Ruta 40 Paso de Jama International Crossing

At 4,200 meters above sea level, Paso de Jama marks one of South America’s highest international border crossings, where the Argentine Puna meets Chile’s Atacama Desert in a landscape so barren it resembles Mars. This section of legendary Ruta 40 stretches 180 kilometers from Susques to the Chilean border, passing through the Salinas Grandes salt flats and climbing steadily through vicuña country where the air grows thin and the horizon seems infinite. The final approach to Jama Pass involves switchbacks through volcanic scree fields, with the road surface deteriorating to loose gravel and washboard sections that test both vehicle and driver endurance.

This is expert-level high-altitude driving demanding a reliable 4WD with excellent cooling systems, spare fuel for 300+ kilometers, and serious cold-weather gear since temperatures can drop below freezing even in summer. Best attempted April through October when storms are less frequent, though altitude sickness affects many travelers regardless of season. Customs formalities at both borders can take hours, and there’s zero infrastructure between Susques and San Pedro de Atacama. The reward is witnessing some of the planet’s most pristine high-desert wilderness and earning bragging rights for crossing one of the world’s most challenging international borders.