What are the most spectacular roads in Chile?

From the dunes of the Atacama to the ice of Patagonian glaciers, Chile is a dream for road trip enthusiasts. Located in South America, the narrow and long country hosts a never-ending list of mountain passes acting as a border with other countries. It’s worth remembering the country shares borders with Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. So, prepare to conquer Agua Negra Pass, the highest road between Argentina and Chile. At an elevation of 4.774m (15,662ft) above sea level and located on the border of Argentina and Chile, it's one of the highest roads in Chile. And, don’t miss Planchon Pass in the Andes, at 2.515m (8,251ft) above sea level, on the border with Argentina.

When you travel to Chile, there are hundreds of roads that must be in your list as it hosts more than 150 roads listed on the most spectacular drives in the world. Starting on Ruta 5, part of the Panamerican Highway, that offers a glimpse of Chile's dramatic geography; Paso Internacional Los Libertadores, a series of hairpin turns on the border with Argentina, and ending at Ojos del Salado stratovolcano, the world’s highest active volcano. At 6,891m (22,608ft) above sea level, this mountain has been the scene of several records for attaining the highest altitude aboard a land vehicle. It’s one of the highest accessible points by car on Earth.

Chile and Argentina share more than 5,000 miles of border, most of them drawn on the imposing peaks of the Andes. With over 40 border crossings between the two countries spread over the mountains, the most spectacular is Paso Internacional Los Libertadores, also known as Paso del Cristo Redentor.

Ojos del Salado is a massive stratovolcano on the Argentina-Chile border and the highest volcano in the world at 6,891m (22,608ft) above sea level. This mountain has been the scene of several records for attaining the highest altitude aboard a land vehicle. It’s one of the highest accessible points by car on Earth.

Paso de Agua Negra (Black Water Pass) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.774m (15,662ft) above sea level, located on the border of Argentina and Chile. It's one of the highest roads in the country.

Part of the Panamerican Highway, Ruta Nacional 5 is said to be Chile's longest route. It's a notoriously dangerous drive filled with deep valleys, steep drops, and desert.

Located in South America, Chile is a long, narrow strip of land between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean. The world's longest country is marked by a narrow depression between the mountains and the sea.

Embalse El Yeso del Cajón del Maipo is a turquoise reservoir at an elevation of 2.605m (8,546ft) above sea level, located in the Santiago Metropolitan Region of Chile.

Austrian downhill rider Max Stöckl broke the world speed record for stock mountain bikes on gravel, in the Atacama desert of Chile, reaching an incredible top speed of over 167 km/h (104 miles per hour).

Paso del Planchón is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.515m (8,251ft) above sea level, located on the border of Argentina and Chile.

Cerro Sairécabur is a volcano at an elevation of 5.541m (18,179ft) above sea level, located on the border between Bolivia and Chile. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

Carretera Austral is one of the most spectacular and challenging drives in the world. Running through the northwestern part of Chilean Patagonia, it’s a lifetime adventure for anybody.

Paso Futaleufú is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 335m (1,099ft) above sea level, located on the border of Chile and Argentina.

Paso Cardenal Antonio Samoré is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 1.306m (4,284ft) above sea level, located on the border of Chile and Argentina. It is one of the main mountain passes through the southern Andes.

Paso Pehuenche is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.557m (8,389ft) above sea level, on the border of Chile and Argentina.

Cerro Aucanquilcha is a massive stratovolcano located in the Antofagasta Region of Chile. An old mine road used to run to the top, but now much of it about 5.500m (18,044ft) above sea level has been wiped out by landslides. For many years it was the highest drivable road in the world.

Guallatiri is a stratovolcano located in the Putre commune of Chile. An unpaved road on its northern side climbs up to an elevation of 5.240m (17,191ft) above sea level. The drive requires a 4WD vehicle with high clearance. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

Carretera Y290 is a very scenic road running straddling Torres de Paine and Última Esperanza provinces in the Chilean region of Magallanes and Antártica Chilena, near the Argentinian border.

Paso de Jama is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.283m (14,051ft) above sea level, located on the border of Chile and Argentina.

Llano Chajnantor is an arid high mountain plateau at an elevation of 5.042m (16,541ft) above sea level, located in El Loa Province, in the Antofagasta Region of Chile. It's one of the highest roads of the country.

Ruta CH-265 is a great drive located in the Aysén Region of the Chilean Patagonia. It is one of the world's most scenic drives. The road is unpredictable, grueling, unsafe and tough, but yet captivating, charming, and strikingly beautiful.

Refugio Tejos is a high mountain hut at an elevation of 5,800m (19,000ft) above sea level, located in Chile. It's one of the highest motorable roads in the world.

Paso Carirriñe is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.150m (3,772ft) above sea level, located on the border of Chile and Argentina. The road is less used but very beautiful.

Paso de San Francisco is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.760m (15,616ft) above sea level, located on the border of Argentina and Chile. It's one of the highest roads of the country.

Paso de Sico is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.092m (13,425ft) abovee sea level, located on the border of Chile and Argentina.

Paso Internacional Pichachén is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.063m (6,768ft) above sea level, located on the border of Argentina and Chile.

Set high in the Andes, Cristo Redentor de los Andes is a massive 4-ton statue at an elevation of 3,832m (12,572ft) above sea level, located on the border between Argentina and Chile.

Located in the Santiago Metropolitan Region of Chile, at an elevation of 2,500m (8,202ft) above sea level, Termas Valle de Colina comprises 9 natural pools of thermal water with temperatures up to 50 ºC.

Lago Chungará is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4,517m (14,820ft) above sea level, located in the Parinacota Province of the Arica and Parinacota Region in Chile. It’s the 10th highest lake in South America.

Ruta 3 in Tierra del Fuego is one of the world's most spectacular drives. Stretching 395km (245 miles) through the Tierra del Fuego Province of Argentina, it is said to be the southernmost paved road on Earth.

Paso Chungara-Tambo Quemado is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.687m (15,377ft) above sea level located on the border of Chile and Bolivia. It's one of the highest roads of the country.

Volcán Ollagüe is an imposing andesite stratovolcano located in the Andes. Standing at an elevation of 5,868m (19,251ft) above sea level, it marks the boundary between northern Chile's Antofagasta region and Bolivia's Potosí department. It's one of the highest roads of South America.

Paso Socompa is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.876m (12,716ft) above sea level, located on the Argentinian-Chilean border.

San Isidro Lighthouse is located in the XII Region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, in southern Patagonia, Chile. It's the southernmost lighthouse on the mainland continent. Lit in 1904, it's part of a chain of eight century-old lighthouses placed along the shores of the Strait of Magellan.

Paso Internacional Río Encuentro is an international bridge located on the Argentinian-Chilean border. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Located in northern Chile, Ruta 1 is a very scenic coastal road running through a dramatic surrounding landscape. It is considered one of the best coastal drives in the world.

Cerro Pachón is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,696 meters (8,845 feet) above sea level, located in the Coquimbo Region of Chile.

Volcan Tacora is a stratovolcano located in the Arica y Parinacota Region of Chile, near the Peruvian border. A mine road near the summit tops out at 5.590m (18,339ft) above sea level. It’s one of the highest roads of South America.

Drive Us to Your Road!

With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click here to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.