Tunuyán to Vicuña, Chile is about 496 road miles (799 km): roughly 10 h 31 min at the wheel if you don't stop. 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: “Driving in Chile is relatively safe.”
| Distance by road | 496 mi (799 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 31 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN40 → RN7 → D-201 |
| Border crossing | about mile 149, Argentina → Chile (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Mendoza, Valparaíso, Coquimbo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Argentina–Chile border
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.
Driving Tunuyán to Vicuña: the shape of the trip
RN7 (112 mi) and RN40 (35 mi) carry about 30% of the 496 miles. The first 149 miles are in Argentina; the last 347 are in Chile. It runs through 3 regions: Mendoza, Valparaíso, Coquimbo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Tunuyán to Vicuña
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| RN40 | 0–35 | 35 | Mendoza |
| RN7 | 35–147 | 112 | Mendoza |
| local roads | 147–456 | 309 | Mendoza, Valparaíso, Coquimbo |
| connecting roads | 456–457 | 1 | Coquimbo |
| local roads | 457–469 | 12 | Coquimbo |
| connecting roads | 469–470 | 1 | Coquimbo |
| D-201 | 470–474 | 4 | Coquimbo |
| local roads | 474–496 | 22 | Coquimbo |
- Mile 149 of this route: Mendoza → Valparaíso (international border)
- Mile 286 of this route: Valparaíso → Coquimbo (region line)
Stops between Tunuyán and Vicuña
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 148), St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (mile 201), Lighthouse of La Serena (mile 455), Parque Japonés de La Serena (mile 456)
- Nature and outdoors: Cacheuta Spa (mile 54), La Campana National Park (mile 226), Bosque de Fray Jorge National Park (mile 397), Parque Japonés de La Serena (mile 456)
- Museums and history: St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (mile 201), Museo Cardenal Jorge Medina Estévez (mile 451), Lighthouse of La Serena (mile 455)
- With kids: La Serena Zoo (mile 470)
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.
St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe
San Felipe Cathedral, dedicated to St. Philip, is a Catholic parish in San Felipe, Valparaíso Region, and serves as the cathedral of the Diocese of San Felipe de Aconcagua.
La Campana National Park
In Chile's coastal range northwest of Santiago, La Campana National Park protects the Chilean palm that Charles Darwin studied on his 1834 visit. Trails climb toward Cerro La Campana, and the park also holds petroglyphs and the Salto La Cortadera waterfall.
Bosque de Fray Jorge National Park
Near Ovalle in Chile's semi-arid north, Fray Jorge National Park shelters a fog-fed forest of species typical of southern Chile, such as olivillo and canelo. A short marked loop trail winds through it, and the park is a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
Museo Cardenal Jorge Medina Estévez
Set behind the main altar of the Third Millennium Cross on El Vigía hill in Coquimbo, this museum is named for the Chilean cardinal Jorge Medina Estévez.
Lighthouse of La Serena
The Monumental Lighthouse of La Serena stands on the Avenida del Mar and is one of the most recognizable structures in the city.
Parque Japonés de La Serena
Opened in 1994, La Serena's Japanese Park (Parque Jardín del Corazón) is a Japan-themed garden with plant and animal species from that country.
La Serena Zoo
Founded in 2006, La Serena Zoo is a privately run zoo in Chile's Coquimbo Region, set in the El Hinojal area on the road from La Serena to the Elqui Valley.
When you get to Vicuña
Entomological and Natural History Museum of Vicuña
Opened in 1994, this private museum in Vicuña holds about 26,000 specimens, mostly insects, mollusks and birds, from Chile and other parts of Latin America, along with fossils.
More drives to Vicuña
- Copiapó to Vicuña
- Caldera to Vicuña
- Reñaca to Vicuña
- Algarrobo to Vicuña
- Valparaíso to Vicuña
- Viña del Mar to Vicuña
More drives from Tunuyán
- Tunuyán to Capilla del Monte
- Tunuyán to San José de Jáchal
- Tunuyán to Monte Águila, Chile
- Tunuyán to El Colorado, Chile
- Tunuyán to Santa Cruz, Chile
- Tunuyán to Valle Nevado, Chile
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tunuyán to Vicuña, Chile?
About 10 h 31 min of driving without stops, over 496 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tunuyán to Vicuña, Chile?
About 496 miles (799 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 Vicuña 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Tunuyán to Vicuña, 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 Tunuyán to Vicuña use?
In order: RN40, RN7 and D-201. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tunuyán and Vicuña?
Closest to the road: Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (statue, mile 148, 0.9 mi from the route); St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (cathedral, mile 201, 0.8 mi from the route); Parque Japonés de La Serena (park, mile 456, 0.2 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.