Abancay to Copacabana, Bolivia is about 534 road miles (860 km): roughly 13 h 54 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Peru into Bolivia at about mile 529, at Kasani.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Peru: Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, and Huancayo within the regions of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junín.
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: Peru, Bolivia. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; Bolivia August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Roads are often poorly maintained and may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
- Bolivia: “Some vehicles are not well maintained and may not have lights working at night.”
| Total distance | 534 mi (860 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 13 h 54 min |
| Main roads, in order | AP-650 → PE-3SF → PE-3SG → PE-3SW → CU-134 → PU-125 → PE-3S → PU-117 → PE-34B → PU-130 → F2 |
| Border crossing | about mile 529, Peru → Bolivia (Kasani) |
| Regions on the route | Apurímac, Cusco, Puno, La Paz |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
The border on the way to Copacabana
The route crosses at about mile 529, at Kasani, from Puno into La Paz. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Bolivia (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for tourism or business if you stay less than 90 days in a year. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Bolivia | You need both an International Driving Permit and your U.S. license. |
| Entering Peru (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for tourist stays of 90 days or less; border officials set your length of stay. Passport: must be valid for at least 6 months after you enter; you need an entry record, such as a passport stamp, even at remote land crossings. |
| Driving in Peru | A U.S. license works for up to 180 days; an International Driving Permit is suggested. |
| Rental car | Cross only if the rental company authorizes it in writing and gives you the papers for the border; ask before you book. |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Bolivia (updated May 07, 2026); U.S. State Department, Peru (updated August 20, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
The Abancay–Copacabana drive in a few lines
PE-3SF (138 mi) and PE-3S (133 mi) carry about 51% of the 534 miles. The first 529 miles are in Peru; the last 5 are in Bolivia. It runs through 4 regions: Apurímac, Cusco, Puno, La Paz. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Abancay to Copacabana: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Apurímac |
| AP-650 | 2–6 | 4 | Apurímac |
| PE-3SF | 6–144 | 138 | Apurímac |
| PE-3SG | 144–237 | 93 | Apurímac, Cusco |
| PE-3SW | 237–283 | 46 | Cusco |
| PE-3SG | 283–303 | 20 | Cusco |
| CU-134 | 303–327 | 24 | Cusco, Puno |
| PU-125 | 327–347 | 20 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 347–378 | 31 | Puno |
| connecting roads | 378–380 | 2 | Puno |
| PU-117 | 380–385 | 5 | Puno |
| local roads | 385–391 | 6 | Puno |
| PE-34B | 391–404 | 13 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 404–440 | 36 | Puno |
| local roads | 440–448 | 8 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 448–514 | 66 | Puno |
| PU-130 | 514–529 | 15 | Puno |
| F2 | 529–534 | 5 | La Paz |
- Mile 169 of this route: Apurímac → Cusco (region line)
- Mile 324 of this route: Cusco → Puno (region line)
- Mile 529 of this route: Puno → La Paz (international border)
Places worth a stop between Abancay and Copacabana
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Pucará (mile 378), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 378), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 446), Molloko (mile 470)
- Museums and history: Kanamarka (mile 289), Mullu Q'awa (mile 293), Pucará (mile 378), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 378), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 446), Molloko (mile 470), Intini Uyu Pata (mile 528)
Kanamarka
Kanamarka is an archaeological site in Peru's Cusco Region, in the Alto Pichigua District of Espinar Province.
Mullu Q'awa
Mullu Q'awa is an archaeological site on a mountain of the same name in Alto Pichigua District, Espinar Province, in Peru's Cusco Region.
Pucará
Above the highland town of Pucará, this pre-Inca complex of the Pucará culture centers on Kalasaya, a pyramid of stone monoliths with carved human heads jutting from its walls. The Museo Lítico Pucará stands on the main plaza.
Pukara Lithic Museum
Run by Peru's Ministry of Culture office in Puno, the Pukara Lithic Museum (Museo Lítico de Pukara) in the town of Pucará displays monoliths and stone sculptures of the ancient Pukara culture.
Carlos Dreyer Museum
Puno's Carlos Dreyer Museum (Museo Carlos Dreyer) holds about 1,800 pieces and relics spanning the pre-Inca, Inca, colonial and republican eras, in a building declared part of Peru's national cultural heritage in 1980.
Molloko
Molloko is an archaeological site in Peru's Puno Province, about 5 kilometers south of the town of Acora, near the village of Molloco.
Intini Uyu Pata
Sitting at about 3,867 meters in Peru's Puno Region, Intini Uyu Pata (Inti Uyu) is an archaeological site between the Ollaraya and Unicachi districts of Yunguyo Province.
In Copacabana itself
Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana
In the town of Copacabana, the Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana is a 17th-century Catholic shrine dedicated to Our Lady of the Candles of Copacabana, patroness of Bolivia.
Pachat'aqa
Close to Lake Titicaca in the municipality of Copacabana, Pachat'aqa, often called the Inca Gallows, is a pre-Inca astronomical observatory built as a lintel of two parallel stone blocks.
More drives to Copacabana
- Arequipa to Copacabana, Bolivia
- Cusco to Copacabana, Bolivia
- Juliaca to Copacabana, Bolivia
- Puerto Maldonado to Copacabana, Bolivia
- Andahuaylas to Copacabana, Bolivia
- La Rinconada to Copacabana, Bolivia
More drives from Abancay
- Abancay to Huacachina
- Abancay to Jauja
- Abancay to Tarma
- Abancay to La Merced
- Abancay to Maras
- Abancay to Písac
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Abancay to Copacabana, Bolivia?
About 13 h 54 min of driving without stops, over 534 miles.
How far is Copacabana, Bolivia from Abancay by car?
About 534 miles (860 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Where does the Abancay to Copacabana drive cross the border?
At about mile 529, from Peru into Bolivia, at Kasani.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Abancay into Bolivia?
No visa needed for tourism or business if you stay less than 90 days in a year. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. You need both an International Driving Permit and your U.S. license. (U.S. State Department, updated May 07, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Abancay to Copacabana drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Peru: Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, and Huancayo within the regions of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junín). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Abancay to Copacabana use?
In order: AP-650, PE-3SF, PE-3SG, PE-3SW, CU-134, PU-125, PE-3S, PU-117, PE-34B, PU-130 and F2. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Abancay and Copacabana?
Closest to the road: Pukara Lithic Museum (museum, mile 378, 0.2 mi from the route); Pucará (archaeological site, mile 378, 0.6 mi from the route); Carlos Dreyer Museum (museum, mile 446, 0.4 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.