Valle Nevado to La Punta, Argentina is about 409 road miles (659 km): roughly 8 h 60 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 125, 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: “Driving in Chile is relatively safe.”
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Distance by road | 409 mi (659 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 60 min |
| Main roads, in order | G-251 → G-21 → E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RNV146 |
| Border crossing | about mile 125, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Luis |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to La Punta
The route crosses at about mile 125, 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 Valle Nevado–La Punta drive in a few lines
RN7 (270 mi) and G-21 (19 mi) carry about 71% of the 409 miles. The first 125 miles are in Chile; the last 284 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Luis. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Which roads connect Valle Nevado and La Punta
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-251 | 0–9 | 9 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| G-21 | 9–28 | 19 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 28–78 | 50 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 78–81 | 3 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 81–84 | 3 | Valparaíso |
| E-61 | 84–89 | 5 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 89–125 | 36 | Valparaíso |
| RN7 | 125–395 | 270 | Mendoza, San Luis |
| connecting roads | 395–396 | 1 | San Luis |
| RNV146 | 396–406 | 10 | San Luis |
| local roads | 406–409 | 3 | San Luis |
- Mile 68 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 125 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
- Mile 350 of this route: Mendoza → San Luis (region line)
Places worth a stop between Valle Nevado and La Punta
- Nature and outdoors: Apoquindo Waterfall (mile 25), Parque natural San Carlos de Apoquindo (mile 25), Laguna Piedra Roja (mile 48), Río Blanco National Reserve (mile 103), Cacheuta Spa (mile 219)
- Museums and history: Museo de la Chilenidad Benjamín Mackenna Besa (mile 31), Historical Museum and Cultural Center of the Carabineros de Chile (mile 36), Museo Arqueológico de Santiago (mile 36)
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.
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.
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.
Historical Museum and Cultural Center of the Carabineros de Chile
In Providencia, this police museum traces the history of the Carabineros de Chile, with collections running from Pedro de Valdivia's arrival in the Mapocho Valley to the present day.
Museo Arqueológico de Santiago
The Museo Arqueológico de Santiago is an archaeology museum in the Plaza Mulato Gil de Castro area of Santiago.
Laguna Piedra Roja
Laguna Piedra Roja is an artificial lagoon in Chicureo, in the Colina commune of Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region.
Río Blanco National Reserve
Río Blanco National Reserve is a protected area in Chile's Valparaíso Region, about 60 kilometers northeast of Santiago.
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.
More drives to La Punta
- Paraná to La Punta
- Berisso to La Punta
- Villa Unión to La Punta
- Tafí Viejo to La Punta
- Viña del Mar to La Punta, Argentina
- Rancagua to La Punta, Argentina
More drives from Valle Nevado
- Valle Nevado to Quintay
- Valle Nevado to Pisco Elqui
- Valle Nevado to Punta de Choros
- Valle Nevado to Villa Unión, Argentina
- Valle Nevado to Malargüe, Argentina
- Valle Nevado to San Agustín de Valle Fértil, Argentina
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Valle Nevado to La Punta, Argentina?
About 8 h 60 min of driving without stops, over 409 miles.
How far is La Punta, Argentina from Valle Nevado by car?
About 409 miles (659 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 Valle Nevado to La Punta drive cross the border?
At about mile 125, from Chile into Argentina, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Valle Nevado 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 Valle Nevado to La Punta 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 Valle Nevado to La Punta?
In order: G-251, G-21, E-57, E-61, RN7 and RNV146. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Valle Nevado and La Punta?
Closest to the road: Parque natural San Carlos de Apoquindo (nature park, mile 25, 2 mi from the route); National Astronomical Observatory (astronomical observatory, mile 31, 1 mi from the route); Río Blanco National Reserve (national reserve of Chile, mile 103, 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.