By road, El Colorado and La Punta, Argentina are about 404 miles (650 km) apart, or roughly 8 h 40 min of driving. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 119, 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: “Secondary and mountain roads may be poorly maintained, poorly lit, and may lack guardrails.”
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Distance | 404 mi (650 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 40 min |
| Main roads, in order | G-21 → E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RNV146 |
| Border crossing | about mile 119, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Luis |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Chile into Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 119, 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.
What the drive from El Colorado to La Punta is like
RN7 (271 mi) and G-21 (21 mi) carry about 72% of the 404 miles. The first 119 miles are in Chile; the last 285 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Luis. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Road-by-road breakdown: El Colorado to La Punta
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| G-21 | 1–22 | 21 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 22–35 | 13 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 35–36 | 1 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 36–72 | 36 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 72–73 | 1 | Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 73–76 | 3 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 76–78 | 2 | Valparaíso |
| E-61 | 78–85 | 7 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 85–119 | 34 | Valparaíso |
| RN7 | 119–390 | 271 | Mendoza, San Luis |
| connecting roads | 390–391 | 1 | San Luis |
| RNV146 | 391–401 | 10 | San Luis |
| local roads | 401–404 | 3 | San Luis |
- Mile 63 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 119 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
- Mile 345 of this route: Mendoza → San Luis (region line)
Places worth a stop between El Colorado and La Punta
- Nature and outdoors: Apoquindo Waterfall (mile 19), Rosaleda del Parque Araucano (mile 28), Colina Thermal Baths (mile 50), Río Blanco National Reserve (mile 97), Cacheuta Spa (mile 214)
- Museums and history: Iglesia del Buen Pastor, Santiago de Chile (mile 32)
Apoquindo Waterfall
Fed by snowmelt from Cerro San Ramón and Cerro Provincia, Apoquindo Waterfall lies in Aguas de Ramón Natural Park on the east side of Santiago, near Apoquindo.
Santuario de la Naturaleza El Arrayán
El Arrayán Nature Sanctuary (Santuario de la Naturaleza El Arrayán) is a privately owned protected area open to the public in the Lo Barnechea commune of Santiago.
National Astronomical Observatory
On Cerro Calán in Las Condes, Chile's National Astronomical Observatory is owned and operated by the University of Chile's Department of Astronomy.
Rosaleda del Parque Araucano
Inside Santiago's Parque Araucano, this 2,000-square-meter rose garden displays a range of rose species and varieties.
Teatro del Puente
Built over the Vicente Huidobro bridge across the Mapocho River in Santiago, the Teatro del Puente sits between the Purísima and Pío Nono bridges.
Iglesia del Buen Pastor, Santiago de Chile
On Rivera Street in Santiago's Independencia commune, the Iglesia del Buen Pastor is a Catholic church complex.
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.
Río Blanco National Reserve
Río Blanco National Reserve is a protected area in Chile's Valparaíso Region, about 60 kilometers northeast of Santiago.
Cacheuta Spa
At Cacheuta, on the Mendoza River in the Andes foothills, Cacheuta Spa is a bathing complex built around natural hot springs, along the old road from Mendoza toward the Uspallata Pass and Chile.
More drives to La Punta
- Paraná to La Punta
- Berisso to La Punta
- Villa Unión to La Punta
- Tafí Viejo to La Punta
- Viña del Mar to La Punta, Argentina
- Rancagua to La Punta, Argentina
More drives from El Colorado
- El Colorado to Algarrobo
- El Colorado to Quintay
- El Colorado to Reñaca
- El Colorado to Vicuña
- El Colorado to Pisco Elqui
- El Colorado to Punta de Choros
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from El Colorado to La Punta, Argentina?
About 8 h 40 min of driving without stops, over 404 miles.
What is the driving distance from El Colorado to La Punta, Argentina?
About 404 miles (650 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 El Colorado to La Punta drive cross the border?
At about mile 119, from Chile into Argentina, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from El Colorado 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 El Colorado to La Punta 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 El Colorado to La Punta?
In order: G-21, E-57, E-61, RN7 and RNV146. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between El Colorado and La Punta?
Closest to the road: Santuario de la Naturaleza El Arrayán (nature sanctuary, mile 21, 3 mi from the route); National Astronomical Observatory (astronomical observatory, mile 25, 1 mi from the route); Rosaleda del Parque Araucano (rose garden, mile 28, 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.