The Wayro route from Santa Cruz, Chile to La Punta, Argentina is 486 miles (782 km), about 10 h 0 min of driving without stops. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 201, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
Full advisory: Chile, Argentina. Advisory issued: Chile August 19, 2026; Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Chile: “Driving in Chile is relatively safe.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Total distance | 486 mi (782 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 0 min |
| Main roads, in order | E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RNV146 |
| Border crossing | about mile 201, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Luis |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to La Punta
The route crosses at about mile 201, at the Cristo Redentor crossing, from Valparaíso into Mendoza. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| The car, entering Argentina | Argentine customs (ARCA) registers the car's temporary entry. Bring the title or registration, liability insurance valid in Argentina and, if you don't own the car, a power of attorney signed before a notary. A rental car needs the rental company's MERCOSUR circulation authorization (ACM), and the company must be registered with Argentine customs. |
| 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, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026); U.S. State Department, Chile (updated July 02, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
What the drive from Santa Cruz to La Punta is like
RN7 (271 mi) and RNV146 (10 mi) carry about 58% of the 486 miles. The first 201 miles are in Chile; the last 285 are in Argentina. It runs through 5 regions: Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Luis. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Santa Cruz to La Punta
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–116 | 116 | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 116–118 | 2 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 118–154 | 36 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 154–155 | 1 | Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 155–158 | 3 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 158–160 | 2 | Valparaíso |
| E-61 | 160–167 | 7 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 167–201 | 34 | Valparaíso |
| RN7 | 201–472 | 271 | Mendoza, San Luis |
| connecting roads | 472–473 | 1 | San Luis |
| RNV146 | 473–483 | 10 | San Luis |
| local roads | 483–486 | 3 | San Luis |
- Mile 76 of this route: Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
- Mile 145 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 201 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
- Mile 427 of this route: Mendoza → San Luis (region line)
Places worth a stop between Santa Cruz and La Punta
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo (mile 40), Buin Zoo (mile 92), St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo (mile 101), Centro Nacional de Arte Contemporáneo Cerrillos (mile 107)
- Nature and outdoors: Corazon Thermal Baths (mile 162), Cacheuta Spa (mile 296)
- Museums and history: Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo (mile 40), Paine Memorial (mile 86), St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo (mile 101), Centro Nacional de Arte Contemporáneo Cerrillos (mile 107), Londres 38 (mile 111), Museum of the War of the Pacific (mile 111)
- With kids: Buin Zoo (mile 92)
Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo
A Catholic church in the city of Rengo, the Basílica de Santa Ana is one of Chile's nine minor basilicas, with roots going back to the colonial period.
Paine Memorial
About twenty miles south of Santiago, the Paine Memorial in the rural community of Paine honors local residents who were abducted or unlawfully arrested and then killed under the Pinochet dictatorship.
Buin Zoo
Buin Zoo is a bioparque in the commune of Buin, Santiago Metropolitan Region, and a member of the Latin American Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo
Beside the Plaza de Armas of San Bernardo in metropolitan Santiago, St. Bernard Cathedral is the main Catholic church and seat of the Diocese of San Bernardo.
Centro Nacional de Arte Contemporáneo Cerrillos
Housed in the old modernist terminal of Los Cerrillos airport in Santiago, this contemporary art center opened in 2016 for temporary exhibitions and Chilean art from 1967 onward.
Londres 38
In downtown Santiago, Londres 38 is the building the DINA used as a detention and torture center for opponents of the Pinochet dictatorship, code-named Yucatán.
Museum of the War of the Pacific
In Santiago's Barrio Brasil, the Museum of the War of the Pacific is devoted to that conflict and named after Domingo de Toro Herrera, an army veteran of the war.
Corazon Thermal Baths
In Chile's Valparaíso Region, the Corazón Thermal Baths (Baños Corazón) are hot springs whose waters have been used for medicinal purposes.
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.
More drives to La Punta
- Paraná to La Punta
- Berisso to La Punta
- Villa Unión to La Punta
- Tafí Viejo to La Punta
- Viña del Mar to La Punta, Argentina
- Rancagua to La Punta, Argentina
More drives from Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz, Chile to Valle Nevado
- Santa Cruz, Chile to Vicuña
- Santa Cruz, Chile to Pisco Elqui
- Santa Cruz, Chile to Punta de Choros
- Santa Cruz, Chile to Malargüe, Argentina
- Santa Cruz, Chile to San José de Jáchal, Argentina
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Santa Cruz, Chile to La Punta, Argentina?
About 10 h 0 min of driving without stops, over 486 miles.
What is the driving distance from Santa Cruz, Chile to La Punta, Argentina?
About 486 miles (782 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 Santa Cruz to La Punta drive cross the border?
At about mile 201, from Chile into Argentina, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Santa Cruz into Argentina?
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. A valid U.S. license usually works; an International Driving Permit is recommended. (U.S. State Department, updated July 16, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Santa Cruz to La Punta drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Santa Cruz to La Punta?
In order: E-57, E-61, RN7 and RNV146. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Santa Cruz and La Punta?
Closest to the road: Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo (basilica, mile 40, 0.7 mi from the route); Buin Zoo (zoo, mile 92, 0.1 mi from the route); St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo (cathedral, mile 101, 0.6 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.