How to Get from San Diego Airport to Downtown Cheaply in 2023

There’s a story here that deserves its own spotlight.

After flying back from Punta to Santiago, I landed around 1:00 PM with a midnight flight to Los Angeles looming. With plenty of time to spare, I decided to venture into the city for a bit. I had three transportation options to consider:
1. An Uber, which would set me back over 25,000 pesos one way (though it’s worth noting that Uber is technically illegal in Chile).

2. A shared Transvip shuttle from the arrival level, costing just over 20,000 pesos round trip.
3. Public transportation, which seemed like an adventure.

Given my free time, I opted for public transportation, a combination of the airport bus and metro. Just a short walk to the right after exiting the arrival level, I found the Turbus airport bus station, easily identifiable by its green logo. The fare was a mere 1,900 pesos one way, and it took about 20 minutes to reach Pajaritos in two stops.

From there, I was right at the metro station. Inside, I located the blue logo where I could purchase a Bip card. I hopped on the red L1 line, which cost 770 pesos one way. In total, including the return trip and the card fee, I spent 3,550 pesos. The journey was smooth, and I reached the city center in about an hour.

The return trip, however, was a different story! At Santa Lucia station, someone had lain on the tracks, causing long delays at every stop as the train inched forward. With temperatures soaring over 30 degrees, the crowded carriages were sweltering, and the lack of air conditioning was almost unbearable [crying emoji].

Finally, everyone disembarked at Baquedano station and switched to a shuttle bus to Los Heroes, then back to the metro. While no additional fare was required, it was quite a hassle. Fortunately, I had enough buffer time, or I might have missed my flight.

Exiting the metro, I found myself at a loss. I couldn’t locate the shuttle bus, and everyone around me seemed to be locals heading in various directions, none of them carrying luggage. For a moment, I felt completely lost, unsure of which way to go. Thankfully, a kind passerby helped me check the route to Pajaritos station and suggested I take bus 412.

As I made my way to the bus stop, a green vehicle that looked different from the other buses pulled up. My gut told me it was the shuttle, and indeed it was [side-eye emoji]. After switching back to the metro, I found a staff member to swipe my card and let me enter the station. Back at Pajaritos, I turned left from where I bought the Bip card and walked to the end to find the blue airport bus.

The fare was 2,000 pesos to the airport, with the first stop being the domestic terminal and the second the international terminal. Checking Uber in the city, I noticed the one-way fare to the airport had surged to over 33,000 pesos, likely due to rush hour and the metro issues.

In summary:
1. An Uber would set you back around 50,000-60,000 pesos for a round trip, with each leg of the journey taking about half an hour.
2. The Transvip minibus, a shared ride option, costs over 20,000 pesos for a round trip. Travel time can vary depending on the other passengers’ destinations, typically ranging from half an hour to an hour.

3. Opting for the airport bus and metro combination will cost you 7,450 pesos for a round trip, with a one-way journey lasting about an hour.
4. It’s best to avoid wandering around unnecessarily!

Another noteworthy experience: although I was aware that there would be a secondary security check for flights to the US, I was “lucky” enough to get a special security check. I estimate that about ten people on the plane received this extra scrutiny. They opened my luggage and conducted a thorough body explosive check.

With only one inspector and me being near the back of the line, I waited for over half an hour and was almost the last to board the plane. This day really took a toll on me [pitiful emoji].

The LATAM airport lounge is equipped with showers and towels, providing a refreshing break. Business class also offers comfortable blankets and pillows. If you purchase items at the duty-free shop, they can be conveniently picked up at the aircraft door.

Upon landing, I discovered that one of my checked bags had a broken wheel. The on-site staff provided an email address for me to send photos and file a claim, assuring me of a response within 24 hours. Unfortunately, I have yet to hear back from them [sigh emoji].

The biggest takeaway from this South American adventure? I need to learn Spanish as soon as I get back!