By road, Santiago, Chile and El Colorado are about 36 miles (58 km) apart, or roughly 1 h 8 min of driving.
Full advisory: Chile. Advisory issued: Chile August 19, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Chile: “Driving in Chile is relatively safe.”
| Total distance | 36 mi (58 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 1 h 8 min |
| Main roads, in order | G-21 |
| Regions on the route | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 1.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
What the drive from Santiago to El Colorado is like
G-21 (20 mi) carries about 56% of the 36 miles. Of the 5 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Santiago to El Colorado
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–13 | 13 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| G-21 | 13–33 | 20 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 33–36 | 3 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
Where to stop on the way to El Colorado
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Ralli, Santiago de Chile (mile 6)
- Nature and outdoors: Apoquindo Waterfall (mile 16)
- Museums and history: Museo Ralli, Santiago de Chile (mile 6), Museo de la Chilenidad Benjamín Mackenna Besa (mile 11)
Museo Ralli, Santiago de Chile
Located in Santiago, the Museo Ralli is a museum of contemporary Latin American art.
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.
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
- Valparaíso to El Colorado
- Viña del Mar to El Colorado
- Coquimbo to El Colorado
- La Serena to El Colorado
- Copiapó to El Colorado
- Los Andes to El Colorado
From Santiago to other places in Chile
- Santiago, Chile to Valparaíso
- Santiago, Chile to Quintay
- Santiago, Chile to Reñaca
- Santiago, Chile to La Serena
- Santiago, Chile to Vicuña
- Santiago, Chile to Pisco Elqui
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Santiago, Chile to El Colorado?
About 1 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 36 miles.
How far is El Colorado from Santiago, Chile by car?
About 36 miles (58 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.
Is it safe to drive from Santiago, Chile to El Colorado?
The U.S. State Department rates Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Where can you stop on the way from Santiago to El Colorado?
Closest to the road: Museo Ralli, Santiago de Chile (private museum, mile 6, 0.7 mi from the route); National Astronomical Observatory (astronomical observatory, mile 11, 1 mi from the route); Santuario de la Naturaleza El Arrayán (nature sanctuary, mile 15, 3 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.