The high-altitude Paso de Jama (Jama Pass in English) is the northernmost overland border crossing between Argentina and Chile. Here’s what you need to know about how to cross the border between Argentina and Chile via the Jama Pass including fees, procedures, insurance, and more. Check it out in our video, below and get more vital stats in the rest of this post.
From: Purmamarca, Jujuy Province, Argentina (about 160 miles/257 km from the border)
To: San Pedro de Atacama, Chile (about 96 miles/155 km from the border)
Date: March 5, 2017

Official business approaching the Jama Pass border crossing between Argentina and Chile.

One of our Trans-Americas Journey stickers is somewhere on this sign near the Jama Pass.
Number of days given: Chile border officials gave 90 days for us and 90 days for our truck
Fees: None
Vehicle insurance needed: You must have third-party insurance for your vehicle to drive legally in Chile and Argentina. We bought a long-term policy that covers us in the MERCOSUR countries of Argentina, Chile, Perú, Brasil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia. Additionally, Chile requires that drivers carry supplemental insurance called Soapex which you can also purchase in advance online.

We paused to admire the high altitude altiplano scenery 15,345 feet (4,677 meters) between the Jama Pass and the town of San Pedro de Atacama in Chile.
Need to know: The Jama Pass is open year-round between 8 am and midnight, but bad weather can close this border temporarily. Check the status of border crossings in Chile here. And check the status of border crossings on the Argentina side here. Once you’ve passed through this border crossing, the road remains paved and climbs even higher, reaching the pass itself at a high point of 14,173 feet (4,320 meters). We drove at essentially that elevation for a while, then it was all downhill from there as we headed toward the town of San Pedro de Atacama and the Atacama Desert which are at 7,900 feet (2,407 meters). This road is long and one of the steepest we’ve driven. Be sure your brakes are working well, keep it slow, and stay in a low gear to use your engine to maintain a safe speed. There is no fuel available until you reach San Pedro de Atacama.
Overall border rating: Quick, easy, and efficient as long as you don’t arrive seconds after a packed bus pulls in…
Here’s more about travel in Argentina
Here’s more about travel in Chile
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