Travelling from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport (SCL) to Calama Airport (CJC): what you need to know
The average duration of a direct flight from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport to Calama Airport is 2 hours 10 minutes.
Take your pick of 135 weekly Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport to Calama Airport flights. The 03:41 departure with Sky Airline is the earliest flight you can take. Sky Airline operates the latest service of the day at 21:20.
For a stress-free journey, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This way, you can comfortably catch your SCL to CJC flight.
You'll likely experience bigger queues during popular months such as July. Arriving up to four hours in advance for an international flight and two hours for domestic departures is a smart move.
A range of airlines operate direct flights from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport to Calama Airport, so jetting to Calama (and then discovering more of Chile!) is easy. Popular carriers that fly nonstop include:
The majority of passengers choose to fly with LATAM Airlines on this route.
LATAM Airlines stands out as the most punctual carrier for SCL to CJC flights, with 88.11% of services reaching their destination on schedule.
Choose a stopover if you want to break up your flight. Just deselect 'Direct flights only' to see your options for tickets from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport to Calama Airport. Concepcion Airport is a top stopover on the SCL to CJC route.
Handy information about Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport (SCL)
84% of flights leaving Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport land at their destination on schedule. With its reliable on-time performance, disruptions are unlikely when taking off from SCL.
To reach Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport from central Santiago, it'll take about 25 minutes if you're travelling by car. This depends on traffic though. It's approximately 16 kilometres from the airport to the city centre.
Taking public transport? Expect a journey time of around 35 minutes.
Booked an early flight from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport to Calama Airport? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the terminal (and sneak in some extra precious sleep) by picking one of these hotels close to SCL:
Arriving at Calama Airport (CJC)
The last thing you need is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport to Calama Airport flight. Book one of these accommodation options near CJC instead:
Get your adventure underway by picking up a Calama Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from united rent a car, Street Rent a Car or United and experience the lesser-explored corners of Calama and beyond.
Lock in the best possible rate by booking your vehicle from Calama Airport about one week before your departure date.
When to fly to Calama Airport (CJC)
It's time to pick your trip dates for your flight from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport to Calama Airport. June is the busiest month to head to Calama. If you want a quieter vibe, go in March.
Lock in your flight from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport to Calama Airport for November if you'd like to explore Calama during its warmest month. Expect temperatures of between 5ºC (41ºF) and 23ºC (73ºF).
If you want to travel in cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from SCL to CJC in July. Temperatures average between 1ºC (34ºF) and 22ºC (72ºF) then.
Explore more of Chile
Antofagasta is just one of the many places in Chile waiting to be discovered after you've seen Calama. Around 193 kilometres away to the south-west, top sights here include Playa Paraiso, La Portada and Poruna Volcano.
Around 274 kilometres north-west of Calama, Iquique is another essential stop in Chile. Get a taste of what this destination has to offer at Playa Cavancha, Playa Brava and Dunas de Iquique.