By road, El Colorado and Las Leñas, Argentina are about 428 miles (688 km) apart, or roughly 9 h 38 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: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Distance by road | 428 mi (688 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 38 min |
| Main roads, in order | G-21 → E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RN40 → RP222 |
| Border crossing | about mile 119, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Las Leñas
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.
How the El Colorado to Las Leñas drive plays out
RN40 (166 mi) and RN7 (113 mi) carry about 65% of the 428 miles. The first 119 miles are in Chile; the last 309 are in Argentina. It runs through 3 regions: Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: El Colorado to Las Leñas
| 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 | 119–232 | 113 | Mendoza |
| RN40 | 232–398 | 166 | Mendoza |
| RP222 | 398–428 | 30 | Mendoza |
- Mile 63 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 119 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
Where to stop on the way to Las Leñas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 119)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque natural San Carlos de Apoquindo (mile 20), Colina Thermal Baths (mile 50), Cacheuta Spa (mile 214)
- Museums and history: Museo de Cera de Las Condes (mile 25), Catedral de San Jorge, Santiago de Chile (mile 31)
Parque natural San Carlos de Apoquindo
On the east side of Las Condes, Parque natural San Carlos de Apoquindo offers mountain bike trails and hiking routes up to summits such as Alto Las Vizcachas, Morro del Guayacán and Cerro Provincia.
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.
Museo de Cera de Las Condes
Wax figures fill the Museo de Cera de Las Condes, a public museum that opened in July 2019 inside Parque Los Dominicos in the Las Condes district of Santiago.
Sanctuary on San Cristóbal Hill
Atop San Cristóbal Hill, some 863 meters above sea level, this Catholic sanctuary is known for its large statue of the Immaculate Conception overlooking Santiago.
Catedral de San Jorge, Santiago de Chile
On Santa Filomena street in the Patronato neighborhood of Recoleta, St. George's Cathedral is the seat of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Chile under the Antiochian Orthodox Church.
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.
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.
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 Las Leñas
- Temuco to Las Leñas, Argentina
- Rancagua to Las Leñas, Argentina
- Curicó to Las Leñas, Argentina
- Villarrica to Las Leñas, Argentina
- Pucón to Las Leñas, Argentina
- Curacautín to Las Leñas, 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 Las Leñas, Argentina?
About 9 h 38 min of driving without stops, over 428 miles.
How far is Las Leñas, Argentina from El Colorado by car?
About 428 miles (688 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 Las Leñas 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.)
Is it safe to drive from El Colorado to Las Leñas, 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.
What roads does the drive from El Colorado to Las Leñas use?
In order: G-21, E-57, E-61, RN7, RN40 and RP222. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from El Colorado to Las Leñas?
Closest to the road: National Astronomical Observatory (astronomical observatory, mile 25, 1 mi from the route); Museo de Cera de Las Condes (museum, mile 25, 2 mi from the route); Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (statue, mile 119, 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.