Pucón to La Hoya, Argentina is about 413 road miles (664 km): roughly 9 h 36 min at the wheel if you don't stop. 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 | 413 mi (664 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | RP60 → RP23 → RN40 → RN234 → RN237 → RN259 |
| Border crossing | about mile 45, Chile → Argentina (Paso Mamuil Malal) |
| Regions on the route | La Araucanía, Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Chile–Argentina border
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 La Hoya drive plays out
RN40 (200 mi) and RN237 (69 mi) carry about 65% of the 413 miles. The first 45 miles are in Chile; the last 368 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: La Araucanía, Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Pucón to La Hoya, 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 | 215–399 | 184 | Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut |
| RN259 | 399–405 | 6 | Chubut |
| local roads | 405–413 | 8 | Chubut |
- 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)
- Mile 308 of this route: Río Negro → Chubut (region line)
What to see on the way from Pucón to La Hoya
- 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), Reserva El Guadal (mile 297), Lago Puelo National Park (mile 311)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Our Lady of Nahuel Huapi (mile 229), Francisco Moreno Museum of Patagonia (mile 229), Museo Leleque (mile 354)
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.
Francisco Moreno Museum of Patagonia
Set in the Civic Center of Bariloche, the Francisco P. Moreno Museum of Patagonia covers natural history and cultural anthropology.
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.
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.
Lago Puelo National Park
Covering 276.74 square kilometers in northwestern Chubut, Lago Puelo National Park is an Argentine national park in Patagonia.
Museo Leleque
Near kilometer 1440 of Ruta Nacional 40 in Leleque, Chubut, this history museum opened in 1998 in the steppe at the foot of the Andes, about 100 m from the tracks of La Trochita.
More drives to La Hoya
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 La Hoya, Argentina?
About 9 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 413 miles.
What is the driving distance from Pucón to La Hoya, Argentina?
About 413 miles (664 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 La Hoya 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 La Hoya 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 Pucón to La Hoya?
In order: RP60, RP23, RN40, RN234, RN237 and RN259. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Pucón to La Hoya?
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.