The Wayro route from Monte Verde to Colonia Suiza, Argentina is 230 miles (370 km), about 5 h 31 min of driving without stops. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 139, at Paso Cardenal Samoré.
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: “There are minefields on Chile's borders with Peru and Bolivia, and Argentina in Patagonia. Stay on marked roads and trails in these areas.”
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Distance | 230 mi (370 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 31 min |
| Main roads, in order | V-830 → U-551-V → U-55-V → U-981-T → RN231 → RN40 → RP237 → RP79 |
| Border crossing | about mile 139, Chile → Argentina (Paso Cardenal Samoré) |
| Regions on the route | Los Lagos, Los Ríos, Neuquén, Río Negro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 139, at Paso Cardenal Samoré, from Los Lagos into Neuquén. 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 Monte Verde to Colonia Suiza drive plays out
RN40 (53 mi) and U-981-T (23 mi) carry about 33% of the 230 miles. The first 139 miles are in Chile; the last 91 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: Los Lagos, Los Ríos, Neuquén, Río Negro. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Monte Verde to Colonia Suiza
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| V-830 | 0–6 | 6 | Los Lagos |
| connecting roads | 6–8 | 2 | Los Lagos |
| local roads | 8–45 | 37 | Los Lagos |
| connecting roads | 45–47 | 2 | Los Lagos |
| U-551-V | 47–66 | 19 | Los Lagos |
| U-55-V | 66–72 | 6 | Los Lagos |
| U-981-T | 72–95 | 23 | Los Lagos |
| local roads | 95–140 | 45 | Los Lagos, Los Ríos, Neuquén |
| RN231 | 140–159 | 19 | Neuquén |
| RN40 | 159–212 | 53 | Neuquén, Río Negro |
| RP237 | 212–223 | 11 | Río Negro |
| RP79 | 223–230 | 7 | Río Negro |
- Mile 117 of this route: Los Lagos → Los Ríos (region line)
- Mile 128 of this route: Los Ríos → Los Lagos (region line)
- Mile 139 of this route: Los Lagos → Neuquén (international border)
- Mile 206 of this route: Neuquén → Río Negro (region line)
Places worth a stop between Monte Verde and Colonia Suiza
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Our Lady of Nahuel Huapi (mile 216), Bariloche Paleontological Association (mile 216), Museo de Tropas de Montaña (mile 222)
- Nature and outdoors: Lahuen Ñadi Natural Monument (mile 25), Puyehue National Park (mile 127), Los Arrayanes National Park (mile 172)
- Museums and history: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral, Puerto Montt (mile 20), Museo Colonial Alemán de Frutillar (mile 46), Cathedral of Our Lady of Nahuel Huapi (mile 216), Bariloche Paleontological Association (mile 216), Museo de Tropas de Montaña (mile 222)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral, Puerto Montt
Puerto Montt Cathedral, dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, stands on the city's Plaza de Armas and is the seat of the Archdiocese of Puerto Montt.
Casa del Arte Diego Rivera
Puerto Montt's main cultural center, Casa del Arte Diego Rivera has a theater hall and several rooms for temporary exhibitions.
Lahuen Ñadi Natural Monument
Between Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas in Chile's Los Lagos Region, Lahuen Ñadi Natural Monument protects about 2 square kilometers of ñadi.
Museo Colonial Alemán de Frutillar
Opened to the public in January 1984, the Museo Colonial Alemán de Frutillar is an architectural and ethnographic museum devoted mainly to German immigration to the Llanquihue area of the Los Lagos Region.
Puyehue National Park
In the Andes across the Los Ríos and Los Lagos regions, Puyehue National Park takes in hot springs, volcanoes and evergreen forests. It was expanded in 1950 and 1981.
Los Arrayanes National Park
Covering the Quetrihué Peninsula on Nahuel Huapi Lake, 3 km from Villa La Angostura in Neuquén, Los Arrayanes National Park protects 17.53 square kilometers.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Nahuel Huapi
Close to Nahuel Huapi Lake, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Nahuel Huapi is the main Catholic cathedral of San Carlos de Bariloche, set amid gardens on a large plot.
Bariloche Paleontological Association
Founded in 1977, the museum of the Bariloche Paleontological Association is a nonprofit that preserves and shares local and provincial fossil heritage in San Carlos de Bariloche.
Museo de Tropas de Montaña
Founded in 1975, Museo de Tropas de Montaña is an Argentine Army military museum in Bariloche, housed within the garrison at the Military Mountain School.
In Colonia Suiza itself
Lago Moreno
Lago Moreno is a lake of glacial origin in the Bariloche department of Río Negro Province, Argentina.
Parque municipal Llao Llao
Located in the Bariloche department of Río Negro, the Llao Llao municipal park protects the area's natural landscape and the region's genetic diversity.
Laguna Negra
Inside Nahuel Huapi National Park, high in the Andes, Laguna Negra is a lake of about 13 hectares that lies under a thick layer of snow in winter.
More drives to Colonia Suiza
- San Martín de los Andes to Colonia Suiza
- Villa El Chocón to Colonia Suiza
- Neuquén to Colonia Suiza
- San Antonio Oeste to Colonia Suiza
- Viedma to Colonia Suiza
- Rawson to Colonia Suiza
More drives from Monte Verde
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Monte Verde to Colonia Suiza, Argentina?
About 5 h 31 min of driving without stops, over 230 miles.
What is the driving distance from Monte Verde to Colonia Suiza, Argentina?
About 230 miles (370 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 Monte Verde to Colonia Suiza drive cross the border?
At about mile 139, from Chile into Argentina, at Paso Cardenal Samoré.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Monte Verde 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 Monte Verde to Colonia Suiza, 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 Monte Verde to Colonia Suiza?
In order: V-830, U-551-V, U-55-V, U-981-T, RN231, RN40, RP237 and RP79. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Monte Verde to Colonia Suiza?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Our Lady of Nahuel Huapi (cathedral, mile 216, 0.1 mi from the route); Bariloche Paleontological Association (museum, mile 216, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo de Tropas de Montaña (museum, mile 222, 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.