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Crossing the Andes between Argentina and Chile

The drive between Mendoza, Argentina, and Santiago, Chile, is approximately 5 hours and takes you through the breathtaking Andes Mountains. The drive up the mountains on the Argentina side isn't bad, but the hairpin turns on the way down into Chile are definitely not for the faint of heart. If you are thinking about making it a one-way trip in a rental car, you need to know that you are only able to make that trip FROM Santiago TO Mendoza. The agencies won't let you rent a car in Mendoza and return it in Santiago. It's very economical to make the trip by bus, but border protocol for buses is different than cars so you sit at the border for up to 3 hours waiting to cross (extending your travel time to 8 hours). Bring plenty of water with you if traveling by bus, because 3 hours spent at the border - 13,000 ft above sea level - can cause dehydration and headaches.