Budget
The bus
Cheap and frequent
- FromPajaritos or Alameda
- TimeAbout 90 minutes
- ArriveTerminal by the Congress
Choose your stop
How to get to Valparaiso from Santiago
Map of 45 stops
Valparaíso and the coast, pin by pin
Pick a route and tap a pin or a stop: you get its note and a Google Maps link.
Chile's main international airport, west of central Santiago; official transport counters wait at the exit of Terminal 2.
Google MapsOne of the Santiago bus terminals with frequent departures for the coast.
Google MapsAnother Santiago terminal the tourism board names for Valparaíso buses, beside the coastal highway.
Google MapsThe first of the two trunk toll plazas on Route 68, where cars pay the posted toll.
Google MapsWine and olive oil country on the way west; the day tour stops in this valley for a tasting.
Google MapsThe second trunk toll plaza and tunnel, on the climb out of the Curacaví valley.
Google MapsThe town at the heart of the Casablanca wine valley, roughly midway along the highway.
Google MapsValparaíso's intercity bus terminal, across from the Congress building.
Google MapsThe western end of the Limache-Puerto train, a short walk from Plaza Sotomayor.
Google MapsThe Viña del Mar stop on the same line, for the beaches and the Flower Clock.
Google Maps
Painted steps rising from Urriola street into Cerro Concepción.
Google MapsSteps that carry the painted message about unity, at the edge of Cerro Alegre.
Google MapsA narrow stair beside the Fischer steps lettered with lines from a Calle 13 song.
Google MapsA narrow lane of murals with cafés and craft shops.
Google MapsStepped Templeman street, painted from bottom to top and home to the famous hippies line.
Google MapsSteps painted as piano keys in Pasaje Beethoven, beside the Lutheran church.
Google MapsUpper station of the Reina Victoria lift, with a wooden footbridge and street art all around.
Google MapsThe lift up to Cerro Bellavista, whose top exit leads to the Open Sky Museum.
Google MapsThe circuit of murals on Cerro Bellavista known as the Open Sky Museum.
Google MapsPlaza de los Poetas, a pause on the way between the murals and La Sebastiana.
Google MapsPablo Neruda's house museum, with views over the whole bay.
Google Maps
Lower station of the Concepción lift on Calle Prat, the oldest in the city.
Google MapsLower station of the Reina Victoria lift on Calle Elías, below Paseo Dimalow.
Google MapsLower station of the El Peral lift on Plaza de la Justicia, the classic way up to Paseo Yugoslavo.
Google MapsThe second-oldest lift in the city, in the old port quarter.
Google MapsThe lift that climbs a side ravine, the only one with no sea view.
Google MapsThe lift up to Cerro Bellavista, whose top exit leads to the Open Sky Museum.
Google MapsThe first lift with an electric motor, from Avenida España up to a viewpoint.
Google MapsThe only vertical lift, reached through a tunnel; temporarily closed.
Google MapsThe longest-running ride up to Paseo 21 de Mayo; temporarily closed.
Google Maps
The civic square of the port, with the monument to the heroes of Iquique.
Google MapsThe pier for the short boat rides around the bay.
Google MapsLower station of the El Peral lift on Plaza de la Justicia, the classic way up to Paseo Yugoslavo.
Google MapsThe Fine Arts Museum in a palace on Paseo Yugoslavo.
Google MapsA narrow lane of murals with cafés and craft shops.
Google MapsPainted steps rising from Urriola street into Cerro Concepción.
Google MapsUpper station of the Reina Victoria lift, with a wooden footbridge and street art all around.
Google MapsSteps painted as piano keys in Pasaje Beethoven, beside the Lutheran church.
Google MapsThe Lutheran Church of the Holy Cross, one of the landmarks of the European-built hills.
Google MapsA cobbled balcony of colorful 19th-century facades above the city.
Google MapsThe viewpoint at the top of the Concepción lift, busy on New Year's Eve.
Google MapsLower station of the Concepción lift on Calle Prat, the oldest in the city.
Google MapsA busy square in the flat city below Cerro Concepción, near the Reina Victoria lift.
Google Maps
Boutique hotels, restaurants and galleries along the funicular hill.
Google MapsThe neighboring hill of viewpoints, churches and guesthouses.
Google MapsMurals, Neruda's house and small hostels above the Plaza Victoria side of the city.
Google MapsViña del Mar's floral clock, a classic first stop in the Garden City.
Google MapsThe seaside castle on the rocks between Viña and Caleta Abarca.
Google MapsViña del Mar's busiest beach resort, with ceviche restaurants and nightlife.
Google MapsThe rocky headland at Concón, a stop on the day tour from Santiago.
Google MapsThe islet off Cachagua that protects colonies of Humboldt penguins.
Google MapsNeruda's house museum on the Poets' Coast, where he and Matilde Urrutia are buried.
Google MapsThe town at the heart of the Casablanca wine valley, roughly midway along the highway.
Google Maps
Maps © OpenStreetMap contributors
Here is how to get to Valparaiso from Santiago without stress: which bus terminal to use, what the drive and its tolls cost, how the airport fits in, and when a day tour saves you the whole puzzle.
Editorial team, valparaisotour.com · Updated November 11, 2026 · ~7 min read
Where Valparaíso sits, and the road there
How far is Valparaiso from Santiago? It faces the Pacific west of the capital, and Route 68 links it with Santiago.6 Chile's tourism board gives the distance from Santiago airport as 120 km along that highway.1 One of its pages gives 110 km for the same trip, so plan on roughly that range, and on a journey of about 1 hour and 30 minutes when traffic is light.7
The road climbs over the coastal hills by the Lo Prado and Zapata tunnels and runs through Curacaví, Casablanca, Villa Alemana, Quilpué and Viña del Mar before it reaches the port.6 Casablanca, the wine town on the way, lies 80 km out of Santiago, with another 40 km to go to Valparaíso, so it makes an easy stop if you drive.8
Valparaíso and Viña del Mar sit side by side, just 10 kilometers apart, and buses from the capital run to each of them.9 Decide early which one you want, because the terminals are in different places and it is easy to stay on the bus too long. The coastal train then links Valparaíso and Viña del Mar in minutes, so either makes a fine base.
Compare the options
Santiago to Valparaíso at a glance
| Option | Time | Good for | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus | About 90 minutes2 | Solo travelers | Friday traffic |
| Car | 1 hour 30 minutes19 | Beaches and wineries | Tolls and parking3 |
| Private transfer | About 2 hours | Groups with luggage | 2 to 15 per booking |
| Guided day | 10 hours with pickup | Day visitors | Fixed program |
Times from the tourism board and the listings; road times grow with weekend and holiday traffic.
By bus from the Santiago terminals
Buses are the classic way to make the trip. The tourism board names the Pajaritos and Alameda terminals and says frequent buses reach Valparaíso in 90 minutes via Route 68.2 Another of its pages is more cautious and calls the journey almost 2 hours, which is closer to what you get at rush hour or on a Friday evening.13
Alameda Terminal stands at Av. Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 3570, on the main avenue of the capital, with a Metro stop at the door.14 The neighboring Santiago Terminal, the former Terminal Sur, also runs buses to the central coast.15 Pajaritos sits further west, right beside the highway to the coast, which saves time if you come from the airport side of the city.
In Valparaíso the intercity buses stop at the terminal opposite the Congress building.10 From there, Plaza Sotomayor is about 10 to 15 minutes by taxi, and a micro or colectivo gets you to Plaza de la Justicia and the El Peral lift in about 10 minutes.11,16 Buses to Viña del Mar take 1 hour and 45 minutes from Santiago.17
Driving Route 68, tolls included
By car, the tourism board describes Route 68 as 120 km long, about 1 hour 30 minutes of driving, and reminds you that tolls are payable.19 On another page it allows approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, which is the safer figure with a stop for fuel or coffee.21 Weekend traffic out of the capital can add much more.
The concessionaire publishes the tolls that apply from 1 January 2026.22 At each trunk plaza, Lo Prado or Zapata, a car pays CLP 2,700 at the normal rate and CLP 4,000 at the peak rate.3 The peak rate covers weekends from 17:00 on Friday until 00:00 on Monday, as well as long holiday weekends.23
Parking is the hard part. The hills have narrow, steep streets, and even the tourism board warns that reaching La Sebastiana by private car is complicated for lack of parking.24 Leave the car in the flat city and use the lifts and colectivos. If you plan a winery stop on the way, remember that in Chile you cannot drive after drinking alcohol.25
Pick your transport
Which way should you travel?
Answer by the trip you are planning.
If I am alone and on a budget
Take the bus
Frequent departures leave Pajaritos and Alameda for the coast.2
If We are a family with luggage
Book a private transfer
It takes 2 to 15 people per booking.
If I want the wineries and beaches too
Drive yourself
Casablanca is on the way, 40 km before Valparaíso.8
If I have a single day and no time to plan
Join the guided coast day
Pickup, guide and 10 hours on the coast.
If I fly out from Valparaíso's side
Pre-book an airport transfer
A hotel or port pickup runs to Santiago in 2 hours.
Ways west
Which way to the coast suits you
Explorers
Your own car
Most freedom
- RoadRoute 68
- TollsLo Prado and Zapata
- TipPark in the flat city
Easiest
The coast day
Pickup included
- Length10 hours
- GuideSpanish, English, Portuguese
- StopsValparaíso, Viña, Concón
Starting at Santiago airport
Most visitors land at Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez airport, about 20 km from downtown Santiago, with official taxis, transfer services and buses that connect to the Metro.61 The tourism board advises using only official, authorized transport at airports and bus terminals, and you will find the counters at the exit of Terminal 2, right after baggage claim.20,26
From the airport, the 120 km along Route 68 can be done directly by car or transfer, without going into the capital first.1 A private transfer from Santiago to Viña del Mar or Valparaíso takes about 2 hours, for 2 to 15 people per booking, from $110. It suits families and groups with luggage who want to go straight to the coast.
By public transport, ride the airport bus into the city first and change to a coastal bus at one of the terminals. It is the cheapest route but the slowest, and it means carrying bags through more than one station. If you land early in the day and only want a first look at the coast, a guided day from Santiago with pickup is the simplest way to see it without any connections.
Prefer a ride?
Price the coast for your group
Compare a guided day with a private transfer.
Compare 3 alternatives
Price the coast for your group
Compare a guided day with a private transfer.
- Guided coast day10 hours · per person, from $39
≈
View - Private transferAbout 2 hours · price from $110
≈
View - Coast and Casablanca day10 hours · per person, from $72
≈
View
All amounts are from-prices on GetYourGuide, converted at the ECB reference rate. Exact prices are shown at booking.
Door to door
The bus trip, step by step
Before you go
Pick a terminal
Pajaritos or Alameda for frequent buses.2
On Route 68
Through the tunnels
Past Curacaví and Casablanca to the coast.6
Arrival
Valparaíso terminal
Opposite the Congress building.10
Into the center
Taxi or micro
Plaza Sotomayor is 10 to 15 minutes away.11
Up the hills
Ride a funicular
El Peral climbs to Paseo Yugoslavo.12
Going back to the airport
Many travelers ask how to get from Valparaiso to Santiago airport on the day they fly home, and the answer depends on the time of the flight and the size of the party. The simplest option is a door-to-door transfer: one listing collects you from a hotel or the port in Valparaíso and drives you to Santiago or Viña del Mar in 2 hours, from $130.
Cruise passengers have their own services. A private cruise transfer between the ports of Valparaíso or San Antonio and Santiago runs about 2 hours, and its driver waits with a name sign, from $260 per vehicle. This one is priced for the whole vehicle, not per person, which makes it good value for a group.
On a budget, take a bus back to a Santiago terminal and then an airport bus, leaving a wide margin for traffic on the highway and in the city. Pay attention to the toll schedule if you drive a rental car back: the peak toll rate on the trunk plazas runs from 17:00 on Friday until midnight on Sunday, and over long weekends.23
Video
Traveling like a local from Santiago to Valparaíso
Ryan Brailsford on YouTube · Video data is requested only when you tap play.
Always use official and authorized transport services at airports and bus terminals.
Travel day
Santiago to the coast checklist
Before you leave3
At the airport3
- Use the official counters after baggage claim26
- Groups: compare a private transfer
- Allow a wide margin for return flights
Getting around once you arrive
Inside the city you travel by micro, the local bus, and by colectivo, a shared taxi on a fixed route.4 Old trolleybuses also run along the flat streets of the port quarter, and the tourism board notes the electric system has operated since the 1940s.62 Add the funiculars for the hills and you will rarely need a taxi during the day.
The Limache-Puerto train runs along the bay. It opened in November 2005 and covers 43 km between Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Quilpué, Villa Alemana and Limache.63,27 It has 21 stations, with Puerto, near Plaza Sotomayor, as the western terminal, and stations open from 05:45 to 23:30 on weekdays.64,65
To ride, buy a transport card at a station ticket office, as the railway asks of every passenger.60 The train is a quick way between Valparaíso and the beaches of Viña del Mar, and the stations at Barón and Francia serve the busy El Almendral district.66 It saves you from traffic on the coastal avenue at busy times.
Bus, car, transfer or a guided day?
Choose the bus if you travel light, stay a night or more and like to set your own rhythm. It is frequent and simple, and the terminal in Valparaíso is a short taxi ride from the hills. Choose a car only if you plan to explore beyond the city, to the beaches, the wineries or Isla Negra, and plan your parking before you arrive.
A private transfer makes sense for groups, for early flights and for anyone with heavy luggage, since the price covers the whole vehicle. It is also the calmest way to reach a cruise ship on time. For a single traveler on a budget, though, the bus is far cheaper and almost as fast.
If you only have a day and are staying in Santiago, a guided day trip solves everything at once. The day on this site lasts 10 hours with pickup included and visits Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Reñaca and Concón, with a tasting of wine and olive oil en route, from $39. You trade freedom for zero planning.
FAQ
Quick questions get quick answers.
What is the road distance from Santiago?
How long is the bus from Santiago to Valparaíso?
Which Santiago bus terminal should I use?
Alameda or Pajaritos.
Both are named by the tourism board for frequent buses to Valparaíso.2
How much are the tolls on Route 68?
CLP 2,700 per trunk plaza for a car.
The normal rate is CLP 2,700 and the peak rate CLP 4,000 at Lo Prado or Zapata.3
Is there a train from Santiago to Valparaíso?
No, the train is local.
The Limache-Puerto train links Valparaíso with Viña del Mar, Quilpué, Villa Alemana and Limache.5
Can I go straight from the airport to Valparaíso?
Yes, by car or transfer.
A private transfer takes about 2 hours, from $110, for 2 to 15 people per booking.
Is driving in Valparaíso easy?
Not in the hills.
The tourism board warns of narrow streets and little parking, so park in the flat city.24
Sources
- Sernatur, Chile Travel (official tourism site of Chile) · Valparaiso ↩
- Sernatur, Chile Travel (official tourism site of Chile) · Be enchanted by Santiago and discover the charm of Valparaiso ↩
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Also worth reading