The Wayro route from Pichilemu to Barreal, Argentina is 344 miles (553 km), about 8 h 9 min of driving without stops. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 219, 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.”
| Total distance | 344 mi (553 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-80-G → I-62-G → G-62-I → G-60 → E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RN149 |
| Border crossing | about mile 219, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The border on the way to Barreal
The route crosses at about mile 219, 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.
The Pichilemu–Barreal drive in a few lines
RN149 (70 mi) and RN7 (55 mi) carry about 36% of the 344 miles. The first 219 miles are in Chile; the last 125 are in Argentina. It runs through 5 regions: Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Pichilemu to Barreal, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–22 | 22 | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
| I-80-G | 22–37 | 15 | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
| I-62-G | 37–53 | 16 | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| G-62-I | 53–63 | 10 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 63–65 | 2 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| G-60 | 65–88 | 23 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 88–89 | 1 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 89–172 | 83 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 172–176 | 4 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 176–178 | 2 | Valparaíso |
| E-61 | 178–184 | 6 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 184–219 | 35 | Valparaíso |
| RN7 | 219–274 | 55 | Mendoza |
| RN149 | 274–344 | 70 | Mendoza, San Juan |
- Mile 52 of this route: Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
- Mile 163 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 219 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
- Mile 313 of this route: Mendoza → San Juan (region line)
Places worth a stop between Pichilemu and Barreal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 219)
- Nature and outdoors: Laguna Carén (mile 127), Colina Thermal Baths (mile 150), Río Blanco National Reserve (mile 197), El Leoncito National Park (mile 330)
- Museums and history: St. Joseph's Cathedral, Melipilla (mile 85), Votive Temple of Maipú (mile 121), Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio (mile 122)
St. Joseph's Cathedral, Melipilla
St. Joseph's Cathedral in Melipilla, Chile, is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Melipilla.
Votive Temple of Maipú
Also known as the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Votive Temple of Maipú is a Catholic church in the Chilean commune of Maipú.
Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio
Chile's Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio is a national museum dedicated to sharing the country's aviation heritage with visitors.
Laguna Carén
Laguna Carén is a man-made freshwater lagoon and wetland in Pudahuel, west of central Santiago, forming part of Parque Carén, a University of Chile property of about 2,525 acres.
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.
Río Blanco National Reserve
Río Blanco National Reserve is a protected area in Chile's Valparaíso Region, about 60 kilometers northeast of Santiago.
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 Barreal
- Mendoza to Barreal
- Capilla del Monte to Barreal
- Villa Carlos Paz to Barreal
- Córdoba, Argentina to Barreal
- Viña del Mar to Barreal, Argentina
- Valparaíso to Barreal, Argentina
More drives from Pichilemu
- Pichilemu to Reñaca
- Pichilemu to El Colorado
- Pichilemu to Valle Nevado
- Pichilemu to Portillo
- Pichilemu to Vicuña
- Pichilemu to Pisco Elqui
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Pichilemu to Barreal, Argentina?
About 8 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 344 miles.
How far is Barreal, Argentina from Pichilemu by car?
About 344 miles (553 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 Pichilemu to Barreal drive cross the border?
At about mile 219, from Chile into Argentina, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Pichilemu 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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Pichilemu to Barreal drive?
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 Pichilemu to Barreal?
In order: I-80-G, I-62-G, G-62-I, G-60, E-57, E-61, RN7 and RN149. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Pichilemu and Barreal?
Closest to the road: St. Joseph's Cathedral, Melipilla (cathedral, mile 85, 1 mi from the route); Votive Temple of Maipú (monument, mile 121, 1 mi from the route); Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (statue, mile 219, 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.