Pope Leo XIV will visit Argentina from Sunday, November 8 to Wednesday, November 11, 2026, and the Argentine government declared Monday the 9th a national holiday. That creates a three-day long weekend in Argentina, and the authorities of the Cristo Redentor border system expect more traffic between Mendoza and Chile, with advice to avoid delays, according to 617 News and Mendoza Today.
*Updated November 4, 2026.* The pope will not go to Mendoza or Chile: his schedule covers Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Luján, and on the 11th he flies on to Lima, Peru. The effect at the border comes from the holiday, not the visit itself.
Pope Leo XIV's schedule in Argentina and the holidays
| Date | Main activity of the pope | Holiday in Argentina |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, November 8 | Arrives at Aeroparque (4:30 pm), Casa Rosada and meeting with Javier Milei | No |
| Monday, November 9 | Cottolengo Don Orione and Mass at the Monumento de los Españoles, Buenos Aires | National holiday (whole country, including Mendoza) |
| Tuesday, November 10 | Mass in Córdoba and youth vigil in Buenos Aires | Only the City of Buenos Aires and Córdoba province |
| Wednesday, November 11 | Mass in Luján and flight to Lima (2:00 pm) | Only Buenos Aires province |
Source: official schedule published by La Nación, November 4, 2026; the Monday holiday was set by decree 1103/2026. For Mendoza, where most Cristo Redentor traffic comes from, the holiday is only Monday the 9th: the long weekend runs from Saturday 7 to Monday 9.
Cristo Redentor pass status on November 4
| Crossing | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cristo Redentor Integrated System | Open 24 hours for all vehicles | Government of Mendoza, Nov 4 |
| Temperatures on the route (morning of Nov 4) | Uspallata 0 °C, Punta de Vacas -9 °C, Puente del Inca -11 °C, Las Cuevas -12 °C | MinutoYA, Nov 4 |
| High-mountain forecast (Nov 4) | Clear; high 3 °C, low -15 °C | Government of Mendoza |
| Pehuenche pass | Closed | Government of Mendoza, Nov 4 |
Sources: Government of Mendoza and MinutoYA, November 4, 2026. Zonda wind is expected on Thursday the 5th in parts of Mendoza, including Uspallata between 5 pm and 8 pm, according to the same report. The pass status changes quickly with the weather: check it on the day you travel.
Official advice for crossing the Cristo Redentor pass over the holiday
Border authorities asked travelers to plan ahead and arrive with everything in order. Their advice, according to 617 News and Mendoza Today:
- Check the pass hours and conditions before leaving: high-mountain weather can change operations or cause preventive closures.
- Carry valid personal documents for every member of the group and keep them at hand, not in your luggage.
- Minors: documents proving the family relationship and, if they travel without one parent, with a third party or alone, the authorization required by immigration.
- By car: valid driver's license, vehicle papers or authorization to use it if it is not the driver's, and the mandatory international insurance to drive in Chile.
- Luggage, cash and food: check both countries' customs and health rules before leaving.
Entering Chile through Cristo Redentor: what the Chilean side checks
| Check | What to know |
|---|---|
| Immigration | Argentines enter with a valid national ID (DNI); other foreigners, with the document required for their nationality |
| SAG (agriculture service) | Fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy cannot be brought in undeclared; fines are high |
| Customs | Declare cash above the limit and goods that are not for personal use |
| Vehicle | Mandatory insurance for Chile and title or notarized authorization from the owner |
| Route 60 | The Los Caracoles hairpin section; chains are required on snowy days |
The Chilean complex is Los Libertadores; the Argentine one, Horcones. Over the All Saints' weekend waits were about 30 and 20 minutes respectively, as we reported in our story on the border crossings during the November holidays. With a three-day holiday in Argentina, expect longer.
Argentina's upcoming long weekends
The pope's holiday is not the only one. Argentina has two more long weekends before the end of the year, which usually bring more travelers through Cristo Redentor and the southern passes into Chile:
| Date | Reason | Long weekend |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, November 9 | Visit of Pope Leo XIV (national holiday) | Saturday 7 to Monday 9 |
| Monday, November 23 | National Sovereignty Day (moved from the 20th) | Saturday 21 to Monday 23 |
| Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 December | Non-working day for tourism and Immaculate Conception | Saturday 5 to Tuesday 8 |
| Friday, December 25 | Christmas | Friday 25 to Sunday 27 |
Source: La Nación, list of remaining 2026 holidays and non-working days. December 7 is a non-working day: each private employer decides. In Chile, December 8 is also a holiday, so that weekend travelers from both countries will meet in the mountains and on the coast.
Other crossings and options for traveling between Mendoza and Chile
The Pehuenche pass, between Maule and Malargüe, was still closed on November 4 after more than three months; its reopening was delayed by avalanches, as we explained in this story. When it opens, the Andes Conecta pass offers discounts between Maule and southern Mendoza. Data on Argentine visitors is in our Argentine tourists in Chile fact sheet.
Frequently asked questions
Will Pope Leo XIV visit Chile?
Not on this trip. After Argentina he travels to Lima, Peru, on Wednesday, November 11, according to the official schedule.
Is November 9 a holiday in Chile?
No. It is a national holiday in Argentina. Chile's next holiday is December 8.
Is the Cristo Redentor pass open?
On November 4, 2026 it was open 24 hours for all vehicles. Confirm on the day of travel through Mendoza's official channels or Chile's Border Crossings Unit.
