By road, El Colorado and San Agustín de Valle Fértil, Argentina are about 480 miles (773 km) apart, or roughly 11 h 53 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 | 480 mi (773 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 53 min |
| Main roads, in order | G-21 → E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RP84 → RP87 → RN40 → RP162 → RP246 → RP270 → RP203 → RN141 → RP510 |
| Border crossing | about mile 119, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Chile–Argentina border
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 San Agustín de Valle Fértil is like
RN7 (104 mi) and RN40 (79 mi) carry about 38% of the 480 miles. The first 119 miles are in Chile; the last 361 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect El Colorado and San Agustín de Valle Fértil
| 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 | 119–223 | 104 | Mendoza |
| RP84 | 223–229 | 6 | Mendoza |
| RP87 | 229–232 | 3 | Mendoza |
| connecting roads | 232–235 | 3 | Mendoza |
| RN40 | 235–314 | 79 | Mendoza, San Juan |
| connecting roads | 314–316 | 2 | San Juan |
| RP162 | 316–322 | 6 | San Juan |
| connecting roads | 322–324 | 2 | San Juan |
| RP246 | 324–336 | 12 | San Juan |
| connecting roads | 336–338 | 2 | San Juan |
| RP270 | 338–343 | 5 | San Juan |
| RP203 | 343–348 | 5 | San Juan |
| connecting roads | 348–350 | 2 | San Juan |
| RN141 | 350–409 | 59 | San Juan |
| RP510 | 409–480 | 71 | San Juan |
- Mile 63 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 119 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
- Mile 297 of this route: Mendoza → San Juan (region line)
Places worth a stop between El Colorado and San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Ralli, Santiago de Chile (mile 29), Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (mile 71), Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 119), Museo del Área Fundacional (mile 246), Oratorio de la Difunta Correa (mile 365)
- Museums and history: Museo de la Chilenidad Benjamín Mackenna Besa (mile 25), Museo de Cera de Las Condes (mile 25), Museo Ralli, Santiago de Chile (mile 29), Museo del Área Fundacional (mile 246)
Museo de la Chilenidad Benjamín Mackenna Besa
Housed in La Llavería at the Santa Rosa de Apoquindo estate in Las Condes, Santiago, this museum's three galleries explore how the horse, the land and its people shaped Chilean identity.
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.
Museo Ralli, Santiago de Chile
Located in Santiago, the Museo Ralli is a museum of contemporary Latin American art.
Manuel Foster Observatory
Built in 1903 on Cerro San Cristóbal near Santiago, the Manuel Foster Observatory was originally known as the D. O. Mills Observatory, after the philanthropist.
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.
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.
Museo del Área Fundacional
Founded in 1993, this museum in the city of Mendoza displays items of historical and archaeological value from the surrounding region.
Oratorio de la Difunta Correa
Pilgrims travel to this shrine in Vallecito, in San Juan Province, to venerate Deolinda Correa, known as the Difunta Correa, at the spot where her first miracle is believed to have taken place.
Santuario de San Expedito
Pilgrims come to this shrine in Bermejo, about 74 km northeast of the city of Caucete in San Juan Province, to venerate Saint Expeditus.
More drives to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- Maipú to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- San Rafael to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- Santa Fe to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- Paraná to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- San Miguel de Tucumán to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- Amaicha del Valle to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
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 is the drive from El Colorado to San Agustín de Valle Fértil, Argentina?
About 11 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 480 miles.
How far is San Agustín de Valle Fértil, Argentina from El Colorado by car?
About 480 miles (773 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 San Agustín de Valle Fértil 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 San Agustín de Valle Fértil, 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 San Agustín de Valle Fértil use?
In order: G-21, E-57, E-61, RN7, RP84, RP87, RN40, RP162, RP246, RP270, RP203, RN141 and RP510. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from El Colorado to San Agustín de Valle Fértil?
Closest to the road: Museo Ralli, Santiago de Chile (private museum, mile 29, 0.7 mi from the route); Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (convent of discalced carmelite nuns, mile 71, 0.5 mi from the route); Oratorio de la Difunta Correa (sanctuary, mile 365, 0.4 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.