Information for visitors and international students

The most common way to get into the country is flying. The following are the main airlines offering flights to Chile: Latam, Sky Airlines, JetSmart, Aerolíneas Argentinas, Aeroméxico, Air Canada, Air France, American Airlines, Avianca, British Airways, Copa Airlines, Delta, Iberia, KLM, Qantas, United Airlines.

The O’Higgins Region is located next to the Metropolitan Region, where the country’s main international airport is situated. The city of Rancagua, home to our main campus, is less than 90 km from Santiago, and there are several options for traveling by land:

• Bus: From Santiago, several bus companies offer regular services to or through Rancagua and San Fernando, including: TurBus, Cóndor, Ruta H, Andimar, JetSur, etc.
  • Rancagua: Only TurBus operates routes with Rancagua as the final destination; all other companies pass through the city on their way further south. There are two bus terminals in Rancagua: Terminal O’Higgins and Terminal O’Carrol, located in different parts of the city but both within 2 km of the Campus. Most buses from Santiago arrive at the first terminal, with the exception of TurBus, which uses the second. It is also worth noting that TurBus passengers may disembark one block from the University, at the Av. España/Alameda stop.
  • San Fernando: When traveling by bus to San Fernando, we recommend always confirming with the bus company that the service enters the city and stops at the Terminal Rodoviario de San Fernando. Many bus companies pass through the city but only allow passengers to disembark at highway stops, which are less convenient for onward transport and particularly uncomfortable when traveling with luggage.
• Tren: Trains from Santiago to Rancagua or San Fernando depart from the main station – “Estación Central” (map). You can check the schedules on this website.
  • Rancagua: Two services are available: the “Rancagua–Estación Central Train” (a regular service with several daily departures; upon arrival at the station a rechargeable card must be purchased to use the system — online purchase and seat reservations are not available) and the “Chillán–Estación Central Train” (a direct service with fewer daily departures that allows online purchase and seat reservations in either first or second class, at a higher fare than the regular service). Regardless of which service is chosen, trains arrive at Rancagua’s railway station, located approximately 2 km from the Campus. (map)
  • San Fernando: Two services are available: the “San Fernando–Estación Central Train” (a regular service with several daily departures; upon arrival at the station a rechargeable card must be purchased to use the system — online purchase and seat reservations are not available) and the “Chillán–Estación Central Train” (a service with fewer daily departures that allows online purchase and seat reservations in either first or second class, at a higher fare than the regular service). Regardless of which service is chosen, trains arrive at San Fernando’s railway station, located in the city centre. (map)
• Car: If you hold a valid driving licence from your home country, you may also opt for a temporary vehicle rental (rent-a-car). Many companies offer this service from Santiago, including several operating directly from the international airport. If you choose this option, we recommend booking in advance through the companies’ websites. If driving your own vehicle, the journey from Santiago to Rancagua typically takes around one hour, and to San Fernando approximately two hours, depending on traffic conditions
• Transfer: There are some direct transfer services from the airport, some providers are the following: Transvip, VTS, Transfer OH, Transfer Aránguiz
• Taxi or ridesharing apps: It is also possible to hail a taxi directly from the Santiago airport to Rancagua or San Fernando or travel using the most common ridesharing apps, although these alternatives tend to be the most expensive.

• Rancagua: The UOH Campus is located right in the city centre, making it very easy to get around on foot. The city also has a public bus network (“micros”) as well as shared taxis with fixed routes (“colectivos”) covering the whole city. Regular taxis (black with a yellow roof) also circulate throughout the city and can be found at designated stops, and several ride-hailing apps operate in the area. Rancagua also has several kilometres of dedicated cycling lanes.
• San Fernando: The Campus is located on the southern outskirts of the city, so public transport is required to reach it. The journey from the city centre takes around 10 to 20 minutes, depending on traffic. As in Rancagua, San Fernando has a public bus network (“micros”) as well as shared taxis with fixed routes (“colectivos”) covering the whole city. Ride-hailing apps are also widely used.

• Rancagua: Below you will find some hotels and accommodation options available in Rancagua: Hotel Diego de Almagro, Hotel Terrado, Hotel Mar Andino, Hotel Piedra Verde (Machalí), Aparthotel De Triana. You can also browse a range of alternatives on Airbnb. For longer stays, monthly rentals can be found on various platforms, including: Portal Inmobiliario, Yapo, Toctoc, Trovit, and others.
• San Fernando: Some of the hotels available in San Fernando include: Hotel Manso de Velasco, Hotel Ontiveros, Santa Teresita Boutique Hotel, and Hotel Casa Silva (Angostura). A range of further alternatives is also available on Airbnb.

• Rancagua: There are several options for having a meal in Rancagua. Note: In Chile it is customary to leave a 10% tip if the service received was satisfactory. Here we list some options as an example:
  • Dekulto: Japanese cuisine, located at Av. Bombero Villalobos 158, Rancagua.
  • Magari: Located in the center of Rancagua, restaurant of Asian and Peruvian fusion dishes.. Campos 544, Rancagua
  • B Lounge: Restobar, specializing in sushi, which has 3 locations in the city. Alcázar 445, Rancagua
  • Sra. Fang: Located next to the main square in Rancagua, it offers different Asian dishes. Independencia 470, Rancagua.
  • Pueblito Gastronómico de Machalí: A place that gathers 7 restaurants with Italian, Japanese, Chilean, American, Peruvian cuisine, among others. It is located in the town of Machalí, about 10 kms from downtown Rancagua. Camino La Hacienda 48, Machalí
  • Fuente Millán: Restaurant specializing in a variety of meat dishes and sandwiches, with several options of Chilean and international food. Pedro de Valdivia 30, Rancagua
  • Tierra Norteña: Peruvian food, locations in Rancagua and Machalí. Av. Eduardo Frei Montlava 075, Rancagua
  • Margo: Bar specializing in beer and pizzas. Av. Bombero Villalobos 1092, Local 2, Rancagua
  • Il Peccato: Italian food restaurant located on the limit of the town of Machalí, about 5 kms from the center of Rancagua. Av. San Juan 133, Machalí
  • Torino: Italian food restaurant. Manuel Montt 160, Rancagua
• San Fernando: Here are some of the city’s dining options:

  • Pasión Norteña: Centrally located restaurant offering Peruvian and international cuisine. Avenida Bernardo O’Higgins 895, San Fernando.

  • Terraza Fontana: Italian cuisine, located in the city center. Chacabuco 527, San Fernando.

  • Hydro Restobar: Japanese, Mexican, international, and fusion cuisine. Located at Avenida Bernardo O’Higgins Sur 0280, South Exit, San Fernando.

  • Club de Campo San Fernando: Located approximately 10 minutes from the city center, serving Chilean and international cuisine.

  • Restaurant Club House Casa Silva: Located at a vineyard in the town of Angostura, approximately 15 minutes from downtown San Fernando. Chilean cuisine with wine pairing experiences.

Rancagua and San Fernando have a Mediterranean climate, with long, hot summers and cold, generally dry winters. If you are traveling, especially in the warm season (late November to mid-April) it is very important to have a high protection sunscreen.

Check the current weather forecast here.

• Money: In Chile, the currency is the Chilean peso, here you can see an estimated currency converter. Generally, payment in any other foreign currency is not accepted. In downtown Rancagua and San Fernando there are some money exchange offices. Please contact us if you require more details. In most of the stores (including small shops) it is possible to pay with an international credit card, but it is advisable to always have some cash. Transportation in the city only accepts cash.

• General shopping: Shops are normally open from Monday to Friday from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm. In some cases, smaller stores may close briefly at lunchtime. On Saturdays, stores usually operate on more limited opening hours, and on Sundays and holidays almost everything is closed, except supermarkets and some small shops.

• Drugstores: Drugstores have business hours; they do not operate on a 24-hour basis as in other places. However, during closing hours (e.g., evenings, Sundays, holidays) there are drugstores on duty. These are usually very crowded as there are not many of them and they are the only alternative. They are only recommended in case of emergency.

• Restaurants and entertainment: Usually these places operate at much longer hours, and many of them are open on Sundays and holidays.

• Emergency numbers: Ambulance: 131, Fire Department: 132, Carabineros (police): 133.
• Hospitals and medical centers: There are several hospitals and medical centers that can be accessed in case of emergency or illness. See all health care centers in Rancagua. The closest one to the University’s main Campus is the Redsalud clinic, which is located just across the street from the main building. See all medical centers in San Fernando.
• Earthquakes: You may have heard it before: Chile is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world, so it is likely that you will experience one during your stay. But don’t worry, most of the earthquakes that usually occur are of low or medium intensity and do not represent any kind of danger (many times they are not even noticeable!). However, there is always the possibility that an earthquake of greater intensity may occur. In this case, the first thing to do is to remain calm. In Chile, buildings are prepared to withstand strong earthquakes, so they usually do not suffer any damage or only minor ones (broken windows, falling ceiling panels, etc.). Check more details about what to do in an earthquake and which are the safety zones of the university in this site.
• Crime: Rancagua and San Fernando are quite safe cities compared to many other places in Chile. As in any big city in the world, you should be careful not to have your wallet, purse or high-value objects in sight (cameras, jewelry, etc.). Be careful also when taking out your cell phone in public. We suggest you avoid going out at night to lonely places or in areas you do not know. Remember that the Carabineros (police) number is 133.
• Wildlife: In our cities we have no animals that are dangerous or pose a risk to humans. The sole exception is the Chilean recluse spider (“Araña de rincón”). This type of spider has a venomous bite (potentially even lethal) and is found mostly in older buildings, but can be found in most of the houses and buildings in the country. This spider usually shies away from human contact, so it will never attack you if it does not feel threatened and you may never see one, even if it is present where you are. As a recommendation, always keep rooms well ventilated and clean. In addition, you should avoid leaving clothes on the floor or in a corner and, if you do, it is advisable to shake them out before wearing them. In the very unlikely event that you get bitten, we recommend that you apply ice to the area of the bite and go quickly to a medical center, mainly to rule out a bite from this type of spider (try to take the specimen with you if you can).
• Sunburn: In the summer months (December to February), you should always use sunscreen with a high protection factor, otherwise you could quickly suffer from sunburn. A good hat and sunglasses are also recommended, as well as trying to avoid being out in the sun during the peak hours of radiation.

• Holidays: You can check the list of holidays in Chile here.
• Important UOH dates: In the academic calendar you can find the important dates at UOH.

• Official time: Depending on the time of the year, in the O’Higgins Region (“Chile Continental”) there are 2 different time zones: CLT (UTC-4 ) between April and September and CLST (UTC-3) between September and April. Check the current official time here.
• Electricity: In Chile, the plugs are type C and type L. Voltage is 220 V and frequency: 50 Hz.

• Rancagua’s City Council
• Tourism on the O’Higgins Region
• Chile Travel