The Wayro route from Pucón to Colonia Suiza, Argentina is 241 miles (388 km), about 6 h 19 min of driving without stops. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 45, at Paso Mamuil Malal.
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 | 241 mi (388 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 19 min |
| Main roads, in order | RP60 → RP23 → RN40 → RN234 → RN237 → RP237 → RP79 |
| Border crossing | about mile 45, Chile → Argentina (Paso Mamuil Malal) |
| Regions on the route | La Araucanía, Neuquén, Río Negro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 45, at Paso Mamuil Malal, from La Araucanía 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 Pucón to Colonia Suiza drive plays out
RN237 (69 mi) and RN234 (36 mi) carry about 44% of the 241 miles. The first 45 miles are in Chile; the last 196 are in Argentina. It runs through 3 regions: La Araucanía, Neuquén, Río Negro. Of the 5 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Pucón to Colonia Suiza, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–47 | 47 | La Araucanía, Neuquén |
| RP60 | 47–73 | 26 | Neuquén |
| connecting roads | 73–74 | 1 | Neuquén |
| local roads | 74–81 | 7 | Neuquén |
| RP23 | 81–94 | 13 | Neuquén |
| RN40 | 94–110 | 16 | Neuquén |
| RN234 | 110–146 | 36 | Neuquén |
| RN237 | 146–215 | 69 | Neuquén, Río Negro |
| RN40 | 215–223 | 8 | Neuquén, Río Negro |
| RP237 | 223–234 | 11 | Río Negro |
| RP79 | 234–241 | 7 | Río Negro |
- Mile 45 of this route: La Araucanía → Neuquén (international border)
- Mile 183 of this route: Neuquén → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 186 of this route: Río Negro → Neuquén (region line)
- Mile 191 of this route: Neuquén → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 196 of this route: Río Negro → Neuquén (region line)
- Mile 217 of this route: Neuquén → Río Negro (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Pucón and Colonia Suiza
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Bariloche Paleontological Association (mile 227), Cathedral of Our Lady of Nahuel Huapi (mile 227), Museo de Tropas de Montaña (mile 234)
- Nature and outdoors: Ojos del Caburgua (mile 6), Villarrica National Park (mile 39)
- Museums and history: Bariloche Paleontological Association (mile 227), Cathedral of Our Lady of Nahuel Huapi (mile 227), Museo de Tropas de Montaña (mile 234)
Ojos del Caburgua
Ojos del Caburgua is a waterfall about 15 km east of Pucón and 4 km south of Lake Caburgua in the Araucanía Region.
Villarrica National Park
Near Pucón in Chile's La Araucanía and Los Ríos regions, Villarrica National Park centers on a line of three Andean volcanoes: Villarrica, Quetrupillán and Lanín.
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.
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.
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.
When you get to Colonia Suiza
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 Pucón
- Pucón to Curacautín
- Pucón to Monte Águila
- Pucón to Pelluhue
- Pucón to Santa Cruz, Chile
- Pucón to Pichilemu
- Pucón to El Colorado
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Pucón to Colonia Suiza, Argentina?
About 6 h 19 min of driving without stops, over 241 miles.
What is the driving distance from Pucón to Colonia Suiza, Argentina?
About 241 miles (388 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 Pucón to Colonia Suiza drive cross the border?
At about mile 45, from Chile into Argentina, at Paso Mamuil Malal.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Pucón 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 Pucón to Colonia Suiza 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.
What roads does the drive from Pucón to Colonia Suiza use?
In order: RP60, RP23, RN40, RN234, RN237, RP237 and RP79. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Pucón and Colonia Suiza?
Closest to the road: Bariloche Paleontological Association (museum, mile 227, 0.2 mi from the route); Cathedral of Our Lady of Nahuel Huapi (cathedral, mile 227, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo de Tropas de Montaña (museum, mile 234, 0.3 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.