Getting Around La Serena
La Serena is a compact, coastal city in Chile's Coquimbo Region, and most of what a visitor wants to see sits within a walkable core. The city is also the gateway to the Valle del Elqui, and the transport options below are the practical ones you'll actually use.
Walking
For day-to-day sightseeing in the city itself, walking is the simplest way to get around. The central streets, the waterfront and the main commercial areas are close enough together that you can cover them on foot without needing to plan transport at all. Save the buses and taxis for longer hops, the bus terminal, or the airport.
Buses and Public Transport
La Serena's public transport is bus-based. There is no metro or tram network to rely on, so buses are the main alternative to walking and taxis for moving around the city and the surrounding area.
- Local buses serve the city and its immediate surroundings.
- Regional buses to the Valle del Elqui leave several times every hour from La Serena to the valley. The trip takes 1–2 hours, and tickets cost roughly 2,000–3,000 pesos depending on where you're going. They depart every hour from the bus station.
If your trip includes a day in the Elqui Valley, treat the bus station as your starting point and buy your ticket there before departure.
Long-Distance Buses
La Serena's bus terminal is the hub for arriving from and departing to other parts of Chile.
- Buses leave several times every hour from Santiago to La Serena, with the trip taking 7–8 hours.
- Operators include Pullman Bus and TurBus, which publish timetables and allow booking.
- Service levels range from regular buses to semi-cama and first-class salon-cama, and prices vary greatly between them.
If you're coming from Santiago, booking ahead is worthwhile, and choosing your seat class is the main lever on price and comfort.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are a straightforward option for short trips around the city, for reaching the bus terminal with luggage, or for late-night journeys when you'd rather not walk. For longer or cross-city runs, agree on the fare or confirm the meter before you set off. Ride-hailing apps are also a convenient alternative where available, and can be useful when you want a fixed price shown up front.
Getting from the Airport into the City
La Serena is served by La Florida Airport (airport code LSC). It's the arrival point for domestic flights into the region.
- From Santiago: LAN flies several times daily (fewer on Saturdays), with a flight duration of about 1 hour. Sky Airline also flies from Santiago multiple times daily.
- Other Chilean cities: there are daily flights from Antofagasta with LAN and Sky Airline, and a Saturday-only flight from both Copiapó and Calama.
On fares: a fully flexible LAN ticket from Santiago has been priced at around US$168 one way and US$305 return, while advance non-flexible return tickets booked through the airline's website can be much cheaper than the flexible one-way price. If your dates are fixed, booking early and accepting less flexibility is the way to pay less.
Once you land, the airport sits outside the city centre, so plan on a taxi or ride-hailing car for the transfer into town, or arrange a transfer in advance. If you're heading straight on to the Valle del Elqui, it's simpler to go into the city first and pick up a valley bus from the bus station rather than trying to connect directly from the airport.
By Car
If you're driving, the main access route to the city is Route 5, which runs as a double-lane highway from the south and a one-lane highway from the north. A car gives you the most flexibility for exploring the Elqui Valley and the coast at your own pace, but for a city-focused visit you won't need one.
Practical Summary
- In the city: walk. It's the easiest way to cover the centre and waterfront.
- To the Elqui Valley: buses from the bus station, several times an hour, 1–2 hours, 2,000–3,000 pesos.
- To and from Santiago: frequent long-distance buses (7–8 hours) in several comfort classes, or a roughly 1-hour flight.
- From the airport: taxi or ride-hailing into the city; book flights early for the cheapest fares.
- By car: Route 5 is the main access road, double-lane from the south and one-lane from the north.