After traveling overland throughout Latin America, I started keeping notes from my own border crossings and comparing my experiences with those of other travelers.

I’ve crossed between Mendoza, Argentina, and Santiago, Chile, and this is actually one of the most straightforward border crossings I’ve experienced in Latin America. The process is essentially the same in either direction, although how long it takes can vary considerably depending on traffic, weather and the time of year.

Traveling between Mendoza and Santiago by bus

There are several bus companies operating between Mendoza and Santiago, with departures from the main bus terminals in both cities.

Unlike some international bus routes I’ve taken elsewhere in Latin America, there’s usually no big advantage to waiting and buying your ticket at the terminal. Prices tend to be consistent, so I prefer buying online in advance. You generally don’t need to book very far ahead, but buying beforehand gives you more choice of departure times and seats.

There are several platforms where you can compare tickets. I use Busbud to check the available companies, schedules and service categories.

You’ll usually see different fares depending on the type of seat and service, particularly semi-cama, cama or ejecutivo. The difference between companies is often smaller than the difference between service categories.

If you’re not familiar with these terms, I explain the different seat and bus categories in my guide to long-distance buses in Latin America.

This is one of the most scenic bus journeys in the Andes

The journey between Mendoza and Santiago crosses the Andes through Paso Internacional Los Libertadores, through an incredibly dramatic section of the mountain range.

Even if it’s hot when you leave Mendoza or Santiago, bring something warm with you on the bus. Temperatures around the border can be considerably cooler than in either city.

Altitude is worth keeping in mind too. The road climbs considerably as it crosses the Andes. I find this route more likely to cause motion sickness from the mountain road than the kind of altitude sickness you might associate with places like Puno or La Paz, but it’s still not a journey I’d underestimate.

On the Chilean side, you’ll also travel through the famous Los Caracoles, a steep series of switchbacks zigzagging down the mountain. I personally love this part of the journey, but if you’re uncomfortable with heights or prone to vertigo, it’s worth knowing about beforehand.

When you cross matters

The time of year can make a big difference on this route, for two main reasons: weather and traffic.

In winter, the crossing can occasionally close because of snow and ice in the Andes. If you’re traveling during the colder months, it’s worth checking the border and road conditions before leaving.

But weather isn’t the only seasonal factor. This is a very busy border, particularly in June and July, and especially in December, January and February.

Mendoza and central Chile are very closely connected, not only geographically but culturally. Even though they’re in different countries, people on both sides share many similarities, and crossing the border to shop, travel or simply visit friends is extremely common. The people I know from Mendoza cross into Chile regularly.

On top of that local and tourist movement, this is also a major commercial route, with a lot of trucks traveling between Argentina and Chile.

All of that means that even though the border facilities themselves work very well, crossing isn’t necessarily quick. During busy periods, the amount of cars, buses and trucks can add considerable time to the journey.

What actually happens at the Argentina–Chile border?

One of the things that makes this crossing easier than many others I’ve done in Latin America is that the Argentine and Chilean border procedures are handled in the same border complex.

You don’t need to complete one country’s immigration process, travel farther down the road and then find the other country’s immigration office. Having both procedures in the same place makes the whole process much less tedious.

When you board the bus, you’ll also receive a QR code for a form that you need to complete for the border crossing. Fill it out before reaching customs so you have it ready when requested.

Once at the border, you’ll complete immigration and customs procedures and your luggage will need to go through a scanner.

Entering Chile? Take the SAG controls seriously

Both Argentina and Chile are major agricultural and livestock-producing countries, and both take phytosanitary controls and food-production standards very seriously. Restrictions on what you can carry across the border are designed to protect local agriculture and livestock from pests and diseases.

That said, Chile is particularly strict about bringing animal and plant products into the country.

When entering Chile, the SAG (Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero) controls what food, plants and animal products can cross the border. Luggage is screened, including both hand luggage and bags stored in the bus.

Don’t assume that something is fine just because it’s for personal consumption. Fresh fruit, nuts, honey, homemade or artisanal foods, raw meat and cured meats can all be an issue — even something as simple as a ham and cheese sandwich you prepared for the journey.

The most important thing is: if you’re carrying food and you’re unsure, declare it. Failing to declare restricted products can result in significant fines.

Controls entering Argentina tend to be less strict, but there are still restrictions on certain animal and plant products, so check the current rules for whichever country you’re entering before traveling.

How long does Mendoza to Santiago take by bus?

The driving distance between Mendoza and Santiago is around 360 km, and the journey can take about 7 to 8 hours under ideal conditions.

In practice, total trip times often reach 9 to 12 hours or more, depending on border wait times and seasonal traffic.

Keep that buffer in mind when planning the rest of your journey, especially if you’re considering an onward connection after arriving in Mendoza or Santiago.

After traveling overland throughout Latin America, I started keeping notes from my own border crossings and comparing my experiences with those of other travelers.

I crossed this border from Puno, Peru, to Copacabana, Bolivia, but most of the information about the border itself is useful if you’re traveling in either direction. Where something applies specifically to the Peru-to-Bolivia journey I took, I’ll point that out.

Is Puno–Copacabana the right border crossing for your route?

The Puno–Copacabana border crossing is part of one of the most common overland routes between Peru and Bolivia, connecting Cusco / Arequipa → Puno → Copacabana → La Paz → Uyuni, or the same route in reverse.

Traveling from Puno to Copacabana by bus

I crossed the border in this direction, so the bus information and prices below are based on my own trip from Peru to Bolivia.

Two companies operate the route from Puno: Transzela and Titicaca. Both leave from Puno’s main bus terminal and offer fairly similar services, so I wouldn’t particularly recommend one over the other.

There is a morning departure at around 6:45 a.m. and another service at around 2 p.m. I recommend taking the morning bus and arriving at the terminal with some time to spare to buy your ticket there.

Bus terminal tip in Peru
Many bus terminals in Peru charge a small boarding fee (tasa de embarque), usually around S/2–4, which is separate from your bus ticket.

Keep some small change with you and pay it before heading to your platform. There can be a line at the counter, and you don’t want to discover you still need to buy it when your bus is about to leave.

Transzela’s stop before the border

If you’re traveling from Puno with Transzela, after about two hours on the road, the bus makes a fairly long stop at one of the company’s own roadside facilities before reaching the border.

This is a good opportunity to use the bathroom, but not to exchange money.

They’ll offer to exchange your Peruvian soles for Bolivianos here. Don’t do it. The exchange rate I was offered was extremely poor, and there’s no need to have Bolivianos before crossing. Once you arrive in Copacabana, you’ll find plenty of places to exchange money at much better rates.

Prices at this stop were generally quite high too — S/7 for a very basic coffee, for example. So I’d treat it as a bathroom stop rather than a place to stock up.

What actually happens at the Peru–Bolivia border?

Whether you’re traveling from Peru to Bolivia or in the opposite direction, one important thing to know beforehand is that you’ll cross the actual border on foot, carrying all your luggage.

The buses can’t take you all the way to the immigration buildings. There are lots of market stalls and local activity around the border area, so at some point you’ll get off the bus and continue walking.

Coming from Puno, my bus left us at least 1 km before Peruvian immigration. From there, I walked with all my luggage to complete the exit process from Peru and then continued across the border to Bolivian immigration.

The immigration process itself was quick and relatively straightforward when I crossed in September 2026.

Check your entry requirements!

Entry requirements depend on your nationality and passport and can change. Make sure you check the current requirements for the country you’re entering with the relevant official authorities before traveling.

I don’t include country-specific visa and entry requirements here because this guide is about the crossing itself, and those requirements may be different for you.

After immigration, you’ll continue walking on the other side. In my case, that meant at least another 1 km through the Bolivian side before reaching the second bus that was waiting to continue the journey to Copacabana.

So, traveling from Puno to Copacabana, the process looks roughly like this:

Bus from Puno → get off with all your luggage → walk to Peruvian immigration → exit Peru → cross the border on foot → enter Bolivia → keep walking → board the second bus → Copacabana.

Don’t underestimate the altitude

A couple of kilometers of walking may not sound like much, but this border crossing takes place at high altitude. Add all your luggage and a bit of uphill walking, and it can feel considerably harder than the distance suggests.

If you’re already acclimatized from spending time in places like Puno, Cusco or La Paz, this may not be a big deal. If you’re not, give yourself time and don’t rush the walk just because the rest of your bus is moving ahead.

Coca is widely used in this part of the Andes to help with the effects of altitude and is easy to find as leaves, tea or candy. If you know you’re sensitive to altitude, it’s worth preparing for it before the trip.

How long does Puno to Copacabana take?

The actual driving time between Puno and Copacabana is around 3 hours. But that’s only the time spent on the road: you also need to account for the stop before the border, getting off with your luggage, walking across the border and completing immigration.

In my case, the entire trip took approximately 4 hours.

There’s also one slightly confusing detail: Bolivia is one hour ahead of Peru. Most phones adjust automatically once they connect to a Bolivian network, so you may cross the border, check the time and wonder how the trip suddenly took an hour longer than expected.

It didn’t. You just changed time zones.

Arriving in Copacabana

Once you’ve completed Bolivian immigration and reached the second bus, the remaining journey to Copacabana takes around 30 minutes.

The bus drops you at Copacabana’s “terminal,” which is right in the center of town. It’s more of a central drop-off point than the kind of large bus terminal you might be expecting, and from there you can easily continue to your accommodation.

You’ll also find plenty of places to exchange money around the center. The rates I found there were much better than the one offered at Transzela’s stop before the border, so there’s no need to rush into exchanging your soles earlier.

Because Copacabana is so close to Peru, many businesses or taxis also accept Peruvian soles. Still, it’s worth getting some Bolivianos once you arrive: Copacabana is very cash-based, and card payments aren’t available, even at hotels.