From Peru to Chile: how to cross the border from Tacna to Arica

Crossing the border from Peru to Chile may sound exciting, but in practice it's not that bad. We traveled overland from Arequipa to Arica, with a transfer in Tacna, and share our experience in this blog. From choosing between bus or collectivo to the border control itself: this way you know exactly what to expect and you'll be well prepared for your journey.

From Arequipa to Tacna: by bus

Our last stop in Peru was Arequipa. We left this beautiful city at 5:30 a.m. from the bus terminal. We booked our tickets online with Moquegua. There are also night buses, but since the bus ride takes ‘only’ six hours, we chose to travel during the day.

The bus ride itself was relaxed. The road was mostly straight, with few curves (which is nice if you get nauseous easily). Along the way, you can see the landscape change dramatically: from a green, mountainous environment to a dry plain. We made one stop where all passengers had to get off and the luggage was scanned. No explanation was given as to why, but fortunately it didn't take long. We arrived in Tacna around noon.

From Tacna to Arica: by collectivo or bus

In Tacna, you will arrive at the national terminal. For the journey to Arica, you will need to transfer to the international terminal. This applies to both the collectivo and the bus. Both modes of transport are excellent options.

A collectivo costs 25 soles and is a taxi that can carry up to five passengers. The bus costs 12 soles. The advantage of a collectivo is that you can usually get through border control faster. You wait until all passengers have been checked, and with fewer people, this is logically faster. The choice therefore depends mainly on your personal preference.

Tip: Do you, like us, have some time to spare for lunch? We took a taxi to the Muelle Sur restaurant, about ten minutes from the terminal. A great place to enjoy delicious Peruvian cuisine one last time. We ordered ceviche and chicha morada.

At the international terminal, the first step is to buy a Ticket Embarque. This costs 2 soles per person and is mandatory for both the colectivo and the bus. Think of it as a kind of terminal tax. After that, we recommend looking for someone wearing a red vest with ‘Tourist Information’ on it. These employees speak good English and will help you with the next steps.

A friendly woman helped us fill out an online declaration that you need for the crossing to Chile. You fill in your personal details and declare that you are not importing any prohibited goods or products. Finally, she showed us where we could board the collectivo.

Do you have any soles left? The international terminal is a good place to exchange them for Chilean pesos. Be sure to check in advance whether you can pay with Chilean pesos on the collectivo or bus. Our driver preferred soles.

The border crossing from Peru to Chile

After about half an hour's drive, you will arrive at the border control. Here you will find several islas (counters). The advantage of traveling by colectivo or bus is that the driver has already taken care of most of the paperwork.

All you have to do is report your departure from Peru at the first counter and your arrival in Chile at the second. At both counters, you will receive a stamp in your passport. No further questions were asked in our case. Finally, you walk with your luggage past customs for a check. Check in advance that you are not bringing any items that are not allowed to be imported into Chile. They pay particular attention to fresh produce, such as fruit and vegetables. According to various sources, it is also not allowed to bring a bottle of pisco sour.

The entire border control took us about half an hour. After that, we drove another half hour towards Arica. The total travel time from Tacna to Arica was about 1.5 hours. Pretty good for a border crossing, and for us, a completely stress-free experience. We were glad we did this during the day, as you are a bit more alert then.

Oh yes: the time difference with Chile is +2 hours. So we arrived in Arica after 7 p.m., just in time for dinner.

Final tip

Are you traveling from Arica to San Pedro de Atacama, just like us? Then buy your bus ticket for the next day immediately upon arrival. The national terminal is right next to the international terminal (where you arrive). Our bus with Frontera del Norte departed the next day at 8:30 p.m. This was the only company with a direct bus; all other buses stop in Calama. There were almost no seats left, so we were glad we had arranged it right away.

Have fun planning your trip to Chile!