Agua Negra Pass

Information

It is a border crossing between Argentina and Chile, which at 4780 metres above sea level is the highest in both countries. It connects the Argentinean province of San Juan with the Chilean region of Coquimbo. It is open during the summer months (December to March) and the rest of the year it is usually closed due to snow.

It should be taken into account before making the trip that the last petrol station on the Argentinean side is in Las Flores, and on the Chilean side it is in Vicuña. The distance between both localities is 256 km, so it is advisable to fill up the tank when passing through them.

The whole route is a real sightseeing trip, as you have excellent landscapes of the Andes Mountains together with watercourses and ravines. From the Argentinean side you can see the San Javier Stream and the Agua Negra Stream, and the Quebrada de San Lorenzo (a ravine). At one point, at one of the highest parts of the road, there are ice blocks at the side of the road. On the Chilean side is the La Laguna reservoir at about 3150 metres above sea level.

For birdwatchers, it is an excellent place to record mountain species, as some of them are seen in large numbers. Common are the grey-hooded sierra-finch (Phrygilus gayi), straight-billed earthcreeper (Ochetorhynchus ruficaudus) and the yellow-bridled finch (Melanodera xanthogramma).