Santiago Airport to the Centre: Coach or Bus 555?
Company-authored guide. Sources and their check date appear below; no independent or first-hand review is claimed.
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GetTransfer Editorial · Company-authored guide
From Santiago Airport (SCL), compare a direct airport coach with the city-network route via bus 555 and Metro Pajaritos. Centropuerto lists airport routes to Pajaritos, Terminal Sur and Metro República, with a checked one-way fare of CLP 2,400 per passenger. Choose the stop that suits your accommodation; none of those names means a drop-off at your hotel door. Centropuerto routes; operator fare and boarding FAQ.
Find the right Centropuerto boarding point
For a domestic arrival at T1, the operator directs passengers along level 1 to exit 6, then west to the bus station/Transport Centre between T1 and T2. For an international arrival at T2, it lists boarding on the third lane of level 1, between exits 4 and 5. Follow current signs and confirm the bus's destination before boarding.
The FAQ permits online purchase and cash or bank-card payment at airport counters. It also explains a useful detail: the time printed on an airport-counter ticket is its printing time, not necessarily a particular bus departure. Keep the ticket and QR code readable and confirm which route it covers.
Use the operator's current route selection for your intended travel date. Do not choose a departure point from the photograph alone: the cover shows buses at Los Héroes in 2023 and is a historical illustration, not evidence of today's endpoint.
Bus 555 is a different journey
Red Movilidad's airport route 555 connects the Intermodal Aeropuerto with Pajaritos on Metro Line 1. The intermodal is in the Pehuén parking sector, separate from the passenger terminals; the airport provides free connecting buses between it and T1/T2. This means a terminal connector, then bus 555, then the metro if your destination requires it. Red's route and terminal-connector guide.
The network's January 2026 update confirms route 555 and airport bip! card sale/recharge machines at both terminals and the intermodal. Check the current integrated fare, payment rules and operating times before travelling. Do not add the Centropuerto fare to this route: the coach and Red network are different products. Red airport-network update; current fares and ways to pay.
At Pajaritos, use the metro's current map and notices for your final station. Save your accommodation's address and identify the correct exit and remaining walk. A route with an attractive fare can be less convenient if you have to make those changes with several large bags.
Compare costs for the whole party
At CLP 2,400 each, two passengers paying the published Centropuerto fare total CLP 4,800; four total CLP 9,600. These examples cover the coach only. Add any metro, local ride or other final leg you need. Check the current tariff before purchase.
Compare that complete journey with a car quote for everyone and all bags. Ask whether the quoted price includes the required airport pickup and destination, waiting and any applicable charges. Request child seats, mobility assistance or unusual luggage arrangements explicitly.
Turbus also offers airport services. Check its live route and purchase information rather than assuming its stops, price or timetable match Centropuerto. Turbus airport service.
Late flights: check the final connection first
Work from the time you expect to leave arrivals. Verify the chosen coach or bus departure and, separately, your metro connection. A bus reaching Pajaritos after your last useful train does not complete the journey to the centre. If the last connection is uncertain, confirm an alternative to the accommodation before travelling.
Compare a hotel transfer
A direct car is worth comparing for a late arrival, bulky bags or an address that needs another connection. On GetTransfer.com, enter SCL and your exact accommodation, flight details, passengers and luggage to request carrier offers. Compare the total and the pickup, waiting and cancellation terms before choosing. An offer does not guarantee a journey time through traffic.
Sources and corrections
Sources checked on 5 October 2026: Centropuerto's current routes and FAQ, and the linked Red Movilidad guidance. The 2023 route guide is used for the terminal connection; the 2026 network update confirms route 555. Recheck live departure times. This company-authored guide does not claim a personal journey or an independent service review. Send corrections with this page's URL and an authoritative source to support@gettransfer.com.