Santiago bus 118 (Red): route map, stops and timetable

Route 118 is the bus (locally called a “micro”) that links Maipú with La Florida across the south of Santiago. It is 32.0 km long outbound and is a Red Movilidad service, the system formerly known as Transantiago. It is a long cross-town route: it leaves from René Olivares, in Maipú, passes Plaza de Maipú and runs a long stretch of Av. Américo Vespucio, from Mall Plaza Oeste to Bellavista de La Florida, before ending in the Las Higueras area. Locals search for it as “recorrido 118” or “118 recorrido”. Here you have the route by section, the timetable, the Metro connections and how to find out where the bus is.

Route 118: from Maipú to La Florida

Maipú. The 118 starts at René Olivares and Eleodoro Rodríguez, continues via Avenida 4 Poniente, Pdte. González Videla and A. Silva Carvallo and takes Avenida El Olimpo, with stops at Julio Perceval, Nueva San Martín, Avenida Sur, Avenida Portales, Las Tinajas and Avenida Grecia.

Central Maipú. It passes the Colegio Polivalente Patricio Mekis, the Hospital Maipú and the CRS Maipú, takes Camino a Rinconada and reaches the Templo Votivo and Plaza de Maipú station. It continues past the Estadio Santiago Bueras, Avenida 5 de Abril, Cruce La Capilla and Av. Esquina Blanca, up to Plaza Zaror and the Liceo Maipú.

Southern Américo Vespucio. At Camino a Lonquén it joins Av. Américo Vespucio, which it follows for a very long stretch: Mall Plaza Oeste, Lider – Oeste, Valenzuela Llanos, Avenida Central, the Cementerio Metropolitano, La Cisterna station, Av. La Bandera and the San Ramón, Santa Rosa and La Granja stations. It continues via Dr. Sótero del Río, Cancha Rayada, the Colegio José A. Lecaros and Gerónimo de Alderete to Bellavista de La Florida station.

La Florida. It passes the Hosp. Dra. Eloísa Díaz and Froilán Roa, takes Av. Departamental and stops at the Estación de Buses (M) Macul – Oriente. It continues past the CESFAM Los Castaños, Diagonal Los Castaños and Las Higueras, with stops at Punitaqui and the Volcán streets (Llaima, Hornopirén, Calbuco, Lastarria, Puntiagudo, Huesqui), to Avenida Tobalaba. It ends past the Terminal María Angélica, at María Angélica and María Cristina.

The return trip follows the same axis in reverse, with a few differences: in La Florida it passes the Lider (M) Macul, the Fiscalía La Florida and the Vicuña Mackenna and Bellavista de La Florida stations, and on Vespucio it adds Santa Julia station. In Maipú it comes back via Esquina Blanca, 5 de Abril, Plaza de Maipú and El Olimpo to René Olivares.

Route 118 timetable

According to the current DTPM operating schedule (October 2026), the 118 runs every day, but not all night:

• Monday to Friday: from 05:30, with the last departures around 24:00 and about 98 departures.
• Saturday: from 05:30, last departures around 24:00, about 71 departures.
• Sunday: from 05:30, last departures around 24:00, about 63 departures.

In the weekday morning peak (07:00 to 09:00), the shortest scheduled interval is 8 minutes. Off-peak and at weekends, with fewer departures, the intervals are longer.

How long the 118 takes

According to the operating schedule, a full outbound trip, from Maipú to La Florida, has a scheduled time of 108 minutes for 32.0 km. This is a reference time; allow extra time in peak hours. If you are only riding a stretch of Vespucio, for example from Mall Plaza Oeste to La Cisterna, the trip is much shorter.

Bus stops and Metro connections

The 118 has 88 stops outbound and 87 on the return. It connects with the Metro at eight stations: Plaza de Maipú, La Cisterna, San Ramón, Santa Rosa, La Granja and Bellavista de La Florida in both directions, plus Vicuña Mackenna and Santa Julia on the return only.

How to find out where the 118 bus is

To see how long until the next 118, use the App Red (in the app stores, “Red Metropolitana de Movilidad”), which is free and has an arrival predictor for each bus stop (paradero). You can also use “¿Cuándo llega?” on red.cl. Enter the bus stop code, printed on the stop sign: it starts with P, followed by a zone letter and a number. On a 108-minute route, checking the predictor before you leave saves you long waits on Vespucio.

Fare and tarjeta bip!

Since 22 February 2026 the adult fare on Red buses is CLP 795 at any time. Secondary and higher-education students pay CLP 260 with the TNE, primary school pupils ride free and seniors with the bip! Adulto Mayor pay CLP 390. You can pay with the tarjeta bip! (it costs CLP 1,550) or with bip!QR from the App Red and other apps.

A single payment covers up to two transfers (three legs) within 120 minutes of the first validation, as long as you do not repeat the same bus route. There is no extra charge between buses; if you transfer from the 118 to the Metro during peak hours, you pay the difference up to CLP 895. Note that a full trip on the 118 takes about 108 minutes, so if you ride it end to end there is little time left for a transfer within the two hours.

Tips for travelling on the 118

• To get from Maipú to La Florida without going through the centre, the 118 is direct; if you are in a hurry, consider switching to the Metro at La Cisterna or Bellavista de La Florida.
• The 118 has stops at the Hospital Maipú and the Hosp. Dra. Eloísa Díaz, useful for reaching both.
• On the return, you can board at Vicuña Mackenna or Santa Julia stations, which the outbound route does not serve.
• After midnight the 118 stops running; plan your trip home in good time.