By road, Algarrobo and Barreal, Argentina are about 277 miles (445 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 30 min of driving. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 152, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
Full advisory: Chile, Argentina. Advisory issued: Chile August 19, 2026; Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Chile: “Use caution when walking or driving at night, especially if alone.”
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Distance by road | 277 mi (445 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | F-90-G → E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RN149 |
| Border crossing | about mile 152, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Mendoza, San Juan |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Barreal
The route crosses at about mile 152, at the Cristo Redentor crossing, from Valparaíso into Mendoza. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Argentina (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid when you enter; leave a blank page for the entry and exit stamps. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Argentina | A valid U.S. license usually works; an International Driving Permit is recommended. |
| Entering Chile (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for 90 days or less on a tourist passport; you get a Tourist Card valid for up to 90 days. Passport: must be valid for your whole stay. |
| Driving in Chile | A valid U.S. license works for the length of your tourist permit, usually 90 days. |
| The car, entering Argentina | Argentine customs (ARCA) registers the car's temporary entry. Bring the title or registration, liability insurance valid in Argentina and, if you don't own the car, a power of attorney signed before a notary. A rental car needs the rental company's MERCOSUR circulation authorization (ACM), and the company must be registered with Argentine customs. |
| Rental car | Cross only if the rental company authorizes it in writing and gives you the papers for the border; ask before you book. |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026); U.S. State Department, Chile (updated July 02, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
Driving Algarrobo to Barreal: the shape of the trip
RN149 (71 mi) and RN7 (54 mi) carry about 45% of the 277 miles. The first 152 miles are in Chile; the last 125 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Mendoza, San Juan. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Algarrobo and Barreal
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| F-90-G | 0–21 | 21 | Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 21–104 | 83 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 104–108 | 4 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 108–111 | 3 | Valparaíso |
| E-61 | 111–116 | 5 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 116–152 | 36 | Valparaíso |
| RN7 | 152–206 | 54 | Mendoza |
| RN149 | 206–277 | 71 | Mendoza, San Juan |
- Mile 14 of this route: Valparaíso → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
- Mile 96 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 152 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
- Mile 245 of this route: Mendoza → San Juan (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Algarrobo and Barreal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Laguna Carén (mile 54), Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (mile 103), Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 152), Puente del Inca (mile 163)
- Nature and outdoors: Laguna Carén (mile 54), Laguna Piedra Roja (mile 75), Colina Thermal Baths (mile 82), Río Blanco National Reserve (mile 129), El Leoncito National Park (mile 262)
- Museums and history: Museo y Centro Cultural Presidente Pedro Aguirre Cerda (mile 107), Puente del Inca (mile 163)
Laguna Carén
Laguna Carén is a man-made freshwater lagoon and wetland in Pudahuel, west of central Santiago, forming part of Parque Carén, a University of Chile property of about 2,525 acres.
Laguna Piedra Roja
Laguna Piedra Roja is an artificial lagoon in Chicureo, in the Colina commune of Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region.
Colina Thermal Baths
In the north of Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region, the Colina Thermal Baths (Baños de Colina) are hot springs on the Colina River used for both medicinal and tourist purposes.
Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes
Pilgrims come to the Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes in Rinconada, Valparaíso Region, to venerate the relics of Saint Teresa of the Andes, Chile's first saint. The shrine was built to receive thousands of the faithful.
Museo y Centro Cultural Presidente Pedro Aguirre Cerda
In Pocuro, in the commune of Calle Larga, this museum and cultural center occupies the house where President Pedro Aguirre Cerda was born, plus a former agricultural school. Both buildings became national monuments in 1972.
Río Blanco National Reserve
Río Blanco National Reserve is a protected area in Chile's Valparaíso Region, about 60 kilometers northeast of Santiago.
Christ the Redeemer of the Andes
High in the Andes at 3,832 meters on the Argentina–Chile border, Christ the Redeemer of the Andes was unveiled on March 13, 1904, to mark the peaceful settlement of a border dispute between the two countries.
Puente del Inca
Puente del Inca is a natural rock arch spanning the Las Cuevas River, a tributary of the Mendoza River. It stands beside the village of the same name in Las Heras Department, Mendoza Province.
El Leoncito National Park
Created in 2002 in San Juan Province, El Leoncito National Park protects Central Andean Puna and Southern Andean steppe habitats along with historical and paleontological sites.
More drives to Barreal
- Mendoza to Barreal
- Capilla del Monte to Barreal
- Villa Carlos Paz to Barreal
- Córdoba, Argentina to Barreal
- Viña del Mar to Barreal, Argentina
- Valparaíso to Barreal, Argentina
More drives from Algarrobo
- Algarrobo to Reñaca
- Algarrobo to Vicuña
- Algarrobo to Pisco Elqui
- Algarrobo to Valle Nevado
- Algarrobo to Portillo
- Algarrobo to Santa Cruz, Chile
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Algarrobo to Barreal, Argentina?
About 6 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 277 miles.
What is the driving distance from Algarrobo to Barreal, Argentina?
About 277 miles (445 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Where does the Algarrobo to Barreal drive cross the border?
At about mile 152, from Chile into Argentina, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Algarrobo into Argentina?
No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid when you enter; leave a blank page for the entry and exit stamps. A valid U.S. license usually works; an International Driving Permit is recommended. (U.S. State Department, updated July 16, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from Algarrobo to Barreal, Argentina?
The U.S. State Department rates Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Algarrobo to Barreal?
In order: F-90-G, E-57, E-61, RN7 and RN149. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Algarrobo and Barreal?
Closest to the road: Laguna Carén (lagoon, mile 54, 0.7 mi from the route); Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (convent of discalced carmelite nuns, mile 103, 0.4 mi from the route); Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 163, 0.2 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.