Plan on about 8 h 30 min of driving for the 268-mile (431 km) trip from Arequipa to Yampupata, Bolivia, before any stops. You cross from Peru into Bolivia at about mile 251, at Kasani.
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.”
| Total distance | 268 mi (431 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | AR-116 → PE-34A → PU-121 → PU-1044 → PE-3S → PU-130 → F2 |
| Border crossing | about mile 251, Peru → Bolivia (Kasani) |
| Regions on the route | Arequipa, Puno, La Paz |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
The border on the way to Yampupata
The route crosses at about mile 251, 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.
On the road from Arequipa to Yampupata
PE-34A (99 mi) and PE-3S (71 mi) carry about 63% of the 268 miles. The first 251 miles are in Peru; the last 17 are in Bolivia. It runs through 3 regions: Arequipa, Puno, La Paz. Of the 5 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Arequipa to Yampupata
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Arequipa |
| AR-116 | 4–37 | 33 | Arequipa |
| PE-34A | 37–136 | 99 | Arequipa, Puno |
| PU-121 | 136–147 | 11 | Puno |
| PU-1044 | 147–151 | 4 | Puno |
| connecting roads | 151–152 | 1 | Puno |
| PU-121 | 152–158 | 6 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 158–163 | 5 | Puno |
| local roads | 163–171 | 8 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 171–237 | 66 | Puno |
| PU-130 | 237–252 | 15 | Puno, La Paz |
| F2 | 252–257 | 5 | La Paz |
| local roads | 257–268 | 11 | La Paz |
- Mile 83 of this route: Arequipa → Puno (region line)
- Mile 251 of this route: Puno → La Paz (international border)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Arequipa and Yampupata
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 169), Molloko (mile 193), Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana (mile 257)
- Museums and history: Sillustani (mile 151), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 169), Molloko (mile 193), Intini Uyu Pata (mile 250), Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana (mile 257)
Sillustani
On the shores of Lake Umayo near Puno, Sillustani is a pre-Inca burial site with tower-like tombs called chullpas, left by the Qulla people.
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.
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.
More drives to Yampupata
- Cusco to Yampupata, Bolivia
- Juliaca to Yampupata, Bolivia
- Puno to Yampupata, Bolivia
- Puerto Maldonado to Yampupata, Bolivia
- Andahuaylas to Yampupata, Bolivia
- Abancay to Yampupata, Bolivia
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 Yampupata, Bolivia?
About 8 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 268 miles.
What is the driving distance from Arequipa to Yampupata, Bolivia?
About 268 miles (431 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 Yampupata drive cross the border?
At about mile 251, from Peru into Bolivia, at Kasani.
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 Yampupata 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 Yampupata?
In order: AR-116, PE-34A, PU-121, PU-1044, PE-3S, PU-130 and F2. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Arequipa and Yampupata?
Closest to the road: Carlos Dreyer Museum (museum, mile 169, 0.4 mi from the route); Molloko (archaeological site, mile 193, 0.7 mi from the route); Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana (church, mile 257, 0.2 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.