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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Salar de Aguas Calientes is a high mountain salt flat at an elevation of 4.250m (13,943ft) 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.

Quebrada del Peñon is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.792m (12,440ft) 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.

Cerro Armazones is a high mountain eak at an elevation of 3.060m (10,040ft) above the sea level, located in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, the driest and remotest on Earth.

Ruta A-23 is one of the most challenging roads in the world. Located in the far northern corner of Chile, this spectacular, unpaved trail varies from smooth surfaces to stretches of washboard. It’s a 2wd road, weather permitting.

Puente Nininco is a wooden bridge located in the Araucanía Region of southern Chile. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Cerro Pabellón is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.647m (15,246ft) above the sea level, located in the Atacama Desert, in the Ollagüe district, Antofagasta region, in Chile. 

Cerro Toco is a stratovolcano at an elevation of 5,416m (17,769ft) above the sea level located on a lunar landscape in the eastern part of the high Atacama Desert of northern Chile in the Antofagasta Region. It’sone of the highest mountain roads of Chile.

Laguna Miscanti is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.120m (13,517ft) above the sea level, located in the altiplano of the Antofagasta Region, in northern Chile.

Puente Las Corrientes is a wooden bridge located  in the Araucanía Region of southern Chile. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

B-245 is a very scenic high mountain road located in the Andes mountains of northeastern Chile. The road offers great views of volcanoes and lakes.

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