Valparaíso Transportation

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Each time I have travelled to Valparaiso I have made day trips from Santiago. The most convenient way for someone without a car is to take a bus.

Buses in Santiago depart from the main terminal (Terminal Alameda) located at Metro station Universidad de Santiago (on line 1) and then travel the short distance to metro station Pajaritos (also on line 1). You could take the metro to either of these stations and buy your ticket there. From Pajaritos they travel on to Valparaiso where the easiest thing to do is be dropped off in the terminal which is located near the markets on the north end of town. Usually I take a local bus or trolley bus from here towards Plaza Sotomayor.

I always take Tur-Bus when I travel and the cost was 3,400 pesos (in 2007). The other bus company that goes to Valparaiso is Pullman.

The buses accept luggage (usually two pieces per person) and will give you a ticket for each piece. It is quite safe to leave your luggage under the bus during the journey.

I take the tur-bus company very comfortable, punctual and good, cheap 6$ one way (can pay with credit car). They have music and TV, the Ride it is of 1 hour half, and have a nice view on the road, have every 15 min a bus that depart to Valparaiso

You can go by subway to station Universidad de Santiago, there is a station were the bus go out.

Yo tome la compañía tur-bus, es cómodo, puntual y muy buena compañía, es barato 6$ (puede pagar con el tarjeta de crédito. El paseo es de 1 hora de media, y tiene la vista del camino es muy linda ves muchos viñedos, tienen autobuses que salen cada 15 min.

Puedes tomar subterráneo en la estacion de Universidad de Santiago, esta la parada de autobus.

An easy way to get to Valparaiso from the airport is to take the Centropuerto bus to the Pajaritos station and then take the Pullman or Turbus to Valparaiso. The return ticket cost about 5,600 CLP on the Pullman bus (Dec 2010 price). The trip took about 1.5 hours and there were assigned seating.

If you are coming from the airport on the Centropuerto buses, walk across the metro station to the other side. You can buy the bus tickets at the booths of each bus company.

You can also buy empanadas and other snack food items there.

I do not know what CQF likes, but clearly he has no interest in enjoying highlights such as Jump of the Soldier, Lago del Inca, Puente del Inca and a stop over right in front of ACONCAGUA, the highest peak in America. How can you possible miss that?. I know how...by taking a bus on a regular transfer where you and your luggage will be treated the same way, as luggage.

Los Andes crossing is one of the most amazing journeys you can ever take, if you really want to enjoy it, spend some money and take a private transfer and tour which besides getting a personalized service some offer you lunch in a little town before arriving to Mendoza.

Do not waste it by taking a regular bus. I insist, if you do it this way, you will stop and see just one thing one the way to Mendoza, the Argentinian customs building (where you will spend 2 hours doing just paperwork). I know it since I did it that way and I still regret for all things I missed on a bus during 7 hours.

I haven't visited La Campana using public transport before but I checked the CONAF website and it seems to be possible using a local "micro" bus. The website link is: http://www.conaf.cl/parques/ficha-parque_nacional_la_campana-38.html

Basically there are two entrances, The sectors known as Granizo and Cajon Grande are reached from the district called Olmue. It says that the micros stop 1km from the control booth. The micro can be taken from Valparaiso and stops at the Granizo bus terminal.
The other sector known as Ocoa is reached from the district called Ocoa also. Transport can be taken from La Calera or Hijuelas and stops at Rabuco-Ocoa which is 6kms from the control booth.

On another website it is suggesting that if you want to take public transport from Valparaiso or Viña to the Granizo sector then th easiest way is to take a train to Limache and take a micro from just outside the train station to the entrance of the park. Apparently the micros come by every 30 minutes approx. and you should get off at the last stop and then walk a short distance to teh entrance. I translated that from: http://www.gotrekking.com/es/wiki/Trekking_Parque_Nacional_La_Campana

A good place to go to search for bus tickets is the Valparaiso Rodoviario Bus Terminal. If you are heading north to La Serena, Calama, Antofagasta, Iquique or Arica then there are a few options.

One of them - Condor Bus "Flota Barrios" has a service for example to Antofagasta on a particular day which departed at 22.31 at night and arrives in Antofagasta at 17:45 the next day. This was a Semi Cama service and cost 33,000 pesos.
The website is www.condorbus.cl and if you go onto the website and check for your day of travel under "Itinerarios y Horarios" on the website and enter the departure and destination point you can check whether they have a service running and the cost.

Another company "Pullman Bus Norte" go to Antofagasta, Arica, Iquique and Calama. They have a phone in Valparaiso (32) 222-0595 or an office in the Valparaiso Rodoviario Bus Terminal.

If you are interested you could get in contact with winetoursvalparaiso.com.

I did a trip with Michael an expat from London. michael@winetoursvalparaiso.cl

Basicly a transfer stroke winetour through the casablanca valley ending in Santiago.

cabs, i know little about. but buses, it only takes about 1-2 hrs to arrive. If you do decide to get a cab, just to let you know, they pick up other passengers along the way. This makes your ride cheaper.

from VT memeber frankcanfly

Getting to Valparaiso from Santiago could hardly be be easier - or cheaper. Buses leave every 15 minutes from the Terminal San Borja, near the Central Station and the one and a half hour journey costs only $7. Seats are allocated, the buses are clean, very comfortable with reclining seats , seem to be properly maintained and are bang on time - we were so impressed.
There are several companies operating this route, all charge the same fare and would appear to offer the same efficient service.