The Wayro route from Valle Nevado to San José de Jáchal, Argentina is 408 miles (656 km), about 10 h 51 min of driving without stops. 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night, especially if alone.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Distance by road | 408 mi (656 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 51 min |
| Main roads, in order | G-251 → G-21 → E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RN149 → RP12 → RP414 → RP436 → RN40 → RN150 |
| Border crossing | about mile 125, 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 16.3 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 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.
What the drive from Valle Nevado to San José de Jáchal is like
RN149 (93 mi) and RN40 (56 mi) carry about 37% of the 408 miles. The first 125 miles are in Chile; the last 283 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Valle Nevado to San José de Jáchal
| 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 | 125–180 | 55 | Mendoza |
| RN149 | 180–273 | 93 | Mendoza, San Juan |
| RP12 | 273–300 | 27 | San Juan |
| RP414 | 300–331 | 31 | San Juan |
| RP436 | 331–345 | 14 | San Juan |
| RN40 | 345–401 | 56 | San Juan |
| RN150 | 401–407 | 6 | San Juan |
| local roads | 407–408 | 1 | San Juan |
- Mile 68 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 125 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
- Mile 219 of this route: Mendoza → San Juan (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Valle Nevado and San José de Jáchal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Ralli, Santiago de Chile (mile 35), Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (mile 76), Puente del Inca (mile 136)
- Nature and outdoors: Lobo Thermal Baths (mile 91), El Leoncito National Park (mile 235)
- Museums and history: Museo de Cera de Las Condes (mile 31), Museo Ralli, Santiago de Chile (mile 35), Military Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Santiago (mile 36), Puente del Inca (mile 136)
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.
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 Cera de Las Condes
Wax figures fill the Museo de Cera de Las Condes, a public museum that opened in July 2019 inside Parque Los Dominicos in the Las Condes district of Santiago.
Museo Ralli, Santiago de Chile
Located in Santiago, the Museo Ralli is a museum of contemporary Latin American art.
Military Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Santiago
On Avenida Los Leones in Providencia, this Catholic church is the seat of Chile's Military Bishopric, dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
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.
Lobo Thermal Baths
Thermal springs in Chile's Valparaíso Region, the Lobo Thermal Baths (Baños de Lobo) are used for both therapeutic soaking and tourism.
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.
El Leoncito National Park
Created in 2002 in San Juan Province, El Leoncito National Park protects Central Andean Puna and Southern Andean steppe habitats along with historical and paleontological sites.
More drives to San José de Jáchal
- Maipú to San José de Jáchal
- Tunuyán to San José de Jáchal
- San Luis to San José de Jáchal
- La Punta to San José de Jáchal
- Villa Carlos Paz to San José de Jáchal
- Córdoba, Argentina to San José de Jáchal
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 San José de Jáchal, Argentina?
About 10 h 51 min of driving without stops, over 408 miles.
How far is San José de Jáchal, Argentina from Valle Nevado by car?
About 408 miles (656 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 San José de Jáchal 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 San José de Jáchal 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 Valle Nevado to San José de Jáchal use?
In order: G-251, G-21, E-57, E-61, RN7, RN149, RP12, RP414, RP436, RN40 and RN150. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Valle Nevado to San José de Jáchal?
Closest to the road: Museo Ralli, Santiago de Chile (private museum, mile 35, 0.7 mi from the route); Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (convent of discalced carmelite nuns, mile 76, 0.4 mi from the route); Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 136, 0.1 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.