The Wayro route from San Luis to El Colorado, Chile is 396 miles (638 km), about 8 h 32 min of driving without stops. You cross from Argentina into Chile at about mile 277, 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: “Driving in Chile is relatively safe.”
| Total distance | 396 mi (638 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN7 → E-57 → G-21 |
| Border crossing | about mile 277, Argentina → Chile (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | San Luis, Mendoza, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to El Colorado
The route crosses at about mile 277, 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.
Driving San Luis to El Colorado: the shape of the trip
RN7 (271 mi) and G-21 (21 mi) carry about 74% of the 396 miles. The first 277 miles are in Argentina; the last 119 are in Chile. It runs through 4 regions: San Luis, Mendoza, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect San Luis and El Colorado
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | San Luis |
| RN7 | 6–277 | 271 | San Luis, Mendoza |
| local roads | 277–316 | 39 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 316–321 | 5 | Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 321–324 | 3 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 324–360 | 36 | Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 360–361 | 1 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 361–373 | 12 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| G-21 | 373–394 | 21 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 394–396 | 2 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
- Mile 51 of this route: San Luis → Mendoza (region line)
- Mile 277 of this route: Mendoza → Valparaíso (international border)
- Mile 334 of this route: Valparaíso → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
What to see on the way from San Luis to El Colorado
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Puente del Inca (mile 265)
- Nature and outdoors: Cacheuta Spa (mile 182), Colina Thermal Baths (mile 346), Parque natural San Carlos de Apoquindo (mile 376), Apoquindo Waterfall (mile 377)
- Museums and history: Puente del Inca (mile 265), Museo Violeta Parra (mile 365), Museo de Cera de Las Condes (mile 371), Museo de la Chilenidad Benjamín Mackenna Besa (mile 371)
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.
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 Violeta Parra
In the commune and city of Santiago, Chile, Museo Violeta Parra is an art museum and cultural center.
Teatro del Puente
Built over the Vicente Huidobro bridge across the Mapocho River in Santiago, the Teatro del Puente sits between the Purísima and Pío Nono bridges.
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.
Museo de la Chilenidad Benjamín Mackenna Besa
Housed in La Llavería at the Santa Rosa de Apoquindo estate in Las Condes, Santiago, this museum's three galleries explore how the horse, the land and its people shaped Chilean identity.
Parque natural San Carlos de Apoquindo
On the east side of Las Condes, Parque natural San Carlos de Apoquindo offers mountain bike trails and hiking routes up to summits such as Alto Las Vizcachas, Morro del Guayacán and Cerro Provincia.
Apoquindo Waterfall
Fed by snowmelt from Cerro San Ramón and Cerro Provincia, Apoquindo Waterfall lies in Aguas de Ramón Natural Park on the east side of Santiago, near Apoquindo.
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 Luis
- San Luis to Villa Carlos Paz
- San Luis to Capilla del Monte
- San Luis to Luján
- San Luis to Adrogué
- San Luis to Berisso
- San Luis to Magdalena
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from San Luis to El Colorado, Chile?
About 8 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 396 miles.
How far is El Colorado, Chile from San Luis by car?
About 396 miles (638 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 Luis to El Colorado drive cross the border?
At about mile 277, from Argentina into Chile, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from San Luis 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.)
Is it safe to drive from San Luis to El Colorado, Chile?
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 Luis to El Colorado use?
In order: 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 Luis to El Colorado?
Closest to the road: Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 265, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo de Cera de Las Condes (museum, mile 371, 2 mi from the route); Parque natural San Carlos de Apoquindo (nature park, mile 376, 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.