← Volcano Marathon Easter Island·1 night

Santiago: A Night in the Capital on the Way Home

One night in Santiago between the island and the flight home, with a flat walk through Lastarria and a museum on Plaza de Armas.

Duration1 night
TransitLATAM flight from Mataveri Airport, about 4.5 hours
DepartsMataveri Airport, Hanga Roa

After the Volcano Marathon: A Night in Santiago

The Route: Hanga Roa → Mataveri Airport → Santiago (SCL) → Lastarria → Santiago (SCL) Logistics: LATAM flight, then an airport bus and the Metro into the centre. Marathon Month: June Duration: 1 night

Hanga Roa ──(5 mins to airport)──> Mataveri (IPC) ──(about 4.5 hrs, LATAM)──> Santiago (SCL)
                                                                                      │
                                              Lastarria and Plaza de Armas ◄──(airport bus and Metro)──┘

Every route home from Rapa Nui runs through Santiago, because LATAM's flight from Mataveri Airport is the only nonstop service on the island. The Volcano Marathon package ends with an airport drop-off, and the connection to Europe, North America or Asia is a separate booking. A night in the capital turns a transit stop into a short stay, and gives legs that have run 42 km a flat afternoon on a city's pavements.

June in Santiago: this is winter, so expect cool days and cold nights. Rain falls in the winter months and the city sometimes has poor air quality in cold, still weather. Bring a warm layer, which the island's mild days may not have required.

Night One: Lastarria and the centre

The airport (SCL) is about 20 km from the centre. Airport buses run from outside arrivals to central Metro stations, and Metro Line 1 runs along the main avenue, the Alameda. Check current operators, fares and times on the day, as services change. A taxi or ride-hailing car is easier with luggage.

Lastarria is a compact district at the foot of Cerro Santa Lucía, a short walk from Metro Universidad Católica. The streets are flat and paved. Allow 20 to 30 minutes for a slow circuit, taking in the Plaza Mulato Gil de Castro, which has small galleries, and the cafes along Lastarria street. The hill itself is stepped and best left alone for 48 hours after the race.

The Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino sits on Bandera street, beside the Plaza de Armas, around 1.5 km from Lastarria on level ground. The collection covers the pre-Columbian cultures of the Americas. It is a good use of a tired afternoon: indoors, flat, seated rest available. Check opening hours and the entry price on the museum's website before going, because both change and Monday opening can differ.

Where to stay. Lastarria and nearby Bellas Artes put you close to both the Metro and the walking routes. For an early flight, a hotel near the airport removes the morning transfer. Book either well ahead of travel, particularly around public holidays.

Where to eat. Chilean menus lean on seafood stews, empanadas and sandwiches such as the chacarero. Lastarria has restaurants in the pedestrian streets around the plaza; check reviews and opening hours for the night you arrive. Book if you want a table before 21:00 at weekends.

Getting Home

Return to Santiago Airport (SCL) by bus, taxi or Metro-and-bus connection. Allow a full two hours before an international flight and more if the morning is wet. If your flight home leaves before 09:00, the airport hotel avoids a pre-dawn transfer.