By road, Arequipa and Chulumani, Bolivia are about 409 miles (659 km) apart, or roughly 11 h 51 min of driving. You cross from Peru into Bolivia at about mile 271, at Desaguadero.
Full advisory: Peru, Bolivia. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; Bolivia August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Due to road safety risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru are prohibited from nighttime driving.”
- Bolivia: “Some vehicles are not well maintained and may not have lights working at night.”
| Distance by road | 409 mi (659 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 51 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-34C → AR-119 → MO-101 → MO-100 → MO-528 → MO-556 → MO-102 → MO-103 → PE-36A → F1 → F41 → F3 → F25 |
| Border crossing | about mile 271, Peru → Bolivia (Desaguadero) |
| Regions on the route | Arequipa, Moquegua, Tacna, Puno, La Paz |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The border on the way to Chulumani
The route crosses at about mile 271, at Desaguadero, 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.
How the Arequipa to Chulumani drive plays out
PE-36A (118 mi) and F1 (60 mi) carry about 44% of the 409 miles. The first 271 miles are in Peru; the last 138 are in Bolivia. It runs through 5 regions: Arequipa, Moquegua, Tacna, Puno, La Paz. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Arequipa to Chulumani: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Arequipa |
| connecting roads | 6–13 | 7 | Arequipa |
| PE-34C | 13–37 | 24 | Arequipa |
| AR-119 | 37–55 | 18 | Arequipa |
| MO-101 | 55–86 | 31 | Arequipa, Moquegua |
| MO-100 | 86–111 | 25 | Moquegua |
| MO-528 | 111–129 | 18 | Moquegua |
| MO-556 | 129–137 | 8 | Moquegua |
| MO-102 | 137–141 | 4 | Moquegua |
| MO-103 | 141–147 | 6 | Moquegua |
| local roads | 147–152 | 5 | Moquegua |
| PE-36A | 152–270 | 118 | Moquegua, Tacna, Puno |
| connecting roads | 270–271 | 1 | Puno |
| F1 | 271–331 | 60 | La Paz |
| connecting roads | 331–332 | 1 | La Paz |
| F41 | 332–351 | 19 | La Paz |
| F3 | 351–364 | 13 | La Paz |
| F25 | 364–409 | 45 | La Paz |
- Mile 60 of this route: Arequipa → Moquegua (region line)
- Mile 156 of this route: Moquegua → Tacna (region line)
- Mile 168 of this route: Tacna → Moquegua (region line)
- Mile 178 of this route: Moquegua → Puno (region line)
- Mile 271 of this route: Puno → La Paz (international border)
What to see on the way from Arequipa to Chulumani
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tanqa Tanqa (mile 254), Pumapunku (mile 297), Patrimonio natural paisajístico Siete Lagunas (mile 339)
- Nature and outdoors: Patrimonio natural paisajístico Siete Lagunas (mile 339), Tuni Condoriri National Park (mile 347), Cotapata National Park and Integrated Management Natural Area (mile 370)
- Museums and history: Tanqa Tanqa (mile 254), Pumapunku (mile 297), Museo Tambo Quirquincho (mile 334)
Tanqa Tanqa
Tanqa Tanqa, an Aymara name meaning "many hats," is an archaeological site in Zepita District, Chucuito Province, in Peru's Puno Region.
Pumapunku
Near Tiwanaku, Pumapunku is a 6th-century T-shaped terraced platform mound with a sunken court, part of the Tiwanaku archaeological complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Akapana
At the pre-Columbian site of Tiwanaku in Bolivia's La Paz department, Akapana is an artificial platform mound built in seven levels held by carved sandstone walls.
Museo Tambo Quirquincho
Museo Tambo Quirquincho is a cultural space in the historic center of La Paz, Bolivia, located on Plaza Alonso de Mendoza.
Curva del diablo
Curva del Diablo is a spot in La Paz where rituals linked to the Devil and the Pachamama are performed.
Patrimonio natural paisajístico Siete Lagunas
Siete Lagunas is a protected natural landscape in the Hampaturi area of La Paz municipality, set aside for preservation by a 2015 municipal ordinance.
Tuni Condoriri National Park
Created in July 1942, Tuni Condoriri National Park (Parque Nacional Tuni Condoriri) is a protected area in Bolivia's La Paz department, set in the Cordillera Real.
Cotapata National Park and Integrated Management Natural Area
Cotapata covers the north face of the Cordillera Real in the La Paz Yungas, about 20 km north of La Paz. The pre-Hispanic Choro Trail, still stone-paved in places, descends through it from near La Cumbre pass to the village of Chairo.
More drives to Chulumani
- Oruro to Chulumani
- Llallagua to Chulumani
- Quillacollo to Chulumani
- Villa Tunari to Chulumani
- Cochabamba to Chulumani
- Potosí to Chulumani
More drives from Arequipa
- Arequipa to Chucuito
- Arequipa to Desaguadero
- Arequipa to Cusco
- Arequipa to Písac
- Arequipa to Chinchero
- Arequipa to Yucay
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Arequipa to Chulumani, Bolivia?
About 11 h 51 min of driving without stops, over 409 miles.
What is the driving distance from Arequipa to Chulumani, Bolivia?
About 409 miles (659 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 Arequipa to Chulumani drive cross the border?
At about mile 271, from Peru into Bolivia, at Desaguadero.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Arequipa 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Arequipa to Chulumani, Bolivia?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Arequipa to Chulumani use?
In order: PE-34C, AR-119, MO-101, MO-100, MO-528, MO-556, MO-102, MO-103, PE-36A, F1, F41, F3 and F25. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Arequipa and Chulumani?
Closest to the road: Tanqa Tanqa (archaeological site, mile 254, 0.9 mi from the route); Pumapunku (archaeological site, mile 297, 0.7 mi from the route); Patrimonio natural paisajístico Siete Lagunas (protected area, mile 339, 0.7 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.