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.

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.

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 sea level, located on the lower southeast flank of the Juriques volcano, in the Andes.

Paso Salar de Ollagüe is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,695m (12,122ft) above sea level, located on the border of Chile and Bolivia.

Ruta 27 is a high mountain road located in the northern part of Chile, crossing an arid plateau in the Andes mountains.

Located in the Atacama Region of Chile, the road from Caldera to Huasco is one of the most amazing coastal drives in the country.

Portezuelo de Chapiquiña is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,453m (14,609ft) above sea level, located in the Arica and Parinacota Region of Chile.

Parinacota is a small town located at an elevation of 4,400 meters (14,400 feet) above sea level, in Putre, within the Parinacota Province of Chile. It’s one of the highest towns on Earth that is accessible by car.

Paso Mamuil Malal is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,253m (4,111ft) above sea level, on the border between Chile and Argentina.

Y-620 is a short, unpaved mountain road in southern Chile's Magallanes and Antártica Chilena Region, leading to Laguna Parrillar.

Paso Rodolfo Roballos is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 651m (2,135ft) above sea level, on the border between Chile and Argentina.

Paso de Pircas Negras (Black Pircas Pass) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.175m (13697ft) above sea level, located on the border of Argentina and Chile.

Paso Uspallata is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,810m (12,500ft) above sea level, located in the Valparaíso Region of Chile.

Salar de Maricunga is a dazzling white salt flat at an elevation of 3,700m (12,139ft) above sea level, located in the Atacama Region of Chile.

Cerro Estrella is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 5.389m (17,680ft) above the sea level, located on the Chilean-Argentinian border. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.

The Phoenix Bridge Co is a wooden bridge located in the Araucanía Region of southern Chile. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Cerro Paranal is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.635m (8,645ft) above the sea level located in the Atacama desert in Chile.

Caldera La Pacana is a resurgent caldera at an elevation of 4.983m (16,348ft) above the sea level, located on the eastern part of the Atacama Desert of northern Chile in the Antofagasta Region. It’sone of the highest mountain roads of Chile.

Abra Taapaca is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.809m (15,777ft) above the sea level, located in the Nevados de Putre volcanic complex, in Chile's XV region of Tarapaca.. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Chile.

Paso Icalma is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.307m (4,288ft) above the sea level located on the border of Argentina and Chile.

Paso Huahum is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 625m (2,051ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes, on the border between Chile and Argentina. It’s one of the lowest passes of the southern Andes.

Salar de Quisquiro is a high mountain salt flat at an elevation of 4.210m (13,812ft) above the sea level located in the Antofagasta Region, of northern Chile. Daytime temperatures will reach up to 30 °C, while at night temperatures will tend to drop very low, even below freezing point in winter. There are often also b winds in the area.

Termas del Flaco is a hot springs resort with thermal baths at an elevation of 1.776m above the sea level located in the Región del Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins, of Chile.

Paso Pino Hachado is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.887m (6,190ft) above the sea level, located on the Argentina-Chile border.

Cerro Chajnantor is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 5.635m (18,487ft) above the sea level, located in the high Atacama region of Chile. It’s one of the highest roads of South America.

Cuesta Codoceo (Portezuelo Codoceo) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.342m (14,245ft) above the sea level, located in the Nevado Tres Cruces National Park in the Atacama Region of Chile.

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