Punta de Choros to Barreal, Argentina is about 505 road miles (813 km): roughly 11 h 22 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 380, 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night, especially if alone.”
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Distance | 505 mi (813 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | D-110-C → RN7 → RN149 |
| Border crossing | about mile 380, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Coquimbo, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Barreal
The route crosses at about mile 380, 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.
Driving Punta de Choros to Barreal: the shape of the trip
RN149 (70 mi) and RN7 (55 mi) carry about 25% of the 505 miles. The first 380 miles are in Chile; the last 125 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: Coquimbo, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Punta de Choros and Barreal
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | |
| D-110-C | 1–25 | 24 | Coquimbo |
| local roads | 25–380 | 355 | Coquimbo, Valparaíso |
| RN7 | 380–435 | 55 | Mendoza |
| RN149 | 435–505 | 70 | Mendoza, San Juan |
- Mile 242 of this route: Coquimbo → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 380 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
- Mile 474 of this route: Mendoza → San Juan (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Barreal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Histórico Gabriel González Videla (mile 71), Lighthouse of La Serena (mile 72), St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (mile 327)
- Nature and outdoors: Bosque de Fray Jorge National Park (mile 130), La Campana National Park (mile 302), El Leoncito National Park (mile 491)
- Museums and history: Museo Histórico Gabriel González Videla (mile 71), Lighthouse of La Serena (mile 72), Museo Cardenal Jorge Medina Estévez (mile 76), Faro Punta Tortuga (mile 78), St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (mile 327), Museo y Centro Cultural Presidente Pedro Aguirre Cerda (mile 338)
Museo Histórico Gabriel González Videla
Facing the Plaza de Armas in La Serena, this history museum honors former Chilean president Gabriel González Videla, a native of the city, and shows permanent exhibits including works by Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró.
Lighthouse of La Serena
The Monumental Lighthouse of La Serena stands on the Avenida del Mar and is one of the most recognizable structures in the city.
Museo Cardenal Jorge Medina Estévez
Set behind the main altar of the Third Millennium Cross on El Vigía hill in Coquimbo, this museum is named for the Chilean cardinal Jorge Medina Estévez.
Faro Punta Tortuga
Punta Tortuga Lighthouse in Coquimbo was inaugurated on June 1, 1886, and is named for the point's turtle-like shape seen when entering Coquimbo Bay from the sea. It is still staffed.
Bosque de Fray Jorge National Park
Near Ovalle in Chile's semi-arid north, Fray Jorge National Park shelters a fog-fed forest of species typical of southern Chile, such as olivillo and canelo. A short marked loop trail winds through it, and the park is a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
La Campana National Park
In Chile's coastal range northwest of Santiago, La Campana National Park protects the Chilean palm that Charles Darwin studied on his 1834 visit. Trails climb toward Cerro La Campana, and the park also holds petroglyphs and the Salto La Cortadera waterfall.
St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe
San Felipe Cathedral, dedicated to St. Philip, is a Catholic parish in San Felipe, Valparaíso Region, and serves as the cathedral of the Diocese of San Felipe de Aconcagua.
Museo y Centro Cultural Presidente Pedro Aguirre Cerda
In Pocuro, in the commune of Calle Larga, this museum and cultural center occupies the house where President Pedro Aguirre Cerda was born, plus a former agricultural school. Both buildings became national monuments in 1972.
El Leoncito National Park
Created in 2002 in San Juan Province, El Leoncito National Park protects Central Andean Puna and Southern Andean steppe habitats along with historical and paleontological sites.
More drives to Barreal
- Mendoza to Barreal
- Capilla del Monte to Barreal
- Villa Carlos Paz to Barreal
- Córdoba, Argentina to Barreal
- Viña del Mar to Barreal, Argentina
- Valparaíso to Barreal, Argentina
More drives from Punta de Choros
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Punta de Choros to Barreal, Argentina?
About 11 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 505 miles.
How far is Barreal, Argentina from Punta de Choros by car?
About 505 miles (813 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 Punta de Choros to Barreal drive cross the border?
At about mile 380, from Chile into Argentina, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Punta de Choros 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 Punta de Choros to Barreal, 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 Punta de Choros to Barreal use?
In order: D-110-C, RN7 and RN149. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Punta de Choros and Barreal?
Closest to the road: Museo Histórico Gabriel González Videla (history museum, mile 71, 0.2 mi from the route); Lighthouse of La Serena (lighthouse, mile 72, 1 mi from the route); St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (cathedral, mile 327, 0.9 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.