Plan on about 10 h 45 min of driving for the 486-mile (782 km) trip from Cafayate to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, before any stops. You cross from Argentina into Chile at about mile 390, at Paso de Jama.
Full advisory: Argentina, Chile. Advisory issued: Argentina July 10, 2026; Chile August 19, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
- Chile: “Use caution when walking or driving at night, especially if alone.”
| Total distance | 486 mi (782 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 45 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN68 → RP59 → RN9 → RN34 → RN1V66 → RN52 |
| Border crossing | about mile 390, Argentina → Chile (Paso de Jama) |
| Regions on the route | Salta, Jujuy, Antofagasta |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Argentina–Chile border
The route crosses at about mile 390, at Paso de Jama, from Jujuy into Antofagasta. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| The car, entering Chile | Foreign-plated cars entering Chile need SOAPEX, Chile's mandatory accident insurance for foreign vehicles, unless an international agreement covers the car. Keep the certificate with the car's papers. |
| 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, Chile (updated July 02, 2026); U.S. State Department, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026); CMF Chile (financial regulator). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
How the Cafayate to San Pedro de Atacama drive plays out
RN52 (159 mi) and RN68 (107 mi) carry about 55% of the 486 miles. The first 390 miles are in Argentina; the last 96 are in Chile. It runs through 3 regions: Salta, Jujuy, Antofagasta. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Cafayate and San Pedro de Atacama
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Salta |
| RN68 | 2–109 | 107 | Salta |
| connecting roads | 109–116 | 7 | Salta |
| RP59 | 116–120 | 4 | Salta |
| connecting roads | 120–121 | 1 | Salta |
| RN9 | 121–145 | 24 | Salta |
| RN34 | 145–165 | 20 | Salta, Jujuy |
| RN1V66 | 165–189 | 24 | Jujuy |
| RN9 | 189–229 | 40 | Jujuy |
| RN52 | 229–388 | 159 | Jujuy, Salta |
| local roads | 388–486 | 98 | Jujuy, Antofagasta |
- Mile 161 of this route: Salta → Jujuy (region line)
- Mile 282 of this route: Jujuy → Salta (region line)
- Mile 316 of this route: Salta → Jujuy (region line)
- Mile 390 of this route: Jujuy → Antofagasta (international border)
What to see on the way from Cafayate to San Pedro de Atacama
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Los Flamencos National Reserve (mile 416), Salar Aguas Calientes I (mile 416)
- Nature and outdoors: Los Flamencos National Reserve (mile 416)
- Museums and history: Museum of High Altitude Archaeology (mile 121), Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour, San Salvador de Jujuy (mile 191), Museo Juan Galo Lavalle (mile 193)
Museum of High Altitude Archaeology
In Salta's historic center, the Museum of High Altitude Archaeology holds collections tied to Inca Capacocha ceremonies, mainly the Children of Llullaillaco mummies found in 1999 atop Llullaillaco volcano.
Convento de San Bernardo
Built in the late 16th or early 17th century, Convento de San Bernardo in central Salta is among the city's oldest buildings and a National Historic Monument since 1941.
Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour, San Salvador de Jujuy
The Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour is the seat of the Catholic bishopric of San Salvador de Jujuy and is counted among Argentina's historic buildings.
Museo Juan Galo Lavalle
Inside a mid-18th-century house declared a National Historic Monument, this provincial history museum marks the place where independence-era leader Juan Galo Lavalle was killed.
Salinas Grandes
Spread across Jujuy and Salta provinces at about 3,450 meters, the Salinas Grandes salt flat covers 212 square kilometers of white desert.
Salar de Olaroz
In the Susques department of Jujuy province, about 270 km from San Salvador de Jujuy, Salar de Olaroz lies on a high plateau at around 3,900 m.
Salar de Quisquiro
Also called Salar de Loyoques, Salar de Quisquiro is a salt pan of about 80 km² in northern Chile, in a basin averaging 4,430 m and topped by 5,285 m Cerro Purifican.
Los Flamencos National Reserve
Covering 740 square kilometres of dry puna in the San Pedro de Atacama commune, Los Flamencos National Reserve is made up of seven separate sections in the Antofagasta Region.
Salar Aguas Calientes I
High in the Puna de Atacama of the Antofagasta Region, Salar Aguas Calientes I borders the Tara salt flat to the north and east, Quisquiro to the south and Pujsa to the west.
In San Pedro de Atacama itself
Tulor
Near San Pedro de Atacama, Tulor is an archaeological site with the remains of a former village complex covering 5,200 square meters, plus 22 outlying structures.
Catarpe
Five kilometers north of San Pedro de Atacama, Catarpe was an Inca administrative center that oversaw the area's fortresses; nearby stands the San Isidro chapel, built in 1913.
Museo del Meteorito
San Pedro de Atacama's Museo del Meteorito keeps a permanent exhibit of meteorites found in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile.
More drives to San Pedro de Atacama
- Copiapó to San Pedro de Atacama
- Tacna to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
- Sucre to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
- Oruro to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
- Potosí to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
- San Miguel de Tucumán to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
More drives from Cafayate
- Cafayate to Villa Unión
- Cafayate to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- Cafayate to San José de Jáchal
- Cafayate to Purmamarca
- Cafayate to Uquía
- Cafayate to Humahuaca
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cafayate to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile?
About 10 h 45 min of driving without stops, over 486 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cafayate to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile?
About 486 miles (782 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 Cafayate to San Pedro de Atacama drive cross the border?
At about mile 390, from Argentina into Chile, at Paso de Jama.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Cafayate into Chile?
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. A valid U.S. license works for the length of your tourist permit, usually 90 days. (U.S. State Department, updated July 02, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Cafayate to San Pedro de Atacama drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Cafayate to San Pedro de Atacama use?
In order: RN68, RP59, RN9, RN34, RN1V66 and RN52. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Cafayate to San Pedro de Atacama?
Closest to the road: Museo Juan Galo Lavalle (museum, mile 193, 1 mi from the route); Los Flamencos National Reserve (national reserve, mile 416, 0.2 mi from the route); Salar Aguas Calientes I (salt flat, mile 416, 0.9 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.