The Wayro route from Pichilemu to La Punta, Argentina is 504 miles (811 km), about 10 h 34 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: “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 | 504 mi (811 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 34 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-80-G → I-62-G → G-62-I → G-60 → E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RNV146 |
| 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 Luis |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Crossing from Chile into Argentina
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.
What the drive from Pichilemu to La Punta is like
RN7 (271 mi) and G-60 (23 mi) carry about 58% of the 504 miles. The first 219 miles are in Chile; the last 285 are in Argentina. It runs through 5 regions: Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Luis. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Pichilemu to La Punta
| 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 | 219–490 | 271 | Mendoza, San Luis |
| RNV146 | 490–500 | 10 | San Luis |
| local roads | 500–504 | 4 | San Luis |
- 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 444 of this route: Mendoza → San Luis (region line)
What to see on the way from Pichilemu to La Punta
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (mile 171), Puente del Inca (mile 231)
- Nature and outdoors: Laguna Carén (mile 127), Colina Thermal Baths (mile 150), Cacheuta Spa (mile 313)
- Museums and history: St. Joseph's Cathedral, Melipilla (mile 85), Votive Temple of Maipú (mile 121), Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio (mile 122), Puente del Inca (mile 231)
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.
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.
Puente del Inca
Puente del Inca is a natural rock arch spanning the Las Cuevas River, a tributary of the Mendoza River. It stands beside the village of the same name in Las Heras Department, Mendoza Province.
Cacheuta Spa
At Cacheuta, on the Mendoza River in the Andes foothills, Cacheuta Spa is a bathing complex built around natural hot springs, along the old road from Mendoza toward the Uspallata Pass and Chile.
More drives to La Punta
- Paraná to La Punta
- Berisso to La Punta
- Villa Unión to La Punta
- Tafí Viejo to La Punta
- Viña del Mar to La Punta, Argentina
- Rancagua to La Punta, 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 La Punta, Argentina?
About 10 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 504 miles.
How far is La Punta, Argentina from Pichilemu by car?
About 504 miles (811 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 La Punta 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Pichilemu to La Punta, 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 Pichilemu to La Punta use?
In order: I-80-G, I-62-G, G-62-I, G-60, E-57, E-61, RN7 and RNV146. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Pichilemu to La Punta?
Closest to the road: Votive Temple of Maipú (monument, mile 121, 1 mi from the route); Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (convent of discalced carmelite nuns, mile 171, 0.4 mi from the route); Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 231, 0.1 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.