The Pehuenche international pass, which links Chile's Maule region with Malargüe (Mendoza), will reopen on Monday 9 November 2026 from 9am to 6pm, after months closed by a snowfall that left walls of snow more than four metres high. Malargüe a Diario reported it on 6 November, citing official Chilean sources, and Mendoza Today picked it up. On Saturday 7 November the pass was still closed, according to MinutoYA.
It is the second date announced: in early November the reopening was postponed by a week because of avalanches on the Chilean side, as we reported in our story on the Pehuenche delay. Meanwhile, in the far south, the Tierra del Fuego crossings moved to their summer schedule.
View the data as a table
| Pehuenche reopening | 9 Nov |
| Tourists via Pehuenche in 2025 | 71,653 |
| Opening hours in Tierra del Fuego | 16 h |
Pehuenche pass hours and requirements from 9 November
- Hours: 9am to 6pm, subject to change depending on high-mountain weather.
- Snow chains are mandatory for private vehicles.
- Personal and vehicle documents in order, and a mechanical check before driving up.
- Check the pass status on the day at pasosfronterizos.gov.cl: in the spring transition it can close at short notice.
Source: Malargüe a Diario, 6 November 2026. This is a single source: as of 7 November we found no statement from the Maule Presidential Delegation with the date.
Monday 9 November is also a public holiday in Argentina for Pope Leo XIV's visit, so traffic is expected at the Mendoza crossings; we explained it in our story on the pope's visit and Cristo Redentor. If you cross via Pehuenche, check the Pase Andes Conecta discounts between Maule and southern Mendoza.
Pehuenche pass had a record year in 2025
71,653 foreign tourists entered Chile via Pehuenche in 2025, the highest figure since records began (2008) and more than double 2024 (29,220), according to foreign tourist arrivals by border crossing from the Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur. Between January and August 2026, 24,318 came in, with the pass closed for much of the winter.
| Year | Foreign tourists entering via Pehuenche |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 61,580 |
| 2017 | 51,305 |
| 2018 | 31,328 |
| 2019 | 16,292 |
| 2022 | 5,377 |
| 2023 | 16,860 |
| 2024 | 29,220 |
| 2025 | 71,653 (record) |
| 2026 (Jan-Aug) | 24,318 |
Source: Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur, "Cuadro por Paso Fronterizo" sheet (preliminary figures since 2020; no arrivals were recorded in 2021).
Tierra del Fuego: San Sebastián and Bellavista on summer hours
In Magallanes, Tierra del Fuego's provincial presidential delegate, Margarita Norambuena, toured the Bellavista and San Sebastián border posts on 4 November. The summer schedule was agreed there: continuous service from 6am to 10pm, with special shifts for Christmas and New Year and procedures for storms or requests to cross outside hours, according to El Pingüino and Radio Polar. Bellavista has already reopened, and San Sebastián is expanding its restrooms.
San Sebastián is the crossing for anyone driving from Punta Arenas to Ushuaia. In 2025, 47,066 foreign tourists entered Chile there, peaking in January (12,244). Bellavista, in Timaukel, is much smaller: 1,920 tourists in 2025, and it closes in winter.
Status of Chile-Argentina border crossings on 7 November
| Crossing | Reported status | Tourists entering in 2025 | Status source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cristo Redentor (Los Libertadores) | Open 24 hours (7 Nov) | 1,119,198 | MinutoYA |
| Cardenal Samoré | Open; Chile's road agency helped clear the Argentine side | 397,994 | NotiTDF |
| Pehuenche | Closed; reopening Monday 9 Nov, 9am to 6pm | 71,653 | Malargüe a Diario |
| San Sebastián | Summer hours 6am to 10pm | 47,066 | El Pingüino |
| Río Bellavista | Open; summer hours 6am to 10pm | 1,920 | Radio Polar |
2025 arrivals: Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur. The full ranking is in our story on the border crossings with the most tourists. In the north, Agua Negra will stay closed until late December or early January, as we reported in our Agua Negra pass story.
If you are crossing in a rental car, you need the rental company's permission to leave the country; we explain it in our guide to car rental in Chile for foreigners. And if your trip ends in the south, see things to do in Punta Arenas.
Does your hotel or service in Maule, Mendoza or Tierra del Fuego want to reach people crossing the Andes this summer?
See advertising optionsFrequently asked questions
When does the Pehuenche pass open?
On Monday 9 November 2026, from 9am to 6pm, according to official Chilean sources cited by Malargüe a Diario. Confirm on the day: hours depend on the weather.
Do you need snow chains to cross Pehuenche?
Yes. For the reopening, private vehicles were told to carry snow chains.
What are the San Sebastián crossing's summer hours?
6am to 10pm without a break, the same as Bellavista, as agreed on 4 November 2026. Christmas and New Year will have special shifts.
Is the Cristo Redentor pass open?
On 7 November 2026 it was open 24 hours for cars, buses and trucks, according to MinutoYA. Its status changes with snow.
