The Wayro route from Arequipa to Cochabamba, Bolivia is 559 miles (900 km), about 16 h 5 min of driving without stops. 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: “Roads are often poorly maintained and may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
- Bolivia: “Many drivers ignore traffic signs and rules.”
| Distance | 559 mi (900 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 16 h 5 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-34C → AR-119 → MO-101 → MO-100 → MO-528 → MO-556 → MO-102 → MO-103 → PE-36A → F1 → F4 |
| Border crossing | about mile 271, Peru → Bolivia (Desaguadero) |
| Regions on the route | Arequipa, Moquegua, Tacna, Puno, La Paz, Oruro, Cochabamba |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Peru–Bolivia border
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.
What the drive from Arequipa to Cochabamba is like
F1 (163 mi) and PE-36A (118 mi) carry about 50% of the 559 miles. The first 271 miles are in Peru; the last 288 are in Bolivia. It runs through 7 regions: Arequipa, Moquegua, Tacna, Puno, La Paz, Oruro, Cochabamba. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Arequipa to Cochabamba
| 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 | 271–329 | 58 | La Paz |
| connecting roads | 329–330 | 1 | La Paz |
| local roads | 330–335 | 5 | La Paz |
| connecting roads | 335–337 | 2 | La Paz |
| F1 | 337–442 | 105 | La Paz, Oruro |
| connecting roads | 442–443 | 1 | Oruro |
| F4 | 443–462 | 19 | Oruro |
| local roads | 462–472 | 10 | Oruro, Cochabamba |
| F4 | 472–558 | 86 | Cochabamba |
| local roads | 558–559 | 1 | Cochabamba |
- 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)
- Mile 426 of this route: La Paz → Oruro (region line)
- Mile 471 of this route: Oruro → Cochabamba (region line)
What to see on the way from Arequipa to Cochabamba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tanqa Tanqa (mile 254), Pumapunku (mile 297), Chacoma Tombs (mile 343)
- Nature and outdoors: Mallasa national Park (mile 334), Tunari National Park (mile 547)
- Museums and history: Tanqa Tanqa (mile 254), Pumapunku (mile 297), Kalasasaya (mile 298), Museo de Arte Antonio Paredes Candia (mile 334), Tama Chullpa (mile 406), Inka Raqay (mile 541)
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.
Kalasasaya
Part of the Tiwanaku complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in western Bolivia, the Kalasasaya is a low platform mound with a large courtyard enclosed by high stone walls.
Museo de Arte Antonio Paredes Candia
Opened in 2002 in El Alto, Bolivia, the Museo de Arte Antonio Paredes Candia holds works of art along with a library of thousands of books.
Mallasa national Park
South of La Paz's urban center, Mallasa (now a municipal protected area) is a gently sloping plateau full of eucalyptus trees, with green spaces for sports and outdoor recreation.
Chacoma Tombs
Found in 2017 on the Altiplano near Chacoma and Mazo Cruz in Viacha municipality, the Chacoma Tombs (Tumbas de Chacoma) are a necropolis of underground, cave-like burial chambers, unlike the region's chullpa burial towers.
Tama Chullpa
On the Bolivian Altiplano near the community of Culli Culli Alto, Tama Chullpa is a necropolis of funerary towers, or chullpas, attributed to the pre-Inca Pacajes culture of the Late Intermediate period.
Inka Raqay
Inka Raqay is an archaeological site near the community of Linku in Sipe Sipe municipality, Quillacollo Province, Cochabamba Department.
Tunari National Park
Tunari National Park is a protected national park located in the Cochabamba Department of Bolivia.
When you get to Cochabamba
Alalay Lake
Alalay Lake (Laguna Alalay) lies in Bolivia's Cochabamba Department at an elevation of 2,570 meters and covers a surface area of about 2.4 square kilometers.
Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian
Standing on Plaza 14 de Septiembre in Cochabamba, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Cochabamba.
Museo de Historia Natural Alcide d'Orbigny
Museo de Historia Natural Alcide d'Orbigny is a natural history museum and cultural institution in the city of Cochabamba.
More drives to Cochabamba
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 Cochabamba, Bolivia?
About 16 h 5 min of driving without stops, over 559 miles.
What is the driving distance from Arequipa to Cochabamba, Bolivia?
About 559 miles (900 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 Cochabamba 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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Arequipa to Cochabamba drive?
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.
Which highways go from Arequipa to Cochabamba?
In order: PE-34C, AR-119, MO-101, MO-100, MO-528, MO-556, MO-102, MO-103, PE-36A, F1 and F4. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Arequipa and Cochabamba?
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); Chacoma Tombs (necropolis, mile 343, 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.