Plan on about 8 h 7 min of driving for the 362-mile (583 km) trip from San Rafael to El Colorado, 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 | 362 mi (583 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN143 → RN40 → RN7 → E-57 → G-21 |
| 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 14.5 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 El Colorado drive plays out
RN7 (112 mi) and RN143 (66 mi) carry about 49% of the 362 miles. The first 243 miles are in Argentina; the last 119 are in Chile. It runs through 3 regions: Mendoza, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from San Rafael to El Colorado, road by road
| 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 | 327–339 | 12 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| G-21 | 339–359 | 20 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 359–362 | 3 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
- Mile 243 of this route: Mendoza → Valparaíso (international border)
- Mile 300 of this route: Valparaíso → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
Stops between San Rafael and El Colorado
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 242), Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (mile 291)
- Nature and outdoors: Cacheuta Spa (mile 149), Parque natural San Carlos de Apoquindo (mile 342)
- Museums and history: Museo de Química y Farmacia Profesor César Leyton Caravagno (mile 332), Museo de la Chilenidad Benjamín Mackenna Besa (mile 337)
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.
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.
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 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 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.
Santuario de la Naturaleza El Arrayán
El Arrayán Nature Sanctuary (Santuario de la Naturaleza El Arrayán) is a privately owned protected area open to the public in the Lo Barnechea commune of Santiago.
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.
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 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 does it take to drive from San Rafael to El Colorado, Chile?
About 8 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 362 miles.
What is the driving distance from San Rafael to El Colorado, Chile?
About 362 miles (583 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 El Colorado 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 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 Rafael to El Colorado use?
In order: RN143, RN40, RN7, E-57 and G-21. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between San Rafael and El Colorado?
Closest to the road: Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (statue, mile 242, 0.9 mi from the route); Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (convent of discalced carmelite nuns, mile 291, 0.4 mi from the route); National Astronomical Observatory (astronomical observatory, mile 337, 1 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.