By road, Algarrobo and San José de Jáchal, Argentina are about 435 miles (700 km) apart, or roughly 10 h 46 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: “Driving in Chile is relatively safe.”
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Distance by road | 435 mi (700 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 46 min |
| Main roads, in order | F-90-G → E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RN149 → RP12 → RP414 → RP436 → RN40 → RN150 |
| 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 17.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Chile into Argentina
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.
How the Algarrobo to San José de Jáchal drive plays out
RN149 (94 mi) and RN40 (56 mi) carry about 34% of the 435 miles. The first 152 miles are in Chile; the last 283 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 San José de Jáchal
| 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 | 206–300 | 94 | Mendoza, San Juan |
| RP12 | 300–326 | 26 | San Juan |
| RP414 | 326–357 | 31 | San Juan |
| RP436 | 357–372 | 15 | San Juan |
| RN40 | 372–428 | 56 | San Juan |
| RN150 | 428–434 | 6 | San Juan |
| local roads | 434–435 | 1 | 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)
Where to stop on the way to San José de Jáchal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Laguna Carén (mile 54), Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (mile 103), Museo Arqueológico de Los Andes (mile 109), Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 152)
- Nature and outdoors: Laguna Carén (mile 54), Laguna Piedra Roja (mile 75), Colina Thermal Baths (mile 82), Corazon Thermal Baths (mile 112), Lobo Thermal Baths (mile 118), El Leoncito National Park (mile 262)
- Museums and history: Museo Arqueológico de Los Andes (mile 109)
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 Arqueológico de Los Andes
Opened in 1969 by Carlos Coros, the Los Andes Archaeological Museum occupies a 19th-century house and holds a collection tied to the Aconcagua culture and the Inca civilization.
Corazon Thermal Baths
In Chile's Valparaíso Region, the Corazón Thermal Baths (Baños Corazón) are hot springs whose waters have been used for medicinal purposes.
Lobo Thermal Baths
Thermal springs in Chile's Valparaíso Region, the Lobo Thermal Baths (Baños de Lobo) are used for both therapeutic soaking and tourism.
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.
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 San José de Jáchal
- Maipú to San José de Jáchal
- Tunuyán to San José de Jáchal
- San Luis to San José de Jáchal
- La Punta to San José de Jáchal
- Villa Carlos Paz to San José de Jáchal
- Córdoba, Argentina to San José de Jáchal
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 does it take to drive from Algarrobo to San José de Jáchal, Argentina?
About 10 h 46 min of driving without stops, over 435 miles.
How far is San José de Jáchal, Argentina from Algarrobo by car?
About 435 miles (700 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 San José de Jáchal 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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Algarrobo to San José de Jáchal drive?
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.
What roads does the drive from Algarrobo to San José de Jáchal use?
In order: F-90-G, E-57, E-61, RN7, RN149, RP12, RP414, RP436, RN40 and RN150. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Algarrobo to San José de Jáchal?
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); Museo Arqueológico de Los Andes (archaeological museum, mile 109, 0.8 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.