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.

Cerro Las Campanas is a high mountain peka at an elevation of 2.380m (7,810ft) above the sea level, located in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, the driest and remotest desert on Earth.

R-925-S is a very scenic drive located at the foot of the Andes, in the Province of Cautín, Araucanía Region, in Chile.

Cuesta Chita is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.512m (14,803ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes mountains of northeastern Chile. It’s one of the highest roads of the country, running entirely over 3.000m above the sea level.

Cerro Canasa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of  4.304m (14,119ft) above the sea level, located in the Chilean Tarapacá Region, near the Bolivian border.

Mirador de Toconce is a high mountain observation deck at an elevation of 3.339m (19,954ft) above the sea level located in the Antofagasta region of Chile.

Paso Apacheta de Irpa o Cancosa is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.010m (13,156ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Chile and Bolivia.

Valle Nevado chairlift lies in the Andes Mountains of Chile, at an elevation of 3.306m (10,846ft) above the sea level.

Portezuelo Maricunga is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.133m (13,559ft) above the sea level, located in northern Chile’s Atacama Desert. 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.

A-235 is a very exciting journey in the heart of the Las Vicuñas National Reserve, in the Arica and Parinacota Region of Chile.  It runs entirely over 4.100m above the sea level.

La Silla is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.400m (7,900ft) above the sea level, located in the southern part of the Atacama desert of northern Chile, the driest and remotest desert on Earth.

Paso de San Juan is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.607m (11,833ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes mountains of northeastern Chile.

Chile Route 23 (Ruta 23 CH) is a very scenic road located on an arid high plateau in the Andes mountains in the northern portion of Chile.

Paso Visviri is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.095m (13,435ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Chile and Bolivia.

Nevados de Vilcún is a ski resort at an elevation of 1.508m (4,947ft) above the sea level, located within the Conguillío National Park, in the Araucania region of Chile.

Cerro Capi is a mountain at an elevation of 965m above the sea level located in northern Chile’s Atacama Desert. The road is extremely steep, with sections up to 15%.

Quebrada Blanca is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.389m (14,399ft) above the sea level, located in the Tarapacá Region of Chile.

Refugio Claudio Lucero is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 4.527m (14,852ft) above the sea level, located in the Atacama Region of Chile, near the Argentinian border.

Cuesta de Llanta is one of the most demanding roads in Chile. Located in Chañaral Province, Atacama Region, the climb is simply terrible. It’s heavily trafficked by trucks.

Volcán Apagado is a volcano at an elevation of 5.343m (17,529ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Chile (Región de Antofagasta) and Bolivia (Potosi Department).

Portezuelo Paranal is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.832m (15,853ft) above the sea level located in the Antofagasta Region of Chile, near the Argentinian border. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Portezuelo de Guaitiquina is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.288m (14,068ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Chile and Argentina.

Carretera B-898 is a very scenic drive located in Antofagasta Province, in northern Chile. The road, also known as Ruta Patrimonial de Taltal, is 30.0 km long.

Azufrera Tacora is an abandoned sulphur mine at an elevation of 4.518m (14,822ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Chile and Peru.

Portezuelo El Gaucho is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.177m (13,704ft) above the sea level, located in Huasco Province, in Atacama Region of Chile.

Cerro Camellos is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 4.431m (14,537ft) above the sea level, located in the Tarapacá Region of Chile.

Paso Guaitiquina is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.451m (14,603ft) above the sea level located in the Antofagasta Region of northern Chile. The climb is simply terrible, with a notorius lack of oxygen that tests the organisms and a high degree of steepness. Most people feel altitude sickness at around 2,500-2,800 meters. Near the pass, oxygen is in short supply.

Carretera D-447 is a very scenic drive located in the Elqui Province, Coquimbo Region, in Chile. This is a maintained road where a high clearance 2WD vehicle is able to travel safely at low speeds on long dry straight-of-ways, without losing control due to wash boarding, ruts, or dips.

Refugio Atacama is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 5.256m (17,244ft) above the sea level, located in the Atacama Region of Chile, near the Argentinian border.

Cerro Azufrera de los Cuyanos is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 5.553m (18,218ft) above the sea level, located in the Atacama Region of Chile, near the Argentinian border. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Lagoon Casiri is a high mountain lagoon at an elevation of 4.856m (15,931ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Chile and Bolivia.

Paso la Chapetona is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.654m (11,988ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Argentina and Chile. The road is less used due its difficulty.

Abra Chapoco is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.400m (14,435ft) above the sea level, located in Parinacota Province, Arica and Parinacota Region, in Chile.

Portezuelo Caballo Muerto is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.410m (14,468ft) above the sea level, located in the Nevado Tres Cruces National Park in the Atacama Region of Chile.

Portezuelo El Choclo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.375m (11,072ft) above the sea level, located in the Atacama region of Chile.

Portezuelo de Chulluncallani is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.492m (14,737ft) above the sea level, located in the Arica y Parinacota Region, in Chile, near the Bolivian border.

Volcán Putana is a stratovolcano located in the Antofagasta region of Chile. A former mine access road climbs up to 5.779m (18,959ft) above the sea level. It’s one of the highest roads on Earth.

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.