By road, El Colorado and Villa Unión, Argentina are about 494 miles (795 km) apart, or roughly 13 h 4 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: “Driving in Chile is relatively safe.”
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Distance by road | 494 mi (795 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 13 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | G-21 → E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RN149 → RP12 → RP414 → RP436 → RN40 |
| Border crossing | about mile 119, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The border on the way to Villa Unión
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 Villa Unión drive plays out
RN40 (151 mi) and RN149 (94 mi) carry about 50% of the 494 miles. The first 119 miles are in Chile; the last 375 are in Argentina. It runs through 5 regions: Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from El Colorado to Villa Unión
| 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 | 119–174 | 55 | Mendoza |
| RN149 | 174–268 | 94 | Mendoza, San Juan |
| RP12 | 268–294 | 26 | San Juan |
| RP414 | 294–325 | 31 | San Juan |
| RP436 | 325–339 | 14 | San Juan |
| RN40 | 339–490 | 151 | San Juan, La Rioja |
| local roads | 490–494 | 4 | La Rioja |
- Mile 63 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 119 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
- Mile 214 of this route: Mendoza → San Juan (region line)
- Mile 457 of this route: San Juan → La Rioja (region line)
Stops between El Colorado and Villa Unión
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (mile 71), Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 119)
- Nature and outdoors: Apoquindo Waterfall (mile 19), Parque natural San Carlos de Apoquindo (mile 20), El Leoncito National Park (mile 231)
- Museums and history: Museo de Cera de Las Condes (mile 25), Museo de Química y Farmacia Profesor César Leyton Caravagno (mile 31)
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.
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.
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.
Museo de Química y Farmacia Profesor César Leyton Caravagno
Created in 1951 at the University of Chile, this museum on Merced Street in Santiago preserves the history of chemistry and pharmacy, starting from the look of old-time apothecaries.
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.
El Leoncito National Park
Created in 2002 in San Juan Province, El Leoncito National Park protects Central Andean Puna and Southern Andean steppe habitats along with historical and paleontological sites.
More drives to Villa Unión
- Capilla del Monte to Villa Unión
- Maipú to Villa Unión
- Córdoba, Argentina to Villa Unión
- Río Cuarto to Villa Unión
- Catamarca to Villa Unión
- San Miguel de Tucumán to Villa Unión
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 Villa Unión, Argentina?
About 13 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 494 miles.
What is the driving distance from El Colorado to Villa Unión, Argentina?
About 494 miles (795 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 Villa Unión 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 Villa Unión, 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.
Which highways go from El Colorado to Villa Unión?
In order: G-21, E-57, E-61, RN7, RN149, RP12, RP414, RP436 and RN40. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from El Colorado to Villa Unión?
Closest to the road: National Astronomical Observatory (astronomical observatory, mile 25, 1 mi from the route); Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (convent of discalced carmelite nuns, mile 71, 0.5 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.