Plan on about 13 h 6 min of driving for the 534-mile (859 km) trip from Arica to Tarabuco, Bolivia, before any stops. 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: “Many drivers ignore traffic signs and rules.”
| Distance | 534 mi (859 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 13 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | F4 → F27 → F12 → F1 → F6 |
| Border crossing | about mile 124, Chile → Bolivia |
| Regions on the route | Arica y Parinacota, Oruro, Potosí, Chuquisaca |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Tarabuco
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.
The Arica–Tarabuco drive in a few lines
F6 (222 mi) and F27 (84 mi) carry about 57% of the 534 miles. The first 124 miles are in Chile; the last 410 are in Bolivia. It runs through 4 regions: Arica y Parinacota, Oruro, Potosí, Chuquisaca. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Arica to Tarabuco
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–125 | 125 | Arica y Parinacota, Oruro |
| F4 | 125–148 | 23 | Oruro |
| F27 | 148–232 | 84 | Oruro |
| F12 | 232–293 | 61 | Oruro |
| F1 | 293–308 | 15 | Oruro |
| F6 | 308–321 | 13 | Oruro |
| local roads | 321–325 | 4 | Oruro |
| F6 | 325–534 | 209 | Oruro, Potosí, Chuquisaca |
- Mile 124 of this route: Arica y Parinacota → Oruro (international border)
- Mile 338 of this route: Oruro → Potosí (region line)
- Mile 463 of this route: Potosí → Chuquisaca (region line)
What to see on the way from Arica to Tarabuco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tambo de Zapahuira (mile 65), Museo Nacional Antropológico Eduardo López Rivas (mile 290), La Recoleta Monastery (mile 495), Palacete del Guereo (mile 495)
- 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), Museo Nacional Antropológico Eduardo López Rivas (mile 290), Machacamarca Railway museum (mile 308), Palacete del Guereo (mile 495)
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.
Sajama Lines
Near Sajama volcano in western Bolivia, the Sajama Lines are thousands of nearly straight paths etched into the Altiplano by Indigenous people over more than 3,000 years.
Museo Nacional Antropológico Eduardo López Rivas
Bolivia's national anthropology museum named for Eduardo López Rivas preserves, studies and shares the archaeological, ethnographic and folk heritage of the Altiplano region.
Machacamarca Railway museum
The Machacamarca Railway Museum (Museo Ferroviario de Machacamarca) is a railway museum in the municipality of Machacamarca, in Bolivia's Oruro department.
La Recoleta Monastery
La Recoleta Monastery, also called Santa Ana de Monte Sion, is a Franciscan monastery in Sucre, Bolivia's constitutional capital.
Palacete del Guereo
Part of Bolivia's cultural heritage, the Palacete del Guereo hosts cultural activities in the historic city of Sucre, a World Heritage city.
More drives to Tarabuco
- Llallagua to Tarabuco
- Quillacollo to Tarabuco
- Oruro to Tarabuco
- La Paz, Bolivia to Tarabuco
- Chulumani to Tarabuco
- San Javier to Tarabuco
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 Tarabuco, Bolivia?
About 13 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 534 miles.
What is the driving distance from Arica to Tarabuco, Bolivia?
About 534 miles (859 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 Tarabuco 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 Tarabuco 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 Tarabuco use?
In order: F4, F27, F12, F1 and F6. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Arica to Tarabuco?
Closest to the road: Tambo de Zapahuira (archaeological site, mile 65, 0.2 mi from the route); La Recoleta Monastery (monastery, mile 495, 0.1 mi from the route); Palacete del Guereo (museum, mile 495, 0.1 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.