Chile's Interior Ministry and the Los Lagos Regional Government announced on Friday 13 November 2026 joint funding of 15,304,993,168 pesos (about US$ 15 million) to rebuild the Pajaritos Carabineros police post, the first project in the master plan to modernise the Cardenal Samoré border complex, the region's main crossing into Argentina. Interior Minister Claudio Alvarado and Regional Governor Alejandro Santana made the announcement at the complex itself, Soy de Osorno reported.
For travellers the change is not immediate: the works take a year and a half and cover the police facilities. But they unlock a project stalled for lack of funds and open the way to the next stages of the complex, used by hundreds of thousands of tourists a year between Osorno, Villa La Angostura and Bariloche.
What will be built at Cardenal Samoré
View the data as a table
| Investment in the Pajaritos police post | $15,305 M |
| Days of works | 540 |
| Square metres built | 2,620 |
| Tourists who entered via the pass in 2025 | 397,994 |
The project covers 2,620 square metres to improve police infrastructure and working conditions. Constructora LN SpA (Constructora Luis Navarro) will build it, with the Public Works Ministry's Architecture Directorate as technical supervisor and a deadline of 540 calendar days, Diario de Osorno reported. The central government contributes about two thirds and the Regional Government the remaining third.
| Project sheet | Data | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Works | Rebuilding the Pajaritos Carabineros police post | Soy de Osorno |
| Total investment | 15,304,993,168 pesos | Diario de Osorno |
| Funding | About 2/3 central government, 1/3 Los Lagos Regional Government | Diario de Osorno |
| Floor area | 2,620 m² | Diario de Osorno |
| Contractor | Constructora LN SpA (Luis Navarro) | Soy de Osorno |
| Timeframe | 540 calendar days | Soy de Osorno |
| Stage | First stage of the complex's modernisation master plan | Diario de Osorno |
"Today we are announcing the upcoming start of works on the first part of a larger border complex here at Cardenal Samoré," Minister Alvarado said, according to Soy de Osorno. Officials did not give an exact start date or a timetable for the following stages.
How many tourists use the Cardenal Samoré pass
In 2025, 397,994 foreign tourists entered Chile via Cardenal Samoré, the highest figure since 2017, making it the country's second-busiest land crossing for tourists after the Cristo Redentor system, according to arrivals data from the Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur. Its record year was 2016, with 433,578.
View the data as a table
| Cardenal Samoré | |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 302.1 |
| 2016 | 433.6 |
| 2017 | 431.4 |
| 2018 | 389.2 |
| 2019 | 185.8 |
| 2020 | 55.7 |
| 2021 | 0.0 |
| 2022 | 69.0 |
| 2023 | 158.5 |
| 2024 | 283.7 |
| 2025 | 398.0 |
In 2026 the trend reversed. From January to August, 166,245 tourists entered via Cardenal Samoré, against 275,477 in the same period of 2025: a 39.7% drop, in line with the fall in Argentine visitors we explained in our profile of Argentine tourists in Chile. Every month of 2026 is below the same month a year earlier.
View the data as a table
| 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 65,233 | 45,518 |
| Feb | 57,934 | 35,871 |
| Mar | 39,500 | 22,518 |
| Apr | 31,788 | 18,938 |
| May | 23,383 | 15,004 |
| Jun | 15,414 | 9,089 |
| Jul | 22,873 | 11,168 |
| Aug | 19,352 | 8,139 |
| Sep | 33,823 | No data |
| Oct | 27,348 | No data |
| Nov | 27,809 | No data |
| Dec | 33,537 | No data |
| Period | Tourists via Cardenal Samoré | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 (record) | 433,578 | - |
| 2019 | 185,797 | - |
| 2024 | 283,712 | - |
| 2025 | 397,994 | +40.3% vs 2024 |
| January-August 2025 | 275,477 | - |
| January-August 2026 | 166,245 | -39.7% |
Source: Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur, foreign tourist arrivals by border crossing (preliminary figures since 2020). For the full ranking, see Chile's border crossings with the most tourists.
How to cross at Cardenal Samoré today
The complex sits at 1,305 metres above sea level on Route 215 from Osorno and is open to all types of vehicles, according to Chile's Border Crossings Unit. On the Chilean side the road crosses Puyehue National Park; on the Argentine side it descends towards Villa La Angostura and Bariloche. In winter it often closes because of snow; in spring and summer the main risk is queues on long weekends.
| Before crossing | What to check |
|---|---|
| Pass status | Border Crossings Unit WhatsApp channel and X account, or phone 101 in Chile |
| Documents | Valid passport or ID; notarised permission if minors travel without one parent |
| Rental car | Company authorisation to leave the country and insurance valid in Argentina |
| Goods | Do not carry fruit, meat or dairy without declaring them to the SAG |
| Opening hours | Check the seasonal schedule before leaving; it changes in winter |
More investment at border crossings: the case of Vergara
The Samoré announcement came days after a smaller border investment: 186 million pesos for the San Pedro de Vergara complex, in Curicó province, including a new X-ray scanner, backup power, satellite connectivity and more staff housing, according to Música y Noticias. Vergara is a seasonal pass with very little traffic: 1,307 tourists in all of 2025.
If you are planning a combined trip in the south, check the air situation around Osorno too: Cañal Bajo airfield is closed until 22 November, and this summer there is a direct flight between Puerto Montt and Bariloche. Before crossing, a stop at Osorno volcano is well worth it.
Frequently asked questions
When do the works at Cardenal Samoré start?
The Interior Minister announced a start "soon", without an exact date. The works have a 540-day timeframe.
Will the works close the Cardenal Samoré pass?
No closures have been announced. The project is the rebuilding of the police post; check the pass status before travelling.
How many tourists cross at Cardenal Samoré?
397,994 foreign tourists entered via this pass in 2025, the second-busiest land crossing. From January to August 2026 there were 166,245, 39.7% fewer.
How high is the Cardenal Samoré pass?
1,305 metres above sea level, according to the Border Crossings Unit, on Route 215 from Osorno.
