Route 5 is Chile's backbone and part of the Pan-American Highway. To reach Chilean Patagonia it is the way in as far as Puerto Montt, and from Pargua it continues to Chiloé across the Chacao Channel.
Photo: Pablo Barría
Route facts
Length
3,364 km, the longest road in Chile
North
Border with Peru, 19 km north of Arica
South
Puerto Montt, and via Pargua and the Chacao Channel to Chiloé and Quellón
Highway
Between Caldera and Pargua there are 1,956 km of four-lane highway, with tolls
Speed limit
120 km/h on the highway
Tunnels
Four: El Melón, La Calavera I, La Calavera II and Angostura
Tips
Since May 2007 you must drive with your lights on all day.
It is a toll highway: bring a way to pay.
The El Melón tunnel (2,543 m) is the only one with one lane in each direction.
Destinations you can reach
Distances from Santiago along Route 5 South, according to Chile Travel.
Temuco: 670 km from Santiago. The Araucanía Lacustre and Araucanía Andina circuits (mountains and snow) start in this area.
Pucón and Villarrica: on the turnoff along Route 199, near Freire.
Valdivia: a destination close to the road.
Osorno: 930 km from Santiago. Route 215 to the Cardenal Samoré Pass and Route U-40 to the coast start here. Chile Travel also highlights Lake Ranco and Lake Maihue.
Puerto Varas and Frutillar: nearby destinations, on Lake Llanquihue.
Puerto Montt and Pargua: the highway reaches Pargua. From there one branch crosses the Chacao Channel to Chiloé and ends in Quellón, and another continues as the Carretera Austral.
