San Fernando

About half an hour south of Rancagua [1], 142 kilometers from Santiago [2] and west of the Panamericana, the agricultural service center of San Fernando (population 24,582) is the gateway to Colchagua valley wineries [3]. Colonial landowner Juan Jiménez de León donated the lands for its founding, in the mid-18th century.

Getting There

The Terminal de Buses (Av. Manso de Velasco and Rancagua [1]) is four blocks east of the Plaza de Armas. Tur-Bus (tel. 072/712923) has extensive schedules north- and southbound on the Panamericana, while regional services connect the city with destinations west, including Santa Cruz and Pichilemu [4] (on the Pacific).

For rail service, Estación San Fernando (Querecheguas s/n) is three blocks south of the bus terminal. Metrotrén runs 11 commuter trains to Santiago every weekday 6:10 a.m.–9:10 p.m.; there’s one fewer on weekends. EFE (Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado) trains between Santiago [2] and Temuco [5] and Concepción [6] also stop here.