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.

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.

Located in northern Chile, Ruta 1 is one of the most stunning coastal drives in the world. The drive runs for 438 km (272 miles) along the South Pacific Ocean.

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.

Located in the Atacama Region of northern 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 the sea level located in the Andes, in the Arica and Parinacota Region, in northern Chile.

Y-620 (also known Camino a Reserva Laguna Parrillar) is a short unpaved mountain road, located in southern Chile's Magallanes and Antártica Chilena Region.

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

Parinacota is a small town at an elevation of 4.400m (14,400ft) above the sea level, located in Putre, Parinacota Province, Arica and Parinacota Region, Chile. It’s one of the highest towns accessible by car on Earth.

Ruta 27 is a high mountain road located in the northern portion of Chile, on an arid high plateau in the Andes mountains. This 156km (97mi) long road connects San Pedro de Atacama and Paso de Jama on the Argentinian border.

Paso Mamuil Malal is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.253m (4,111ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes, 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 the sea level, located on the border of Argentina and Chile.

Uspallata Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.810m (12,500ft) above the sea level, located in Valparaíso Region of Chile, near the Argentinian border.

Salar de Maricunga is a dazzling white salt flat at an elevation of 3.700m (12,139ft) above the sea level, located in the Nevado Tres Cruces National Park 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Laguna de la Azufrera is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.288m (14,068ft) above the sea level, located in the Región de Antofagasta, in Chile.

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.

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.

Cerro del Azufre is a stratovolcano at an elevation of 5.702m (18,707ft) above the sea level, located in El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile. It's one of the highest roads of the country.