Paso Pehuenche — Talca to Malargüe via the Andes High Desert Crossing

Paso Pehuenche sits at around 2,553 metres in the Andes between the Maule Region of Chile and the Malargüe Department of Argentina, and it is one of the least-trafficked international crossings on the continent. The route climbs from the Maule Valley vineyards through increasingly volcanic terrain, past the Laguna del Maule — a high-altitude crater lake ringed by lava flows and rhyolite domes — before dropping into the Andean steppe on the Argentine side toward Malargüe. The Chilean side is the harder drive: narrow, rutted switchbacks carved into the volcano flank with exposure on the edges and no guardrails. The Argentine side opens up into wide gravel valley roads through the brown and purple badlands of southern Mendoza Province. Snow closes the pass entirely from roughly May to October.

This crossing demands a high-clearance 4WD with good ground clearance — a stock Hilux handles it but you want confidence in your suspension. Both the Chilean PDI and Argentine Gendarmería man the border posts; bring all vehicle documentation and expect a thorough inspection. Fuel up fully in Talca or Malargüe — there is nothing at altitude. Cell service drops completely once you leave the valley floors. The payoff is a genuine Andes traverse used by a handful of vehicles a day at most, through scenery that makes the Southern Rockies look tame. Bring cold-weather gear regardless of season — the lake sits in a wind funnel and temperatures drop fast after noon.