Plan on about 4 h 33 min of driving for the 184-mile (296 km) trip from Calama to San Pedro de Quemes Canton, 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: “Some vehicles are not well maintained and may not have lights working at night.”
| Total distance | 184 mi (296 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 4 h 33 min |
| Main roads, in order | F5 |
| Border crossing | about mile 124, Chile → Bolivia |
| Regions on the route | Antofagasta, Potosí |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Getting across the Chile–Bolivia border
The route crosses at about mile 124, from Antofagasta into Potosí. 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 Calama to San Pedro de Quemes Canton drive plays out
F5 (16 mi) carries about 9% of the 184 miles. The first 124 miles are in Chile; the last 60 are in Bolivia. It runs through 2 regions: Antofagasta, Potosí. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Calama and San Pedro de Quemes Canton
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–168 | 168 | Antofagasta, Potosí |
| F5 | 168–184 | 16 | Potosí |
- Mile 124 of this route: Antofagasta → Potosí (international border)
What to see on the way from Calama to San Pedro de Quemes Canton
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Pucará de Lasana (mile 25), Salar de Ollagüe (mile 124)
- Nature and outdoors: Baños de Ascotán (mile 81), Laguna Verde (mile 103)
- Museums and history: Pucará de Lasana (mile 25)
Pucará de Lasana
Built in the 12th century, the Pucará de Lasana is a pre-Columbian fortress in the village of Lasana, El Loa Province, roughly 900 years old.
Baños de Ascotán
South of the Ascotán salt flat, the Baños de Ascotán are a group of three hot springs.
Salar de Ascotán
Salar de Ascotán, also known as Salar de Cebollar, is a salt flat in northern Chile whose drainage basin of 1,455 square kilometers is shared with Bolivia.
Laguna Verde
Laguna Verde is a shallow saltwater lagoon in the Antofagasta Region, within the drainage basin of the Salar de Carcote.
Salar de Carcote
Also known as Salar de San Martín, Salar de Carcote is a salt flat in northern Chile, lying southwest of the town of Ollagüe.
Salar de Ollagüe
Straddling the border between Bolivia and Chile, Salar de Ollagüe is a salt flat at the western edge of Potosí department, next to Chile's Antofagasta Region.
More drives to San Pedro de Quemes Canton
- Oruro to San Pedro de Quemes Canton
- Sucre to San Pedro de Quemes Canton
- Tarabuco to San Pedro de Quemes Canton
- Quime to San Pedro de Quemes Canton
- Quillacollo to San Pedro de Quemes Canton
- Cochabamba to San Pedro de Quemes Canton
More drives from Calama
- Calama to Putre
- Calama to Copiapó
- Calama to Tarabuco, Bolivia
- Calama to La Quiaca, Argentina
- Calama to Humahuaca, Argentina
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Calama to San Pedro de Quemes Canton, Bolivia?
About 4 h 33 min of driving without stops, over 184 miles.
How far is San Pedro de Quemes Canton, Bolivia from Calama by car?
About 184 miles (296 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 Calama to San Pedro de Quemes Canton drive cross the border?
At about mile 124, from Chile into Bolivia.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Calama 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Calama to San Pedro de Quemes Canton, Bolivia?
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.
Where can you stop on the way from Calama to San Pedro de Quemes Canton?
Closest to the road: Pucará de Lasana (archaeological site, mile 25, 0.4 mi from the route); Baños de Ascotán (spring, mile 81, 2 mi from the route); Salar de Ollagüe (salt flat, mile 124, 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.