By road, Tunuyán and El Colorado, Chile are about 268 miles (431 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 18 min of driving. You cross from Argentina into Chile at about mile 149, 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: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
- Chile: “Use caution when walking or driving at night, especially if alone.”
| Distance by road | 268 mi (431 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 18 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN40 → RN7 → E-57 → G-21 |
| Border crossing | about mile 149, Argentina → Chile (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Mendoza, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to El Colorado
The route crosses at about mile 149, 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 Tunuyán–El Colorado drive in a few lines
RN7 (112 mi) and RN40 (35 mi) carry about 55% of the 268 miles. The first 149 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, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Tunuyán to El Colorado: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| RN40 | 0–35 | 35 | Mendoza |
| RN7 | 35–147 | 112 | Mendoza |
| local roads | 147–188 | 41 | Mendoza, Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 188–191 | 3 | Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 191–195 | 4 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 195–196 | 1 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 196–245 | 49 | Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| G-21 | 245–265 | 20 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 265–268 | 3 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
- Mile 149 of this route: Mendoza → Valparaíso (international border)
- Mile 205 of this route: Valparaíso → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
Places worth a stop between Tunuyán and El Colorado
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 148)
- Nature and outdoors: Cacheuta Spa (mile 54), Colina Thermal Baths (mile 218), Parque natural San Carlos de Apoquindo (mile 248)
- Museums and history: Museo de la Chilenidad Benjamín Mackenna Besa (mile 242)
- With kids: Chilean National Zoo (mile 237)
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.
Colina Thermal Baths
In the north of Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region, the Colina Thermal Baths (Baños de Colina) are hot springs on the Colina River used for both medicinal and tourist purposes.
Chilean National Zoo
Founded in 1925 at the foot of San Cristóbal Hill inside Santiago Metropolitan Park, the Chilean National Zoo covers 12 acres and keeps animals from 158 species.
Teatro Municipal de Las Condes
Below the Las Condes Civic Center in Santiago's El Golf district, the Teatro Municipal de Las Condes has a raked hall seating 646, plus 108 seats over the orchestra pit.
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 Tunuyán
- Tunuyán to Capilla del Monte
- Tunuyán to San José de Jáchal
- Tunuyán to Monte Águila, Chile
- Tunuyán to Santa Cruz, Chile
- Tunuyán to Vicuña, Chile
- Tunuyán to Valle Nevado, Chile
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tunuyán to El Colorado, Chile?
About 6 h 18 min of driving without stops, over 268 miles.
How far is El Colorado, Chile from Tunuyán by car?
About 268 miles (431 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 Tunuyán to El Colorado drive cross the border?
At about mile 149, from Argentina into Chile, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Tunuyán 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 Tunuyán to El Colorado 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.
What roads does the drive from Tunuyán to El Colorado use?
In order: RN40, RN7, E-57 and G-21. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tunuyán to El Colorado?
Closest to the road: Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (statue, mile 148, 0.9 mi from the route); Teatro Municipal de Las Condes (theater, mile 237, 1 mi from the route); National Astronomical Observatory (astronomical observatory, mile 242, 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.