Plan on about 10 h 58 min of driving for the 545-mile (877 km) trip from San Rafael to Coquimbo, Chile, before any 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: “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 | 545 mi (877 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 58 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN143 → RN40 → RN7 |
| Border crossing | about mile 243, Argentina → Chile (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Mendoza, Valparaíso, Coquimbo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Coquimbo
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.
The San Rafael–Coquimbo drive in a few lines
RN7 (112 mi) and RN143 (66 mi) carry about 33% of the 545 miles. The first 243 miles are in Argentina; the last 302 are in Chile. It runs through 3 regions: Mendoza, Valparaíso, Coquimbo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
San Rafael to Coquimbo: the road sequence
| 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 | 242–545 | 303 | Mendoza, Valparaíso, Coquimbo |
- Mile 243 of this route: Mendoza → Valparaíso (international border)
- Mile 380 of this route: Valparaíso → Coquimbo (region line)
Places worth a stop between San Rafael and Coquimbo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Puente del Inca (mile 231), Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 242), Museo Arqueológico de Los Andes (mile 285), St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (mile 295)
- Nature and outdoors: Cacheuta Spa (mile 149), Río Blanco National Reserve (mile 265), Lobo Thermal Baths (mile 277), La Campana National Park (mile 320), Bosque de Fray Jorge National Park (mile 492)
- Museums and history: Puente del Inca (mile 231), Museo Arqueológico de Los Andes (mile 285), St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (mile 295)
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.
Río Blanco National Reserve
Río Blanco National Reserve is a protected area in Chile's Valparaíso Region, about 60 kilometers northeast of Santiago.
Lobo Thermal Baths
Thermal springs in Chile's Valparaíso Region, the Lobo Thermal Baths (Baños de Lobo) are used for both therapeutic soaking and tourism.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In Coquimbo itself
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.
More drives to Coquimbo
- Antofagasta to Coquimbo
- Valparaíso to Coquimbo
- Viña del Mar to Coquimbo
- Rancagua to Coquimbo
- Talca to Coquimbo
More drives from San Rafael
- San Rafael to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- San Rafael to Chillán, Chile
- San Rafael to Villa Mercedes, Chile
- San Rafael to Curicó, Chile
- San Rafael to Los Andes, Chile
- San Rafael to Curacautín, Chile
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from San Rafael to Coquimbo, Chile?
About 10 h 58 min of driving without stops, over 545 miles.
How far is Coquimbo, Chile from San Rafael by car?
About 545 miles (877 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 Coquimbo 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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the San Rafael to Coquimbo 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.
Which highways go from San Rafael to Coquimbo?
In order: RN143, RN40 and RN7. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from San Rafael to Coquimbo?
Closest to the road: Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 231, 0.3 mi from the route); Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (statue, mile 242, 0.9 mi from the route); St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (cathedral, mile 295, 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.