Temuco Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Land

Bus

Temuco is a major bus hub. Long-haul buses use Terminal Rodoviario (255-005; Pérez Rosales 01609), at the northern approach to town. Companies have ticket offices around downtown. Times and frequencies vary throughout the year, with fewer buses in winter.

Bus lines serving main cities along the Panamericana include Tur Bus (278-161; cnr Lagos & Montt), which has the most frequent service to Santiago; Tas Choapa (212-422; Antonio Varas 609), which serves northern destinations up to Antofagasta; Cruz del Sur (730-320; Claro Solar 599), which also serves the island of Chiloé; and Igi Llaima (407-700; Balmaceda 995).

Argentina is more easily accessed from Osorno or Santiago. Cruz del Sur and Tas Choapa have off-hour service to Bariloche via Paso Cardenal Samoré east of Osorno. Check with the office for schedules.

The Terminal de Buses Rurales (210-494; Balmaceda & Arana) serves local and regional destinations. Buses to Chol Chol leave about every hour (US$2, 1½ hours), while those to Melipeuco leave five times daily before noon. Buses Jac (231-340; cnr Av Balmaceda & Aldunate), with its own terminal, offers the most frequent service to Villarrica and Pucón, plus service to Santiago, Lican Ray and Coñaripe.

Buses Biobío (210-599; Lautaro 853) runs frequent services to Angol, Los Angeles and Concepción. Nar-Bus (407-700; Balmaceda 995; Miraflores 1535) services Victoria and Cunco from where transfers can be made to Melipeuco. The Rodoviario Curacautín (Av Barros Arana 191) is the departure point for buses to Curacautín, Lonquimay and the upper Biobío. Prices fluctuate with the quality of the bus.

Train

Temuco is the end of the tracks on the line south from Santiago (economy/reclining seat US$21/27.50, nine hours). The modern train is a comfortable and scenic way to travel to Temuco (although most of the trip is after dark) and is less expensive than the fancier buses. The dining car serves decent food and drinks and isn't too overpriced. Buy tickets either at the Estación de Ferrocarril (233-416; Av Barros Arana), eight blocks east of Plaza de Armas Aníbal Pinto, or at the downtown office of Ferrocarriles del Estado (233-522; Bulnes 582).

^ Back to top

Air

Airport Maquehue is 6km south of town, just west off the Panamericana.

Lan (272-138; www.lan.com; Bulnes 687) has plenty of flights to Santiago (US$175), and daily flights to Puerto Montt (US$80) and Punta Arenas (US$250).

SKY Airlines (747-300; www.skyairline.cl; Bulnes 655) usually has better prices than Lan to many of the same destinations, but may not fly as frequently.

^ Back to top