Arica to Lampa, Peru is about 354 road miles (569 km): roughly 9 h 58 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Chile into Peru at about mile 11.
Full advisory: Chile, Peru. Advisory issued: Chile August 19, 2026; Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Chile: “There are minefields on Chile's borders with Peru and Bolivia, and Argentina in Patagonia. Stay on marked roads and trails in these areas.”
- Peru: “Road travel at night is particularly dangerous.”
| Distance | 354 mi (569 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 58 min |
| Main roads, in order | TA-645 → TA-643 → PE-1SD → TA-101 → TA-515 → TA-517 → TA-524 → TA-103 → PE-36A → PE-38A → PE-3S → PU-124 |
| Border crossing | about mile 11, Chile → Peru |
| Regions on the route | Arica y Parinacota, Tacna, Moquegua, Puno |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Getting across the Chile–Peru border
The route crosses at about mile 11, from Arica y Parinacota into Tacna. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| Entering Chile (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for 90 days or less on a tourist passport; you get a Tourist Card valid for up to 90 days. Passport: must be valid for your whole stay. |
| Driving in Chile | A valid U.S. license works for the length of your tourist permit, usually 90 days. |
| The car, entering Peru | Register the car online first (SUNAT's advance registration for tourist vehicles, valid 10 days), then get the Temporary Entry Certificate (CIT) from customs at the border. |
| 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, Peru (updated August 20, 2026); U.S. State Department, Chile (updated July 02, 2026); Government of Peru (gob.pe). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
How the Arica to Lampa drive plays out
PE-3S (60 mi) and PE-38A (51 mi) carry about 31% of the 354 miles. The first 11 miles are in Chile; the last 343 are in Peru. It runs through 4 regions: Arica y Parinacota, Tacna, Moquegua, Puno. Of the 6 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Arica to Lampa
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–12 | 12 | Arica y Parinacota, Tacna |
| TA-645 | 12–17 | 5 | Tacna |
| local roads | 17–22 | 5 | Tacna |
| TA-643 | 22–33 | 11 | Tacna |
| PE-1SD | 33–68 | 35 | Tacna |
| connecting roads | 68–71 | 3 | Tacna |
| TA-101 | 71–86 | 15 | Tacna |
| connecting roads | 86–88 | 2 | Tacna |
| TA-515 | 88–132 | 44 | Tacna |
| local roads | 132–137 | 5 | Tacna |
| TA-517 | 137–140 | 3 | Tacna |
| connecting roads | 140–143 | 3 | Tacna |
| TA-524 | 143–149 | 6 | Tacna |
| TA-103 | 149–176 | 27 | Tacna, Moquegua |
| PE-36A | 176–220 | 44 | Moquegua, Puno |
| PE-38A | 220–271 | 51 | Puno |
| connecting roads | 271–272 | 1 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 272–332 | 60 | Puno |
| connecting roads | 332–335 | 3 | Puno |
| PU-124 | 335–354 | 19 | Puno |
- Mile 11 of this route: Arica y Parinacota → Tacna (international border)
- Mile 174 of this route: Tacna → Moquegua (region line)
- Mile 184 of this route: Moquegua → Puno (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Arica and Lampa
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Santuario del Señor de Locumba (mile 96), Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (mile 306), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 306), Convento Franciscano de Juliaca (mile 333)
- Museums and history: Faro Concordia (mile 16), Soro Mik'aya Patjxa (mile 260), Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (mile 306), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 306)
Faro Concordia
In Chile's far north in the Arica y Parinacota Region, Faro Concordia is a border lighthouse with a pyramid-shaped metal tower painted in red and white bands.
Santuario del Señor de Locumba
Also known as the minor basilica of the Señor de los Pies Quemados, this church in Locumba venerates the Señor de Locumba, an effigy of the crucified Jesus of Nazareth.
Soro Mik'aya Patjxa
Soro Mik'aya Patjxa is a high-altitude archaeological site in the Ilave Basin, about 30 km west of Lake Titicaca's shore, used seasonally by hunter-gatherers for more than a thousand years.
Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno
On Puno's Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo was built between 1669 and 1757, with a mestizo Baroque stone facade blending Andean and European art.
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.
Convento Franciscano de Juliaca
Juliaca's Franciscan convent, also called the Convent of Santa Bárbara, sits on Santa Bárbara hill (Hatun Rumi) about 40 meters from the Plaza de Armas. Its architecture is essentially Romanesque in style.
Once you reach Lampa
Pukaqucha
Pukaqucha is a lake in Peru's Puno Region, located east of the town of Lampa in Lampa Province.
More drives to Lampa
- Andahuaylillas to Lampa
- Cusco to Lampa
- Písac to Lampa
- Chinchero to Lampa
- Yucay to Lampa
- Urubamba to Lampa
More drives from Arica
- Arica to Iquique
- Arica to Calama
- Arica to Puno, Peru
- Arica to Nazca, Peru
- Arica to Chucuito, Peru
- Arica to Andahuaylillas, Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Arica to Lampa, Peru?
About 9 h 58 min of driving without stops, over 354 miles.
What is the driving distance from Arica to Lampa, Peru?
About 354 miles (569 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 Arica to Lampa drive cross the border?
At about mile 11, from Chile into Peru.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Arica into Peru?
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. A U.S. license works for up to 180 days; an International Driving Permit is suggested. (U.S. State Department, updated August 20, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from Arica to Lampa, Peru?
The U.S. State Department rates Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Arica to Lampa?
In order: TA-645, TA-643, PE-1SD, TA-101, TA-515, TA-517, TA-524, TA-103, PE-36A, PE-38A, PE-3S and PU-124. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Arica to Lampa?
Closest to the road: Santuario del Señor de Locumba (sanctuary, mile 96, 0.1 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (cathedral, mile 306, 0.4 mi from the route); Convento Franciscano de Juliaca (convent, mile 333, 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.