The Wayro route from Santiago, Chile to San Agustín de Valle Fértil, Argentina is 453 miles (729 km), about 11 h 2 min of driving without stops. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 92, 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: “Secondary and mountain roads may be poorly maintained, poorly lit, and may lack guardrails.”
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Distance | 453 mi (729 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 2 min |
| Main roads, in order | E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RP84 → RP87 → RN40 → RP162 → RP246 → RP270 → RP203 → RN141 → RP510 |
| Border crossing | about mile 92, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
The route crosses at about mile 92, 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.
The Santiago–San Agustín de Valle Fértil drive in a few lines
RN7 (103 mi) and RN40 (79 mi) carry about 40% of the 453 miles. The first 92 miles are in Chile; the last 361 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Santiago to San Agustín de Valle Fértil, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 7–9 | 2 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 9–45 | 36 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 45–49 | 4 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 49–51 | 2 | Valparaíso |
| E-61 | 51–57 | 6 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 57–93 | 36 | Valparaíso, Mendoza |
| RN7 | 93–196 | 103 | Mendoza |
| RP84 | 196–201 | 5 | Mendoza |
| RP87 | 201–205 | 4 | Mendoza |
| connecting roads | 205–208 | 3 | Mendoza |
| RN40 | 208–287 | 79 | Mendoza, San Juan |
| connecting roads | 287–288 | 1 | San Juan |
| RP162 | 288–295 | 7 | San Juan |
| connecting roads | 295–296 | 1 | San Juan |
| RP246 | 296–309 | 13 | San Juan |
| connecting roads | 309–311 | 2 | San Juan |
| RP270 | 311–316 | 5 | San Juan |
| RP203 | 316–321 | 5 | San Juan |
| connecting roads | 321–323 | 2 | San Juan |
| RN141 | 323–382 | 59 | San Juan |
| RP510 | 382–452 | 70 | San Juan |
| local roads | 452–453 | 1 | San Juan |
- Mile 36 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 92 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
- Mile 270 of this route: Mendoza → San Juan (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Santiago and San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (mile 44), Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 92), Puente del Inca (mile 104), Museo del Área Fundacional (mile 219), Oratorio de la Difunta Correa (mile 338)
- Nature and outdoors: Cacheuta Spa (mile 186)
- Museums and history: Puente del Inca (mile 104), Museo Regional Americanista (mile 210), Museo del Área Fundacional (mile 219)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Museo Regional Americanista
You'll find the Museo Regional Americanista on Sáenz Peña street in the Luján de Cuyo department of Mendoza Province, Argentina.
Teatro Independencia
For live performances in Mendoza, Argentina, Teatro Independencia is the city's premier performing arts venue.
Museo del Área Fundacional
Founded in 1993, this museum in the city of Mendoza displays items of historical and archaeological value from the surrounding region.
Oratorio de la Difunta Correa
Pilgrims travel to this shrine in Vallecito, in San Juan Province, to venerate Deolinda Correa, known as the Difunta Correa, at the spot where her first miracle is believed to have taken place.
Santuario de San Expedito
Pilgrims come to this shrine in Bermejo, about 74 km northeast of the city of Caucete in San Juan Province, to venerate Saint Expeditus.
More drives to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- Maipú to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- San Rafael to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- Santa Fe to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- Paraná to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- San Miguel de Tucumán to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- Amaicha del Valle to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
More drives from Santiago
- 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 does it take to drive from Santiago, Chile to San Agustín de Valle Fértil, Argentina?
About 11 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 453 miles.
What is the driving distance from Santiago, Chile to San Agustín de Valle Fértil, Argentina?
About 453 miles (729 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 Santiago to San Agustín de Valle Fértil drive cross the border?
At about mile 92, from Chile into Argentina, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Santiago 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 Santiago to San Agustín de Valle Fértil 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 Santiago to San Agustín de Valle Fértil?
In order: E-57, E-61, RN7, RP84, RP87, RN40, RP162, RP246, RP270, RP203, RN141 and RP510. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Santiago to San Agustín de Valle Fértil?
Closest to the road: Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (convent of discalced carmelite nuns, mile 44, 0.6 mi from the route); Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 104, 0.2 mi from the route); Oratorio de la Difunta Correa (sanctuary, mile 338, 0.4 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.