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South AmericaChileSantiago Metropolitan

San Bernardo

Santiago Metropolitan, Chile · South America

About San Bernardo

San Bernardo is worth a stop: 10 minutes from La Pintana, 16km from Ruta 5 (Chilean Pan-American Highway).

San Bernardo is a city located in Santiago Metropolitan, Chile. With a population of 249,858, it is an important destination in South America.

On a road trip, San Bernardo sits in Chile, where you drive on the right. It's in the America/Santiago time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add San Bernardo to your route.

About San Bernardo

The San Bernardo train crash was a fatal rail crash that happened on July 17, 1955 at San Bernardo, a suburb on the southern edge of Santiago, the capital of Chile, killing 38 passengers. It was the worst rail disaster in Chilean history until the rail disaster at Queronque in 1986 which killed 58. The accident

Read more happened at 8:55 AM in dense fog on a Sunday morning. Train No.3 was held at San Bernardo station waiting for a freight train ahead of it to clear the line. It comprised two first class coaches, a dining car, and five third-class coaches. After a delay of twenty minutes it was given the signal to proceed on its journey south to San Rosendo. But at that same moment it was rammed from behind by Train No.11 bound for Pichilemu destroying the two rear third-class carriages and killing most of the occupants. The impact was so great that a block from the crash site fragments of debris and human remains could be found. Survivors said the disaster could have been much worse as many passengers, bored by the long wait, had alighted from the train and were waiting on the platform. It was also fortunate that the rear two carriages contained many traders with large packages and baskets meaning that these carriages held fewer passengers than those further forward. President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo visited the scene later that morning. According to the official report 38 people were killed and over 58 wounded, although other sources put the death toll at 49 or even 70 dead. The driver of No.11 claimed that the signals were green on his approach to the station, but the subsequent enquiry found no fault with the signals, furthermore if they were obscured then the regulations state that he should have stopped his train as a preventative measure. Seven months after the crash at San Bernardo a very similar accident occurred near Santiago which killed 23 and injured 198. Again, one train ran into the rear of another in thick fog with the driver of the rear train at fault.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in San Bernardo

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in San Bernardo?

San Bernardo offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to San Bernardo?

Plan your road trip to San Bernardo with Plan Your Road Trips! Add San Bernardo as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is San Bernardo located?

San Bernardo is located in Santiago Metropolitan, Chile, South America. The coordinates are -33.5922 latitude, -70.6996 longitude.

What is the population of San Bernardo?

San Bernardo has a population of approximately 249,858 people, making it a city in Chile.

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Quick Information

Population
249,858
Continent
South America
Country
Chile
Region
Santiago Metropolitan
Timezone
America/Santiago
Coordinates
-33.5922, -70.6996

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in Chile

Police
133
Ambulance
131
Fire
132
Driving side
right
Full driving guide for Chile

Tags

South AmericaChileSantiago MetropolitanCity

Worth the detour from San Bernardo

3 notable places within an hour's drive.

landmark

Fantasilandia

Chile's most popular amusement park in Santiago's Parque O'Higgins with rides for all ages.

15 km · about 30 min drive

historic highway

Ruta 5 (Chilean Pan-American Highway)

Chile's 3,364-kilometre north-south trunk road from Arica to Quellón, the spine of most long-distance drives.

16 km · about 20 min drive

scenic viewpoint

San Cristóbal Hill, Santiago

A metropolitan park hill with a funicular to the summit offering panoramic views of Santiago and the snow-capped Andes behind it.

20 km · about 25 min drive

Driving roads near San Bernardo

  • 16 kmRuta 5 (Chilean Pan-American Highway)Chile's 3,364-kilometre north-south trunk road from Arica to Quellón, the spine of most long-distance drives.
  • 20 kmSan Cristóbal Hill, SantiagoA metropolitan park hill with a funicular to the summit offering panoramic views of Santiago and the snow-capped Andes behind it.

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near San Bernardo.

La Pintana

🇨🇱 Chile

6 km awayPop. 201,178

Padre Hurtado

🇨🇱 Chile

10 km awayPop. 63,250

Maipú

🇨🇱 Chile

11 km awayPop. 503,635

Puente Alto

🇨🇱 Chile

12 km awayPop. 568,106

Pirque

🇨🇱 Chile

13 km awayPop. 26,521

Santiago

🇨🇱 Chile

16 km awayPop. 4,837,295

Buin

🇨🇱 Chile

16 km awayPop. 63,419

Peñaflor

🇨🇱 Chile

16 km awayPop. 65,495

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence