Copiapó Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Land

Bus

Bus companies are scattered through Copiapó's southern quarter. Virtually all north-south buses stop here, as do many bound for the interior. Pullman Bus (212-977; Colipí 109) has a large terminal and a central ticket office(cnr Chacabuco & Chañarcillo). Tur Bus (238-612; Chañarcillo 680) also has a terminal and a ticket office (Colipí 510) downtown. Other companies include Expreso Norte (231-176), Buses Libac (212-237) and Flota Barrios (213-645), all located in a common terminal on Chañarcillo. Note that many buses to northern desert destinations leave at night.

Nippy taxi colectivos (243-829; Chacabuco 170A) shuttle passengers to Caldera (US$2.60) and Bahía Inglesa (US$3.50), from the terminal on Chacabuco. Nearby, Buses Recabarren (216-991; Buena Esperanza 557) costs less (US$1.75, one hour), but has fewer departures to Caldera and Bahía Inglesa.

Buses Abarcia (212-483; Chacabuco 122) has service to towns along the Río Copiapó, including Los Loros, as do Buses Casther (218-889; Buena Esperanza 557) and Buses Recabarren.

Tas-Choapa (238-066; Chañarcillo 631) has service to Mendoza (US$37.50) and Cordoba (US$53), Argentina.

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Air

The brand-new Aeropuerto Desierto de Atacama is about 40km northwest of Copiapó.

Lan (600-526-2000; Mall Plaza Real, Colipí 484; 9am-1:30pm & 3-7pm Mon-Fri, 10am-1pm Sat) flies daily to Antofagasta (US$86, one hour), La Serena (US$63, 45 minutes) and Santiago (US$208, 1½ hours).

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