Copiapó travel guide

Air

Desierto de Atacama Airport is 45 km north west of Copiapó and 15 km east of Caldera. LanChile, Colipí 484, Copiapó, outside the mall, T052-213512, airport T052-214360, and Sky, fly daily to/from Santiago, also to Antofagasta, El Salvador, Iquique and Arica.

Bicycle

Bike repairs

Bicicletería Biman, Las Carrera 998A, T052-217391. Sales, repairs, parts.

Bus and colectivo

Local

Although the major companies run between Copiapó and Caldera, the cheapest services are provided by Buses Recabarren and Buses Casther, T052-218889, every 30 mins, US$2, leaving from the street 1 block west of the main bus terminal in Copiapó. Buses Casther also runs a minibus service to Copiapó, US$9 per person, book in advance. Colectivos to Caldera leave from the same point as the buses. They are much quicker than the bus, cost US$3, and will take you to Bahía Inglesa for an extra US$0.75. Otherwise, colectivos between Bahía Inglesa and Caldera cost US$1.50. There are also buses in summer for US$0.75. Colectivos run from Copiapó to Chañaral and Vallenar and serve the upper valley as far as the Nantoco; you will have to arrange a price if you wish to go higher up the valley. Note that there are no public transport connections to the Parque Nacional de Tres Cruces.

Long distance

Copiapó’s main bus terminal is 2 blocks south of the plaza on Chañarcillo y Chacabuco. The TurBus terminal is opposite and Pullman have their terminal 1 block away on Colipí. To Arica, 18 hrs, US$34-63; to Iquique 13 hrs, US$30-59; to San Pedro de Atacama, 12 hrs, US$25-50; to Calama 10 hrs, US$23-$49; to Antofagasta, 7 hrs, US$18-$48; to La Serena 5 hrs, US$11; to Valparaíso, 12 hrs, US$23.

Car

Car hire

Avis, Peña 102, T/F052-213966. Budget, Freire 4 66, T052-218802. Flota Verschae, Luis Flores y Copayapu, T052- 227898. Hertz, Copayapu 173, T052-213522. Rodaggio, Colipí 127, T052-212153.

Banks

Cambio Fides, Mall Plaza Real, of B123. Mon-Fri 1000-1400, 1600-1900 (closed Sat and Sun). Reasonable rates. There are several banks with Redbanc ATMs around the plaza as well as ATMs in the Plaza Real shopping centre and supermarkets.

Hospital

Los Carrera s/n, T052-212023.

Internet and telephone

Several in and around the centre.

Laundry

Lavandería Añañucas, Chañarcillo 612.

Medical services

Dentist: Eduardo Cáceres, Salas 385, T052-211902.

Post office

Los Carrera y Colipí, on Plaza Prat. Mon-Fri 1000-1400, 1600-2000.