramatically, making advance travel planning all the more important. Try to avoid scheduling trips to and inside the country during holiday periods. To familiarize yourself with the holidays observed in Chile, visit one of the Chilean travel websites listed below.