Travelling from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Intl Airport (SCL) to Rio de Janeiro: what you need to know
Book a direct flight from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Intl Airport to Rio de Janeiro and you'll be in the air for an average of 4 hours 55 minutes.
Rio de Janeiro and Santiago (where Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Intl Airport is located) are both in the UTC-3 timezone. This means you won't have to change your watch on arrival.
The most popular route is from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Intl Airport (SCL) to Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport (GIG). You can choose from 52 weekly services between these two airports. If you'd like to get on your way as soon as you can, the earliest flight from SCL to GIG is the 03:40 Sky Airline option. If you prefer to leave later in the day, the final departure is at 19:53 with LATAM Airlines.
Leave plenty of time to get on your SCL to Rio de Janeiro flight. As a general rule, arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
You can expect longer lines in popular months like February. Arriving up to four hours in advance for an international flight and two hours for domestic departures is a smart move.
You can book a direct Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Intl Airport to Rio de Janeiro ticket. Start your journey at SCL and arrive at Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport (GIG).
You can choose from various carriers that offer direct flights from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Intl Airport to Rio de Janeiro, such as:
Think about adding a stopover to potentially land a cheaper plane ticket from SCL to Rio de Janeiro. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' during your search. Break up your trip (and maybe save some cash) by stopping at one of these popular airports:
Bogota El Dorado International Airport (BOG)
Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini Intl Airport (EZE)
Carrasco International Airport (MVD)
Located around 13 kilometres from the centre of Santiago, SCL can be reached in about 25 minutes by car. The journey on public transport will take roughly 35 minutes.
Want a leisurely start to your travels? Stay near SCL. Whether you're taking an early flight from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Intl Airport to Rio de Janeiro or just don't like being rushed, these hotels are worth a look:
Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Intl Airport maintains a strong on-time performance, so you're less likely to experience disruptions. Departures from SCL touch down on schedule 84% of the time.
How to find the cheapest flights from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Intl Airport (SCL) to Rio de Janeiro
$209 is currently the lowest price for a one-way Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Intl Airport to Rio de Janeiro flight. A return plane ticket starts from $347. These prices may change depending on availability.
To score cheap flights from SCL to Rio de Janeiro, reserve your journey four months ahead of your departure.
The best month for scoring cheap Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Intl Airport to Rio de Janeiro tickets is September. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare all available prices, then choose the dates offering the lowest fares.
There's no need to keep looking every day to find out if fares have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll update you as soon as there's an even better deal on cheap flights from SCL to Rio de Janeiro.
Tailor your flights with filters. Pick your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort your results by 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest' flights from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Intl Airport to Rio de Janeiro.
Airports in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport (GIG)
The distance from Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport (GIG) to central Rio de Janeiro is roughly 19 kilometres. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the centre driving.
Getting to the centre on public transport typically takes 1 hour.
If you have a late flight from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Intl Airport to Rio de Janeiro, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your luggage from the carousel and then be showered and sleeping not long after at one of these accommodation options near GIG:
Lock in the best deal by reserving your ride from Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport around four weeks in advance of your flight from SCL to Rio de Janeiro.
Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU)
After your flight from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Intl Airport to Rio de Janeiro has hit the runway, you can make your way to the city centre in about 10 minutes by car. Central Rio de Janeiro is roughly 5 kilometres from Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU).
You can expect the trip to take roughly 20 minutes on public transport.
After stepping off your SCL to Rio de Janeiro flight, settle in at a hotel close to SDU. These are some great accommodation options that'll help you switch to relaxation mode:
Lock in the best price by securing your ride from SDU three weeks in advance. You'll also have access to a greater selection of vehicles.
Jacarepagua - Roberto Marinho Airport (RRJ)
Jacarepagua - Roberto Marinho Airport (RRJ) is about 27 kilometres from central Rio de Janeiro. It'll take you about 45 minutes to reach the city centre by ride-share or taxi once you've stepped off your flight from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Intl Airport to Rio de Janeiro.
Public transport will get you there in around 1 hour 15 minutes.
Reserve a hotel close to RRJ and go from the runway to resting in a snap. Whether you're coming in on a late SCL to Rio de Janeiro flight or just want to simplify your travel plans, these stays offer convenience when you need it most:
Booking at least a few weeks in advance of your flight from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Intl Airport to Rio de Janeiro is always smart. Along with better deals, you'll have a wider selection of vehicle makes and models at RRJ.
Best time to go to Rio de Janeiro
December is the quietest month for flights from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Intl Airport to Rio de Janeiro, while January is the busiest. Pick the best time to visit Rio de Janeiro based on whether you like a lively atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.
The warmest month in Rio de Janeiro is February, with temperatures ranging between 20ºC and 36ºC. Lock in your Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Intl Airport to Rio de Janeiro plane ticket then if that's your definition of good weather.
Look for cheap tickets from SCL to Rio de Janeiro in July if you want to travel in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 14ºC and 29ºC on average.
More about Rio de Janeiro
After booking your flight from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Intl Airport to Rio de Janeiro, find a hotel that offers the right mix of comfort and location. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Rio de Janeiro:
All great holidays should include a little sightseeing. Christ the Redeemer, Track Corcovado, Christ Redeemer and Rio de Janeiro Carnival are essential stops on your Rio de Janeiro itinerary.
Explore more of Brazil
Rio de Janeiro is always a good idea, but there are so many other corners of Brazil you should also see. About 354 kilometres west of Rio de Janeiro, a trip to Sao Paulo will keep you busy. Check out popular attractions like Ibirapuera Park, Avenida Paulista and Pinacoteca Do Estado De Sao Paulo.
Around 338 kilometres north of Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte is another essential stop in Brazil. Experience major highlights starting with Conjunto Moderno da Pampulha, Casa do Baile and Igreja São Francisco de Assis.