Getting to Valparaiso from Santiago

Any suggestions on how to get from Santiago to Valparaiso. We want to get to Valparaiso a couple of days before our cruise so we won't be able to get a transfer with the the cruise line.

Thanks

(There is a tram from Valpariso to historic Vinha del Mar which is a few miles away and the most wonderful museum in a private house - pre-Columbian and Easter island - it is a gem since you will have a few days ......once you get there. )

Sorry I can't help your original questions since we docked in Valpariso on a back to back cruise. We did like that port stop a lot so good choice to add a few extra days to enjoy it.

I would post this on the South America Ports Of Call Board.

The drive is around 90 minutes.

Keith

The train is an option as a nice ride, usually on time and not too crowded. There is a station just a block or 2 from the pier entrance.

It has been a few years now, but we've twice made this trip (once each way) and used a fellow named Christian Montenegro who runs a tour guide company. He was known as "The Van Man" and you can probably Google him and find contacts for him. His drivers have always been prompt and courteous. We will likely use him again in our future trips there.

In January this year, we did the reverse transfer, Valparaiso to Santiago with Southexcursions. They do an excellent transfer/shore excursion, with visit to the wine valleys and the Valparaiso area along the way. Assuming you will visit Chile and or Argentina during a cruise, they do several other excursions along the way, with discounts for several excursions in one package.

We used a local bus to transfer from Santiago to Valparaiso.

Take a taxi to the nearest bus station, buy ticket at the ticket window,

wait by the parking spot for your bus, board the bus and enjoy

the beautiful ride. The bus is very clean, safe and cheap. The bus station in Valparaiso is in the town center and taxis are readily available. A sense of adventure and a few words of Spanish are helpful but people were very kind

and helpful.

It has been a few years now, but we've twice made this trip (once each way) and used a fellow named Christian Montenegro who runs a tour guide company. He was known as "The Van Man" and you can probably Google him and find contacts for him. His drivers have always been prompt and courteous. We will likely use him again in our future trips there.

We used the Van Man in the reverse direction and were very pleased. We had late evening flights and our guide added on additional sights in Santiago for a nominal up charge.

We had a private guide and car to tour the area around Santiago then up to the ski resorts and then Valpariso (actually did the reverse as we were getting off the Star Princess). It was so great. If you are interested I could look up the information for Chris. It was well worth the money for the tour that included two days and then transfer to the airport for night flight (which was an absolute zoo -- we did not figure it out well at all!:eek:)

We were "stood up" by our tour company two winters ago, and ended up simply hiring a taxi at the airport. Simple and easy. BUT, get your price up front and firm before leaving. It's about an hour and a half drive, all on a modern highway.

We were "stood up" by our tour company two winters ago, and ended up simply hiring a taxi at the airport. Simple and easy. BUT, get your price up front and firm before leaving. It's about an hour and a half drive, all on a modern highway.

Excellent advice about negotiating the price up front. Doesn't matter who you use, get the price up front like FredT says. :D

We used Southexcursions tour company! They picked us up at the airport and took us on a day tour of Santiago! They secured our hotels as well as we spent one night each on Santiago and Valparaiso before our cruise! On the drive to Valparaiso we stopped at a couple of wineries and had lunch! We even ended up going to dinner with the manager of the tour company the night we were in Valparaiso ! We were very pleased with the arrangements.

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We did the same as you - went to Santiago pre-cruise to spend a few days there and then went to Val on cruise day. We did a private transfer as well and, IMO it was worth every penny. We had a guide and driver so we saw some interesting things on the way and had a mini tour in Val as well. The guide knew I was a Pablo Neruda fan and gave me the choice of a couple of his houses to see. There is a small house/museum right in Val.

I'd definitely do a private transfer again.

We used Suntransfers and paid approx $150 for a minivan. Others on our roll call took a tour that stopped at a winery along the way. That was quite a bit more as they charged per person.

Thank you.

Thank you very much. Did you have any problem taking your luggage onto the bus?

Luggage on the bus was no problem. You can watch it being loaded under the bus

and since there were no intermediate stops you know it will arrive in Valparaiso with you. There was room on the bus for our carry ons.f