Plan on about 6 h 16 min of driving for the 298-mile (479 km) trip from Humahuaca to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, before any stops. You cross from Argentina into Chile at about mile 202, at Paso de Jama.
Full advisory: Argentina, Chile. Advisory issued: Argentina July 10, 2026; Chile August 19, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
- Chile: “Secondary and mountain roads may be poorly maintained, poorly lit, and may lack guardrails.”
| Distance by road | 298 mi (479 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 16 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN9 → RN52 |
| Border crossing | about mile 202, Argentina → Chile (Paso de Jama) |
| Regions on the route | Jujuy, Salta, Antofagasta |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The border on the way to San Pedro de Atacama
The route crosses at about mile 202, at Paso de Jama, from Jujuy into Antofagasta. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| The car, entering Chile | Foreign-plated cars entering Chile need SOAPEX, Chile's mandatory accident insurance for foreign vehicles, unless an international agreement covers the car. Keep the certificate with the car's papers. |
| 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, Chile (updated July 02, 2026); U.S. State Department, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026); CMF Chile (financial regulator). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
The Humahuaca–San Pedro de Atacama drive in a few lines
RN52 (160 mi) and RN9 (39 mi) carry about 67% of the 298 miles. The first 202 miles are in Argentina; the last 96 are in Chile. It runs through 3 regions: Jujuy, Salta, Antofagasta. Of the 8 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Humahuaca and San Pedro de Atacama
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Jujuy |
| RN9 | 1–40 | 39 | Jujuy |
| RN52 | 40–200 | 160 | Jujuy, Salta |
| local roads | 200–298 | 98 | Jujuy, Antofagasta |
- Mile 94 of this route: Jujuy → Salta (region line)
- Mile 128 of this route: Salta → Jujuy (region line)
- Mile 202 of this route: Jujuy → Antofagasta (international border)
Places worth a stop between Humahuaca and San Pedro de Atacama
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting (mile 27), Pucará de Tilcara (mile 28), Posta de Hornillos (mile 34), Salar Aguas Calientes I (mile 228), Los Flamencos National Reserve (mile 229)
- Nature and outdoors: Los Flamencos National Reserve (mile 229)
- Museums and history: José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting (mile 27), Pucará de Tilcara (mile 28), Posta de Hornillos (mile 34)
José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting
On Rivadavia street in Tilcara, Jujuy, the Museo Nacional Terry occupies the colonial-style house where painter José Antonio Terry lived and focuses on his paintings.
Pucará de Tilcara
On a hill just outside Tilcara in Jujuy, the Pucará de Tilcara is a pre-Inca fortification placed for easy defense and good views over a long stretch of the Quebrada de Humahuaca.
Posta de Hornillos
Dating from the colonial era, the Posta de Hornillos is a former relay post in the Quebrada de Humahuaca, Tilcara department, that has worked as a history museum since 1979.
Salinas Grandes
Spread across Jujuy and Salta provinces at about 3,450 meters, the Salinas Grandes salt flat covers 212 square kilometers of white desert.
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.
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 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.
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.
In San Pedro de Atacama itself
Tulor
Near San Pedro de Atacama, Tulor is an archaeological site with the remains of a former village complex covering 5,200 square meters, plus 22 outlying structures.
Catarpe
Five kilometers north of San Pedro de Atacama, Catarpe was an Inca administrative center that oversaw the area's fortresses; nearby stands the San Isidro chapel, built in 1913.
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.
More drives to San Pedro de Atacama
- Copiapó to San Pedro de Atacama
- Tacna to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
- Sucre to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
- Oruro to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
- Potosí to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
- San Miguel de Tucumán to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Humahuaca to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile?
About 6 h 16 min of driving without stops, over 298 miles.
What is the driving distance from Humahuaca to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile?
About 298 miles (479 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 Humahuaca to San Pedro de Atacama drive cross the border?
At about mile 202, from Argentina into Chile, at Paso de Jama.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Humahuaca into Chile?
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. A valid U.S. license works for the length of your tourist permit, usually 90 days. (U.S. State Department, updated July 02, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Humahuaca to San Pedro de Atacama drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Humahuaca to San Pedro de Atacama use?
In order: RN9 and RN52. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Humahuaca to San Pedro de Atacama?
Closest to the road: Pucará de Tilcara (fortress, mile 28, 0.4 mi from the route); Posta de Hornillos (museum, mile 34, 0.2 mi from the route); Los Flamencos National Reserve (national reserve, mile 229, 0.2 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.