Paso Pehuenche — Malargüe to Talca via Laguna delMaule.
Distance
280 km
Duration
1 day
Climb
2,800 m
Paso Pehuenche — Malargüe to Talca via Laguna del Maule.
A quieter, paved alternative to the Cristo Redentor and Agua Negra Andean crossings — Paso Pehuenche climbs from southern Mendoza's lava plains to the volcanic Laguna del Maule field at 2,553m, then drops in long sweeping curves into Chile's Maule wine country. RP145 on the Argentine side and CH-115 on the Chilean side are fully paved and almost empty — one of the best border crossings if you want the cordillera without the traffic.
Quick facts
SurfacePaved
Distance280 km
Days1
Total climb2,800 m
DifficultyChallenging
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The route.
MalargüeStart · Start in Malargüe in southern Mendoza Province. Fuel up; no reliable fuel until San Clemente, Chile, 200km west.
Bardas BlancasScenic Point · Tiny settlement at the junction of RN40 and RP145. Turn west on RP145 toward the cordillera. White rock formations give the place its name.
Río Grande CanyonScenic Point · RP145 climbs through the basalt canyon of the Río Grande. The road is paved but narrow — watch for free-roaming cattle on blind corners.
Paso Pehuenche Summit (2,553m)Mountain Pass · The Argentine border post sits at the summit. Far less crowded than Cristo Redentor or Agua Negra. Stamp out and continue west into Chile.
Laguna del MaulePhoto Spot · Vast turquoise lake in a volcanic field — over 130 vents surround it. The Chilean border post sits at the western shore. Stop for the view back toward Argentina.
CH-115 DescentScenic Point · Brand-new tarmac corkscrews 1,800m down the western Andes. Long sweeping bends — perfect motorcycle road if you have it to yourself, which you usually do.
San ClementeRestaurant · Vineyards begin here in the Maule wine region. Lunch at one of the parrillas — Chilean beef and old-vine Carignan reds.
TalcaEnd · End in Talca, the heart of Maule wine country. Colonial centre rebuilt after the 2010 earthquake. Train back to Santiago runs frequently.
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