The Pehuenche Pass, which links Chile's Maule Region with Malargüe (Mendoza, Argentina), will remain closed until at least Saturday, November 7, 2026: its reopening was pushed back about a week because of avalanches on the Chilean side. It has been closed since July 15, and in Chile international route 115-CH is still cut from kilometer 140 to the border, according to Maule's Highways Department as quoted by Mendoza Today. Meanwhile, the Cristo Redentor system is open 24 hours and is the only crossing from Mendoza into Chile.
The November 7 date is tentative and depends on safety conditions at the border, Diario Mendoza warned on November 1. The estimate of "approximately one week" of delay comes from Mendoza's high-mountain press office and may change depending on the snow-clearing work and the weather.
Why the Pehuenche Pass is still closed
The 2026 winter left heavy snow in the Maule Andes and, in recent weeks, avalanches over the road. In Chile, traffic is only allowed up to kilometer 134 (Lo Aguirre), and Highways Department machinery is working between kilometers 140 and 160 to clear the road. In Argentina, national route 145 is fully closed on the pass section, so crossing is not possible today, Mendoza Today reported with data from Argentina's national highways agency.
| Pehuenche Pass | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Status on November 2, 2026 | Closed in both directions | Diario Mendoza |
| Closed since | July 15, 2026 | Diario Mendoza |
| Tentative reopening | Saturday, November 7, 2026 (subject to conditions) | Diario Mendoza |
| Section cut in Chile | Route 115-CH, km 140 to the border | Maule Highways Dept., via Mendoza Today |
| Traffic allowed in Chile | Up to km 134 (Lo Aguirre) | Maule Highways Dept., via Mendoza Today |
| Clearing work | Between km 140 and 160 | Mendoza Today |
| Argentine side | Route 145 fully closed on the pass section | Vialidad Nacional, via Mendoza Today |
When it operates, Pehuenche has daytime hours: departures from Argentina run from 9:00 to 18:00 and entries into Argentina from 9:00 to 19:00, according to the latest report from El Cuco Digital (October 31). Check the hours on the day you travel, as they change in summer.
How many tourists enter Chile through the Pehuenche Pass
Pehuenche is a secondary crossing compared with Cristo Redentor, but it has grown: in 2025, 71,653 foreign tourists entered through it, 145.2% more than in 2024, making it Chile's 14th entry point, according to the arrivals by border crossing from the Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur. Cristo Redentor received 1,119,198. See our ranking of the busiest border crossings.
| Entry point | Region | Foreign tourists in 2025 | Change vs. 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cristo Redentor system | Valparaíso | 1,119,198 | +23.5% |
| Pehuenche | Maule | 71,653 | +145.2% |
Source: Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur, foreign tourist arrivals by border crossing (preliminary figures). For travelers from Mendoza and southern Argentina, Pehuenche is the most direct route to Talca, Lake Colbún and the Maule coast.
Cristo Redentor open 24 hours while Pehuenche stays closed
On Monday, November 2, the Cristo Redentor system remained open 24 hours for all vehicles, and the Los Libertadores (Chile) and Horcones (Argentina) complexes were operating without significant delays, according to Diario Mendoza. Forecasts pointed to stable conditions for the coming days, though with intense cold at altitude.
| Cristo Redentor, Monday November 2 | Detail |
|---|---|
| Hours | 24 hours, all vehicles |
| Delays | No significant delays at Los Libertadores or Horcones |
| Temperature at Las Cuevas | -10 °C (early morning) |
| Temperature at Puente del Inca | -9 °C |
| Temperature at Punta de Vacas | -5 °C |
| Temperature at Uspallata | 4 °C |
Source: Diario Mendoza, November 2, 2026. The tunnel had several snow closures in October, which we covered in our All Saints' holiday border update.
Do you run a hotel in Talca, a transport service or a travel agency in Maule? Reach travelers crossing the Andes.
See advertising optionsWhat to do if you plan to cross through Pehuenche
- Don't treat November 7 as certain. It is tentative and depends on the work and the weather.
- Check the official status before leaving at pasosfronterizos.gob.cl and on the Maule Highways Department and Malargüe border police accounts.
- Consider Cristo Redentor as an alternative: from Talca it is about 340 km via Route 5 and Route 57 to Los Andes.
- Carry chains, warm clothes and fuel: even when open, the road climbs to 2,553 meters above sea level with long stretches without services.
- Plan to cross in daylight, within the border complex hours.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Pehuenche Pass open?
No. As of November 2, 2026 it remains closed in both directions, as it has been since July 15. The tentative reopening date is Saturday, November 7.
Why was the Pehuenche reopening delayed?
Because of avalanches and snow build-up on the Chilean side: route 115-CH is cut from kilometer 140 to the border while crews clear it.
Which crossing to Argentina is open from central Chile?
The Cristo Redentor system, between Los Andes and Mendoza, is open 24 hours for all vehicles.
Where can I check border crossing status?
On the official site pasosfronterizos.gob.cl and in reports from the Highways Department and each region's presidential delegation.
