The Wayro route from San Rafael to Algarrobo, Chile is 392 miles (631 km), about 8 h 21 min of driving without stops. You cross from Argentina into Chile at about mile 243, 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: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
- Chile: “Driving in Chile is relatively safe.”
| Total distance | 392 mi (631 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN143 → RN40 → RN7 → E-57 → F-90-G |
| Border crossing | about mile 243, Argentina → Chile (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Mendoza, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Chile
The route crosses at about mile 243, 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.
How the San Rafael to Algarrobo drive plays out
RN7 (112 mi) and RN143 (66 mi) carry about 45% of the 392 miles. The first 243 miles are in Argentina; the last 149 are in Chile. It runs through 3 regions: Mendoza, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from San Rafael to Algarrobo
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Mendoza |
| RN143 | 2–68 | 66 | Mendoza |
| RN40 | 68–129 | 61 | Mendoza |
| connecting roads | 129–130 | 1 | Mendoza |
| RN7 | 130–242 | 112 | Mendoza |
| local roads | 242–282 | 40 | Mendoza, Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 282–286 | 4 | Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 286–290 | 4 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 290–326 | 36 | Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 326–327 | 1 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 327–371 | 44 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 371–372 | 1 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| F-90-G | 372–392 | 20 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso |
- Mile 243 of this route: Mendoza → Valparaíso (international border)
- Mile 300 of this route: Valparaíso → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
- Mile 378 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between San Rafael and Algarrobo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 242), Museo Arqueológico de Los Andes (mile 285), Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (mile 291), Laguna Carén (mile 338)
- Nature and outdoors: Cacheuta Spa (mile 149), Río Blanco National Reserve (mile 265), Colina Thermal Baths (mile 313), Laguna Piedra Roja (mile 319), Laguna Carén (mile 338)
- Museums and history: Museo Arqueológico de Los Andes (mile 285), Museo y Centro Cultural Presidente Pedro Aguirre Cerda (mile 288)
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.
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.
Río Blanco National Reserve
Río Blanco National Reserve is a protected area in Chile's Valparaíso Region, about 60 kilometers northeast of Santiago.
Museo Arqueológico de Los Andes
Opened in 1969 by Carlos Coros, the Los Andes Archaeological Museum occupies a 19th-century house and holds a collection tied to the Aconcagua culture and the Inca civilization.
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.
Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes
Pilgrims come to the Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes in Rinconada, Valparaíso Region, to venerate the relics of Saint Teresa of the Andes, Chile's first saint. The shrine was built to receive thousands of the faithful.
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.
Laguna Piedra Roja
Laguna Piedra Roja is an artificial lagoon in Chicureo, in the Colina commune of Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region.
Laguna Carén
Laguna Carén is a man-made freshwater lagoon and wetland in Pudahuel, west of central Santiago, forming part of Parque Carén, a University of Chile property of about 2,525 acres.
More drives to Algarrobo
- Coquimbo to Algarrobo
- Copiapó to Algarrobo
- Caldera to Algarrobo
- El Colorado to Algarrobo
- Los Andes to Algarrobo
- Rancagua to Algarrobo
More drives from San Rafael
- San Rafael to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- San Rafael to Coquimbo, Chile
- San Rafael to Chillán, Chile
- San Rafael to Villa Mercedes, Chile
- San Rafael to Curicó, Chile
- San Rafael to Los Andes, Chile
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from San Rafael to Algarrobo, Chile?
About 8 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 392 miles.
What is the driving distance from San Rafael to Algarrobo, Chile?
About 392 miles (631 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 Rafael to Algarrobo drive cross the border?
At about mile 243, from Argentina into Chile, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from San Rafael 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 Rafael to Algarrobo, 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 Rafael to Algarrobo use?
In order: RN143, RN40, RN7, E-57 and F-90-G. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from San Rafael to Algarrobo?
Closest to the road: Museo Arqueológico de Los Andes (archaeological museum, mile 285, 0.8 mi from the route); Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (convent of discalced carmelite nuns, mile 291, 0.4 mi from the route); Laguna Carén (lagoon, mile 338, 0.7 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.