Your joining location is:
Hotel Libertador
Avenida Libertador Bernado O’ Higgins 853
Santiago,
Chile
Tel: (+56) 2 639 4211
Fax: (+56) 2 632 7128
The hotel serves a continental breakfast consisting of bread, jam and tea/coffee or juice, or an American breakfast with eggs. Please check with reception for serving times and prices (breakfast is not included).
The hotel has safe deposit boxes for your use (you will get an itemised receipt). Please leave all of your important documents, money and travellers cheques here when you go out but remember to carry some form of ID and a photocopy of your passport with you.
It is advisable not to wear chains or expensive looking watches or jewellery while in major South American cities. You should also keep your camera concealed when not in use and carry daypacks on your front for extra safety.
Arriving in Santiago
On arrival in Santiago, we recommend you change enough money into the local currency (the Chilean peso) for the first four or five days of your trip. This is especially important if you are arriving on a Saturday night. The exchange rate at the airport is just as good as in the city centre. As you come out of immigration you will find the bank right in front of you before you turn left into the baggage claim area or you can use one of the ATMs outside the terminal.
Upon arrival to Santiago by air, Australian and Mexican citizens are required to pay a reciprocity fee. The fees are as follows: Australian nationals: US$117 and Mexicans: US$27. These amounts may change according to the reciprocal visa fee amounts set by other countries.
Airport Transfers
Airport transfers are not included in the tour price and must be booked separately in advance through Tucan Travel. If you have booked an airport/hotel transfer with us, please look out for someone with a sign which has your name, Tucan Travel, or both after exiting the customs hall.
Scam taxis are common in this airport, if they do not have your name on a board they are not associated with Tucan Travel. If for any reason you do need to take a taxi, do not pay more than 40,000 Chilean pesos.
If you have booked an arrival transfer with us and you are going to be delayed by more than two hours, you must advise us of the delay at least six hours before arrival. If we are advised in time, we will make every effort to reschedule your transfer and your driver will be asked to wait for two hours after your new expected arrival time. However, if we are not made aware of any change, the driver will only wait for two hours after the original scheduled arrival time and after this point it will be up to you to arrange transport to your hotel at your own expense. Please contact us on the emergency contact details below if you are likely to be delayed.
Contact your arrival transfer:
Contact: LUIS VARGAS
Phone: +56 9 97793230 of +56 9 42715657
Making your own way
If you would prefer to make your own way to and from your hotel, you can either take a taxi from the rank outside or you can arrange to pay for a taxi at one of the pre-pay taxi desks just before you get to the luggage hall. You then hand a ticket to the driver rather than paying in the taxi. Licensed and unlicensed taxis are also available outside but you will have to haggle for a good price which can be difficult if you do not speak Spanish. If you do use these taxis you should agree a price before setting off and get the driver to write down the price (be clear on whether they are talking about pesos or US dollars). The airport is approximately 30 minutes from the city centre (depending on traffic) and the cost of a taxi to our hotel in Santiago should be approximately US$18.