The Wayro route from Pucón to Malargüe, Argentina is 496 miles (799 km), about 10 h 43 min of driving without stops. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 409, at Paso Pehuenche.
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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night, especially if alone.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Distance | 496 mi (799 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 43 min |
| Main roads, in order | L-25 → L-275 → L-311 → K-85-L → RN145 → RN40 |
| Border crossing | about mile 409, Chile → Argentina (Paso Pehuenche) |
| Regions on the route | La Araucanía, Bío-Bío, Ñuble, Maule, Mendoza |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Getting across the Chile–Argentina border
The route crosses at about mile 409, at Paso Pehuenche, from Maule 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 Pucón to Malargüe is like
RN145 (46 mi) and RN40 (40 mi) carry about 17% of the 496 miles. The first 409 miles are in Chile; the last 87 are in Argentina. It runs through 5 regions: La Araucanía, Bío-Bío, Ñuble, Maule, Mendoza. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Pucón to Malargüe
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–303 | 303 | La Araucanía, Bío-Bío, Ñuble, Maule |
| L-25 | 303–309 | 6 | Maule |
| connecting roads | 309–311 | 2 | Maule |
| L-275 | 311–317 | 6 | Maule |
| L-311 | 317–322 | 5 | Maule |
| connecting roads | 322–325 | 3 | Maule |
| K-85-L | 325–331 | 6 | Maule |
| local roads | 331–410 | 79 | Maule, Mendoza |
| RN145 | 410–456 | 46 | Mendoza |
| RN40 | 456–496 | 40 | Mendoza |
- Mile 137 of this route: La Araucanía → Bío-Bío (region line)
- Mile 208 of this route: Bío-Bío → Ñuble (region line)
- Mile 269 of this route: Ñuble → Maule (region line)
- Mile 409 of this route: Maule → Mendoza (international border)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Pucón and Malargüe
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Villarrica (mile 17), Teatro Municipal de Collipulli (mile 127), Laja Falls (mile 190), Museo Histórico de Yerbas Buenas (mile 309)
- Nature and outdoors: Laja Falls (mile 190), Campanario Thermal Baths (mile 390), Médanos Grandes (mile 457)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Villarrica (mile 17), St. Joseph Cathedral, Temuco (mile 67), Centro Cultural Casa Gonzalo Rojas (mile 239), Museo Histórico de Yerbas Buenas (mile 309)
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Villarrica
Villarrica Cathedral is the Catholic cathedral and seat of the Diocese of Villarrica, located in the town of the same name in Chile's Araucanía Region.
St. Joseph Cathedral, Temuco
Also known as Temuco Cathedral, St. Joseph Cathedral is the Roman Catholic cathedral church of the city of Temuco, Chile.
Teatro Municipal de Collipulli
Opened in 1942, the Teatro Municipal de Collipulli is a public cultural venue in this Malleco Province town in northern La Araucanía, and one of the commune's main architectural and cultural landmarks.
Laja Falls
Beside Ruta 5 about 25 km from Los Ángeles, the Laja River pours over four cascades up to roughly 35 meters high, cut into basalt left by ancient lava flows from the Antuco volcano.
Centro Cultural Casa Gonzalo Rojas
Centro Cultural Casa Gonzalo Rojas is a cultural center in the Las Cuatro Avenidas area of Chillán, in Chile's Ñuble Region.
Museo Histórico de Yerbas Buenas
Located in the commune of Yerbas Buenas, Linares Province, in the Maule Region, the Museo Histórico de Yerbas Buenas sits in a town known for its colonial-style houses.
Campanario Thermal Baths
Campanario Thermal Baths (Baños Campanario) are hot springs in Chile's Maule Region, used both for medicinal purposes and by visitors looking for a soak.
Médanos Grandes
Médanos Grandes is a dune field in west-central Argentina, a sandy landscape that covers an area of roughly 2,000 square kilometers.
More drives to Malargüe
- Villa Carlos Paz to Malargüe
- Santiago, Chile to Malargüe, Argentina
- Valparaíso to Malargüe, Argentina
- Temuco to Malargüe, Argentina
- Rancagua to Malargüe, Argentina
- Concepción, Chile to Malargüe, Argentina
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 Malargüe, Argentina?
About 10 h 43 min of driving without stops, over 496 miles.
How far is Malargüe, Argentina from Pucón by car?
About 496 miles (799 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 Malargüe drive cross the border?
At about mile 409, from Chile into Argentina, at Paso Pehuenche.
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 Malargüe 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 Malargüe use?
In order: L-25, L-275, L-311, K-85-L, RN145 and RN40. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Pucón and Malargüe?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Villarrica (cathedral, mile 17, 0.3 mi from the route); Teatro Municipal de Collipulli (theater, mile 127, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo Histórico de Yerbas Buenas (museum, mile 309, 0.2 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.