Getting to Valparaiso and other Santiago, Chile Transportation Tips

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: 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.

The terminal in Valparaiso is on Av Pedro Montt, near the Congress Building and Plaza O'Higgins.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: The sight of all those steep hills that Valparaiso is built on is rather daunting - but climbing up is not a problem. There are 15 ascensores dotted around the city - some have been operating since the 1880s and all are at least 50 years old. How many thousands and thousands of times must the little cars made the journey up and down those steep tracks? Do take a ride on at least two or three - the views from the top are fantastic, and the funiculars themselves are so quirky. You'll see signs pointing to the terminii that are mostly tucked away in back streets. It only costs a few cents for each ride. You can come down in the ascensores (do they become decensores then?), usually for a few pesos less than going up, but finding your way down the steep stairways and narrow alleys is fun too and can lead you to some really interesting spots - we found the studio of an artist and her glass-worker husband quite accidentally that way, and ended up buying a painting.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: A great way to get a good look at the hills of Valaparaiso is to hop on the green "O" bus and ride it all the way to the end of the route at Vina del Mar and back into town. It costs next to nothing and takes you for miles all around the city, way away from the centre.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: The Metro is definitely the best way to get around the city here in Santiago. Cheap, clean, frequent and efficient - well, mostly - we managed to be on a train when there was a power failure in the area of the city were were travelling through. Fortunately the train had only just begun to pull out of the station and the last carriage had not gone clear so, once they got a back door open, everyone was able to walk through the carriages and out on to the platform. It was all very orderly and fuss-free. Just as fortunately, we were only one station from our destination. It didn't put us off at all though and we used the Metro to travel all around the place.

You can buy multi-ride tickets allowing 10 trips. There are barriers at the entrance to the platforms but not at the exits.

Metro stationentrances are distinguished by three red diamonds

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