Calama to La Quiaca, Argentina is about 365 road miles (587 km): roughly 8 h 47 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 158, at Paso de Jama.
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: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Total distance | 365 mi (587 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 47 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN52 → RP75 → RP11 → RN9 |
| Border crossing | about mile 158, Chile → Argentina (Paso de Jama) |
| Regions on the route | Antofagasta, Jujuy, Salta |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 158, at Paso de Jama, from Antofagasta into Jujuy. 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.
What the drive from Calama to La Quiaca is like
RN52 (96 mi) and RN9 (44 mi) carry about 38% of the 365 miles. The first 158 miles are in Chile; the last 207 are in Argentina. It runs through 3 regions: Antofagasta, Jujuy, Salta. Of the 6 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Calama and La Quiaca
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–61 | 61 | Antofagasta |
| connecting roads | 61–62 | 1 | Antofagasta |
| local roads | 62–159 | 97 | Antofagasta, Jujuy |
| RN52 | 159–255 | 96 | Jujuy, Salta |
| RP75 | 255–278 | 23 | Jujuy |
| RP11 | 278–319 | 41 | Jujuy |
| connecting roads | 319–321 | 2 | Jujuy |
| RN9 | 321–365 | 44 | Jujuy |
- Mile 158 of this route: Antofagasta → Jujuy (international border)
- Mile 232 of this route: Jujuy → Salta (region line)
- Mile 255 of this route: Salta → Jujuy (region line)
Places worth a stop between Calama and La Quiaca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Pukará de Quitor (mile 60), Museo del Meteorito (mile 62), Los Flamencos National Reserve (mile 131), Salar Aguas Calientes I (mile 132)
- Nature and outdoors: Museo del Meteorito (mile 62), Los Flamencos National Reserve (mile 131)
- Museums and history: Pukará de Quitor (mile 60), Museo del Meteorito (mile 62)
Pukará de Quitor
About 3 km northwest of San Pedro de Atacama, Pukará de Quitor is a pre-Columbian stone fortress overlooking the valley of the San Pedro River.
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.
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.
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.
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.
More drives to La Quiaca
- Catamarca to La Quiaca
- Santa Cruz de la Sierra to La Quiaca, Argentina
- La Paz, Bolivia to La Quiaca, Argentina
- Cochabamba to La Quiaca, Argentina
- Oruro to La Quiaca, Argentina
- Quillacollo to La Quiaca, Argentina
More drives from Calama
- Calama to Putre
- Calama to Copiapó
- Calama to Tarabuco, Bolivia
- Calama to San Pedro de Quemes Canton, Bolivia
- Calama to Humahuaca, Argentina
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Calama to La Quiaca, Argentina?
About 8 h 47 min of driving without stops, over 365 miles.
What is the driving distance from Calama to La Quiaca, Argentina?
About 365 miles (587 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 Calama to La Quiaca drive cross the border?
At about mile 158, from Chile into Argentina, at Paso de Jama.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Calama 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 Calama to La Quiaca 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.
Which highways go from Calama to La Quiaca?
In order: RN52, RP75, RP11 and RN9. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Calama to La Quiaca?
Closest to the road: Pukará de Quitor (fortress, mile 60, 0.8 mi from the route); Museo del Meteorito (natural history museum, mile 62, 0.1 mi from the route); Los Flamencos National Reserve (national reserve, mile 131, 0.1 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.