My daughter and I are planning a trip to Chile and will be spending most of our time in the Valparaiso area; we are visiting a student doing her second semester there. The most immediate question is getting from the airport (SCL) to our hotel in Valparaiso. We'll have luggage, and from past experiences, we'll be tired. I noticed a shuttle on the Internet called Airportshuttle.cl. It's price was about $70 US prepaid per person to our hotel. I am interested in knowing whether this would be our best option and if it is a legitimate ad. We would use the bus system under better arrival circumstances, but I know it would be too stressful.

Trapsma

A taxi hired at one of the booths at the airport should be between US$150-160 for the car. Other services may charge by the passenger.

A lot of people go the bus route but I never recommend it unless: you have very little luggage, you are fit. you speak at least a moderate level of Spanish, you are not jet lagged. So I think the cost of a taxi is well worth the benefits.

To give you an idea of private transportation prices for Santiago and Valparaiso:

We used Christian Montenegro - "The Van Man" - last December 28th and our friends used his services on 12/22 & 12/23. We paid on the day of service with US dollars.
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We were picked up at the port of Valparaiso; had a guided tour of Valparaiso & Viña del Mar on the way to the airport SCL (with stop for lunch - we didn't take the winery tour, which was included in the price). We paid $100 p.p. They used a 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter van. Very comfortable and spacious. Both, the driver and guide were very courteous and helpful. The guides were fluent in English.

Our friends used his services for pickup at SCL to their hotel in Santiago ($80 for all 6 of them). The next day they had a Santiago city tour ($35 p.p.) before taking them to the port of Valparaiso. The charge for the transfer from their hotel in Santiago to the port was $50 p.p. They were also very pleased with their driver & guide.

Thank you, Huentetu and waggis for you input. I read that tipping taxi drivers is not the usual custom in Chile. Is that correct information? I assume that would not pertain to guides.

It is correct regarding taxis. Unfortunately, the airport taxis started getting tips from visitors with a tipping culture, so much so that some even ask for a tip now. They don't ask Chileans though.

I don't know about guides. I would imagine that tipping is common on a group tour but not so sure about a private service.

On the private tours that I've arranged over the years,we've seldom had the owner of a service guide/drive us. Hence, we've always tipped the guide & driver.

We tip the guides more than the drivers because we have a much closer relationship with the guide. Many drivers don't speak English but they've always been very helpful and friendly.

BTW, Christian Montenegro does transfers from SCL to Valparaiso only. You don't have to add a tour to the transfer.

Thanks again for the very good information. We will definitely need some tour advice once we are settled. Our young student will have her studies to attend to while we seek places to visit. We would also like, perhaps, to take a tour out of Valparaiso for a couple of days. I've traveled extensively, but this will be my first time in South America.

Trapsma

Our trip to Chile is coming together, so now my daughter and I are thinking of short tours out of Valparaiso...or...perhaps two days including a night.

We thought about one of the mineral water spas, wine tours, and a tour of Santiago, but any suggestions would be welcome. (I've noticed that some places close after the end of May.) We'll have 10 days to go on short excurions since we have a student in Valparaiso to visit as well.

I noticed, Waggis, you mentioned Christioan Montenegro. Would his company be a good place to ask questions? We are not interested in renting a car.

I can't think of anywhere which closes at the end of May except maybe somewhere up the Cajón del Maipo like Baños Colina. It is very basic at the best of times and definitely not a spa.

You could combine some vineyards with a couple of nights away by going to the Colchagua valley. There are many lodging options and they can usually arrange wine tours for you.

It is going to be easier to get tours out of Santiago than Valparaíso. If your student friend can get away for a weekend, you might consider staying in Santiago for a couple of nights and touring from there.