The Wayro route from San Juan, Argentina to El Colorado, Chile is 350 miles (563 km), about 8 h 28 min of driving without stops. You cross from Argentina into Chile at about mile 231, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
Full advisory: Argentina, Chile. Advisory issued: Argentina July 10, 2026; Chile August 19, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
- Chile: “Use caution when walking or driving at night, especially if alone.”
| Distance by road | 350 mi (563 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 28 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN40 → RP87 → RP84 → RN7 → E-57 → G-21 |
| Border crossing | about mile 231, Argentina → Chile (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | San Juan, Mendoza, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Getting across the Argentina–Chile border
The route crosses at about mile 231, at the Cristo Redentor crossing, from Mendoza into Valparaíso. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| The car, entering Chile | Foreign-plated cars entering Chile need SOAPEX, Chile's mandatory accident insurance for foreign vehicles, unless an international agreement covers the car. Keep the certificate with the car's papers. |
| 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, Chile (updated July 02, 2026); U.S. State Department, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026); CMF Chile (financial regulator). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
The San Juan–El Colorado drive in a few lines
RN40 (112 mi) and RN7 (103 mi) carry about 61% of the 350 miles. The first 231 miles are in Argentina; the last 119 are in Chile. It runs through 4 regions: San Juan, Mendoza, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: San Juan to El Colorado
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | San Juan |
| RN40 | 2–114 | 112 | San Juan, Mendoza |
| connecting roads | 114–116 | 2 | Mendoza |
| RP87 | 116–121 | 5 | Mendoza |
| RP84 | 121–126 | 5 | Mendoza |
| RN7 | 126–229 | 103 | Mendoza |
| local roads | 229–270 | 41 | Mendoza, Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 270–273 | 3 | Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 273–277 | 4 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 277–278 | 1 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 278–327 | 49 | Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| G-21 | 327–347 | 20 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 347–350 | 3 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
- Mile 52 of this route: San Juan → Mendoza (region line)
- Mile 231 of this route: Mendoza → Valparaíso (international border)
- Mile 287 of this route: Valparaíso → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between San Juan and El Colorado
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo del Área Fundacional (mile 103), Puente del Inca (mile 218), Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 230)
- Nature and outdoors: Cacheuta Spa (mile 135), Colina Thermal Baths (mile 300)
- Museums and history: Museo del Área Fundacional (mile 103), Puente del Inca (mile 218), Museo de Química y Farmacia Profesor César Leyton Caravagno (mile 319), Museo de Cera de Las Condes (mile 324)
Museo del Área Fundacional
Founded in 1993, this museum in the city of Mendoza displays items of historical and archaeological value from the surrounding region.
Cacheuta Spa
At Cacheuta, on the Mendoza River in the Andes foothills, Cacheuta Spa is a bathing complex built around natural hot springs, along the old road from Mendoza toward the Uspallata Pass and Chile.
Puente del Inca
Puente del Inca is a natural rock arch spanning the Las Cuevas River, a tributary of the Mendoza River. It stands beside the village of the same name in Las Heras Department, Mendoza Province.
Christ the Redeemer of the Andes
High in the Andes at 3,832 meters on the Argentina–Chile border, Christ the Redeemer of the Andes was unveiled on March 13, 1904, to mark the peaceful settlement of a border dispute between the two countries.
Colina Thermal Baths
In the north of Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region, the Colina Thermal Baths (Baños de Colina) are hot springs on the Colina River used for both medicinal and tourist purposes.
Museo de Química y Farmacia Profesor César Leyton Caravagno
Created in 1951 at the University of Chile, this museum on Merced Street in Santiago preserves the history of chemistry and pharmacy, starting from the look of old-time apothecaries.
National Astronomical Observatory
On Cerro Calán in Las Condes, Chile's National Astronomical Observatory is owned and operated by the University of Chile's Department of Astronomy.
Museo de Cera de Las Condes
Wax figures fill the Museo de Cera de Las Condes, a public museum that opened in July 2019 inside Parque Los Dominicos in the Las Condes district of Santiago.
More drives to El Colorado
- Santiago, Chile to El Colorado
- Valparaíso to El Colorado
- Viña del Mar to El Colorado
- Coquimbo to El Colorado
- La Serena to El Colorado
- Copiapó to El Colorado
More drives from San Juan
- San Juan, Argentina to Tunuyán
- San Juan, Argentina to San Rafael
- San Juan, Argentina to Villa Carlos Paz
- San Juan, Argentina to Amaicha del Valle
- San Juan, Argentina to Tafí Viejo
- San Juan, Argentina to Viña del Mar, Chile
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from San Juan, Argentina to El Colorado, Chile?
About 8 h 28 min of driving without stops, over 350 miles.
What is the driving distance from San Juan, Argentina to El Colorado, Chile?
About 350 miles (563 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 San Juan to El Colorado drive cross the border?
At about mile 231, from Argentina into Chile, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from San Juan into Chile?
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. A valid U.S. license works for the length of your tourist permit, usually 90 days. (U.S. State Department, updated July 02, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the San Juan to El Colorado drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from San Juan to El Colorado use?
In order: RN40, RP87, RP84, RN7, E-57 and G-21. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from San Juan to El Colorado?
Closest to the road: Museo del Área Fundacional (museum, mile 103, 0.1 mi from the route); Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 218, 0.2 mi from the route); Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (statue, mile 230, 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.