The Cristo Redentor pass, the main land crossing between Chile and Argentina, has been closed since Sunday night, 25 October 2026, because of the bad weather forecast in the high Andes, and the next official update will be issued on Tuesday 27 October at 8:00. The closure came just two days after the pass reopened on Friday the 23rd, following five days shut by snowfall. The Pehuenche pass, in Chile's Maule Region, also remains closed.
The decision was taken by the Chilean and Argentine coordination committees of the Cristo Redentor Integrated System, based on technical reports from both countries' road agencies, which warned of conditions that could compromise safe travel, according to Los Andes. The suspension applies to international and local traffic of all vehicle types.
Cristo Redentor pass closing times
| Point | Closure | Side |
|---|---|---|
| Guardia Vieja barrier | Sunday 25 October, 22:00 | Chile (Route 60, Los Andes) |
| Uspallata barrier | Sunday 25 October, 22:00 | Argentina (Mendoza) |
| Cristo Redentor international tunnel | Sunday 25 October, 23:59 | Border between both countries |
| Next official update | Tuesday 27 October, 8:00 | Both countries |
Source: Cristo Redentor Integrated System coordination, according to Los Andes (25 October 2026) and Diario Mendoza (26 October 2026). The reopening time depends on the weather and the state of the road.
On Monday morning temperatures along the Argentine road were 3 °C in Uspallata, -3 °C in Punta de Vacas, -6 °C in Puente del Inca and -7 °C in Las Cuevas, next to the tunnel, according to Diario Mendoza.
A week of closures at the Cristo Redentor pass
October has been a difficult month in the Andes. The pass closed to private cars on Sunday the 18th because of snowfall and reopened in stages: lorries from Argentina to Chile crossed on Wednesday the 21st, those from Chile to Argentina on Thursday the 22nd, and all vehicles from 8:00 on Friday the 23rd, according to Los Andes. That week there were also two avalanches in the El Japonés sector, on the Chilean Caracoles, which interrupted traffic for several hours.
| Date (October 2026) | Status of the pass |
|---|---|
| Sunday 18 | Closed to private vehicles due to snowfall |
| Wednesday 21 | Only lorries from Argentina to Chile |
| Thursday 22 | Only lorries from Chile to Argentina |
| Friday 23, 8:00 | Reopened to all vehicles, with queues over a kilometre long |
| Sunday 25, 22:00 | Preventive closure due to the bad weather forecast |
| Tuesday 27, 8:00 | New official update |
Source: Los Andes and Diario Mendoza. Details of last week's reopening are in our story on the gradual reopening of Cristo Redentor.
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See advertising optionsWhat to do if you are travelling over the Cristo Redentor pass this week
- Check the status before setting off: the official accounts are @UPFronterizos (Chile's Border Crossings Unit) and @CFLosLibertador (Los Libertadores border complex), plus the pasosfronterizos.gov.cl portal.
- Wait for Tuesday's 8:00 update: before then there is no confirmed reopening.
- Expect queues when it reopens: on Friday the 23rd, after the reopening, queues of more than a kilometre and delays of at least five hours built up at the border complexes, according to Los Andes.
- Carry snow chains and warm clothing: with sub-zero temperatures at the top, the road authority may require chains even when the pass is open.
- If you are travelling by bus: check with the company; when the pass is closed, buses to Mendoza are rescheduled.
- If you are flying: with the pass closed, the direct Santiago-Mendoza flight is the fastest alternative; the airlines flying the route vary by season.
Other border crossings with Argentina
The Pehuenche pass, which links Chile's Maule Region with southern Mendoza, is also closed, according to Diario Mendoza. Further north, the San Francisco pass in the Atacama Region remains closed because of snow on the road, according to media in Catamarca, and the Agua Negra pass has no opening date for the season, as we explained in the Agua Negra pass. The crossings with the most tourist traffic are in our ranking of border crossings with the most tourists.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cristo Redentor pass open today?
No. It has been closed since Sunday night, 25 October 2026, because of the bad weather forecast in the Andes. The next official update is on Tuesday the 27th at 8:00.
When will the Los Libertadores pass reopen?
There is no confirmed time. The Chilean and Argentine authorities will report on Tuesday 27 October at 8:00, depending on the weather and the state of the road.
Where can I check the status of the pass?
On the @UPFronterizos and @CFLosLibertador accounts and on the official pasosfronterizos.gov.cl portal.
