The Wayro route from Valle Nevado to Villa Unión, Argentina is 500 miles (804 km), about 13 h 24 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: “Secondary and mountain roads may be poorly maintained, poorly lit, and may lack guardrails.”
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Total distance | 500 mi (804 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 13 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | G-251 → G-21 → E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RN149 → RP12 → RP414 → RP436 → RN40 |
| Border crossing | about mile 125, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The border on the way to Villa Unión
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 Villa Unión is like
RN40 (150 mi) and RN149 (93 mi) carry about 49% of the 500 miles. The first 125 miles are in Chile; the last 375 are in Argentina. It runs through 5 regions: Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Valle Nevado and Villa Unión
| 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 | 345–495 | 150 | San Juan, La Rioja |
| local roads | 495–500 | 5 | La Rioja |
- 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)
- Mile 463 of this route: San Juan → La Rioja (region line)
Stops between Valle Nevado and Villa Unión
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 125)
- Nature and outdoors: Apoquindo Waterfall (mile 25), El Leoncito National Park (mile 235)
- Museums and history: Museo de la Chilenidad Benjamín Mackenna Besa (mile 31), Museo Arqueológico de Santiago (mile 36), Museo y Centro Cultural Presidente Pedro Aguirre Cerda (mile 80)
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.
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 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.
Museo Arqueológico de Santiago
The Museo Arqueológico de Santiago is an archaeology museum in the Plaza Mulato Gil de Castro area of Santiago.
Museo y Centro Cultural Presidente Pedro Aguirre Cerda
In Pocuro, in the commune of Calle Larga, this museum and cultural center occupies the house where President Pedro Aguirre Cerda was born, plus a former agricultural school. Both buildings became national monuments in 1972.
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.
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 Villa Unión
- Capilla del Monte to Villa Unión
- Maipú to Villa Unión
- Córdoba, Argentina to Villa Unión
- Río Cuarto to Villa Unión
- Catamarca to Villa Unión
- San Miguel de Tucumán to Villa Unión
More drives from Valle Nevado
- Valle Nevado to Quintay
- Valle Nevado to Pisco Elqui
- Valle Nevado to Punta de Choros
- Valle Nevado to Malargüe, Argentina
- Valle Nevado to San Agustín de Valle Fértil, Argentina
- Valle Nevado to La Punta, Argentina
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Valle Nevado to Villa Unión, Argentina?
About 13 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 500 miles.
What is the driving distance from Valle Nevado to Villa Unión, Argentina?
About 500 miles (804 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 Villa Unión 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Valle Nevado to Villa Unión, Argentina?
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 Villa Unión use?
In order: G-251, G-21, E-57, E-61, RN7, RN149, RP12, RP414, RP436 and RN40. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Valle Nevado and Villa Unión?
Closest to the road: National Astronomical Observatory (astronomical observatory, mile 31, 1 mi from the route); Museo y Centro Cultural Presidente Pedro Aguirre Cerda (museum, mile 80, 1 mi from the route); Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (statue, mile 125, 0.9 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.