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.

Ubicado en el continente sudamericano, Chile es una larga y estrecha área de tierra entre los Andes y el Océano Pacífico. El país más largo del mundo se caracteriza por una estrecha depresión entre las montañas y el mar.

Curiquinca is a stratovolcano at an elevation of 5.625m (18,454ft) above the sea level, located on the border between Bolivia and Chile. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Ruta 24 is a stunning drive in the Atacama Desert, one of the driest areas in the world. The road is 156km long and links Calama and Tocopilla.

Laguna de Legia is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.350m (14,271ft) above the sea level located in the Antofagasta Region of northern 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.

Volcán Acotango is a volcano located on the border of Bolivia and Chile. A 4x4 mining trail ascends to an altitude of 5,509m (18,074ft) above sea level. The track beyond this point continues further, but it is impassable. It is one of the highest roads in the country.

Laguna Salar de Pajonales is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.541m (11,617ft) above the sea level, located in the Región de Antofagasta, in Chile.

CH-21 is a high mountain road located in northern Chile, in Antofagasta Region. The road is mostly unpaved and runs entirely over the 2.300m above the sea level.

Abra Picavilque is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.085m (16,683ft) above the sea level, located near the Bolivian border, in Chile’s Region I (Tarapacá). It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.

Located in the Andes Mountains of Chile, Laguna Verde is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.328m (14,200ft).

Laguna Santa Rosa is a high mountain salt lake at an elevation of 3.810m (12,500ft) 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.

Portezuelo Sairécabur is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 5.541m (18,179ft) above the sea level, located northeast of San Pedro de Atacama, on the border of Bolivia and Chile. It's one of the highest roads of the country.

Laguna del Inca o del Portillo is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.853m (9,360ft) above the sea level, located in the high mountains of the Andes, in Valparaíso Region of Chile, close to the border with Argentina.

Embalse la Laguna is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 3.180m (10,433ft) above the sea level located in the Coquimbo Region of Chile.

Located within the Andes Mountains of northern Chile, El Tatio is the highest geyser field of the world, at an elevation of 4.320m (14,173ft) above the sea level.

Cerro Llullaillaco is a dormant volcano located on the border of Argentina (Salta Province) and Chile (Antofagasta Region). A gravel rough 4x4 road southwest of the volcano climbs up to 5.049m (16,564ft) above the sea level.

Cerro Blanco is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 5.161m (16,932ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes, in the Tarapacá Region of Chile. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.

Quebrada de Camarones is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.391m (4,563ft) above the sea level located in the Arica y Parinacota Region in Chile.

The challenging Pan-American Highway is one of the biggest adventures in the world. It’s a network of roads covering almost 30,000 kilometres (19,000 mi) from North America to South America. It’s said to be the longest road on Earth.

Chollay-Punta Colorada road is one of the most scenic drives in Chile. The road climbs several mountain passes through more than 30 hairpin turns.

C-173 is a high mountain track located in the Atacama region of Chile, running entirely over the 3.000m above the sea level.

Pascua Lama is an international high mountain peak at an elevation of 5.256m (17,244ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes mountains, in the southern reaches of Atacama Desert, on the border of Argentina and Chile. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Paso Barros Arana is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.431m (11,256ft) above the sea level, located on an arid high plateau in the Andes mountains of northeastern Chile.

Cordón de Inacaliri is a volcano at an elevation of 5.395m (17,700ft) above the sea level, located on the Chilean-Bolivian border. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.

Cerro Tololo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.207m (7,241ft) above the sea level, located in the foothills of the Andes, in the Coquimbo Region of northern Chile.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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%.