Cheap flights to Santiago, Chile

Protected by the towering peaks of the Andes, Santiago is a sprawling capital city rich in history, culture and national pride. The city is now a thriving cultural haven that is one of the most visited sites in Latin America. With museums boasting walls of priceless artwork, nightclubs blasting the best dance music until the wee hours of the morning and restaurants serving up heaping portions of humitas (sweet corn cakes) it’s no wonder that Santiago flights are filling up fast with visitors looking to get the most out of their vacation. 

Santiago is ideal as a jumping off point for further travel within Chile and throughout South America as well. Visit Santiago for a vacation in this urban oasis complete with the majestic sight of the Andes in the distance or venture off to the nearby port town of Valparaíso for a dream-like seaside stay. Santiago is a metropolis that embraces its rich history as well as the youthful energy of its inhabitants. Colonial buildings and magnificent churches are just as prevalent as bungalows covered in sprawling graffiti murals and street fairs, and it’s this mix of pride and ingenuity that keeps visitors entertained all year round.

Santiago, Chile climate

Summers (December to February) in Santiago are sweltering. The city’s location in the middle of a valley means that pollution and humidity tend to settle over Santiago and temperatures can reach as high as 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. Though the sun can be brutal in the summer time, this is still the busiest time of year to book flights to Santiago. Winter months (June through September) are mild with some precipitation and average temperatures hovering around 52 degrees Fahrenheit.

Best Time to Fly to Santiago, Chile

Whether you’re eagerly anticipating a snowy ski holiday in the Andes or a sultry night of salsa dancing at a club in Bella Vista, there’s no wrong time to visit Santiago. 

Peak Season: 

Santiago flights tend to fill up between the months of December and March, when visitors are flocking to Santiago for the holidays, and Santiago natives are heading out of the city to nearby Valparaíso in hopes of avoiding the scalding summer heat. Santiago is the capital of a predominantly Catholic country, so booking flights to Santiago during Holy Week and the Easter holidays should be made months in advance. 

Off-Peak Season: 

The transitional seasons of fall and spring are the best times for finding cheap flights to Santiago. Given that Santiago is located in the Southern Hemisphere, spring falls between the months of September and November, while fall takes place from April until mid-June. Those who find cheap flights to Santiago for a September trip are in luck, as the Semana de la Chilenidad – a festival celebrating all things Chilean with parades and performances – takes place in mid-September.

Getting around Santiago, Chile

International buses from Argentina and Bolivia arrive regularly at the Terminal de Buses Santiago and Terminal los Heroes. More than a million people ride Santiago’s metro, one of the best and cleanest in South America, each day. If you’re planning on staying in town for more than a day, get a travel pass to get discounted fares.                        

Santiago, Chile Travel Information

• Pablo Neruda, the beloved Nobel Prize winning Chilean poet who passed away at home in Santiago in 1973, is one of the most celebrated poets in Latin American literature. Neruda’s three houses in Chile are some of the most sought after attractions in the country. One house remains in the hills of Santiago, while the other two are within two hours of the Chilean capital. La Chascona, Neruda’s residence in Santiago, is a must-see for literature buffs booking flights to Santiago. Neruda was a collector of several eccentricities, including shoes of all sizes, seashells, and the figureheads of boats, and fragments of his colorful collections are scattered throughout his homes. 
• Those with an affinity and appreciation for street art should head to Bella Vista. Bella vista, meaning “beautiful view” in Spanish, is an apt name for this neighborhood whose walls are covered in vibrantly colored murals. Bella Vista is also home to some of the most popular restaurants and bars in Santiago. Be sure to stroll by the vendors selling jewelry and crafts on the sidewalks during weekend afternoons to pick up some funky souvenirs before your return Santiago flight. 
• The Andes Mountains are the longest exposed mountain range in the world and lie to the east of Santiago. Chances are you’ll fly directly over their snowy peaks so grab a window seat on your flight for the aerial views of the mountains. With the Andes so close by, plenty of ski bunnies and outdoor sports enthusiasts visit Santiago to take advantage of the excellent snow conditions the mountain range has to offer at El Colorado, La Parva and Valle Nevado, three of the most popular Andean ski resorts. 
• History buffs shouldn’t miss the Plaza de Armas, located downtown. Home to the city’s 18th century cathedral and the former governor’s residence, which today serves as the main post office of the city, Plaza de Armas is a great place to start any walking tour of downtown Santiago and a lively spot to visit at night. 
• Palacio La Moneda is Chile’s presidential palace. The building was damaged significantly during the military coup orchestrated by Augusto Pinochet Ugarte in 1973. When Pinochet died in 2006, the population of Santiago spilled into the streets in conflicting mix of protest and mourning and the raucous, joyous crowd that gathered behind La Moneda is testament to the turmoil caused by Chile’s former dictator. For another look at Chile’s tumultuous political past, head to Cementerio General. Salvador Allende, Chile’s first socialist-elect president, is buried there, as are several other political figures and diplomats. 
• If you’re looking for a breath of fresh air, hop on a bus and head to Valparaíso. Known locally as simply “Valpo”, Valparaíso is a surreal coastal town that tumbles into the Pacific Ocean, and is made up of thousands of tiny, Technicolor clapboard houses built on top of each other. The beaches of nearby Viña del Mar are accessible by train, so regardless of where you’re standing in Valpo you’re met with breathtaking views of the bay and a reviving sea breeze.

Santiago, Chile airport overview

Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport, commonly referred to as Santiago International Airport (SCL), is situated in Pudahuel, approximately 9.3 miles (15km) northwest of downtown Santiago, Chile. Having served about 11 million passengers in 2010, it is the country’s busiest aerial hub and Latin America’s ninth-busiest airport.

Santiago International has one terminal building with four levels. Arrivals, baggage claims and customs are located on the ground level, while the first level houses a number of VIP lounges. Departures and check-in are on second level and the third level forms the dining area.

Owing to damage caused by the earthquake in 2010 and the increasing number of travelers visiting the airport each year, services and facilities are not as efficient as they once were. However, a new master plan, set to include the construction of detached terminal buildings and a light railway line connecting to the Santiago Metro railway network, will see a significant improvement in operations on all levels in the near future.

Flights to Santiago International Airport come from cities all around the world, but the busiest routes are to Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Lima, Madrid, Miami, Panama City, Montevideo, Mexico City and Paris.

What airport do you fly into for flights to Santiago?

Travelers will need to book flights to Arturo Merino Benitez (SCL) if they wish to fly to Santiago. The Santiago airport is 8.4 mi from the city center.