Arica to San Borja, Bolivia is about 532 road miles (856 km): roughly 13 h 4 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Chile into Bolivia at about mile 124.
Full advisory: Chile, Bolivia. Advisory issued: Chile August 19, 2026; Bolivia August 18, 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.”
- Bolivia: “Some vehicles are not well maintained and may not have lights working at night.”
| Total distance | 532 mi (856 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 13 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | F4 → F1 → F3 |
| Border crossing | about mile 124, Chile → Bolivia |
| Regions on the route | Arica y Parinacota, Oruro, La Paz, El Beni |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The border on the way to San Borja
The route crosses at about mile 124, from Arica y Parinacota into Oruro. 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 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. |
| 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, Chile (updated July 02, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
How the Arica to San Borja drive plays out
F3 (224 mi) and F4 (117 mi) carry about 64% of the 532 miles. The first 124 miles are in Chile; the last 408 are in Bolivia. It runs through 4 regions: Arica y Parinacota, Oruro, La Paz, El Beni. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Arica to San Borja, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–125 | 125 | Arica y Parinacota, Oruro |
| F4 | 125–242 | 117 | Oruro, La Paz |
| connecting roads | 242–243 | 1 | La Paz |
| F1 | 243–292 | 49 | La Paz |
| connecting roads | 292–294 | 2 | La Paz |
| local roads | 294–307 | 13 | La Paz |
| F3 | 307–531 | 224 | La Paz, El Beni |
| local roads | 531–532 | 1 | El Beni |
- Mile 124 of this route: Arica y Parinacota → Oruro (international border)
- Mile 194 of this route: Oruro → La Paz (region line)
- Mile 476 of this route: La Paz → El Beni (region line)
Where to stop on the way to San Borja
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tambo de Zapahuira (mile 65), Chacoma Tombs (mile 285), Casa de la Cultura Franz Tamayo (mile 301)
- Nature and outdoors: Lauca National Park (mile 104), Chungará Lake (mile 117), Sajama National Park (mile 141)
- Museums and history: Tambo de Zapahuira (mile 65), Kuntur Amaya (mile 227), Casa de la Cultura Franz Tamayo (mile 301)
Tambo de Zapahuira
Part of the Inca road (Qhapaq Ñan), the Inca-built Tambo de Zapahuira in Putre has a row of linked rectangular rooms and, 150 meters away, two adobe burial towers; it has been a National Monument since 1983.
Lauca National Park
In Chile's Norte Grande, Lauca National Park covers 1,379 km² of Andean altiplano and mountains, most of them large volcanoes.
Chungará Lake
At 4,517 meters on the Altiplano of the Arica y Parinacota Region, Chungará Lake lies inside Lauca National Park and covers about 22 square kilometers.
Sajama National Park
In Bolivia's Oruro Department, Sajama National Park is a protected area that shares a border with Chile's Lauca National Park.
Kuntur Amaya
Kuntur Amaya is an archaeological site in Bolivia's La Paz Department, located in Aroma Province within Umala Municipality, near the community of Wayllani.
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.
Casa de la Cultura Franz Tamayo
Set in the historic center of La Paz, the Casa de la Cultura Franz Tamayo is a cultural institution and an urban landmark in the city's central district.
Cerro Aruntaya
Cerro Aruntaya is a geological formation in a municipal protected area in southern La Paz, covering about 10.8 hectares of dry valley and puna landscape.
More drives to San Borja
- Llallagua to San Borja
- Quillacollo to San Borja
- Cochabamba to San Borja
- Juliaca to San Borja, Bolivia
- Puno to San Borja, Bolivia
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 San Borja, Bolivia?
About 13 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 532 miles.
What is the driving distance from Arica to San Borja, Bolivia?
About 532 miles (856 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 San Borja drive cross the border?
At about mile 124, from Chile into Bolivia.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Arica 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 Arica to San Borja drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Arica to San Borja use?
In order: F4, F1 and F3. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Arica to San Borja?
Closest to the road: Tambo de Zapahuira (archaeological site, mile 65, 0.2 mi from the route); Chacoma Tombs (necropolis, mile 285, 0.7 mi from the route); Casa de la Cultura Franz Tamayo (museum, mile 301, 0.5 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.