Valdivia to Colonia Suiza, Argentina is about 222 road miles (357 km): roughly 5 h 30 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 131, at Paso Cardenal Samoré.
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: “There are minefields on Chile's borders with Peru and Bolivia, and Argentina in Patagonia. Stay on marked roads and trails in these areas.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Distance | 222 mi (357 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | T-87 → T-981-U → RN231 → RN40 → RP237 → RP79 |
| Border crossing | about mile 131, Chile → Argentina (Paso Cardenal Samoré) |
| Regions on the route | Los Ríos, Los Lagos, Neuquén, Río Negro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 131, at Paso Cardenal Samoré, from Los Lagos into Neuquén. 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.
Driving Valdivia to Colonia Suiza: the shape of the trip
RN40 (53 mi) and T-981-U (22 mi) carry about 34% of the 222 miles. The first 131 miles are in Chile; the last 91 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: Los Ríos, Los Lagos, Neuquén, Río Negro. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Valdivia to Colonia Suiza, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–50 | 50 | Los Ríos |
| T-87 | 50–65 | 15 | Los Ríos |
| T-981-U | 65–87 | 22 | Los Ríos, Los Lagos |
| connecting roads | 87–88 | 1 | Los Lagos |
| local roads | 88–131 | 43 | Los Lagos, Los Ríos |
| RN231 | 131–151 | 20 | Neuquén |
| RN40 | 151–204 | 53 | Neuquén, Río Negro |
| RP237 | 204–215 | 11 | Río Negro |
| RP79 | 215–222 | 7 | Río Negro |
- Mile 85 of this route: Los Ríos → Los Lagos (region line)
- Mile 109 of this route: Los Lagos → Los Ríos (region line)
- Mile 119 of this route: Los Ríos → Los Lagos (region line)
- Mile 131 of this route: Los Lagos → Neuquén (international border)
- Mile 198 of this route: Neuquén → Río Negro (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Valdivia and Colonia Suiza
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Puente Chirre (mile 78), Puyehue Hot Springs (mile 104), Aguas calientes Thermal Baths (mile 109), Bariloche Paleontological Association (mile 208), Francisco Moreno Museum of Patagonia (mile 209), Museo de Tropas de Montaña (mile 214)
- Nature and outdoors: Puyehue Hot Springs (mile 104), Aguas Calientes Hot Springs (mile 104), Aguas calientes Thermal Baths (mile 109), Puyehue National Park (mile 120), Los Arrayanes National Park (mile 164)
- Museums and history: Puente Chirre (mile 78), Bariloche Paleontological Association (mile 208), Francisco Moreno Museum of Patagonia (mile 209), Museo de Tropas de Montaña (mile 214)
Puente Chirre
Built in reinforced concrete between 1940 and 1945 as a railroad bridge, Puente Chirre in Río Bueno now carries road traffic and was declared a National Monument in 2017.
Puyehue Hot Springs
A series of hot springs about 76 km east of Osorno along Route 215-CH, Puyehue Hot Springs sit in the Los Lagos Region of southern Chile.
Aguas Calientes Hot Springs
About 76 kilometers east of Osorno near Route 215-CH, Aguas Calientes Hot Springs is a series of hot springs in Chile's Los Lagos Region.
Aguas calientes Thermal Baths
In Chile's Los Lagos Region, the Aguas Calientes thermal baths (Termas de Aguas Calientes) are hot springs used for both medicinal and tourism purposes.
Puyehue National Park
In the Andes across the Los Ríos and Los Lagos regions, Puyehue National Park takes in hot springs, volcanoes and evergreen forests. It was expanded in 1950 and 1981.
Los Arrayanes National Park
Covering the Quetrihué Peninsula on Nahuel Huapi Lake, 3 km from Villa La Angostura in Neuquén, Los Arrayanes National Park protects 17.53 square kilometers.
Bariloche Paleontological Association
Founded in 1977, the museum of the Bariloche Paleontological Association is a nonprofit that preserves and shares local and provincial fossil heritage in San Carlos de Bariloche.
Francisco Moreno Museum of Patagonia
Set in the Civic Center of Bariloche, the Francisco P. Moreno Museum of Patagonia covers natural history and cultural anthropology.
Museo de Tropas de Montaña
Founded in 1975, Museo de Tropas de Montaña is an Argentine Army military museum in Bariloche, housed within the garrison at the Military Mountain School.
When you get to Colonia Suiza
Lago Moreno
Lago Moreno is a lake of glacial origin in the Bariloche department of Río Negro Province, Argentina.
Parque municipal Llao Llao
Located in the Bariloche department of Río Negro, the Llao Llao municipal park protects the area's natural landscape and the region's genetic diversity.
Laguna Negra
Inside Nahuel Huapi National Park, high in the Andes, Laguna Negra is a lake of about 13 hectares that lies under a thick layer of snow in winter.
More drives to Colonia Suiza
- San Martín de los Andes to Colonia Suiza
- Villa El Chocón to Colonia Suiza
- Neuquén to Colonia Suiza
- San Antonio Oeste to Colonia Suiza
- Viedma to Colonia Suiza
- Rawson to Colonia Suiza
More drives from Valdivia
- Valdivia to Curacautín
- Valdivia to Los Ángeles
- Valdivia to Villa Mercedes
- Valdivia to Monte Águila
- Valdivia to Pelluhue
- Valdivia to Curicó
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Valdivia to Colonia Suiza, Argentina?
About 5 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 222 miles.
How far is Colonia Suiza, Argentina from Valdivia by car?
About 222 miles (357 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 Valdivia to Colonia Suiza drive cross the border?
At about mile 131, from Chile into Argentina, at Paso Cardenal Samoré.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Valdivia 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 Valdivia to Colonia Suiza 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.
What roads does the drive from Valdivia to Colonia Suiza use?
In order: T-87, T-981-U, RN231, RN40, RP237 and RP79. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Valdivia and Colonia Suiza?
Closest to the road: Puente Chirre (historic bridge, mile 78, 0.1 mi from the route); Bariloche Paleontological Association (museum, mile 208, 0.1 mi from the route); Francisco Moreno Museum of Patagonia (museum, mile 209, 0.3 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.