Best scenic drive destinations in South America
Best scenic drive destinations in South America
Rugged Andean mountain pass roads and scenic valley highways in South America
South America has real appeal for road trippers willing to cover serious distance, with some of its best drives stretching across entire regions rather than a single afternoon.
Argentina's stretch of Patagonia offers some of the country's most memorable driving, with long, empty highways running along the base of the Andes through desert, vineyards and windswept steppe for hundreds of miles at a time. Chile's Carretera Austral offers a similarly epic scale, cutting through Patagonia's forests, glaciers and fjords on a route that still includes unpaved stretches in places. Peru's roads through the Sacred Valley take a shorter, more accessible approach, winding past Andean villages and terraced hillsides within a single day. Road conditions vary a lot across the continent, so a well maintained rental and a flexible schedule both help.
The destinations on our list for South America reflect that same range, from epic multi day routes to shorter mountain drives.
Lists by region
City in Peru
Cusco
Gateway to the Incan Empire's Heart
The road to Puno covers about 241 miles and takes 8 to 10 hours with stops. La Raya pass reaches 14,222 feet with views of snowy peaks and the Chimboya glacier. Stops include the Raqchi Inca ruins and the Pukara museum. Andahuaylillas and its San Pedro Church lie about 25 miles before Cusco.
City in Brazil
Manaus
Amazon's gateway to lush rainforest adventures
BR-174 runs north from Manaus through Presidente Figueiredo to Boa Vista and the border at Pacaraima. The road crosses Amazon rainforest and was paved between Manaus and the border in 1998. It closes daily from half past 6pm to 6am inside the Waimiri Atroari Indigenous Territory. Do not stop inside the reserve.
Valley in Peru
Sacred Valley
Ancient terraces echoing timeless Andean rhythms
The Urubamba River carved the valley. Its Quechua name, Willkamayu, means sacred river. The valley runs about 37 miles from Pisac to Ollantaytambo. The river drops from about 9,800 feet at Pisac to 6,730 feet below Machu Picchu. Pachacuti had an estate at Pisac. Manco Inca won the Battle of Ollantaytambo in 1537.
City in Argentina
San Carlos de Bariloche
Argentina’s Alpine Wonderland
The Circuito Chico loops about 37 miles from downtown along Avenida Bustillo and takes roughly half a day by car. Nahuel Huapi stays in view for most of the route. A chairlift climbs Cerro Campanario in about seven minutes. The Colonia Suiza variant adds regional sweets and curanto.
City in Argentina
Salta
Colonial Charm and Andean Landscapes
Drive between September and November or in April and May. December to February brings summer heat. Ruta Nacional 68 covers 117 miles from Salta to Cafayate in about three hours along the Quebrada de las Conchas. Its red and ochre canyon includes the Garganta del Diablo. Fuel stations are few.
City in Peru
Puno
Lakeside town where cultures converge
Lake Titicaca lies at 12,507 feet on the border with Bolivia. It covers 3,232 square miles and is the largest lake in South America by area and volume. About 60 artificial Uros islands of totora sedge float near Puno. Taquile Island lies about 28 miles east of Puno and is known for textiles.
National Park in Chile
Torres del Paine National Park
Epic Landscapes and Untamed Wilderness
The park lies about 70 miles north of Puerto Natales. Chile Route 9 from Punta Arenas is paved for about 62 miles and then turns to gravel. Tyre chains are recommended in winter. The three granite Torres rise about 8,200 feet. Grey Glacier is roughly 9 miles long.
Region in Chile
Carretera Austral
Endless Patagonian horizons under starlit skies
Chile's Route 7 runs 770 miles from Puerto Montt to Villa O'Higgins. Army conscripts began building it in 1976. Driving the full route requires three ferry crossings. The longest takes five hours from Hornopirén to Caleta Gonzalo, so buy tickets in advance. It passes Queulat National Park and Pumalín Park.
Mountain Range
Andes
Majestic peaks echo ancient Andean legends
Argentina's Ruta 40 covers 3,230 miles. Its Abra del Acay pass reaches 16,050 feet between San Antonio de los Cobres and Cachi. The drive is difficult. Aconcagua, the highest peak, rises to 22,838 feet. The range crosses seven countries over about 4,300 miles. Los Libertadores is the main Argentina and Chile crossing.
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