The layout of the International Highway coincides in sections with the old Way of the Inca and the colonial footpath. In 1930 the way to Argentina was constructed through Portillo- then opened only in summer-, that goes up until the border monument the Christ Redentor (to 12.795,28 feet of height), elevate in the border to symbolize The Paz between Chile and Argentina. In the 1970 decade the modern highway was inaugurated and, in 1980, the international tunnel was opened, of almost 2,49 mi of extension. In its interior it has noticeable the border division between both countries. An there are an intense traffic of trucks, bus and cars that communicate to Chile with Argentina and Brazil.

Leave Santiago by route 57 until The Andes, in km 78. There takes exit 5 in the plane of The Andes. Follow by a fertile valley, with vines and leafy trees. In 3,73 mi the way penetrates by the cordilleran gorges of the Aconcagua river, between high hills populated with cactus and hawthorns. The landscape changes, mainly in autumn. Small orchards on a stony ground and many poplars, quillayes and walnuts in the side of the river. To the flank the line of the old railroad to Mendoza goes, which today works only until the copper mine The Andina.

Between km 19 and 17 it is the small orchard of the village Colorado River, with ranch, restaurants and hotels. Later it will see the ducts that lower the water to the hydroelectric plant the Quilos, constructed by the Mining society of Valparaiso. There is a chapel that offers masses between March and September, Saturday at 19 hours. Of October to February, Saturdays at 20 hours.

In the Km 24 it enters a small valley of many trees, where it is the restaurant Pretty Field. In The front the railway line is seen, with the classic “sheds”, which protect it of the rolling and the snow. Also the Chacabuco channel is distinguished that, by a tunnel, brings the water to that valley of the north of Santiago. Follow by barren and lofty hills Los Azules where a crushed stone of blue color is in permanent sliding on the route. Immediately after, in km 28, it is Salto of the Soldado. It is product of an enormous granites mass interposed to the passage of the river and cut by this one like an edge. Behind the jump there was in the past in a lake, formed by that cork. It is told that a soldier evaded to his pursuers jumping on the river, history that gave its name. The railroad, that goes up by the opposed shore of the river, penetrates the mass by a tunnel, crosses the edge on a bridge and enters another tunnel of the North shore. The best Vista is obtained from a viewpoint located over the jump. In km 30 it will find hostelry Moon, with cabins, restaurant and swimming pool. Then are the floodgates of the hydroelectric plant and beginning of the Chacabuco channel. In km 34 it will arrive at Blanco River, to 4.658,79 feet of altitude. It is in a widening of the valley, the encounter of the rivers Blanco and Juncal. It is a beautiful place with height vegetation and mountain houses, surrounded by pircas of stone. There it is the Club of Field Blanco River, opened to all public. It counts with restaurant, room of events, swimming pool, sauna and a golf field in the heat of mountain range. Values for no partners: Enter to the field $ 1,500, Green fee $9,000, classes of golf $5.000. Restaurant to the cart; Sunday there is menu to $3.500. It also offers, shot to the plate cavalcades, rafting, expeditions, mountains climbing, and each discipline with specialized guides of high experience. The reserves must take control of a day of anticipation.

To The flank you will see the ex- Blanco River hotel - particular enclosure today - and, to the front, the old station of the railroad. From here it leaves a route to the south that takes to the Andean Division of Codelco Chile and to Villa Saladillo. To a little distance by that deflection, km 35, is fish-cultive Blanco River. It is the first of Chile, created with the help of the State in 1925; its plan was to introduce exotic species, like salmon, in natural waters. At the moment it is in charge of the School of Sciences of the Sea, Faculty of Natural Resources of the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso. It is dedicated to the study of the genetics, feeding and diseases of the salmon in natural surroundings. Guided visits are offered, previous agreement, to groups of 15 people or more, where it is explained about the reproduction, raising and investigation of this species (participating in the egg- laying only in period of autumn - winter). The place counts with areas of picnic and lagoons for sport fishing with fly (group visits, to contact previously of November to February Monday to Sunday from 9 to 12 and 14 to 18 hours; of March to October Monday to Friday from 8 to 12 and 14 to 17 hours. Saturday, Sunday and festive of 10 to 12 hours, it is closed the Good Friday and the May 1. The entrance costs $500; the minors of 6 years do not pay. Area of picnic costs $1,000. Sport fishing can be made - it is to say capture with return only with fly, value $7,500 by person. There is sale of trout.

Continue by the international way. It will pass the Mountain infantry school of the Army of Chile, where a Military Historical Museum occupies a beautiful stone building. It lodges a photographic sample of the activities and expeditions made from the creation of this unit, and exhibits the material used during its development in the time, giving count of the evolution of this specialty. For visits, Tuesday to Thursday from 15 to 17:30 hours. In km 38 it will find a gas station and, after 0.99 mi, the forced control of Guarda Vieja. There is a Hostelry, with cabins and restaurant.

The way increase boxed by great mountains, in a landscape without trees. In km 42 it will pass next to the monolith that remembers the combat of Guarda Vieja. February 4 of 1818 faced here Spanish troops and a fraction of the Army of liberation, which crossed from Mendoza. Next to the river there is a protected place to encamp in summer. In km 50 it is Juncal, to 7.217,85 feet of altitude. It is an old railway station. There are Stone houses, a ferry cable of instruction of the Mountain infantry school of the Army and a house in ruins of West Coast Cable Co., the old subterranean cable that communicated with Buenos Aires. Here the most spectacular section begins; the river separates, going into towards its birth in the glacier the Juncal, the most northern of South America. The way elevate now in zigzag by a lateral slope, that is a boxed glacial moraine cork between hills. On the cork the plateau of the “Portillo” is distinguished where there are the hotel and the lagoon. There are 6,21 mi in zigzag, with 29 ample curves of good layout, that go in 743,66 yards between Juncal and Portillo. To a half slope appear the first ferry cables of the ski center.

In km 60 the zigzag finalizes and it goes under the bridge of the railroad. To the left it will see the lateral slope of the “Rock of Jack”, where the world-wide record of speed in ski was broken. Then a short valley is opened. To the right it is the old hotel, occupied today by the School of High Mountain of the Army. In km 61 it appears the Inca’s Lagoon and the Portillo Hotel, to an altitude of 9.448,82 feet Road. Go in to the parking of the hotel; this one, as the restaurant, remains open all the year. From the dining room, a great Vista invites to the lagoon.

The Inca’s Lagoon is extended and greenish; it has the snowed Three Brothers of tondo. In winter it is congealed. Its water-drainage is underground. Here, an enormous glacier downs by the valley, deposited sediment - moraine - and formed the great cork by which the route in goes zigzag.

Hotel and Ski Center In summer it is frequented by hikers who walk by footpaths throughout the lagoon or climb hills, among them the Platean hill. Precious mountain strolls can be done apt for children and adult.

The ski complex dates from 1940. Then the hotel - of present property of the Army existed, where the first Chilean legion of competitive skiers formed. Headed by the Errázuriz brothers, it directed the French world-wide champion Emile Aliáis, while Alfred Heusser became position of the infantile ones. Until the hotel it was only possible to accede by the railroad, because during one decade there were no ferry cables. The long walks were made with skins of seal placed in the skis and only one great slope used to make by the day. The diverse fields were crossed and baptized: the North American Jack Hatton inaugurated the field called “Rock of Jack”.

In 1949 the Portillo hotel was inaugurated. It was created by the Chilean State to attract international skiers. It was arrived in train, today ruins station, where an underground tunnel communicated with the hotel. After it was extended and modernized; the hotel has been host of great international events. The hotel is open all the year.

To 0.93 mi it is the Customs Complex the Liberators, which is open 24 hours from September 16 to April 30, of 8:30 to 19 hours and from May 1 to September 15, depending on the climatic conditions. In the place it works, in January and February, a Tourist Information bureau, depending of Sernatur.
Remember that from June of 2005, to cross in vehicle to Argentina it is demanded to contract an Insurance of Civil Responsibility.

Leave Santiago by route 57 until The Andes, in km 78. There takes exit 5 in the plane of The Andes. Follow by a fertile valley, with vines and leafy trees. In 3,73 mi the way penetrates by the cordilleran gorges of the Aconcagua river, between high hills populated with cactus and hawthorns. The landscape changes, mainly in autumn. Small orchards on a stony ground and many poplars, quillayes and walnuts in the side of the river. To the flank the line of the old railroad to Mendoza goes, which today works only until the copper mine The Andina.

Between km 19 and 17 it is the small orchard of the village Colorado River, with ranch, restaurants and hotels. Later it will see the ducts that lower the water to the hydroelectric plant the Quilos, constructed by the Mining society of Valparaiso. There is a chapel that offers masses between March and September, Saturday at 19 hours. Of October to February, Saturdays at 20 hours.

In the Km 24 it enters a small valley of many trees, where it is the restaurant Pretty Field. In The front the railway line is seen, with the classic “sheds”, which protect it of the rolling and the snow. Also the Chacabuco channel is distinguished that, by a tunnel, brings the water to that valley of the north of Santiago. Follow by barren and lofty hills Los Azules where a crushed stone of blue color is in permanent sliding on the route. Immediately after, in km 28, it is Salto of the Soldado. It is product of an enormous granites mass interposed to the passage of the river and cut by this one like an edge. Behind the jump there was in the past in a lake, formed by that cork. It is told that a soldier evaded to his pursuers jumping on the river, history that gave its name. The railroad, that goes up by the opposed shore of the river, penetrates the mass by a tunnel, crosses the edge on a bridge and enters another tunnel of the North shore. The best Vista is obtained from a viewpoint located over the jump. In km 30 it will find hostelry Moon, with cabins, restaurant and swimming pool. Then are the floodgates of the hydroelectric plant and beginning of the Chacabuco channel. In km 34 it will arrive at Blanco River, to 4.658,79 feet of altitude. It is in a widening of the valley, the encounter of the rivers Blanco and Juncal. It is a beautiful place with height vegetation and mountain houses, surrounded by pircas of stone. There it is the Club of Field Blanco River, opened to all public. It counts with restaurant, room of events, swimming pool, sauna and a golf field in the heat of mountain range. Values for no partners: Enter to the field $ 1,500, Green fee $9,000, classes of golf $5.000. Restaurant to the cart; Sunday there is menu to $3.500. It also offers, shot to the plate cavalcades, rafting, expeditions, mountains climbing, and each discipline with specialized guides of high experience. The reserves must take control of a day of anticipation.

To The flank you will see the ex- Blanco River hotel - particular enclosure today - and, to the front, the old station of the railroad. From here it leaves a route to the south that takes to the Andean Division of Codelco Chile and to Villa Saladillo. To a little distance by that deflection, km 35, is fish-cultive Blanco River. It is the first of Chile, created with the help of the State in 1925; its plan was to introduce exotic species, like salmon, in natural waters. At the moment it is in charge of the School of Sciences of the Sea, Faculty of Natural Resources of the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso. It is dedicated to the study of the genetics, feeding and diseases of the salmon in natural surroundings. Guided visits are offered, previous agreement, to groups of 15 people or more, where it is explained about the reproduction, raising and investigation of this species (participating in the egg- laying only in period of autumn - winter). The place counts with areas of picnic and lagoons for sport fishing with fly (group visits, to contact previously of November to February Monday to Sunday from 9 to 12 and 14 to 18 hours; of March to October Monday to Friday from 8 to 12 and 14 to 17 hours. Saturday, Sunday and festive of 10 to 12 hours, it is closed the Good Friday and the May 1. The entrance costs $500; the minors of 6 years do not pay. Area of picnic costs $1,000. Sport fishing can be made - it is to say capture with return only with fly, value $7,500 by person. There is sale of trout.

Continue by the international way. It will pass the Mountain infantry school of the Army of Chile, where a Military Historical Museum occupies a beautiful stone building. It lodges a photographic sample of the activities and expeditions made from the creation of this unit, and exhibits the material used during its development in the time, giving count of the evolution of this specialty. For visits, Tuesday to Thursday from 15 to 17:30 hours. In km 38 it will find a gas station and, after 0.99 mi, the forced control of Guarda Vieja. There is a Hostelry, with cabins and restaurant.

The way increase boxed by great mountains, in a landscape without trees. In km 42 it will pass next to the monolith that remembers the combat of Guarda Vieja. February 4 of 1818 faced here Spanish troops and a fraction of the Army of liberation, which crossed from Mendoza. Next to the river there is a protected place to encamp in summer. In km 50 it is Juncal, to 7.217,85 feet of altitude. It is an old railway station. There are Stone houses, a ferry cable of instruction of the Mountain infantry school of the Army and a house in ruins of West Coast Cable Co., the old subterranean cable that communicated with Buenos Aires. Here the most spectacular section begins; the river separates, going into towards its birth in the glacier the Juncal, the most northern of South America. The way elevate now in zigzag by a lateral slope, that is a boxed glacial moraine cork between hills. On the cork the plateau of the “Portillo” is distinguished where there are the hotel and the lagoon. There are 6,21 mi in zigzag, with 29 ample curves of good layout, that go in 743,66 yards between Juncal and Portillo. To a half slope appear the first ferry cables of the ski center.

In km 60 the zigzag finalizes and it goes under the bridge of the railroad. To the left it will see the lateral slope of the “Rock of Jack”, where the world-wide record of speed in ski was broken. Then a short valley is opened. To the right it is the old hotel, occupied today by the School of High Mountain of the Army. In km 61 it appears the Inca’s Lagoon and the Portillo Hotel, to an altitude of 9.448,82 feet Road. Go in to the parking of the hotel; this one, as the restaurant, remains open all the year. From the dining room, a great Vista invites to the lagoon.

The Inca’s Lagoon is extended and greenish; it has the snowed Three Brothers of tondo. In winter it is congealed. Its water-drainage is underground. Here, an enormous glacier downs by the valley, deposited sediment - moraine - and formed the great cork by which the route in goes zigzag.

Hotel and Ski Center In summer it is frequented by hikers who walk by footpaths throughout the lagoon or climb hills, among them the Platean hill. Precious mountain strolls can be done apt for children and adult.

The ski complex dates from 1940. Then the hotel - of present property of the Army existed, where the first Chilean legion of competitive skiers formed. Headed by the Errázuriz brothers, it directed the French world-wide champion Emile Aliáis, while Alfred Heusser became position of the infantile ones. Until the hotel it was only possible to accede by the railroad, because during one decade there were no ferry cables. The long walks were made with skins of seal placed in the skis and only one great slope used to make by the day. The diverse fields were crossed and baptized: the North American Jack Hatton inaugurated the field called “Rock of Jack”.

In 1949 the Portillo hotel was inaugurated. It was created by the Chilean State to attract international skiers. It was arrived in train, today ruins station, where an underground tunnel communicated with the hotel. After it was extended and modernized; the hotel has been host of great international events. The hotel is open all the year.

To 0.93 mi it is the Customs Complex the Liberators, which is open 24 hours from September 16 to April 30, of 8:30 to 19 hours and from May 1 to September 15, depending on the climatic conditions. In the place it works, in January and February, a Tourist Information bureau, depending of Sernatur.
Remember that from June of 2005, to cross in vehicle to Argentina it is demanded to contract an Insurance of Civil Responsibility.