Driving the most spectacular roads of Chile

From the whispering dunes of the Atacama to the icy embrace of Patagonian glaciers, Chile paints a mesmerizing canvas for road trip enthusiasts. Starting on Ruta 5, the Panamerican Highway unfurls the slender tapestry of Chile's dramatic geography. But beyond this iconic route lies the intrigue of Paso Internacional Los Libertadores, snaking through majestic mountain passes, and the challenging terrain leading to the Ojos del Salado stratovolcano, the world’s highest active volcano.

Dive deeper into the heart of the Atacama with Route 27, a ribbon of road where salt flats stretch to infinity and night skies boast a celestial brilliance unmatched anywhere else. The southern allure of the Carretera Austral beckons next, a captivating route winding through lush forests, shimmering fjords, and the untamed beauty of Patagonia. And for those craving more, the Paso del Planchón offers yet another testament to Chile’s road trip wonders.

In Chile, roads aren't just stretches of tarmac; they are narrators. Narrators of tales where ancient traditions blend seamlessly with breathtaking terrains, and where the dance of land and sea is as timeless as the wind. So, gear up, rev that engine, and embark on a Chilean odyssey where every bend, every ascent, and every horizon tells a story.

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 the 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 the sea level, located on the border of Argentina and Chile.

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

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

Paso Futaleufú is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 335m (1,099ft) above the 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 the 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 the 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 above 5.500m (18044ft) has been wiped out by landslides. For many years it was the highest drivable road in the world.

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

Carretera Y290 is a very scenic road running along the boundary of 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.

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

Ruta CH-265 is the name of 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.

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

Guallatiri is a stratovolcano at an elevation of 5.240m (17,191ft) above the sea level, located in the Putre commune, Parinacota province of Arica y Parinacota, in the northernmost region of Chile. The drive requires a 4WD vehicle with high clearance. 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) above the sea level, located on the border of Chile and Argentina.

Nestled high in the Andes, Refugio Tejos stands at a staggering elevation of 5,800m (19,000ft) above sea level. Commonly recognized as the world's highest mountain hut, this refuge isn't just a testament to altitude but is also a symbol of the challenges faced in reaching it. It's one of the highest motorable roads in the world.

Paso Internacional Pichachén is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.063m (6,768ft) above the 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, this iconic monument offers breathtaking views in a challenging mountainous terrain.

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

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.

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

Ruta 3 in Tierra del Fuego is renowned as 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 Socompa is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.876m (12,716ft) above the sea level, on the Argentinian-Chilean border.

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.

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.

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

Portezuelo del Cajón is an international high mountain pass on the border between Chile and Bolivia, at an elevation of 4.480m (14,698ft) above the sea level, located on the lower southeast flank of Juriques volcano, in the Andes.

Cerro Pachón is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.696m (8,845ft) above the sea level, located in the Coquimbo Region, in north-central Chile.