The Wayro route from Pucón to El Bolsón, Argentina is 304 miles (490 km), about 7 h 21 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: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Total distance | 304 mi (490 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | RP60 → RP23 → RN40 → RN234 → RN237 |
| 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 12.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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.
On the road from Pucón to El Bolsón
RN40 (105 mi) and RN237 (69 mi) carry about 57% of the 304 miles. The first 45 miles are in Chile; the last 259 are in Argentina. It runs through 3 regions: La Araucanía, Neuquén, Río Negro. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Pucón to El Bolsón, 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 | 215–304 | 89 | Neuquén, 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)
What to see on the way from Pucón to El Bolsón
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lago Guillelmo (mile 253), Reserva El Guadal (mile 297)
- Nature and outdoors: Ojos del Caburgua (mile 6), Villarrica National Park (mile 39), Lago Guillelmo (mile 253), Área natural protegida Cipresal de las Guaitecas (mile 281), Área natural protegida Río Azul - Lago Escondido (mile 284), Reserva El Guadal (mile 297)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Our Lady of Nahuel Huapi (mile 229), Bariloche Paleontological Association (mile 229)
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.
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.
Lago Guillelmo
Inside Nahuel Huapi National Park in Río Negro's Bariloche department, Lago Guillelmo is a glacial lake ringed by Andean Patagonian forest that drains into Lake Mascardi.
Área natural protegida Cipresal de las Guaitecas
About 30 km north of El Bolsón, east of Route 40, the Cipresal de las Guaitecas protected area lies within Patagonia's Andean forest ecoregion in the Bariloche department.
Área natural protegida Río Azul - Lago Escondido
Near El Bolsón, in the Bariloche department of Patagonia, the Río Azul - Lago Escondido protected natural area covers Andean Patagonian forest.
Reserva El Guadal
Near Mallín Ahogado and El Bolsón, Reserva El Guadal is a protected forest reserve created to preserve native woodland and support research on sustainable resource management.
In El Bolsón itself
Parque Serrano
Parque Serrano is a municipal protected natural area in El Bolsón, in Argentine Patagonia, covered by the Andean Patagonian forest ecoregion.
More drives to El Bolsón
- San Carlos de Bariloche to El Bolsón
- San Martín de los Andes to El Bolsón
- Neuquén to El Bolsón
- Comodoro Rivadavia to El Bolsón
- Trelew to El Bolsón
- Rawson to El Bolsón
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 El Bolsón, Argentina?
About 7 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 304 miles.
How far is El Bolsón, Argentina from Pucón by car?
About 304 miles (490 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 El Bolsón 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Pucón to El Bolsón, 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 Pucón to El Bolsón?
In order: RP60, RP23, RN40, RN234 and RN237. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Pucón and El Bolsón?
Closest to the road: Lago Guillelmo (lake, mile 253, 0.4 mi from the route); Área natural protegida Cipresal de las Guaitecas (park, mile 281, 1 mi from the route); Reserva El Guadal (park, mile 297, 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.