DownUnderDrifter

My sister and I are flying from Australia to Ecuador/Peru and have a 5.5 hour layover (arrive 11:20am) and on our return flight a 6.5 hour (arrive 6:55am) layover in Santiago International Airport. I understand Australians have to pay a reciprocity fee to enter Chile, which we are willing to pay provided it is feasible to leave the airport and see a little of Santiago. My questions are:

Do we have enough time to leave the airport and visit a little of Santiago? How busy is the airport for immigration and security? (Our luggage should be booked through to our final destination)

Are there any tours that leave from the airport, or should we just grab a taxi? I feel as though a taxi would be most cost effective for two people, and cannot find information about tours leaving from the airport.

What are the must see sights that do not take too much time to get to, but allow us to do some walking (we will be jetlagged and sick of sitting) and see a little of Santiago? I have read about La Moneda Palace and San Christobal Hill as potential places to visit.

Thanks for the advice!

Orlando_Vic

"Are there any tours that leave from the airport, or should we just grab a taxi?"

Neither. because time is not on your side, I would recommend a private guide who can meet you and drop you back at the airport. Leo Cuzmar can do this for you. We have used him & his colleagues twice and were 100% satisfied both times. Here are a "few" testimonials.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...an_Region.html

Having said this, you have precious little time. Can you consider changing one of your flights to give you more time in Santiago? Even if there is a change fee involved, I'd do it in order to see more and without major anxiety about returning in time and not missing the flight altogether.

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Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

mlgb

I really question whether you have enough time to make it worthwhile, especially on the 5.5 hour layover...if it takes the usual hour to clear immigration, it takes 30 minutes to another hour to get into Santiago depending on traffic. Add an hour to get back, more time to clear security and immigration (what does your airline say, arrive at least 2 hours before flight departure?)

So not really ANY time!!